No. 1, Vol. XXXVL] JULY, 1869. THE THI31.P Sbries> FARMER'S MAGAZINE, AMD MONTHLY JOURNAL 01 THE AaRICULTURAL INTEREST. IBetrirateti TO THE FARMERS OE THE UNITED KINGDOM. LONDON : PUBLISHED BYROGERSON AND TUXFORD, 265, STRAND. PRICE TWO gHILLINGS. ROGERSON AND TUXPORD,] [PRINTERS, 266, STRAND. mummmmi^'S^ IMPORTANT TO FLOCKMASTERS. THOMAS BIGG, Agricultural and Veterinary Chemist, by Appointment to His late Royal Highness The Prince Consort, K.G., Leicester House, Great Dover Street, Borough, London, begs to call the attention of Farmers and Graziers to his valuable SHEEP and LAMB DIPPING COMPOSITION, which requires no BoiUng, 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 im- proving the Wool, both in quantity and quality, and highly contributing to tJie general health of the animal. Prepared only by Thomas Bigg, Chemist, &c., at his Manu- factory as above, and sold as foUows, although any other quantity may be had, if required :— 4 lb. for 20 sheep, price, jar included £0 2 0 61b. 30 „ 81b. 40 ; 101b. 60 201b. 100 „ 301b. 150 „ 401b. 200 „ 601b. 250 „ 601b. 300 „ 801b. 400 ,. 1001b. 600 „ (cask and measure 0 10 0 included) 0 15 1 0 1 3 1 7 1 17 2 6 Should any Flockmaster prefer boiling the Composition, it will be equally effective. MOST IMPORTANT CERTIFICATE. From Mr. Herepaxh, the celebrated Analytical Chemist :— Bristol fiaboratory. 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 mixture neutral. If it is used according to the directions given, I feel satisfied, that while it effectually destroys vermin, it win not injure the hair roots (or "yolk") in the skin, the fleece, or the carcase. I think it deserves the numerous testimonials published. I am. Sir, yours respectfully, William Hebapaih, Sen., F.C.S., iStc, &c., To Mr. Thomas Bigg, Professor of Chemistry, Leicester House, Great Dover-Btreet, 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 aU climates, and at aU 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 (accordmg to the virulence of the disease) j 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 invaluable ' 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 recom- mended 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 foUovsdng day ; and although the weather was most severe in February during the dressing, your Specific proved itself an invaluable remedy, for m three weeks the Sheep were quite cured ; and I am happy to say the yoimg 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, " For JOHN TINGEY, Esq., " To Mr. Thomas Bigg." " R. RENNBY. 1^" Flockmasters would do well to beware of such pre- parations as " Non-poisonous Compositions :" it is only necessary to appeal to their good common sense and judg- ment to be thoroughly 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 whoUy useless, or they are not what they are represented to be. DIPPING APPABATUS £14, £5, £i, & £3. HAIL STORMS. - CBOFS INSURED BY THE ROYAL FARMERS' COMPANY, AGAINST AT MODEEATE RATES. SEiiDS And GLASS tct& aleb insured. FIRE Insnrances at rates as low as other well established offices. LIFE Assurances of any description at equitable rates. Four-fifths of the profits divided every Fifth Tear. LOSSES. — Prompt and liberal settlement of claims. Further particulars may be had at the Chief Office^ or of the Agents. JOHN REDDISH, Secretary and Actuary. F2,zs4. NT. Sb '■^•) INDEX- A. Agriculture, Calendar of, 80, 172, 264, 362, 457, 550 Agriculture in Lancashire, Lord Stanley on, 238 Agriculture, The Changes in, 124 Agriculture, The Past, Present, and Future of, 481 Agriculture, Theory and Practice in, 245 Agricultural Improvement, 139 Agricultural Intelligence, 177, 266, 366,461 Agricultural Labourer, The Condition of the, 293 Agricultural Reports, 82, 174, 271, 365, 459, 552 Agricultural Resources of the United Kingdom, The Development of the, 493 Agricultural Societies — Abergavenny, 405 Altrincham, 400 Appleby and Kirby Stephen, 402 Barnard Castle, 422 Bath and West of England, 38, 228, 312, 478 Border Union, 350 Boroughbridge, 122, 488 Cambridge and Isle of Ely, 401 Cleveland, 314 Craven, 304 Derbyshire, 64, 344 Dorchester, 198 East Cumberland, 348 Essex, 68, 170, 485 Glasgow, 73 Great Eccleston, 404 Gloucester, 217 Halifax and Calder Vale, 310 Hants and Berks, 76 Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, 107, 200, 480 Huntingdonshire, 349 Inverurie, 222 Lancaster, 406 Ledbury, 404 Leicestershire, 336 Lincolnshire, 206 Loughborough, 450 Ludlow, 452 Lytham and Kirkham, 351 Middleton, 347 Norfolk, 113 Northamptonshire, 130 North and East Riding, 309 North East of Ireland, 129 North Lancashire, 302 North Shropshire, 350 Northumberland, 216 North Walsham, 426 North West Bucks, 426 Oswestry, 424 Over, 339 Oxford and Banbury, 134 Peterborough, 136 Ripon and Claro, 13/ Ross, 545 Royal and Central Bucks, 405 Royal Agricultural Society of England, 36, 79, 90, 151, 199, 246, 393,480, 498 Royal Agricultural Society of Ireland, 305, 315, 487 Royal Cornwall, 34 Selby, 138 Staffordshire, 398 Stirling, 109 Stokesley, 397 SuflFolk, 132 Thome, 75 Tunbridge Wells, 452 Warwickshire, 345 West Lothian, 110 Westmoreland and Kendal, 399 West Riding of York, 311 Wetherby, 403 Whitby, 338 Whit worth and Rochdale, 308 Wigton, 346 Worral, 303 Worcestershire, 307 Yorkshire, 209 Agricultural Statistics of Ireland, 229, 257 Alkalies, Silicates, and Salt, 413 Alsike Clover, 63 Amended Amendments, 106 Anthyllis Vulneraria, The Cultivation of, 23 Artificial Grasses, The Cultivation of, 24 Australian Farmer, The, 490 Austrahan Merino, Breeding, Management, &c., of, 230 Averages, 87, 182, 275, 370, 464 Averages, Comparative, 87, 182, 275, 370, 464, 556 Averages, Imperial, 87, 182, 275, 464, 552 Ayrshire Dairy Stock, Breeding and Rearing of, 298 B. Bark, Price of, 182, 276 Basingstoke Root Show, 548 Birmingham Horse Show, 250 Bolivar, Pedigree and Prizes, 371 Bone-dust as Food for Fowls, 263 Brigantine, Pedigree and Performances, 372 Brittany Cows — Description of Plate, 184 Butter and Cheese Show at Kilmarnock, 479 Butter, Cheese, &c., Prices of, 88, 182, 275, 464, 556 C. Cabbage for Spring Use, 391 Careless Farming and Comfortable Tenants; by the Northern Farmer, 376 Carrot, the best kind for Field Culture, 165 Carrots, and their Cultivation, 30 Cattle of Palestine, 244 Cattle-Plague Bill, 145, 221, 331 Cattle Transit, 412 Cattle Trade, Review of the, 82, 173, 271, 365, 460, 553 INDEX. Chambers of Agricultlke : — Central, 56, 420, 512 Cornwall, 412 Devonshire, 170 Dorset, 32 East Suffolk, 406 Essex, 417 Herefordshire, 417 Norfolk, 548 North Riding, 417 Scottish, 196, 343,449, 517 Worcester, 407 Cheese Show at Manchester, 228 Cheese Markets, 178, 267 Chemical Manures, 147 Chemical v. Farm-yard Manure, 225 Chips, 382 Composite Manure, 392 Concentrated Food, The Use of; by the Northern Farmer, 486 Concentrated Root Food, 118 Contageous Diseases Animal Bill, 55 Conveyance hy Steam-ships of Cattle and Sheep, 168 Corn Trade, Review of the, 85, 180, 273, 368, 462, 554 Cottage Improvement, Sanitary Principles of, 296 Covent Garden Market, 275 Current Prices at Mark Lane, 87, 182, 275, 370,464, 556 D. Dairy Buildings, Arrangement, &c., of, 325 Dairy Farms of Staffordshire, 378 Dairy Stock, Management of, 411 Devon Sea-coast, and its Harvests ; hy C. W. Johnson, F.R.S., 277- Diseases in Cattle: New Orders in Council, 232 Drought : What it Teaches ? 119 E. Echoes from Autumn Meetings, 283, 427, 536 Education Rate and Compulsory Attendance at Schools, 488 English Farmers and Foreign Models, 497 F. Farm Agreements and Leases, 192 Farm Horses, The Rearing of, 120 Farm of One Acre, 415 Farm, The New, 8, 163, 496 Farmers' Clubs — Ayrshire, 298, 473 Badminton, 339 Bakewell, 422 Blandford, 481 Carmarthanshire, 192 Central, 426, 500 Croydon, 120 Hadleigh, 479 Hexham, 426, 493 Hungerford, 1 11 Kilkenny, 140 Lavenham, 408, 416 Logie and Secropt, l7l, 318 Midland, 66 Monmouthshire, 451 Newbury, 4ig Newcastle, 280 Wenlock, 126, 226, 380 Winfrith, 24 Farms, Large and Small, 290 Farms Small, 290 Farming, a Precarious Business, 417 Farming, The Millennium of, 27 Farmyard Manure, 171, 318 Feeding Animal, A, 418 Flax and Hemp in Russia, Culture of, 17 Flax, Price of, 182, 276 Food We Give, The; by C. W. Johnson, F.R.S., 4 Food, The Purchase and Use of, 18 Foot-and-Mouth Disease, 224, 258, 317, 351, 360, 419, 448 Foreign Agricultural Gossip, 169, 262 Forest Farming, 332 Forster, Right Hon. W. E., 418 Fowls, How to Kill, 225 Frog-hopper, 383 Game Evil, The, 257, 394, 516. Gardening, Calendar of, 81, 173, 265, 364, 458, 551 Glanders, Report On : by James' Law, V.S., 188 Government, What it has been Doing, 32 Grain Crops, On Harvesting, 122, 229 Grain, Metage of, and the London Corporation, 190 Grass Lands ; by C. W. Johnson, F.R.S., 465 Grass Seeds, 387 Grasses, Tiie Nutriment of, 31 Ground Game, and Game Laws, 522 Guano, Native, from Sewage, 390 Guardians, Board of. Curious Scene at a, 546 H. Haymaking, 9, 26 May-making, Improvements in, 197 Hay Markets, 182, 276 Hay-stacks, Spontaneous Combustion of, 414 Herds of Great Britain, 470 Hereford Show, Sale and Fair, 384 Hide and Skin Markets, 88, 182. 276 Hop Market, 87, 178, 263, 370, 556 Horse-breeding and Horse Showing, 51 Horse-breeding, Hints on, 140 Hypothec, The Law of, 22 I. Ireland, The Agriculture of, 315 Irish Land Question ; by the Northern Farmer, 534 Irish Land Question and The Farmers' Club, 288 Irish Tenant-right, 301 Islington Horse Show, 52 L. Labour, The Quality of, 29 Labouring-classes in Town and Country, 408 Lambs, Rick-backed, 241 Land, Its Preparation for Crops, 473 Land, The Transfer of, 289 Leather Market, 276 I 4 INDEX. Lime as Manure, 39j Limestone Formations of England, 1 1 1 Local Taxation, 162 Lung Disease, 292 M. Mangold Culture on Heavy Scils, 139 Mangold Plant, The ; by C. W. Johnson, F.R .S., 160 Mangold Wurzel Crop, 471 Manure, How to Save, 55 Manure of Our Farms, 389 Manures, 243 Manures, Price of, 88, 182, ?76 Meadows, Good, 104 Meat-preserving Establishments Abroad, 16G Merino Wool, The Price of, 320 Milk, Carrying and Cooling, 323 Milk-cooler, New, 263. Model Farm, The Albert, Glasnevin, 20 O. Obituary — Cheffins, William, 548 Hudson, John, 244 Stafford, H., jun., 461 Oil, Price of, 276 P. Phosphate Manures, 187 Picture with a Pen, 31 Pigs, 226 Pigs, Should they have any Coats, 456 Pleuro-pneumonia, 64 Poetry — Ground Game Consultation, 313 The Noble Chair-woman, 367 Potato Crop, 229 Potato Markets, 88, 178, 269, 370, 464 Potatoes, How they Grow them in America, 316 Pretender, Pedigree and Performances of, 3 Purgatives for Cattle, 198 Q. Queen, The Little — Description of Plate, 277 R. Railway Cattle Trucks, 257 Reaping Machine Exhibition, at Hungarian Alten- burgh, 253 Reviews — Eyton's Herd Book of Hereford Cattle, 547 Fens of South Lincolnshire, 145 Handy Book on Property Law, 547 Journal of Bath and West of England Agricul- tural Society, .'^48 Parks &c., of Paris, 144 Ready Reckoner, 145 Rex — Description of Plate, 89 Ringbone in Horses, 227 River Harvests ; by Cuthbert W. Johnson, F.R.S., 184 Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, 13 Royal Dublin Society's Show, 218, 334 Rust in Wheat, Preventive of, 227 Second-hand Society, A, 425 Seeds; by C. W. Johnson, F.R.S., 373 Seeds, Price of, 87, 182, 275, 370, 464 Seeds, Adulteration of, 35, 62^ *n Seeds, The Adulteration of. Act, 321 Sheep-farming in Australia, 322 Sheep-farming in South America, 143 Sheep-farming on Strong Land, 280 Sheep, Modern Breeds of, 282 Sheep, The Breeding and Rearing of, 222 Shepherd, F, Knapp — Description of Plate, 183 Shorthorns at the Cork Show, 221 Shorthorns, Export of, 76 Shorthorns, The Ketton, 61 Shrewsbury Market and Corn Exchange, 416 Sir John — Description of Plate, 89 Small-pox in Sheep, 11, 146 Smithfield Club, 47S Soils, Fertility and Barrenness of, 167 Southdowns, 533 Sparrows, The, 521 Steam Ploughing and Fox-hunting, 545 Stock, Care and Carriage of, 324 Stock Sales — G. W. Robert's Shorthorns, 81 W. A. Wooler's Shorthorns, S4 Charles Lenny's Shorthorns, 84 Mr. Milward's Ponies, 85 Butley Abbey Stock, 148 Messrs. Angus, 258 Charles Howard's, 259 Cotswolds, 259 Sundry Sheep Sales, 352 Lord Radnor's, 359 Keavil Herd, 359 Mr. Kearney's, 453 J. K. Fowler's, 453 Uppermill Shorthorns, 453 Herefords, 454 John Gambles' Shorthorns, 455 Sussex Stock, 455 Ballywalter Shorthorns, 456 Various, 549 Stock, The Diseases of, 63 Stock, The Fattening of, 28 Stock, Transit of, by Sea, 340 Strong Land, The Management of, 126 Sugar-beet, The Growth of, 416 T. Tenant Farmers and Vote by Ballot, 237 The Day after the Fair — Description of Plate, 277 The Gloomy Woods — Description of Plate, 465 Thin-sowing Question, l62 Timber, Price of, 276 Tiptree Hall Harvest, 270 Tom Sayers — Description of Plate, 465 V. Vegetables, The Culture of, 7 Victoria, The Colony of, 19 Voelcker, Professor, Biograi)hical Sketch of, 1 W. Wasps, New Mode of Destroying, 143 Welsh Tenantry, Their Political Independence, 479 Wheat, Fluctuations in the Price of, 182, 275 Wheat, The present Price of, 469 White Daisy, The, 243 Wool, 105 Wool Markets, 88, 179, 270, 370, 464, 556 THE EMBELLISHMENTS. Page Portrait of Professor Voelcker . . . . . .1 The Pretender; Winner of Derby of 1869 1 Sir John 89 Rex . 89 Illustration of the Parks oif Paris . . 144 Shepherd F. Knapp, , 183 Brittany Cows . . . 183 The Little Queen . 277 The Day After the Fair . 277 Bolivar 371 Brigantine .... . 371 Tom Sayers 465 The Gloomy Woodb , 465 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. VOLUME THE THIRTY-SIXTH. THIRD SERIES, JULY TO DECEMBER MDCCCLXIX. LONDON: PUBLISHED BY ROGERSON AND TUXFORD, 265, STRAND. MAY BE HAD BY ORDER THROUGH ALL BOOKSELLERS. LONDON : PRINTED BY ROGKRSON ANU TUXFORD, 265, STRAND. Per ^l London, Fubiisfial.hi/ IijJ,gin~joti% Tuxford -^65. StnouUSSd. 5 :^ r- § Ni .■ <>• 1 5^ ~' V 5. |:^ ^ ,',-. ^ ,-. 5 ■ ' A V V j;i ~^^ J. 'V^ ^ li 3 -^ ^' Si ^ - ' THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. JULY, 1869. PLATE I. PROFESSOR VOELCKER, Consulting Chemist op the Royal Agricultural Society of England. Augustus, fifth son of Frederick Adolphus Voelcker, a merchant of Frankfort-ou-the-Maine, was born in that city on the 24th of September, 1823. He lost his father when only eleven years of age, and was educated at a private school in Frank- fort ; and subsequently entered the University of Gottingen, where he obtained the diploma of Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy. When a boy young Voelcker spent all his leisure hours in collecting plants, minerals, insects, and other objects of natural history ; as his taste for natural science was greatly promoted by the scientific lectures given in the Botanical Garden at Frankfort. At the age of eighteen years he had gathered an extensive herbarium and was familiar with thefloraof South-Germany; while so much was he devoted to the study of Botany as at that time to entertain serious thoughts of taking up Botany as a profession. During his sojourn at the University of Gottengen, he attended the lectures on Mathematics, Natural Philosophy, Mineralogy, Geology, Botany, Vegetable and Animal Physio- logy, and Chemistry, delivered by the Academical Professors; but while he took a special interest in the pursuit of Chemical studies, directed by Professor Wobler, in whose laboratory he worked for several years ; and where when a student, he published several original chemical investigations of a purely scientific character. On the recommendation of Professor Wobler, M. Voelcker was appointed principal assistant to Professor Mulder, of the University of Utrecht in Holland, the author of the Protein- theory and a distinguished physiological chemist, with whom to this day he remains attached on terms of intimate friendship. Whilst in Holland Dr. Voelcker made the acquaintance of the late Professor Johnston, of Edinburgh, the author of Lectures on Agricultural Chemistry and Geology, and the Elements and Catechism of Agricul- tural Chemistry ; and on the appointment by the Dutch Government of Professor Johnston's assistant, Dr. Fromburg, to a distinguished posi- tion. Dr. Voelcker was invited to superintend the Laboratory of the Agricultural Chemistry Aeso- OlD SjlRIES.] elation of Scotland, an institution subsequently incorporated with the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland. Accepting this invitation he went to Edinburgh in 1849, and for two years re- mained a co-labourer with the late Professor John- ston, with whom he spent a short time at Durham on the amalgamation of the Agricultural Chemistry Association with the Highland Society. Eventually, however, he returned to Edinburgh, where he had many scientific friends, as amongst others the late Professor Gregory, Dr. George Wilson, and Professor Balfour, occupying, as usual, himself with scientific pursuits. In 1851 Dr. Voelcker was appointed Professor of Chemistry in the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester, succeeding there Dr. Blythe and his predecessor, Professor Way. After four years' residence at Cirencester he was appointed Con- sulting Chemist to the Bath and West of England Agricultural Society, and in 1857, on the resignation of Professor Way, Consulting Chemist to the Royal Agricultural Society of England. For a period of five years he held both appointments ; but finding the work in connection with the Royal Agricultural Society increasing from year to year, and too much interfering with the delivery of lectures and his other duties in Cirencester College, he resigned the Professorship and removed to London in 1862, retaining his appointment as Consulting Chemist to the Royal Agricultural Society up to the present time. Dr. Voelcker is a member of the Committee of the Farmers' Club, in whose proceedings he takes an active interest, and where he has frequently delivered the opening address at the discussion meetings. He has indeed given lectures throughout the length and breadth of England, and published numerous original investigations, as well as four Lectures on Agricultural Chemistry, a Treatise on the Chemistry of Food, &c. Dr. Voelcker is the author of all the che- mical articles in Morton's Cyclopaedia of Agri- culture ; and editor of the last edition of John- ston's Catechism of Agricultural Chemistry and Geology; while his more important original experi. B [Vol. LXVI.— No, 1, THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. mental papers on Chemico-agricultural subjects are: — 1. On Farm-yard Manure, and the chemical changes it undergoes in keeping. 2. On Liquid-manure, and the changes it under- goes in passing through soils of known composition. 3. On the Causes of Efficacy of Burnt Clay, and on Paring and Burning. 4. On the Chemical Properties of Soils. 5. Papers on Experiments Relating to the Absorp- tion and Retention of Ammonia and its Salts by Soils, the Absorption of Potash and its Salts, of Phosphoric-acid, &c. 6. On the Functions of Soda-salts in Agriculture. 7. Dairy Investigations. (The Chemistry of Milk and Cheese.) 8. On Phosphatic Materials Used in Agriculture. 9. On the Nutritive Properties of different kinds of Straw. 10. On Peruvian Guano, and the Means of Ren- dering it more Efficacious. 11. On Disinfectants. 12. On Hay-making. 13. Researches on the Growth of Clover. 14. Numerous Field Experiments. The following is a chronological list of Dr. Voelcker's papers On Anthracite of the Calton Hill, Edinburgh. 2. On the Watery Secretion of the leaves and stems of the Ice Plant. (Mesembryanthe- mum crystallinum.) 3. On the Secretion of Nepenthes destillatoria. 4. On the Composition of the Ash of Ameria maritima, grown in different Localities ; with Remarks on the Geographical Distri- bution of that Plant, and on the presence of Fluorine in Plants. 5. On the Relative and Fattening Value of Lin- seed and Rape-cake. 6. On the Effects of Burnt Clay as a Manure. 7. On the Comparative Value of White Scottish and Black English Oats, and on the Com- position of Rice-meal. 8. On the Composition of Green Rye and Rape. 9. On the Composition of the Parsnip, and White Belgian Carrot, 10. On the Comparative Value of difTerent Artificial Manures for raising a crop of Swedes. 11. On the Agricultural and Commercial Value of some Artificial Manures, and on their Adul- teration. 12. On the Chemistry of Food. 13. Four Lectures on Farm-yard Manure, Artificial Manures, Barren and Fertile Soils, Oil- cakes, &c. 14. On the Composition of Farm-yard Manure, and the Changes which it undergoes on Keeping, under difTerent circumstances. 15. On Farm-yard Manure, the drainings of Dung- heaps, and the absorbing Properties of Soils. 16. On the Use of Lime, Marl, and Shell-saud in Agriculture. 17. On Paring and Burning. 18. Experiments upon Swedes, with Remarks on the Manures employed. 19. On Liquid-manure. 20. On the Changes which Liquid-manure under- goes in contact with different Soils of known Composition. 21. On Anbury, and the Analysis of Diseased Turnips. 22. On the Composition of a Mangold-wurzel kept for two years. 23. On the Composition and Nutritive Value of Cotton-cake. 24. On the Composition and Nutritive Properties of Mangold-pulp (the refuse of Beet-root Distilleries). 25. On the Composition of two varieties of Kohl- Rabi, and of Cattle-cabbage. 26. Experiments with different Top-dressings upon Wheat. 27. On the Composition of Sorghum saccharatum (Holcus saccharatus), or North China Sugar-cane. 28. On the Chemical Properties of Soils. 29. On the Composition of Purton Sahne Water. 30. On the Composition of the Yellow Lupine, and a Soil suitable to its culture. 31. The Composition and Value of Norwegian Apatite, Spanish Phosphorite, Coprolites, and other Phosphatic Materials. 32. Reports on the Constituents of Manures. 33. Experiments on Swedes. 34. On the Composition of Cheese, and on Practical Mistakes in Cheese-making. 35. On the Scouring Lands of Central Somerset. 36. On the Composition and Nutritive Value of Straw. 37. Experiments with different Top-dressings upon Wheat. 38. Lecture on Farm-sewage. 39. On the Commercial Value of Artificial Manures. 40. On Poisonous Cheese. 41. Cheese Experiments. 42. On the Absorption of Phosphate of Lime, and Phosphatic Manures for Root-crops. 43. Experiments with different Top-dressings upon Wheat. 44. On Milk. 43. Composition of Annatto. 46. Peruvian Guano, and the Means of Increasing its Efficacy as a Manure. 47. Salt Experiments on Mangolds. 48. Annual Report, 1864. 49. ,, 1865. 50. Absorption of Potash by Soils of known Com- position. 51. On some Causes of Unproductiveness of Soils. 52. On the Composition and Nutritive Value of Palm-nut Kernel-meal and Cake. 53. Annual Report, 1866. 54. Report on the Improvements of Grass-land at Mr. Ruck's Farm, Braydon, Wilts. 55. On the Functions of Soda-salts in Agriculture. i>6. Field Experiments on Clover-seeds. 57. On Disinfectants. 58. On the Composition of Orange Globe Man- golds, bulbs or lops. 59. The Changes which take place in the Field and in the Stack in Hay-makin^r. 60. Field Experiments on Crude German Potash- t-alts and Common Salt on Mangolds. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 61. Field Ex|)eriments on Root-crops. (32. On the Composition and NiUrilive Value of of Anthyllis vulncria as a Fodder I'lant. 63. On tlie Solubility of Phosphatic Materials, with Special Reference to the Practical Efficacy of the various forms in which Bones are used in Agriculture. 6i. Annual Chemical Report for 18G8. 65. On the Composition and Nutritive Value of Trifoliam striatum. 66. On the Causes of the Benefits of Clover as a Preparatory Crop for Wheat. 67. Field Experiments on Clover and Permanent Pasture. Dr. Voelcker. Ph. D., F.C.S., is a Honorary Member of the Royal Agricultural Society of Eng- land, and Consulting Chemist to the Royal and to the Balli and West of England Agricultural Societies, Honorary Member of the Royal Agri- cultural Society of Hanover and of the Imjierial Agricultural Society of Vienna. No man has over more happily united " Science with Practice" than Dr. Voelcker. His essays and addresses are alike remarkable for the force which they bring to bear upon the suljject ; as it is not too much to say that he never writes nor speaks without advantage to that interest with which he has become so honourably identilicd. There is no want of careful forethought over noticeable in his papers, nor an atom of affectation observable in the simple genial speech with which he inculcates the most valuable principles ; and whether we en- counter him in the Journal of the Society or at the Meeting of the Club, we feel that he has honestly earned that distinguished position which lie holds in the annals of Modern Agriculture. PLATE II. THE PRETENDER; Winner op the Derby, 1869- From this victory The Preteuder reaped manifold and important advantages : his followers were armed, his party encouraged, and his enemies intimidated. — Smollett's History of England. The Pretender, bred by Mr. W. Sadler in 1866, is by Adventurer out of Ferina, by Venison, her dam Partiality by Middleton — Favourite, by Blucher — Scheherazade, by Selim. Adventurer, bred by Mr. Gil by in 1859, is by Newminster out of Palma, by Emilius. As a race-horse Adventurer figures as one of the stout- est sons of Newminster ; whilst he went to the stud in 1865, and his stock consequently first came out in 1868 when he was credited with three winners — Sir F. Johnstone's Benefactor, Mr. Pryor's Misadventure, and The Pretender. He is located at the Sheffield Lane Paddocks, where his subscription at 40gs. filled very early in the season. Ferina, bred by Mr. W. Ley in 1844, passed in turn into the possession of the late Mr. Greville and the late Lovd Clifden. The mare never ran, and after throwing a dead colt-foal to the Emperor in 1849 she was purchased at a low figure by Mr. William Sadler of Doncaster, with whom her ac- count stands thus : 1850— F. (died a month old), by Bay Middleton. 1851 — Camp-stool, by Foot-stool. 1852— St. Hubert, by Surphce (385). 1853 — Stanhope, by The Hero. 1854 — Hunting Horn, by Surplice (570). 1855— Esau, by Surplice (400). 1856 — Slipped foal by Surplice. 1857 — Thirza, by Surplice. 1858— Forester, by Surplice (100). 1859— Mahala, by Rataplan (70). 1860— Tambour Major, by Ratajjlan (100). 1861- Colt (died a day old) by Rataplan. 18fi3-Walcot, by Fazzoletto (165). 1863— Missed to Brother to Bird on Wing. 1864— Fal-lal, by Fazzoletto (210). 1865 — Adamant, by Adamas (330). 1866— Pretender, by Adventurer (400). 1867— Barren. 1868— Barren. The figures in parenthesis give prices made as yearlings, the highest being for Hunting Horn, a horse of extraordinary substance, who, however, never ran, but who took the fir.st prize as the best stallion for getting hunters at the Warwick Meet- ing of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, and later on a similar premium at the Salisbury Meeting of the Bath and West of England Societj', at one of which adjudications we had the honour of assisting. Up to Pretender's time Ferina' .s produce were to be distinguished on the Turf by St. Hubert, who ran such a terrific race with Lord of the Isles for the 2,000 gs. The old mare was shot at Doncaster on Tuesday, April 6th, the very day three weeks previous to her youngest child winning at Newmarket. Pretender is a brown horse standing sixteen hands high. He has a very expressive good head, tapering towards the nose, with a straight mus- cular neck and good shoulders. He has great depth of girth, but is slack behind the saddle and tucked up in his back ribs. His quarters are not very long, but strong towards the lower part ; while he has ragged hips, and is long from the stifle to the ground, standing with his hocks away behind him. He has not very powerful arms, but is short in his cannon-bone, with his heels low to the ground. The Pretender is altogether a long- reaching horse, with great liberty, and a famous walker, although rather a scrambling goer, until fairly extended. At the sale of Mr. Sadler's yearlings at Don- caster in 1867 The Pretender was knocked down for 400 gs. to Mr. T. Dawson for the Johnstone- Jardine interest, and at once transferred to Middle- bam where he still continues. He has started six times, won three, ran second once, and third twice, P 2 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. THE FOOD WE GIVE. BY CUTHBEBT W. JOHNSON, T.R.S. Great is oui* encouragement to again and again renew the inquiries relating to the food of our live stock. The steady advances which have been made during the last three centuries in this branch of agriculture may well piompt us to aim at still higher standards of excellence. If the stockowner of our time only thinks for a moment of the farmers' domestic animals as they were in the days of Harry the Eighth, the coarse raw-boned cattle, the wild long-wooUed sheep, which then existed on our hill- sides in summer, and starved on sti'aw in winter — the necessity which then existed for killing the bullocks at Martinmas, because the turnip was not then known as a field crop — when Southdowns and Shorthorns were not even dreamt of — when, we say, the modern agriculturist remembers these things, he may well be encouraged to persevere in his efforts to obtain still more valuable results. And, moreover, he will not fail to remind himself that during the present generation these advances in our know- ledge of the properties of food have been made at an accelerated pace; and he may also usefully remember that for this increase of our knowledge we have during the last quarter of a century been very materially aided by the researches upon the food of animals of such men as Justus Liebig, Lyon Playfair, and J . B. Lawes. It was in one of his early papers that Professor Play- fair, after explaining how the excess of blood in au ani- mal is converted into flesh (muscular tissue and cellular tissue), proceeded to remark: Pat is not a substance peculiar to the animal economy. We find the fat of beef and mutton in cocoa-beans, of human fat in olive oil, of butter in palm-oil, and of horse-fat and train-oil in cer- tain oily seeds. In these the fat must arise, just as in animals, by the same chemical process of an imperfect transformation. The most favourable conditions to the development of tallow are food destitute of nitrogen, warmth, and want of exercise. Warmth is perfectly in- dispensable to the production of tallow in an animal. Tallow is so easily consumed by the oxygen of the air that it is employed to produce animal heat, if there be any deficiency in this. Martell {Trans. Liiiii. Sor., vol. xi., p. 411) mentions the case of a fat pig which was over- whelmed in a slip of earth, and lived for 160 days with- out food, and was found to have diminished in weight during that time 1 20 lbs. Its fat had been consumed in supporting respiration, just as that of hybernating ani- mals during winter. Motion also diminishes the tendency of au animal to fatten, by increasing the number of its respirations, and therefore by giving to the system an increased supply of oxygen gas, which consumes the tal- low. Hence our practice of stall-feeding cattle. A few considerations will show that it is quite impossible to draw up any series of numbers to represent the equivalent values of the food ; for we must first know the object for which the food is intended. lu a cold day the animals ought to be furnished with food containing a consider- able amount of unazotized ingredients, in order to protect them from the eftects of the cold. The equivalent values of potatoes and beans could not be compared, because their respective value as food arises from totally difterent causes. Potatoes are of great use in keeping up the heat of the body and in forming tallow, but are in the highest degree uuprofitable for forming flesh. 1,550 lbs. oi po- tatoes would be required to form the same quantity of yiesh that 100 lbs. of beans would do; whilst little more than 200 lbs. would suffice to form the same quantity of tallow ; hence the great advantage of mi.xing food so as I to supply in smaller bulk those constitments of which one kind of food is deficient. Sheep fed on oilcake increase in weight faster than on any other kind of food, but they feel quite soft, and when fat handle like a bag of oil. This is because they receive food which contains very little albumen to form flesh, so that tallow is the only product. But if with the oilcake they receive oats or barley, they are firm to the touch and possess plenty of good flesh, and the fat lies equally distributed amongst the muscular fibre. The reason here also is obvious, for both oats and barley contain much albumen. As I have elsewhere remarked, that vegetable substances contained animal matters ready formed, was a suspicion entertained by more than one of even the early Greek philosophers, but it was reserved for the modern chemist to prove the truth of the supposition. This has been thus explained by Dr. Lyon Playfair {Jour. R.J.S., vol. iv., p. 216) : — All vegetable food has been found to contain a peculiar substance, which, though it differs in appearance and in form, according to the source from whence it is obtained, is in reality the same body. It has received the name of gluten or albumen, and is precisely identical, in chemical composition, with the albumen obtained from the white of an egg. This substance is invariably present in all nutritious food. Chemists were surprised to dis- cover that this body never varies in composition ; that it is exactly the same in corn, beans, or from whatever plant it is extracted. But their surprise was much increased when they remarked that it is quite identical with the flesh and blood of animals. It consists, like the latter, of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen, and in the very same proportion in 100 parts. By identity in com- position is not meant a mere similarity, but an absolute identity ; so much so, that if you were to place in a chemist's hand some gluten obtained from wheat flour, some dry albumen procured from the white of an egg, a fragment of the flesh of an ox or of a man, or some of their di'ied b'.ood, and request him to examine their dift'er- ence, he would tell you, strange as it may appear, that they are precisely the same, and that with all the refine- ments of his science he was unable to detect any essential difference between them. There is much dift'erence, in- deed, in external appeai-ance and in structure, but in their ultimate composition there is none. To render this more obvious, I subjoin the composition of these various substances, as obtained by difterent chemists, who executed their analyses without any knowledge of the results ob- tained by the others : — Gluten Casein r\.- i7u„i, » -r,, r T> *Js iUesn. from Flour. from reas. Carbon 54.2 54.138 54.12 Hydrogen ... 7.5 7.156 7.89 Nitrogen 13.9 15.672 15.67 Oxygen 24.4 23.034 22.32 100.0 100.000 100.00 These analyses do not differ from each other more than the analyses of the same substance usually do. Thus we are led to the startling conclusion, that plants contain within them the flesh of animals ready formed, and that the only duty of animals subsisting upon them is to give this flesh a place and form in their organism. When an animal subsists upon flesh, we find no difficulty in explain- ing its nutrition ; for the flesh being of the same compo- sition as its own body, the animal, in a chemical point of view, may be said to be eating itself; uor, with a know- ledge of this identity of vegetable albmueu with flesh, is TfiE FAKMER'S MAGAZINiJ. there any difticulty in comprehending the uutrition of vegetable feeders. Plants, then, ia reality, form iYtt flesh of animals ; and the latter merely appropriate it a place in their organism. It follows, then, as a conclusion, that the analysis of any vegetable substance pretty accurately indicates its nutritious powers. It has been shown by many laborious chemical researches, to use the words of Dr. Playfair, that there arc two kinds of food. The first, which con- tains nitrogen, is exactly of the same composition as the principal tissues of the human body, and is the only sub- stance which can supply the waste of these tissues. The second kind of food is that destitute of nitrogen, such as starch, gum, and sugar, all of which are destined for the support of respiration and consequent heat of the animal. The latter kind of food, when in excess, is converted into fat, but never into muscle. The increase of flesh in an animal consists in two changes of the matter of the food, without any alteration in its composition. The albumen or nitrogenous constituent of the food is first converted into blood, without decomposition, and the blood is after- wards converted into flesh. In order to show that the transformation is actually eit'ected without change, we have only to refer to the foUowiug results of the analysis of vegetable albumen, of ox blood, and of flesh : — Vegetable Ox pi^^,,^ Albumen. Blood. Carbon 55.160 54..35 54..12 Hydrogen... 7.055 7.50 7.89 Nitrogen ... 15.996 15.76 15.67 O.Kygen 21.18 32.39 32.33 As muscle, then, is formed only by the albumen or gluten of the food, which albumen is in reality flesh itself, we can ascertain the comparative value of food, as far as the production of muscle is concerned, by estimating the exact quantity of the nitrogenous constituent of the food. The following table, continues Dr. Playfair, contains the approximative, though not perfectly accm'ate, information relative to the value of food for the support of respiration and production of fat : — Unazotized 100 lbs. Albumen. Matter, lbs. lbs. Flesh 25 0 Blood 20 0 Beans 31 51^ Peas 29 51^ Lentils 33 48 Potatoes 3 25 Oats 11 68 Barley-meal 14 68^ Hay 8 68^ Turnips 1 9 Carrot 2 10 Red-beet 1^ S.l That fat exists ready formed in various vegetable sub- stances, has been proved by careful chemical examination. Thus, according to Liebig, hay contains 1.56 per cent., and maize 4.67 per cent, of fat. Braconnot found 1.20 per cent, in peas, while Fresenius got 2.1 per cent. ; and in lentils 1.3 per cent. Vogel obtained 2.00 per cent, of fat in oats ; Liebig 0.3 per cent, in dry potatoes ; and Braconnot 0.13 per cent, in i-ice, although, in another variety, Vogel states that he detected 1.05 per cent. The substance here called fat is in reality a waxy or resinous body, and not tallow. Such were the valuable chemical researches which a quarter of a century since were institued for the service of the agriculturist — labours which time has hardly rendered less valuable, although practical and long-continued obser- vations in the homestead may have modified some of the conclusions of the chemist. In a recent prize essay on difiereut descriptions of food for stock, by Mr. R. J. Thomson, of Kilmarnock, he has fairly summed up the evidence on this question iu language which we need hardly attempt to vary {Trans. High.Soc, 1868, p. 52). He observes, " Liebig's famous classification of food into nitrogenous and non-nitrogenous, or into flesh-forming and respiratory or heat-supporting, must ever be regarded as having marked an important epoch in the history of the chemistry of food. It opened a broad pathway through a tangled forest. Several years have now passed away, and the inexorable test of personal experience has put it to the proof, but the result is, that the per-centage of nitrogen gives at the best but an approximate idea of the nutritive value of dift'erent kinds of food. No one believes, for example, that bean is as nutritious as flour, or that rapecake is equally valuable with linseed cake ; yet their per centages of nitrogen arc practically identical. We believe notwithstanding that Liebig's hypothesis, looked at in the most liberal light, is theoretically correct, but that it fails in ordinary practice, simply because cir- cumstances modify the deductions from chemical analyses. In all experiments, in fact, upon the feeding of animals, as Mr. Thomson well adds, it should not be forgotten, that they are peculiarly liable to inaccuracies from the ease with which animal functions are disordered, and the difficulty of discovering minor complaints. All animals will at times eat more or less heartily than usual. A milch cow will suddenly give a pound or two less milk than usual for a day or two, without any apparent cause ; and a fattening beast will sometimes actually lose weight, or at least will gain nothing, when feeding as well as usual, and appa- rently in full health. It is exceedingly difficult too, if not impossible, to get a sufficient number of animals whose constitutions are exactly alike, so that all such experi- )uents, before we are warranted in arriving at any definite conclusions, must be many times repeated. To determine the comparative feeding qualities of man- golds and swedes, the following valuable experiments were instituted: — On January 16, 1864, Mr. Thomson put up in pairs four milch cows, four feeding beasts, four queys (heifers) rising two years old, and four stirks rising one year old,and all of the Ayrshire breed ; these were fed alike till Feb. 3rd, particular notice being taken of the quantity of food which each lot of two could consume per day. The quantities at last fixed upon for each lot, and the hours at which they were given during the whole time the expe- riment lasted, were as follows : MlLCn cows A?JD FEEDING BEASTS. 5 a.m. 373lbs. of roots, 21bs. hay chaff steamed, and 2|lbs. of beanmeal added. 5.30 a.m. 4!lbs. of hay. 6 a.m. Cows milked ; milk weighed. 9.30 a.m. ilbs. of hay, water ad lib. 11 a.m. Steamed mess as at 5 a.m. 11.30 a.m. 41bs. ofhay. 5 p.m. Steamed mess as at 5 a.m. 5.30 p.m. ^Ibs. ofhay. 6 p.m. Cows milked ; milk weighed. 7 p.m. 381bs. of roots raw. 8 p.m. 4lbs. ofhay, water adlib. Daily quantity for each animal: — 561bs. of roots steamed, and 141bs roots raw = 701bs. roots ; 3lbs. hay chaff steamed and lOlbs. of hay = 131bs. of hay ; 6oz. of salt, 41bs. bean meal. QUEYS. 5 a.m. 431bs. roots, 31bs. hay chaff, and 3oz. of salt, steamed. 9.30 a.m. 41bs. oat straw, water ad lib. 11.30 a.m. 41bs. oat straw. 5 p.m. Steamed mess as at 5 a.m. 8 p.m. 41bs. oat straw, water ad lib. Total for each animal : — i31bs. of roots, 31bs. hay steamed, 61bs. oat straw, and 3qz. salt. STIRKS. 5 a.m. ISJlbs. roots, lib. hayclialf, and loz. salt, stearaeJ, 9.30 a.m. 41bs. oat straw. 11.30 a.m. Steamed mess as at 5 a.m. 5 p.m. Steamed mess as at 5 a.m. •THE FABMER'S MAGAZINE. 8 p.m. 41)js. oat straw. Daily quantity for each animal: — 281bs. roots, l^lbs. hay steamed, 4lbs. oat straw, l|^oz, salt ; water always before them. From Feb. 3 to Slarcli 30 the whole of the beasts had mangolds for 14 days, thou swedes li days, then man- golds for 14. The result was as given in some elaborate tables by 3Ir. Tlionison — that 3 cows did best on swedes, I cow did best on mangolds. Of the feeding beasts — 3 did best on swedes, 1 did equally well on botli. Of the queys — 2 did bust ou swedes, 2 did best on mangolds. Of the stirks— 3 did best on swedes, 1 did best on "man- golds. Dnriug this period the weight of the milk pro- duced by the cows fed on swedes, or by those fed on man- golds was =^ 301bs. 14oz. in favour of the swedes. During the same period the per ceutage of cream produced was = 19 oz. in favour of the mangolds. The amount of butter produced during this period from lOlbs. of whole milk was = 2oz. 5drs. in favour of mangolds. The quality of the butter was in the majority of cases the best fromthc mangolds. Upon a repetition of these experiments in the year 1865 similar results were obtained. Another important inquiry engaged Mr. Thomson's attention in 1SG4, viz., the comparative feeding qualities of beanmeal and oatmeal. To test this he tells us that on IMarch 10, four feeding beasts and four milch cows were selected and put up in lots of two in each, and were fed. All the animals were of tJie Ayrshire breed, and were as nearly alike in size, age, and condition, as he had. The food to each lot from March 16 to June 1st was as follows : 5 a.m. 37jlbs. of mangolds, ;ilbs. of hay chaffed stearasd, and 5Jlbs, of meal (beau or oat as the case may be), 41b. treacle, aud Goz. salt mixed with them. 5.30 a.m. 41bs. of hay, water ad lib. II a.m. Steam mess as at 5 a.m. 11.30 a.m. 41bs. ofhay. 5 p.m. Steamed mess as at 5 a.m. 7.30 p.m. 41138. of hay, and water aiUib. Being a daily allowance to each animal of oGlbs. mangolds, 31bs. hay clialf, 81bs. meal (bean or oat), Bibs, hay, Jib. treacle, 6oz. of salt. The treacle was given not only as a laxative, but as a condiment ; cattle surfeit so readily on large quantities of meal, oatmeal especially. On March 30 all the animals were weighed, and the lots ] (of both beasts and cows) were put upon the bean- meal diet, aud the lots 2 upon the oatmeal. After the lapse of 28 days, ou April 27th, they were again weighed, and the lots 1 were changed to the oatjueal diet, and the lots 2 to the beaumeal. They were weighed after the in- terval of a week, on May 4th, and again after another period of twenty-eight days, ou .Tune 1st, when the experi- ment was concluded. The general result I can hardly give better than in the reporter's own Avords. lie observes, that during the period of. twenty-eight days each, the quantity of meal con- sumed by each lot was 89Clbs. or 3 l-5th loads. The gain in weight acquired by the feeding beasts when on oatmeal over that acquired on the beau meal was Sllbs. As the greater portion of this must have gone to add to the " dead weight" of the animals, we shall strike off only 31b5. for olfal, thus leaving ISlbs. net. Tliis quantity at the moderate price of 4s. p-.r stone of Slbs. gives 24s. According to this experiment, and these calculations, if the bean meal was worth 25s. per load, the oatmeal was worth 32s. Gd., aud their relative values for fattening cat- tle wovdd stand as 10 is to 13. Dealing with the milch cows experiment in the same way the gain in favour of oatmeal was 25]bs. or 241bs. nett, equal to 12s. Tlic increase of milk was 73]bs. of the value of 4s., so thai (lie proportionate value was as 10 to 12 ; but if we value tlie increased i>roduce of milk only, then if the beanmeal is worth lU, the oatmeal is worth lOi. We invariably, concludes ]\lr. Thomson, look with a certain degree of distrust on the deductions from single experiments, more especially if these have been ou the feeding of animals, however carefully they may have been conducted ; but the above trials seem to indicate that oat- meal possesses, weight for weight, a considerably higher \alue than beanmeal for the production of fat, and that it is at least equally valuable with beanmeal for the produc- tion of milk. Another important inquiry relating to the food we employ, viz., the composition of the linseed and the oil- cake of commerce, has for some time engaged the attention of Professor Anderson. Two papers by him are contained iu the Traasaciions nf Ihe Highland Society (vol. 1866, p. 187, vol. 1809, p.' 489). The first contains the Pro- fessor's researclics upon tlie adulterations of linseed cake, the second upon the impurities contained in linseed ; both these papers are well worthy of the reader's careful study. To a varying extent the seed imported abounds with impurities. Some samples examined by the Professor con- tained of foreign matters per cent. : — Irish ...': l.GO St. Petersburgh (2 spec.) 4.17 15.8 Munich 28.18 Black Sea 10.10 Calcutta (3 spec.) 5.78 19.68 30.73 Bombay (2 spec.) 3.94 6.32 The impurities consisted generally of small seeds, such as wild mustard, various species of polygonum, and many other seeds which, without growing them, it would be im- possible to recognize. In the Indian samples the seed called Indian rape was found. The specimen of nearly pure Irish linseed was composed as follows, and the cake produced from it (supposing the seed had been quite pure) would be per cent, as given in the third column of the following table : Seed. Cake. AVater 5.70 11.87 Oil 34.77 11.67 Albuminous compounds 20.06 25.46 Macilage, gum, &c 29.22 40.16 Fibre 5.55 6.34 Ash 4.70 4.50 100.00 100.00 Nitrogen 3.21 4.30 Tlie ash contains : Phosphate 1.40 Phosphoric acid combined with alkalies.... 1.09 Sand 0.80 The adulterations of the linseed cake of commerce are very great, and they are not easy of detection by the ag- riculturist. The Pz'ofessor warns those in whose service he so successfully labours, that a cake shoidd be hard and difficult to break, its colour not too pale : if it is soft and splits easily, it is ahnost certain to be adulterated ; its pale colour, even if hard, is suspicious. A genuine oilcake of the hcsl qualiti/ shoidd contain 11 to 13 per cent, of oil, and from 20 to 28 per cent, of albuminous compounds. If made from inferior linseed the albuminous may beaslow as 24 percent., if below 23 it is suspicious, and if much be- low the chances arc that it is adulterated. Avoid cheap cakes. If the farmer will take adulterated cake without question, merely because it is cheap, the fair trader must obviously go to the wall. The value of researches like these it is needless to advo- cate. The long continued quiet improvement in the quality of our live stock, their largely increased number now supported on a given extent of laud, their early arrival at maturity, their increased weight, with a decreasing con- sumption of food — all these great advances have been only attained by patient and laborious attention to their breed and food. These successful eflbrts will, there is no reason to doubt, long continue to reward the owners of those noble stocks and herds which now adorn our country. TSE FARMER'S MAGAZmE. THE CULTURE OF VEGETABLES. BY A I'KACnCAL FAKMEK. This is a department of culture which farmers do not sufficiently cousidcr, or form an estimate of it, as likely to be advantageous to their business. To turn market- gardeners would to many be thought decidedly infra d'uj, but to others unobjectionable. It is my intention iu this paper to bring to their notice some of the many veget- ables which farmers may cultivate advantageously and profitably without any great interference with their or- diaary culture. I am far from advocating a general resort to these innovations upon regular practical farming. There are thousands of farms so situate iu locality and climate and in the low fertility of their soils, that it would be highly imprudent to attempt general vegetable culture ; but on the majority of farms there are suitable soils, suitable fields, or applicable nooks and corners here and there, some eligible sites, where garden cultivation may be beneficially carried out, aud where the quality of the soil, and the sheltered character of the district, and mildness of the climate is satisfactory. The wonderful convenience of railway accommodation has brought almost every farm within an hour or two's distance from some of our great consuming populations and their mar- kets. There is a regular and continuous demand for all kinds of vegetable produce at these great markets. Lon- don, for instance, with its three millions of consumers, is always crying more, more, and many of our largely- populated districts have to derive their supplies from dis- tant sources, because the soils and sites around them are unproductive and bad. The populations of the present day have chiefly to depend upon market-gardeners for their supplies of esculents. Farmers only aid these supplies by producing potatoes, turnips, carrots, and a few cabbages. I wish to encourage them to an extension of this order of culture and cropping, believing that in many localities it might be ado])ted with every prospect of success. Farms, for instance, within fifty miles of Loudon have now (thanks to railway) as ready access to Covent Garden, the Borough, and other London markets as the market gardeners of the metropolitan district. Why then should they not take advantage of it ? Moreover, although the London mar- ket gardeners can obtain the London manures at a rea- sonable rate, the distant farmers can more ecouomically substitute almost invaluable artificial manurial aids, so that they are brought upon a par with the nearer resi- dents; besides, rents, labour, and parochial charges are less in the country than in the vicinity of large towns. I am well aware that every farmer would not shine as a market gardener, or in producing garden produce. All who would be likely to fail in obtaining a satisfactory know- ledge of such mode of culture had better keep to their ordinary farming ; but there arc numbers of thoughtful plodding men, who could and would readily take it up, and manage all properly, and I doubt not profitably. To this class I desire to otter a few hints and suggestions. The vegetables most in demand, suitable to farm culture, are potatoes, carrots, turnips, cabbages iu variety, peas, and beans. Then there arc the smaller and more unusual kind for farm culture, radishes, lettuces, onions, asparagus, celery, cucumbers, vegetable-marrows, spinage, kidney- beans, artichokes, and parsnips ; or again, fruit, goosebeiTies, currants, raspberries, strawberries ; or orchard and hedge-row fruit, apples, pears, cherries, and plums. These latter fruits are of course the result of years of growth and cultivation, aud do scarcely come into my present idea of adventi- tious aids, but they are well worth cultivating in suitable soils and localities. The first suggestion I would otfer is, that every farmer before he commences the culture of what is usually termed " gardeu-stutTs," or " produce," should couuect himself with some respectable green- grocer or fruit and vegetable salesman, either in London or some of our large provincial towns. They will advise with him what is best to grow for their trade, and supply him with baskets, peds, bags, hampers, &c. in which to transmit his produce to them, for the sale of which they have a pretty v/ell established commission, and the proceeds are generally remitted weekly. The grower will have but little difficulty iu this respect. With regard to the culture of these accessories to farm produce I would suggest commencing with early potatoes, not in large breadths, but au acre or two in the warmest site on the farm then at liberty. These should be planted in open weather at the close of February, and along with them, if the soil is finely-pulverized, may be sown radish-seed of the earliest variety. These radishes will be ready for market before their growth in- terferes with that of the potatoes. As soon as any quan- tity is ready they must be drawn, washed, and packed iu peds or baskets, and forwarded at once to the salesman. All must be cleared oCF in good time, so as not to hinder the growth of the potatoes, which of course is the main crop. As these early potatoes become ready for sale they must be lifted, aud be carefully packed iu baskets, so that they reach market without having their skins broken or partially rubbed olT. Early cabbages, cauliflowers, &c. may be profitably cultivated. For these crops the seed must be sown in or about the month of August, so that the plants are ready for planting out before the winter sets in and gets a good hold of the soil. They should be planted iu sheltered situations, or severe winters will injure them. As they become marketable they may be sent otF in peds, or, which is far better, in truck-loads, if a large quantity is grown : iu the latter case they must not be too-nicely trimmed, the larger leaves only being taken otF. The growth of early peas aud beans for plucking is often very profitable. The most sheltered and warmest site on the farm should be selected for very early peas. These may be sown iu open weather in the winter, or if desirable in the autumn. The danger is from frosts and insects. As they become tit for sale, they must be carefully plucked, and be packed also in baskets, and covered with matting, and sacking, tied down, as for radishes. Beans can scarcely be produced so early, but require a similar order of management. Car- rots, turnips, and parsnips may be sown early in March iu nicely prepared soil. The earlier they can be got ready for sale the greater the profit ; aud the mode of transmis- sion, to market is the same as for radishes, the greater part of the tops taken oiF and being well washed. Aspa- ragus may be cultivated in large breadths to advantage, and is often very profitable. This plant is not adapted for ordinary farm culture ; but long series of beds properly prepared and managed are to be found upon farms, and as farmers have all the requisites for growing asparagus in perfection I suggest that it is worth the trial. When once a good plant is secured the expense of culture is not THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. great, and thousands of heads may be sent to market. Kidney-beans may be advantageously grown, particularly the dwarf kind. The climbers, however, may be easily accommodated by rows of sheep-hurdles upon which to trail. Celery, again, is an annual plant, and may be grown on deep soils profitably. The labour is consider- able, but the produce in most seasons is great. The seed should be sown early in March, or the earlier the better considering safety. It is best raised under glass for early service, and the plants as soon as ready should be picked out singly to promote their progress. Trenches must be dug, and a reasonable supply of manure spread along the bottom, to be covered slightly with soil in which the plants are planted. The subsequent culture is chiefly the water- ing and moulding up ; the latter a regular and gradual process. It should be ready for lifting at the commence- ment of October, or if possible earlier ; the earliest crops are generally best sold. Cucumbers may be profitably grown by farmers in quantities. They are very produc- tive under proper management, but they require much warmth and shelter, and in their early growth great care. Onions may be readily grown upon our farms. They require a mild soil scrupulously clean, or the weeding is expensive. The soil, previous to sowing the seed, must be made very fine and open, and if formed into beds all the better. The chief attention required is cleanliness and singling, so as to leave space for " the appleing." The young singlings will be worth transmission to market. The onions will be ready for drawing about the middle of September ; they must be left to dry, and then granaried. To grow lettuce and spinage profitably, the farm should be contiguous to a good market. The culture and growth of gooseberries, for early sale or before ripening, is unusually profitable according to the season : currants too, are often very profitably grown ; they require to be ripe before gathering. Raspberries and strawberrtes are also grown to great advantage on certain soils ; and are very profitable if they can without injury be got to market. Much depends upon the precise varieties in all these plantings. Gooseberries for instance, which are cultivated for table, are unprofitable if grown for early sale for pies, &e. : these plantings require considerable preparation of the soil and peculiar management ; but many farmers would find it to their advantage to adopt one or the otiier of them, in suitable situations, on their farms. They soon come into bearing, and the demand for them is yearly increasing. It is no uncommon thing to make from £50 to £70 per acre of gooseberries when the trees ai'e full grown. Celery will occasionally bring in from £40 to £60 per acre , and other of these adventitious aids to farmers are frequently equally profitable. THE NEW FARM. I am sadly afraid that we shall have very thin hay crops. I hope to mow next week, having got down a new Wood's machine. This is the fifth mower I have had. I bought one of Wood's some years since, when they were first introduced into the coutitry. It was a " combined" machine, and the cutting bar was made of ash ; hence the severance of the stems was not close enough. This I sold, and have since had three others, by various makers, bought second-hand at sales ; which I would suggest to the young farmer, on the strength of my accumulated experience, is a very treacherous plan. It is far better to pay a few extra pouuds and get a fresh implement. You can never know the exact condition of the article, and the repairs soon mount to an awful height, without either obtaining for you any satisfaction in the end. On our strip of alluvial soil there is a succulent crop of nearly two ftet in depth, intermixed with great patches of docks. The leaves of this plant I shall dry and store like tobacco, to steam periodically into their original dimensions, and mix with meal for the piggery. Fresh boiled, they constitute an admirable element of the wash-tub, and are much esteemed by the cottagers. I am so afraid that we shall smash up many a partridge's nest, they are so thick upon the ground. We have a lot of pheasants just hatched under " a silky" : the eggs came to light on the removal of some apple-tree prunings for firewood. It was very amusing to us all that the silky old gentleman must needs keep watch and vigil by his patient spouse, sitting with stupid inexorability alongside in her box. The little lads are of opinion that he is a muff, and dare not face the other bantams without his wife's skirts to run behind when threatened by an adversary. Perhaps he cannot fight. lie has the funniest way of walking — a most exaggerated ultra-gallic gesticu- latory kind of movement, reminding one of the defence- less hop of a fettered donkey, when he is forced off his steady domestic paces by the challenge of a neighbour. It is curious that a guinea-hen beloni;iug to the adjoining farm has gone off into the woods, whether mated with a pheasant or not we cannot tell. For several evenings she returned later and later to her roost, as if unable to make up her mind under temptation. One evening she never came back at all, and ever since she has kept to the plantation. One could understand it if she had been reared where they are in the habit of turning this bird out amongst the pheasants ; but she was hatched from stock that has led a steady farm-yard life for years. It must be a wild instinct cropping up accidentally in her mind. The winter river-floods having made great inroads into one part of the bank we are raising stone close to the river- bed, a few hundred yards away, to protect the wearing part. It proves of a harder nature than we anticipated. Where the layers are excavated we make a series of runs and retreats for the quick-eyed trout, so as to multiply our angling stations. Over the packed stone I propose to scat- ter mould, and sow therein the running " Agrostis stolonifera," of which I have had a sack down from a seedsman : a consignment, by the way, which gave my young bailiff a strong fright. He was busy overhauling the various packages when he came to this, and was struck by the appearance of the fine diminutive seed. Plunging his arm clothed with woollen in, he drew it out a bi'own mass, as if a swarm of small flics were clinging by it. " Do you know what seed that is ?" " No, sir: it's a funny sort." " Well, it's couch." " Couch !" And he dropped the sack in horror. " Please, sir, I thought we had plenty of that sort ;" and he tried, but in vain, to brush his sleeve clean. It so happened that he was busy with the mangold ground. Next day I observed that he had undergone a religiously thorough change of raiment. The regular growth of the several crops is showing now markedly the divisions of our re-arranged farm — small fields having been thrown together and hedges THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 9 stocked up. It is very satisfactory to read so plainly deciphered the result of one's careful calculations. Most ftiscinating of all pursuits after all is the improvement and farming of an estate, however limited in extent. An event, which I had often longed for, has just come off. We had no house martins building under our eaves. I used often to remember with what delight one used as a boy at home to watch the elegant motions of these beautiful birds as they swept up and down in their twittering flight. Last autumn I was consequently glad to see a pair commence constructing their habitation against our present residence. It was, how- ever, so late in the season that I concluded they must have made a mistake in their reckoning. After a while, as if disgusted, they went off, and were soon involved in the ai.nnal migration. I gave the pair, T must say, little ci-edit for judgment. I thought it might be probably an ill-considered run-away match, or perhaps that a widow had, after much manoeuvring, managed to entrap a wary old bachelor. Anyhow, they had not given due consideration to their housekeeping cares, it was clear ; when, lo and behold ! this spring, what should I see one fine morning, but my fair friend and her partner essaying the security of a tiny mud lodge, which was all they had managed to erect last autumn ; she twittering what were evidently very sweet injunctions to him as he swept up on radiant wing, taking rapid flight at once, and returning soon witJi what appeared a mud pellet, for which he got the dearest of prettily mouthed acknowledgments. It made one's teeth water, I confess, to note the eager and yet so refined billing and cooing of that industrious pair. The habitation arose rapidly tier by tier (not without at- tracting the wistful eyes of our youngsters, who have " no martins' eggs in their collections," and which they won't have as regards this particular pair), and the bride is now clearly engaged in important considerations. Sec, then, how we misjudge them ! Their imperfect performance of last autumn was a proof of foresight. The exterior of our house is so smooth as, I think, to afford no temptation to a martin of average enterprise and industry. This llomeo, however, was possessed of an engineering turn, and so he took the precaution of making a safe foundation before- hand for his future dwelling. It gave one a lesson not to be too ready to pronounce ill-natured judgment on the proceedings of a neighbour. I notice now another pair beginning to survey the locality : they are clearly birds of taste, for there is a lovely view therefrom, and I shall not now be sur])rised or sorry if the whole lodge be divided into building lots. I have had occasion latterly to observe in several in- stances that short animals lengthen out at different periods of their growth. I remember being struck by that rare judge Mr. Eastwood giving a stiff figui'e for a short com- pact red calf. I wondered at the time whether it would always be stumpy as it then was. Late experience has shown me that both in cows and pigs and sheep short animals occasionally grow long as their youth progresses. I have just had a young quickset hedge well cleaned about the roots of encroaching grasses, bindweed, and other intruders. The hint I took from your magazine at the time of planting answers well. A trench one foot deep was cut, and six inches of good straw manure trodden in. Upon this, six inches of mould were thrown, in which the thorn was planted. It has certainly reached this precious store, for it grows with astonishing vigour, and looks eminently healthy. A neighbour tried the same plan, and has excellent promise. Another neighbour has a quickset hedge all choked with grass and weeds. It looks exceed- ingly feeble with this "old man of the sea" stuft' clinging around its neck ; but he will not clean it, because he says that there are certain tiny fibres which start from the roots to the surface in search of food, which he would so exter- minate to the damage of the plant itself. Half-choked as it is, one cannot wonder at the straggling foragers being sent up from below in search of air and aliment, which, it is my idea, it need not and would not do if kept rid of its destructive incubus. I know that upon a farm which I hired I had a quickset hedge, one part of which had been planted much later than the rest, and was not one-third its height, being choked at the base with weeds. I had it cleared, and in a year the difference of height between the two parts of the fence was not apparent, and yet my neighbour who will not clean his fence is an experienced and able horticulturist. The thoroughbred mare has, like all tieket-of-lcavc animals, begun to forget her promises, and to plunge and play tricks as of yore. She has not yet, however, preci- pitated young Vulcan ; for I insist upon his having a roll of cloth before him on the saddle. I think that, alter all, I shall convert her into a brood mare, being by that rare stout sire Daniel O'Rourke. We arc much interested in a railway tunnel which is being driven through the hill which I have often mentioned as being of a composite order, and, by its outer coating of pudding stone and inward limestone, suggesting the idea of having been once at the bottom of the sea. As yet, however, there have been no wonders developed : only strata of plain sandstone have been cut through. The coverts where the pheasants build being interdicted ground to the youngsters it is astonishing what a number of small birds have elected to build within the shelter of these bushes. I don't know what the boys wouldn't give to maraud there ! There is a pair of kingfishers close at hand, too, the whereabout of whose nest is a waking care to them. I could not imagine how my hurdles got stuck about the orchards in every direction. One day I found a little boy hauling one upon his back along which I ob- served him set against a tree. He then climbed it, ma- naging thereby to reach the first branch, and was seen ex- ploring the topmost. I thought I saw an otter the other day with his nose just above water, and his soft lithe figure occasionally un- dulating with the stream. I approached on tiptoe. It was the brown leaf of a water-lily which we planted last year bobbing in the current, and the stem we saw waving below. We hope to naturalize them in the Wye if stupid tourists would only let the blossom alone at first. 1 Vigil. HAYMAKING The first question to be solved in haymaking is to de- cide for what purpose or market is it intended or to be prepared. If for the London or large consuming market it must be made in a very different way than for home consumption. It is one of the most difficult and trying operations in farming to suitably make and secure hay for the London market. The best London hay is fine in its quality, light green in colour, and entirely free from heat. To mow early may ensure the quality as opposed to any coarseness of herbage, but the care and attention requi- 10 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. site to get it withered and dried, without its becoming bleached by sun, air, or rain, is a marvellous achievement in average weather, and next to impossible in a showery season. The task is a trying one, and very expensive. In hot, dry weather, it is a simple process, requiring only care and common attention. The hay-farmer, therefore, takes advantage of any fine weather, and immediately starts all his power in machines and hands to cnt down the grass, and spread it about as thinly as possible, so that it is most advantageously exposed to the withering power of the sun, and drying winds. The introduction and free adoption of the grass-mowing machine has been a great acquisition to hay-farmers : by them the grass is considerably spread about as it comes or falls from the machine, and when further taken up and tossed about by the hay-tedder facilitates its making into hay with ex- traordinary I'apidity. To makehaythusquicklyisundoubt- edly the right way, as the speedy process causes the re- tention of all the better qualities of the feeding-grass in the hay, but it is not imperatively necessary that every ordinary farmer should be so particular if it is not re- quiredfor sale. It is necessary that he use every diligence to make it properly, as, the longer it is in hand and exposed to atmospheric influences, the moredoesitloseinsusteuance value. It may not be very important to retain its co- lour, but it is important to retain its chief virtues, and this may be done without the extra cost of making " foot- cocks" (small cocks) at night to be strewn abroad in the morning, as is so necessary when making for sale. In mountainous districts this is truly requisite ; the heavy dews and frequent i-ains in those districts soon cause it to decay, and turn a light or well-washed colour. In these districts the process of making hay is always a diffi- cult one. The patience exercised is great. The speedy shaking after the mower, the absence of sun from over- shadowing hills, &c., the thousands of foot-cocks the size of mole-hills daily made, the spreading of these in the morning, and the constant watchfulness exhibited by thcsemountainecrsismost commendable; and yet, after all, the hay is none of the best, and has frequently to lie for weeks in cocks of good size before a favourable leading- time appears. jSIuch depends upon the weather in every district, and in continuous showery weather it is best to let the grass alone, and wait a more favourable season, if peradventure it may arrive : but if already mown, the difficulties are great in preserving it from serious injury. The bet- ter practice is to let the grass lie uutouchedin the swathe, as long as it docs not show signs of decay on the ground, or that the grass is growing through the swathe, and so spoil it. It is of no avail in wet weather to stir or shake it about. The more it is exposed to rains and moisture, by repeated turnings or shakings, the more it is injured. It is a choice of evils. My own practice in such preca- rious weather is to exercise great and constant watchful- ness ; to have at hand a large staff of haymakers who may be otherwise engaged in hoeing and weeding potatoes, turnips, &c., or other farm operations. As soon as tokens of respite in the weather appear, all are summoned to the hay-field, and we proceed to shake out a portion, and endeavour to get it as dry as possible, and throw it into "win-rows," so that two men can with difficulty roll it up into large or good-sized haycocks, to be carefully trimmed and secured dowusoas toshootoft' rains. At every intervalof line or windy weather these cocks are turned over, the wet portions laid out to dry, and again put together as our judgment dictates. If only very short intervals of fine weather intervene, it may be desirable merely to turn over the cocks and to re-turn tliem down again. In this way it admits air, opens them to the wind, and prevents moulding or taint. In these processes care must be taken that all is well done, and the rains kept out of the cocks as much as possible. In this way much useful and ser- viceable hay may be preserved in bad hay seasons ; but if a day or two fine interval succeeds, and stacking is undesirable, it is good practice to make the hay up into very large haycocks, to be drawn together by two horses, one on either side the win-row, dragging a strong rope and drawing up the hay into cocks of about half a waggon load in each, having bottoms as small as safety points out. In this way hay may be fairly preserved for weeks if re- quired. In stacking hay out of good condition some attention should be observed to improve it in stack. The stacks should not be large, but proportionate in size, so that too much heat is not generated, and an air-shaft be made by drawing up a skep or sack, well filled, perpendicularly from the bottom to the top ; care must be taken to keep this air-shaft straight up, or the stack upon settling will close the shaft. It is desirable to add upon stacking some few ounces occasionally of aromatic seed, to be strewn over the stack either a little corriander or carraway seed ; it gives a pleasant odour to the hay. Salt is often used, but to ill-conditioned hay it only adds more moisture ; salt is a good addition to hay almost burnt by the hot, sunny weather while making, or when exceedingly dry upon carting, but it must be used with great moderation. The foregoing observations relate chiefly to making hay ia unfavourable seasons ; in suitable weather the process is easy, and truly pleasing. The best course is to shake the grass out as thinly as possible immediately after the mower ; as evening approaches it should be thrown into " win-rows" or a row along the field made by throwing several swathes together and rounding them up into a ridge) or "foot-cocks," or larger cocks. These should be all shaken out as soon as the morning dew is off the ground, to be again taken up by the tedder or forks, and shaken out as lightly as possible all over the surface during the day ; and, if not sufficiently withered, the same process of cocking or Avinnowing must again be followed up at night ; to be again distributed in the following morning, till ready for the linal cocking or leading. The leading should not be too hastily done : it is better to spoil in the field than in the stack. The danger of early stacking is from over-heating. This danger is not so great with hay grown upon old meadow- lauds, but it is imminent with hay grown upon rich pasture-lands. It is difficult to tell when such hay may be safely stacked. It is customary in many districts still to fork and i-ake, the man throwing in the hay, the woman with her r.ake following ; but many of the modern hay-rakes do this process equally well and much cheaper. The implement for drawing the hay into rows is a very useful one, but many of the large-tined hay-rakes do this department of work very acceptably. When all is fully ready for leading, all farm-operations should give way to it, and let it be done as expeditiously as possible. The stack should be left a reasonable time open, to allow heat or moisture to escape and then be safely thatched down, lu making clover-hay, too much care cannot be taken in the stirring ; shaking is out of the question after the first turning out. The green clover should be thrown lightly over the surface after the mower, and if the season is hot and withering, not to be again touched till ready for cocking. The great benefit in making clover-hay is to preserve the leaf; but if it is repeatedly stirred, the stem only is left, the leaf falls off. In light crops it is fre- quently best to merely lighten up the swathe, and when dry and withered, to cock it out of the swathe. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 11 THE SMALL-POX IN SHEEP MR. SEWELL READ'S AMENDMENTS. A meeting of flockraasters and others interested in the breeding of sheep was held at the Norfolk Hotel, Norwich, to consider what steps it might be necessary to take to prevent the amendment proposed by the Cculral Ciiamber of Agri- culture, and introduced to tlie House of Commons by Mr. C. S. Read, JLP., " that flocks in whicli there is a case of small- pox should be indiscriminately slaughtered," from becoming law. Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., was voted into the chair. Mr. T. Brown said there were many of tliosc present who liad received a circular signed by Mr. Hugh Aylmer and him- self, retj^uestiug them to meet tliere on that day to consider if any steps, and, if so, what steps were necessary to be taken with regard to certain amendments of which notice had been given that they would be moved in the House of Commons by Mr. Read vyitb regard to sheep-pox. A private meeting had been held that morning, aud it was there deemed advisable that a public meeting should be called for that afternoon. He would now proceed to relate why and wherefore a move had been made on this question. It might and probably would be thought a great act of presumption on tlie part of Mr. Aylmer and liimself to call a meeting of any kind, but the results would prove whether or not they were justified in so doing. To such of them as knew him, and who knew the high respect and esteem he bore towards Mr. Clare Sewell Read — who had gained not only the respect and esteem of them, the tenant farmers of this county, but of England — it would be unnecessary to say how excessively unpleasant it was for liira to take a part in opposition to that gentleman. They were aware that the Contagious Diseases Animals' No. 3 Bill was appointed to come before the House of Commons on Monday. That alone was a strong reason to justify them in proceeding so hastily as they had done in summoning a meeting. They expected the bill would come on on Monday, and they therefore thought there was no time to spare. Since he came to Norwich, however, he had heard that it was post- poned until next Thursday week ; and therefore there was ample time for their opinion to be expressed and circulated throughout the country. He had alvrays tried to avoid differences amongst themselves. He had spoken to Mr. Read ; he had written to Mr. Read ; and he had expressed him- self as strongly as he knew how,|to induce him to withdraw the amendments with respect to sheep-pox, which stood in his name in the House of Commons. He had failed to do so, and hence this meeting. By the Government bill any farm on which the sheep-pox broke out would be declared an infected place ; and that it must be clear of the disease for twenty-eight days before it could be declared uninfected. Mr. Read intended to amend this clause by putting the sheep-pox in the same categoi-y as cattle-plague ; that is to say, that if any sheep brought it out, the whole flock was likely to be slaughtered. There were se- veral of them who doubtless recollected the outbreak of sheep- pox in 1845, and would well remember tJiat it raged in the latter part of May or the beginning of June in that year. At Marhara, out of 739 hoggets in one field lie had 21 cases. As soon as attacked the sheep were removed from the field, aud placed in the bullock yard where they received proper food aud attention, and the result was that 1-1 died and seven recovered. He had also one ewe attacked out of 267, but it recovered and returned to the field. Out of -100 shearlings not one was af- fected. If Mr. Read's proposals had been carried out, 1,1)00 sheep would liave been killed, perhaps 1,400 instead of 14. Tiie late Mr. Edward Wiuearls had 18 cases out of a flock of 600 ; and on another farm in the same neighbourhood three were attacked out of 059 — one died and two recovered. Mr. Thompson liad no case, neilher had the late Mr. R. G. Wineai-s ; hut he inoculated oO and the greater part of tliem died. Taking the first three instancer, only, it Mr. Read's pro- posed amendment had been carried out, there would probably have been 1,600 sheep — possibly 3,500 — killed in the place of 24. In the adjoining parish of Shouldham, Mr. Bird and Mr Leamon, jun., had one case each : the former killed and buried ; the latter attended to and cured. Mr. Aylmer had one case out of 1,000 sheep, and that recovered. Mr. Flatt, of Eastmoor, who said it would be monstrous to slaughter, liad 35 out of about 520 ewes and 500 hoggets and only lost about a score. Mr. Hugh Aylmer, whose rams were spread throughout the whole of the county at the time, after the rams were returned had several cases and not a single sheep died. He thought he had said snilicient to show that sheep-pox was nut to compared with cattle-plague ; and that it was not nearly so destructive as pleuro pneumonia. He therefore thought the bill of the Government was amply suDicient to meet the case with regard to sheep-pox. True, there ■ would have been "compensation" (laughter). How such a word could have been intended to describe such a thing was beyond his comprehension. He had heard of " coniposition ;" but " compensation" could have nothing to do with the question. Suppose the disease broke out in a flock of 1,000 ewes while it was in lamb — suppose the whole of that flock to be slaugh- tered as they would be liable to be, how was their value to be estimated ; how would it be possible to replace them ? He purposely avoided saying anything about the consequences to the ram breeder. His impression was that such a case as that to which he had alluded would be quite vexatious enough without the consequences to the ram breeder. The results would not only be disastrous to the breeder, but would be a loss to the consumer and to the public in general, and would be greatly detrimental to the interests of the public at large. Hehad reason to believe that Mr. Read would meet what he had deduced by saying the amendments were not his, but those of the Central Chamber of Agriculture, and that he, as presi- dent of that body, felt it to be his paramount duty to carry out the wishes of that Chamber. But he trusted they would say he had also another duty to perform, and that was a duty to his brother farmers and this country. Mr. Read would pro- bably say, as he had already done, that he did not see how sheep-pox was ever to gain a hold upon any English flock, un- less mixed up with foreign sheep. He did not understand that even Mr. Read proposed to prohibit any person from purchasing foreign sheep, after they had been submitted to due quarantine ; and would that gentleman, of all persons, con- tend that inspection would be an infallible prevention to the reintroduction of disease ? He would not trespass further on their time, but he thought he might fairly claim to say that there were proofs that with ordinary care and attention sheep- pox was but slightly contagious ; that with much care and at- tentiou it would not occasion any serious loss, although some trouble, and that it quickly died out, and was very easily eradi- cated. Sheep-pox was so very easy of detection, as it inva- riably broke out under the arms or thighs of the sheep, conse- quently making them lame, or so that an owner or shepherd with half an eye could detect every case brought forward, even before the symptoms were fully developed. He did not pro- pose any resolutions at the present time, but to see whether something could not be done, whereby they, the sheep breed- ers and flock masters of this country, could not come to some arrangement with the Chairman of tlie Central Chamber of Agriculture, so that the proposed amendment with regard to sheep-pox might never come before the House of Commons. The CiiMRMAN said the usual way in conducting meetings of this kind, was to have some resolution ; and he supposed, as Mr. Brown had not proposed any, he had been out of order. Mr. Bkown said as it appeared this was to be a public meeting, and conducted strictly as one, he would propose, "That this meeting is of opinion that the clauses of the Go- vernment Contagions Animals' (No. 2) bill, relating to sheep- pox, ate amply suflicient for the protection of the British Hock master." Mr. S. K. Gavfoeb seconded the motion. Mr. Flatt asked Mr. Brown if they were to understand they wished for the Government bill as it stood ? 12 THE ^AUMER'S MAGAZINE. Mr. BrvOWi\ : Assuredly not ; merely with respect to sheep-pox. Mr. Flatt : Very well ; because we had better understand each other before we begin. Mr. England said it might be deemed right, considering the prominent part he took at the preliminary meeting, that he should address a few words to the present meeting. He had asked Mr. Read to take the chair, and he was very much obliged to liim for having done so, for the simple reason that lie (the speaker) was desirous that the movement which was now being taken simply in defence of the British flockraaster, might be quite clear of any political move against Mr. Eead. It was well known that his (Mr. England's) political opinions differed very widely from Mr. Read's ; but, at the same time, he should deem himself to be taking a wrong course if he al- lowed politics for one moment to interfere in the course he had taken on this occasion. On receiving a circular from Mr. Brown, he had thought deliberately and deeply on the subject with regard to sheep-pox ; and although he was happy to say lie never in his own experience met with sheep-pox ; but, from all lie had heard from his friends who had, it seemed to him, as Mr. Brown had just said, to come into a totally diiferent category to cattle-plague, and required a totally different treat- ment. He entirely agreed with the resolution Mr. Brown had proposed, that the clauses in the Government provision, rela- tive to sheep-pox were amply sufficient to meet all the danger which the British flockmaster could apprehend from it. He cordially supported the resolution ; and he hoped that Mr. Jlead would be able to see his way clear at once — although he was Chairman of the Central Board of Agriculture — to ad- vance what they considered the interests of the flockmaslers of Norfolk, with whom Mr. Read was perhaps more strongly connected than with any Central Chamber of Agriculture. He could not help expressing his feeling that it was a great pity that the opinion of this large county — in which so many flocks were kept, and so many sheep bred — should not have been ex- pressed before the Central Chamber of Agriculture, as it might have had an influence upon their deliberations, and might have brought about a diiferent issue than what it had to-day. He thought it would be a terrible thing that the flocks should be subjected to the same treatment as cattle if the disease should break out ; and he hoped tlie resolution would meet with the approbation of the meeting. Mr. Woods said he thought he might fairly presume that the meeting might be considered as nothing in the shape of an attack upon Mr. Read, but simply that it was made known to them that Mr. Read was only an instrument in the liands of the Central Board of Agriculture. He understood that Mr. Read, being chainuan of that board, was requested by the dele- gates of various chambers to propose those amendments when the bill came forward ; and therefore he thought it was unfair for one moment for them to suppose that Mr. Read had more to do with it than as a humble instrument in the hands of other people. He thought they ought to have struck at Mr. Read witji a sort of side wind, in the endeavour to convince him of the impropriety of those resolutions being carried out. He felt convinced that had this been done it would have had an in- fluence upon those delegates to induce them to withdraw from their resolution. He could not shut his eyes to the fact that tiie members of the Central Chamber of Agriculture had shown a great deal of collective wisdom in endeavouring to force those resolutions upon the House of Commons, but he thought that they had not a practical knowledge of the injuries which might be committed on the flocks of this county by such a clause as that, which he thought was beyond the conception of any rea- sonable or practical man. He was quite sure that if they were to insert that clause, and that if the sheep-pox were unfortu- nately to break out in this county, it would be more disastrous to the flockmasters and mutton-consumers in this country than many persons were aware of. It would not only have a disas- trous effect upon localities, but he held it would have a na- tional effect. He thought that the finest flocks of tfiis conn- try would be slaughtered, and that they would never be re- placed during the present generation. He did not go so far as Mr. Brown in saying that sheep-pox was not contagious, but it was easily governable. Erom liis experience iu 1858 he saw a flock of slieep which were affected ; iO wore inoculated, and 19 out of the 20 died and one recovered. It was then seen by taking a strong view of the case that it was useless to go on inoculating, and consequently he had carried out a sys- tem of daily inspection, and as Mr. Brown had said there was nothing so easy to discover as sheep-pox, and if persons would take ordinary care they might easily discover it. After this system of separate treatment and strict examination there were only 9 more cases in that flock. His opinions were that if they had recourse to such a measure it would have a very dis- astrous effect iu the country. Supposing, too, in any place where the disease broke out, would not the owners keep it as quiet as they could, and take every means in their power to cure their flocks without submitting to the slaughtering pro- cess ? He thought they should ask Mr. Read to represent to the delegates of the Central Chamber of Agriculture how very detrimental it is to the interests of this country if those clauses were carried into law (cheers). Mr. Gayford said he had so fully agreed with every word which had fallen from Mr. Brown that he had left him but little to say unless it was as far as his own experience went in the matter. He well remembered the year IS-iS, when sheep-pox broke out. He visited several flocks, and went into Essex, Cambridge, Suffolk, and Norfolk. The owners con- sulted with him as to what was to be done, and, unfortunately, they came to the conclusion that they would inoculate. He himself inoculated between 800 and 1,000, and his loss was very trifling ; but with some people it was very heavy. Out of the sheep he inoculated he thought he lost 14, 15, or 16, but he would not confine himself to one sheep. The system he pursued was that on every morning — and that was the time to see the sheep — he went round, and if he discovered any sign of sickness, he had them removed and put away, and kept by themselves. Consequently, his loss was very light. He and the others who inoculated were very justly found fault with. Adjoining his occupation was a large pool of water, and in the month of June sheep to the number of 35,000 came down to it and no mischief arose. Mr. Smith had only one sheep attacked, and at Larling there was but one case. That sheep was directly removed, and no further case ap- peared ; and they then found from experience tiiat the only thing they had to do was to remove the sheep as soon as they were diseased, and it was marvf llous — after tliey ceased inocu- lation and gave proper attention to them — how quickly it died out, and how little was thought of it. He had no hesitation in saying that he had lost more from pleuro-pneumonia ; and he did not know he had not from raouth-and-foot disease, and sometimes from certain fevers in the month of June, than lie had from the sheep-pox, although he did the very worst thing he could by inoculating. He should not fear the smaU-pox so much as other diseases in the country in sheep. Mr. Flatt said that in 1848 unfortunately he had what was usually termed sheep-pox. There'were then 520 breeding ewes and 500 hoggets on the farm. He had 35 ewes which were attacked, and did precisely as Mr. Gayford did. [Mr. Brown : You did not inoculate.] He certainly did not inocu- late, but he hoped they would aUow him to tell his own tale. AU his sheep were drawn out every morning, just as Mr. Gay- ford had said. That was iu the month of November. There were 35 sheep taken, and out of the 35 — they were nursed as much as they could be — he lost 20 or 31, but he would not be certain to one sheep. He never saw anything of the sheep- pox after that time, and he never wished to see it again. Mr. J. Fuller was alive then, and he, in company with Mr. Cham- bers, went to him (the speaker), and asked what he intended to do ; if he intended to inoculate ? He said certainly not. He was then acting upon advice, and refused to inoculate, and Mr. F'uller and Mr. Chambers then said they should not. They lost nothing : he lost 20. He thought it was most ab- surd to say because they had two sheep afflicted with small- pox out of 500 they should slay 498. A gentleman who was present at a former meeting told them they were to have the value of the wool and mutton as compensation. Unfortu- nately there was no doubt West Norfolk men got taken in amazingly. He had paid 60s. for an ewe over and over again. He wanted them at the commencement of the lambing season, and lie should like to know if they were wool and mutton times. To be told that a man who had a large number of sheep on his farm was to have them slain in this way because a few were affected, was certainly the most preposterous thing he had ever heard of in his life (Cheers.) Mr. R. Leeds could only state his own case. In 1848 he had only a few cases of small-pox. There were about six cases out of about one thousand sheep. He lost three and three re- THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. 13 covered, He separated the diseased sheep and he liad had no further cases. He thought they ouglit to be very much obliged to Mr. Head ibr atteudiug there that day, and lie thought Mr. AVoods made an ulhisiou to the eHect that they had had rather a side cut at Mr. Head (" No, no.") Mr. Woods said he begged Mr. Leeds pardon. He raiglit he condemned for following in the words of Mr. England, but he wanted to show there was not the slightest desire to do any- thing of the kind. Mr. Brown said if Mr. Leeds liad been at the meeting on he previous Saturday he would have known they took some teps ; but the effect of wliat he (the speaker) said then was that Mr. Read simply explained to the meeting liis first amend- ment— tliat which he termed the important amendment — and he only asked the approval of the Chamber to that amend- ment. He had intended to ask the approval of the Chamber to all the amendments which had been publislied in his name, and he (Mr. Read) had stated at the Council Meeting that it was not only in deference to his (the speaker's) strongly ex- pressed wish that he did not go beyond the first resolution. In fact he sat and chewed the cud during the whole of the time. What he (the speaker) had intended to say was that Mr. Farrer had been compelled to leave, but that he cordially agreed with the proposed resolution ; as also did Mr. William Heath. Mr. Leamon merely wished to correct an error. The amended resolutions had been on the paper for the last month, and it seemed strange that those gentlemen had only thought fit to call themselves together at tiie eleventh houi. It was not the fault of the Chamber when they met last week, and he believed Mr. Brown had done right in not bringing the matter forward then. They must not respect the Chamber on all oc- casions. When tilings were printed for a month, he tliought it rather hard to say they had not had an opportunity to dis- cuss it before this. Mr. England said that, as seconder of a resolution last week at the Chamber of Agriculture, he must be allowed to u,ive an explanation, so that he might exonerate himself from having made a compromise in any degree with regard to the amendment they had discussed. He thought it could not, by the most ingenious attempt, be converted into a support of the amendment they now opposed. Tiiat resolution was " That the Chamber heartily approves of the amendment of the Pre- sident for separate markets for the sale and slaughter of foreign stock." Mr. Gayford said he thought it was very clear that none of them understood at the time that the entire flocks were to be slaughtered. He did not, for one ; and the probability was that many others would never suppose for one moment that anything so absurd could come from the Chamber of Agri- culture. The Chairman then put the resolution to the meeting, and it was unanimously carried. On the motiou of Mr. J. Hill it was resolved that a peti- tion should be got up and signed as numerously as possible ; and Messrs. England, R. Overman, Hugh Aylmer, H. Woods, J. Gayford, T. Brown, and — Bond, were appointed a com- mittee to carry out the views of the meeting. A vote of thanks to the Chairman brought the proceedings to a close. [Mr. Sewell Eead having since conferred with Mr. W. E. Forster, who expressed his strong objection to the amendment, Mr. Read removed this from the notice paper of the House. In a letter to Mr. Herman Biddell, Mr. Read says of these amendments that " they are really not mine, being founded upon the resolutions of the Central Chamber"]. ROYAL AGRICULTURAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. The ninth anniversary dinner of this Institution was held on Wednesday evening, June 9, at the Freemason's Tavern. The chair was taken by Lord Robert Montagu, M.P. After the usual loyal toasts had been disposed of. The Chairman proposed " The Army, Navy, Militia, and Volunteers," to which Mr. Thomas Scott responded. The Chairman then said : I now rise to propose the toast of the evening ; and I trust that before entering into any statistics with regard to the institution, I may venture to say a few words respecting the character of that class whom we propose to help, and the particular benefit which we propose to extend to it, or rather the particular evil which we desire to meet. Now, I need not remind you, gentlemen, that farming is the most ancient avocation in the world ; for it can exist without any of the other professions and without the State itself, while the other professions and the State cannot exist without agriculture. Farming has always been regarded by political philosophers both of old and modern days as the most honourable profession ; because its end Ts not to acquire wealth or provide luxuries, but merely to secure the necessaries of life. I may say, moreover, that the agricul- tural class is the freest class in the country. It enjoys more liberty than any other class in the State, because farmers are more masters of their own actions than any other class, and have more of their time at their own disposal. I do not speak now of the cottiers who are the misfortune of the sister country of Ireland, but of that responsible body of English fanners who are men of abihty and substance. In my opin- ion the farmer is a greater man than the landlord. The far- mer has not to spend his nights in gilded saloons, obsequious to the powerful and servile to the capricious ; he spends his time in green fields and employs his energies in healthful pur- suits. In fact, the occupation of farming in this respect re- sembles the few days' liberty which other classes of persons enjoy during a brief holiday. Compare for a moment the farmer with the man of the world in the class above him, or with a member of the mercantile class who live in large towns. Both these differ from the farmer as regards the main thing which they have to do in order to attain the end of their pursuits J both are iu comparison with him the slaves ot their occupations. What words do many of them take upon their lips which do not at all represent the feelings they en- tertain in their hearts ! From all this the farmer is free. Ay, and when the man of the world has attained the great- ness which was the object of all his efforts he finds that, instead of being more free than lie was before, he is less. He has gained an eminence there, every word is noticed, where every action is canvassed, and where he is constantly subject to hostile criticism, and the slavery of his position is galling in proportion to its height. As to the trader, if I may be allowed a figure of speech, I would remark that he works con- tinually for an unknown master. Well, then, I say the farmer is more free than either of those two classes. But not only does he enjoy more freedom than others ; there is another great benefit connected with his position. We see the whole country around us, and almost every class of society subject to continual change, while the agricultural body is the most stedfast body in the kingdom. Thus, if I might sum up the character of the agricultural or farming class in a few words, I would say that they enjoy the vigour of liberty with the sobriety of tradition. King James the First was once asked who were the freest men in his kingdom. He replied, " Those persons who by fortune have been placed above the position of a iiigh constable without having the trouble of a justice of the peace". The freest persons are, I believe, those who, while they are not oppressed with business, have enough to do to keep them far from being idle, those who are untainted with the vices of towns and have a sufficiency without an eager desire to increase it. It is a proverb current among the Brahmins of India that the freest man is he who has the fewest vices and who indulges the fewest wants. If I may be permitted for a moment to return in thought to my school-boy days I w'ould apply to this case these words of a great Latin poet — " Qnisnam ir/itur Uher ? Sapiens sibique imperios)is\ Now in the year 1860 there was no institution of this kind. What, let me ask, is the object of this institution, what is the benefit which it proposes to confer or rather what the evil which it endeavours to meet ? It seeks to secure to the farmer who may become unfortuate that suflSciency oi which I have just spoken, and 14 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. to prevent liiiu from being robbed of that liberty which he now enjoys. The farmer is, like other men, subject to Mcidenlo. There are viciasitudes in ugriculture as well as in trade. Wet, mildew, or blight may ruin tlic cultivator of tlie soil ; storms may destroy his crops ; a wet season is bad for wheat, a dry one for hay and turnips. Over these evils the farmer has not, in fact, as much control as the sailor has over the causes of shipwreck. Nay more, he is dependent to a large extent on the health of his live stock ; and not merely on the health of his own stock but also on that of the cattle which come from the Baltic or tlie Black Sea ; and, further, he is de- peudent on the state of the sheep which are imported from Antwerp and Rotterdam. The misfortunes to which I have thus alluded are such as no prudence can guard against, no energy can prevent ; and it is in order to provide a refuge from the con- sequences of such misfortunes that this Society was established. Up to 18G0, while almost every trade and profession had an in- stitution for the assistance of necessitous and decayed members, farmers had no such provision to fall back upon in case of need, la that year this institution was founded by my friend Mr. Mechi. Wliy was agriculture up to that period in such an ex- ceptional position ? All the trades and professions were located in towns, flourished in the midst of great centres of population, and with them comniunication was easy — combination a matter of course. Ou the other hand — at all events until the days of railroads — the world of the farmer was centered in his own farm, and as he seldom moved from it there was very little communication between persons of his class. Combination is a thing of slow growth, and, even after railways had been established, it took years to bring it about for the purposes of agricultural benevolence. At last, however, there arrived the hour and the man. Let me now enter on tlie subject of statistics. In the first place, gentlemen, I must con- gratulate you on the continued increase in the aggregate of the subscriptions. In the previous year the subscriptions amounted to £3,588 ; in the last year they reached £3,839 ; and I observe that there has been an increase every year. Now this is a matter for congratulation, uot only because the sphere of the Society's usefulness has been extended, hut also for another reason. All of us who have any rich relations must know that such persons are much more apt to leave property or to give money to those who are rich than to those wlio are poor. I believe that the world is all the same in that respect. If there be a rich and flourishing society, wealthy persons will be very ready to give their donations ; but if such persons think that a society is going down and stands in special need of aid, they consider a very long time before sub- scribing. I cannot help thinking that the Council has pursued a wise course in investing a certain amount in the Goverument funds every year. That has given stability and efficiency to the society, and is a guarantee to farmers that the engage- ments into which the Council have entered will always be met. It has been proposed in a newspaper that instc-ad of an invested fund being maintained annuities should be bought. Now, if that were done, in the first place this Society would be nothing more than a committee of manage- ment, because it would have no funds at its disposal after having parted with those which it had acquired. I may, however, men- tion that this matter has been earnestly canvassed by the Council, with the assistance of an actuary, and they have come to the conclusion that it would not be wise to adopt the course which lias been suggested. Trie amount invested is now £22,000. This Society has, then, all the advantages of endowment ; it has also the disadvantages ; but I trust that the disendowing zeal of the House of Commons will never enter this institution. If the strictures which have been applied to this Society had appeared in any newspaper or periodical of small account I should pass them by unnoticed ; but as they have been pul)lished in two numbers of a periodical of great influence, conducted by a man who is intimately acquainted with agricultural subjects — in other words, in the Gardener'' s Chronicle — 1 think it is the duty of the Council and of the members of the Society earnestly to consider what is said in these criticisms. I thouglit it my ovifn duty to consider tliem before coming here this evening. Now, the charges brought against this institution are twofold ; and I may observe that the gcutleman by whom they were written has shown that he is a friend of the Society. These are not, then, to be regarded as the criticisms of an enemy but rather as the advice of a man who is, I t)elieve. a friend of tlie Society, and desires t liat it may flourish, and whose object has beeu to bring certain matters under the notice of tlie Council. Tiie first point is conuecfed with tiie investments ; with that I have dealt already. In the second place, it i« elated that the ex- penses are too large, and that they have increased of late. It is true that they have increased, but they are still at a very low figure, amounting to only ISg per cent, of the whole income. Well, now, of what do the expenses of management consist? The total expenses of the last year were, I would remark, £971, while in the year before the amount was £985, so that there is in fact a slight decrease. The expenses are arranged under five heads, and under two of those heads there is an absolute and a very great diminution in the cost of management. The expense of the anniversary dinner in the last year was only £16 10s., whereas in preceding years it had been as much as £7 J- and £81, showing a manifest improve- ment uuder that head. Again, the cost of books, sta- tionery, printing, and postage, in the last year was £362. This shows a slight increase ; hut I am going to allude to that presently, having a suggestion to offer by which the expenses in that department may possibly be reduced. The expenses of commissions is £31', having been much larger in previous years. Another head is that of salaries and wages. During the last two years there has been an apparent increase in that item ; but it admits of explanation. Up to about two years ago, the secretary was partly paid by commission. The amount of the commission came under the head of " In- cidental Expenses ;" and only that portion of the secretary's remuneration which he received as salary proper came under the head of " Salary." He now receives salary alone, witli- out any commission ; and that accounts for the increase under that head. Now, there is auother poiut to which I wish to draw your attention before 1 conclude. Tlie beueftfs of this society are extended equally to England and Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. Wherever a farmer is found to be qualified, by having fallen into misfortune, there is a person who may be elected to receive the benefits of the society. But, unfortunately, different countries view this matter in a different light — that is, they subscribe in very different pro- portions. Tliere is, I believe, only one subscription from Ire- land ; tliere are very few from Scotland. Among the Englisli counties who subscribe the least is Northamptonshire, f hope the late Chancellor of the Exchequer will hear of that, and try to induce the agriculturists of this county to sub- scribe more liberally. Durham subscribes vciy little, and so also do Yorkshire, Cheshire, Nottinghamshire, and Mon- mouthshire. The counties which contribute the largest amount are, first, the three metropolitan ones — Middlesex, Essex, and Keut ; then Hampshire, Cambridgeshire, and Nor- folk, and, I am proud to say, my own county, Huntingdon. Now this is a matter which it is, I think, the duty of every landlord, and every land agent, and every farmer to take up, seeking by every means in liis power to aid this in- stitution. If a farmer is likely to fall iuto povertj', mere prudence requires that he should subscribe, and, to a certain extent, insure his life. If he is not likely to fall into poverty, why, then, he can well aftbrd to subscribe ; and right feeling should lead him to aid an institution which is nobly endea- vouring to assist those who are in a less fortunate position (cheers). There are 250,000 farmers in Great Britain, and if everyone of them would only give this society one shilling a year it would be affluent, and have an income of £12,500. There is one other point on which I have yet to toucli relating to the cost of printing and advertising. I think we might effect a great saving in that department by ob- taining the assistance of the chambers of agriculture. Tliey have a very great organization, and one bearing a great power thoughout the country. When 1 had been asked to take the chair 1 took the liberty of requesting the Council to invite my lion, friend Mr. Clare SewcU Read, who is the president of the United Chambers of Agriculture,. I was at first surprised at liuding that Mr. Read was not present, but I understand tliat he is detained by a meeting in Norfolk. Now 1 think tliose societies might materially assist (his institution by ad- vocating its claims and asking the members to subscribe, and suggesting to their friends to do so. For what purpose were the chambers of agriculture instituted ? They were instituted to promote united action and to increase brotherly feeling among the agricultural class. Is uot this institution a means to that end, and should not the chambers of agriculture en- deavour to assist it by giving it the advantage of unity and THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. si reugtk iu its efforts to promote a coiiinioii object? Gcutle- iiien, eutertiuuiug- these views, 1 propose that we dduk "Prosperity to thu ilo}ul Agricultural Beuevoleutlustitutiou" (cheers). Mr. A. Pell, M.P., proposed the next toast, viz., " The Chairman," who, he said, had ideutifled liimself with the true interests of the British farmer, and had done his utmost to advance tliem. As a member of the late Government the noble lord did all in his power to prevent tlie introduction of disease into this country by foreign cattle, never losing temper or heart, and always returning to the charge when he had been assailed by opponents. He (Mr. Pell) hoped the noble lord's fate would be that wliich Mr. Reade in one of his beautiful novels put in the form of a blessing, in the moutii of an old Newhaven fisherman — tliat liis life in this world might he with the ricli, and his life in the world to come with the poor whom he had helped to benefit (cheers). The Chairman having briefly returned thanks, Mr. Meciu proposed " Tlie Agricultural Societies of Eng- land, Ireland, and Scotland." Congratulating the company on tlie success of the institution as far as it went, he said lie be- lieved it was yet but in its infancy as regarded the good it might confer. Instead of there being only 250,000 farmers, as meutioned by the chairman, it appeared from the returns of the Board of Trade that tliere were at least 400,000 in Eng- land, Wales, and Scotland ; to which might be added 000,000 cuhivators of the soil in Ireland. Ilow astonishing was it that among tlie 000,000 occupiers in Ireland there vvas not a single farmer who subscribed to that institution, while in Scotland there were only two donors, one being a bishop and the other a peer. There was, iu fact, an immense field still unworked. If it were not for the honorary local secretaries tiiat society could uot exist ; and he, for one, felt deeply indebted to those gentlemen for their zealous efforts. It was a most difficult task to collect money in England. As to Scotland, it was a cold country, and wanted a deal of warming up. With respect to the question of eco- nomy, he did not see how very much more could be done in that direction, unless indeed the Council discharged the secretary and did all his work themselves. One of tlie chief expenses was the printing and distribution of the greenbooks or annual reports, and he believed that their circulatiou was very bene- ficial iu obtaining subscriptions. Mr. J. Clayden briefly responded. The next toast was " The Executive Council," given by the Eiev. G. C. Berkeley. Mr. C. S. Cantrell, after returning tliauks for the toast, wished to say a lew words in reference to the recent cri- ticisms ou the expenses of management. It was evident tliat an institution like that mujt, at the outset, be burdened with expenses, which might appear to some disproportionate to tlie amount of benefit conferred. The figures which had been published recently were, he admitted, in the main correct. The expenses liad ranged from £700 to £900 a-year. A large proportion of them, however, about one-fourth of the wliole, were on account of printing and advertising; and one cimrge included was those green boots already mentioned, which, in his opinion, had been the salvation of the institution. Those books were distributed in every county in England, and they cost about Cd. a-piece. lie would venture to assert, that those books had ou the average produced a guinea a-piece, and that was not a bad return for tlie outlay. Tliere were ctlier large expenses connected with the institution which could not be avoided without injury to tlie Society. The secretary had a salary of £r350 a-year, the clerk £2 per week, while for commissions on subscriptions the Society paid in the last year the enormous sum of £14or£15 (laughter). Putting all these things together, he must say, he thought there was not very much cause for compiaiiit with regard to the expenses of management. lie now came to the question, " What good had the Society done?" It began by granting in the first year pensions to the amount of £290 per annum, which were gradually increased until they now reached £2,500, the amount having been increased in the last year by the awarding of pensions of £10 a-ycar to six candidates, not less thau SO years of age, who had been two years on the books of the Society, and whose friends had dropped off. The total miniber of pensioners elected was 115 ; 15 more were about to be added, wliich would in- crease the total amount of pensions to £3,500 a-ycar, and, cousideriug that the expeuses were nearly the tame as tliey had becu, lie must say, that it did not seem to him at all an unsatisfactory state of things. Tliey were accused by the gentleman who had been alluded to by the Chairman, of iioarding the Society's money. lie would ask how the Council could liave acted otherwise than they had done when they were starting, as it were, upon an un- known sea?. They had pursued the course which they felt to be essential to proper security, and he believed it had the approval of the subscribers (cheers). He might add that, having now accumulated a fund of upwards of £20,000, the Council did not intend at present to add to it, their wish being to increase the benefits conferred as far as the means placed at their disposal would allow. They had been obliged to proceed very cautiously ; they had not spent a large sum iu bricks and mortar, so as to make a great thow ; and he hoped they would live to see the day when the benefits of the Society would be widely extended (cheers). Tlie Chairman then proposed "The Secretary," Mr. C. Bousfield Shaw, who briefly responded. In the course of tl'.o evening it was announced that the aggregate amount of the subscriptiuns was about £-I',000, THE GENERAL ANNUAL ^lEETING was held ou Wednesday, June 16, at the Ereemason's Tavern to receive the annual report of tiie Council for the year ended on the 31st of December, I8CS, and for the election of ollicers and pensioners ; Mr. Mechi in the chair. Messrs. Cantrell, Howard, Collins, and Johnson, retiring members of the Council were re-elected ; and Messrs. Long (Cambridgeshire) and Paget (Leicestershire) were elected in the room of Lieut. -Col. Loyd Lindsay and jMr. Hudson, of Castle-acre. The report runs thus : On submitting a report ou the posi- tion and management of this Institution for the year ISGS-9 to its supporters and the public, the Council wish first to announce their belief that it has now arrived at a turning- point iu its career, by having obtaired a position of stability by means of its vested capital and improving annual income, which guarantees its ability to perform the obligations it lias undertaken, and will likely soon enable it to leave no eligible claiment for a pension as a burden on the general community. Until this is the case, the Council will not consider the Institu- tion has accomplislied its mission. By the annexed tabular statement of accounts, it will be seen that, in I86S, The income was ... ... ... ... ... £5,200 The expenditure £955 The pensions 2,013 The sums invested ... ... 1,890 Making £4,857 And leaving a balance of ... ... ... ... £403 Tiie number of individual pensioners who have been re- lieved since the formation of the Institution is 144. The number now on tlie roll, iucluding orphans boarded at the Welsh Schools IIO And to be elected ou the 19tli instant 48 MakiuG 158 And, by looking at the accounts, it will be seen how much the expense of management per head of pensioners has been annually reduced. The sum invested in the Funds is £22,000 stock ; and the Council think the rate of investment may now be considerably diminished, or altogetlier cease for a time, so that nearly all of the income of the Institution may be devoted to the relief of distress. At the same time, they would venture to inform tlie public that so far they have been supported iuthe principle 16 THE FAUMEE'S MAU-AZEKE. of investment by llieir president, the annual chairman of the anniversary meetings, by tlie executive officers of all the kindred institutions they have from time to time consulted, namely, the Gardeners' Royal Benevolent, the Infant Orphan Asylum, the Royal Caledonian Asylum, and the Scottish Hospital, and in no case has the secretary of an institution, or an actuary of a public company, sanctioned the policy of purchasing aunuites. The fact that the Council have satisfied themselves that it is for the interest of the Institution to sell annuities at the undermentioned sums will, it is hoped, satisfy its supporters tliat they have found it would be an impolitic application of the funds to purchase them. Cost of Annuities. Ages of Annui- Cost of £20 Cost of £26 Equal to tants. Pension. Pension. Votes. £ s. d. £ s. d. 60 to 64 273 8 0 339 10 6 519 and 647 65 „ 69 227 1 8 199 18 10 432 „ 380 70 „ 74 184 14 2 161 3 8 352 „ 307 75 „ 79 149 6 8 125 12 11 284 „ 234 80 „ 8t 104 3 0 93 13 8 198 „ 178 85 „ 89 76 8 10 71 1 4 145 „ 135 Snce the 1st of May, 1860, when Mr. Mechi nobly handed over to the Council then formed the sum of £788 4s., after having paid for all preliminary expenses in forming this Institution, the following numbers of qualified candidates have applied for relief and pensioners have been elected : — Males at Married No. of £26. Couples. Pemales. Persons. jggjf Elected 9 3 5 20 (^Unsuccessful... 10 1 4 16 TQP^of Elected 4 2 5 13 ^""^''t Unsuccessful... 26 7 18 58 nonoC Elected 4 2 4 12 ^°"''*i Unsuccessful... 35 12 27 86 iR„.f Elected 4 2 5 13 ^®'^*i Unsuccessful... 43 19 43 124 ,8„.f Elected 4 3 5 13 ^"•'"t Unsuccessful... 35 14 40 103 lorrf Elected 4 3 6 14 ^°"''i Unsuccessful... 37 13 54 115 -, o„„ C Elected 4 2 7 15 ^°°' i Unsuccessful... 37 8 60 113 ,8„oC Elected 8 3 13 26 ^"""^ Unsuccessful... 33 10 54 107 T 5JPQ f Elected 13 6 12 36 ^"•""l Unsuccessful... 33 9 52 111 Seeing then, how the unrelieved have gradually increased from 16 persons iu 1801 to 111 persons in 1869, the Council appe.ll for new and increased assistance to overtake the want thus exemplified. After examining the qualification papers sent in, they can say of their own individual knowledge that the least deserving case amongst the applicants is deserving of immediate relief. They would especially commend the case of the widows and orphans to the attention of the agricultural and general community, as they have had no control over their unfortunate destinies ; and they would remind subscribers that, although their votes may not carry in a selected candidate at the first attempt, it is like money in the bank, at the credit of those interested, and can be drawn upon from year to year until the object iu view is attained. Finally, the Council would commend the attention of the subscribers to the arrangement they have made for the maintenance and educa- tion of their orphans, at the Welsh Schools at Ashford, in Middlesex — which, on a recent inspection, was found to be working most satisfactorily. It will, no doubt, be satisfactory to subscribers to know that the sum to be dispensed to pensioners during the year 1869 will amount to nearly £3,500. Analysis of the Annual Accounts. Receipts. Expenditure. » w » d b tD 1 o p .2 o -a d d _o S a o O a; d _o M 1 "I d H ft P £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ 1861... 894 1398 100 393 244 102 75 58 1823 1863... 1148 1881 153 556 348 — 209 63 70 1465 1863... 764 2324 189 883 353 129 290 105 50 1331 1864... 1143 2944 255 974 373 158 185 88 30 2707 1865... 926 3251 390 1151 278 — 305 89 31 3711 1866... 608 3383 439 1271 278 178 339 125 30 3615 1867... 1273 3588 508 1518 459 11 346 94 33 2769 1868... 820 3840 600 3012 464 14 382 95 — 1890 The following candidates were declared to be elected on to the Pund : — Male Pensioners at £26 per Annum each. Votes. Sto wers, William .., 41 1 Wickens, George 364 Bowman, Robert 363 Kingham, Joseph 305 Lazell, Edward 268 Funston, Joseph 266 Votes. Stephenson, Laurence ... 252 White, John 252 Howlett, J. G 239 Cork, Samuel 220 Sims, Charles 185 Turner, John 161 Married Pensioners at £40 per Annum each. J. and II. Lozell 465 J. and M. A. Battle 422 J. and C. Glascock 404 J. andS. Hartt 341 J. andS. Cheyney 311 A. and S. Vine 304 Female Pensioners at £20 per Annum each. Votes. Punchard, Elizabeth ... 096 Coles, Susanna 521 Eyres, Catherine 502 Pearce, Marv 466 Piatt, Fannv 466 Wheatley, S'arah 458 Votes. Southee, Mary 410 Wenliam, Mary 410 Blacketh, Ann 404 Dufty,Sarfih 369 Rolfe, Elizabeth 362 Webb, Eleanor 346 Orphan Children. John Fulford John T. Middleliara George Cosier Alfred Wood Mary Agnes Siierratt Joseph Pees Poadnight George G. Adams Eva Kate Hall. The proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the Chairman. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 17 THE CULTURE OF FLAX AND HEMP IN RUSSIA. Of all the agricultural produce of Russia, after wheat, flax is that of the largest eonsumptiou, and iu which an extensive export trade is also carried on. Besides linen, that necessary article of clothing to all, llax furnishes both for rich and poor a number of articles of the lirst neces- sity. Some ten years ago the annual production of flax iu Russia was estimated at ten million pouds (of 30 lbs.) ; but this estimate is evidently much too low, when we consider the enormous shipments made ; and, according to the opinion of M. Tengoborsky (" Productive Forces of Russia"), the exports are two-thirds less than the in- ternal consumption. The lineu consumed annually in Russia a quarter of a century ago was valued at nearly forty-three millions of roubles (six millions sterling), each inhabitant of the Empire, it was supposed, using twenty archines (of nearly three-quarters of a yard). The value of the linen now consumed in Russia is estimated at sixty- three million roubles, equal to nearly nine-and-a-half millions sterling. The annual value of the flax, tow, and linseed exported was, between 1844 to 1848, 17i million roubles; 1849 to 1853, 20^ million; aud ISfiO to 1865, 33i million. Of all the agricultural products, flax is that which by hand- labour can be raised to the highest value. Thus, from forty pounds of flax, the first cost of which will not exceed 5s., may be obtained thirty pounds of common thread, of the value of 8s. 6d. The price of the raw ma- terial is thus raised 75 per cent. ; but if the thread is fiuely spun and woven, its lirst cost may be enhanced twenty times. We may judge from this of what great importance flax is to an agricultural population, who find, in the long nights of winter, a lucrative occupation for work-people of all ages and both sexes. After the culture of the cereals, that of flax and hemp is the oldest aud most important branch of agriculture in Russia, in the double point of view of the products yielded aud the number of individuals benefited by its production and consumption. Flax is the most extended. It is met with in all European Russia, and iu many localities of Siberia, except the Caucasus, the Government of As- tracau, a part of Ismara, Archangel, aud the country of the Don. The Government of the South aud the South- East only cultivate flax for the seed, for export ; those of the Centre, the Nortli, aud the North-West grow it both for the seed and the fibre. As the cnltivation of flax becomes more exteuded aud more important, the harvest of grain yields to that of fibre. Flax culture is carried on most extensively iu the following governments : Pskoft", 2^ million pouds (36 lb.) of flax, and 600,000 pouds of seed; Smolensk, IJ million pouds of flax, and 770,000 ponds of seed ; Vologda and Kostrona, 1 million ponds each of flax, and 200,000 ponds of seed ; Viatki, Vladimir, Livonia, and Vitepsk bring up the production of flax to 7^ million pouds, and of seed to 2i million pouds. As these governments produced about two-thirds of the quautity locally consumed and exported, the total production of flax may be estimated at 12 million pouds. It is cultivated for the seed only in all the central parts, and in many of the western governments, such as Minsk, Kovno, &c., iu the proportion of 400,000 to 500,000 pouds each ; aud in the Government of Yeka- therinoslau, Kherson (northern part), Voronge (southern part), Saratoft" (south-eastern part), and Tamboff, iu the proportion of 700,000 to 900,000 pouds. Judging from these approximative figures, aud by the exportation, the annual yield of linse.d cannot be less than 22 to 25 millions of pouds. Much of this seed, which is of ex- cellent quality, is purchased for sowing in England, France, aud Belgium. The principal shipping port for flax is Riga, from whence 14 million roubles worth are sent. After which come St. Petersburg, about 4 1 million roubles; Pernow, more than 1 million ; and the custom-house of Verjbolowo (by the Kowno-Eydtkuhner), about another million. The principal markets for the flax are — Great Britain, 18 million roubles ; Prussia, 3 millions ; France, 2 millions ; and Belgium more than 1 million. The export of hemp is made by the Baltic ports, especially St. Petersburg, to the extent of about 4i million roubles. A certain quan- tity goes by the land route (Verjbolowo). The chief pur- chasers are — Great Britain, for 7 millions ; Prussia and Sweden, for about 700,000 roubles worth each ; France, 500,000; Denmark, 350,000; and the United States, 200,000. The oil seeds sent to foreign countries go from the Baltic ports and the Black Sea. St. Petersburg ships annually for 4 or 5 million roubles, Riga 4 millions, and Odessa 3 millions. The principal buyers are — Great Britain, to the amount of 10 million roubles ; France, 2 miUious; and Prussia and Holland, about If millions cacli. Hemp is cultivated in the greater part of Central Russia, but principally in the following governments — Kalouga, Toula, vSmolensk, Tschernigofl", Koursk, and Orcl-which yield from 400,000 to 500,000 pouds of hemp each, and about the same weight of seed. The plantations of hemp are found spread over Mohileft", Riasav, Tamboff, Moscow, Tver, Yaroslaw, Vologda, Viatka, Perm, Ssaratoft", and Ssamava. In the south, Poltawa and Khersov must also be counted among the governments in which the cultivation of hemp receives some attention. To sum up, the annual production of hemp reaches 7 or 8 million ponds in Russia, and hemp- seed 5 to 6 million pouds. Sunflower, cotton, and a few other oil seeds may be added to the list of 32 million pouds of oil seeds produced in Russia. Fifteen millions pouds, valued at 18 million roubles, are exported. Of 12 million pouds of raw flax, about 4 to 6 millions are exported, valued at 16 million roubles ; and of 8 million pouds of hemp, 3 millions, valued at 9 millions of roubles, are exported. There remains therefore for the use of the national fabrics— seed (deducting 2 millions of pouds for sowing) 15 million pouds; flax 8 million pouds, and hemp 4i million pouds. These figures serve to give a general idea of the great importance of the industries which belong in Russia to the cultivation of oil seeds and textile plants. These industries are oil-crushing, flax-spinning, sailcloth, rope-making, and the hempen manufacture. According to returns of 1864 the production of flax and hemp cloth was carried on in 82 factories in Russia to the value of 8 million roubles, and that of cables and ropes in 112 manufactories to the extent of 4^ million roubles. Yarn and cordage are articles of export, and the foreign demand for them is maintained by their good quality aud cheapness. But the figures cited give no ac- curate idea of the extent of the production of flax and hemp goods, inasmuch as large quantities are produced in villages by the peasants for their own use as well as for sale. The imports into the United Kingdom alone from Russia now average annually one million aud a quarter cwts. of flax, more tliau half-a-million cwts. of hemp, and one million quarters of fiax seed. 0 18 THE FARMER'S MAOAZINK. THE PURCHASE OR USE OP FOOD FOR STOCK. Among the various sources of fertility by which we seek to increase the productiveness of the land, few, if any, offer greater inducements, on the score of economy, than that which presents itself in the purchase or use of food for stock. The primary inducement to make such purchase may be the production of meat ; but it is a fact, well recognized by aU practical men, that the increase in the value of the manure is a very important advantage, if it can be obtained on economical terms. It is perfectly clear that the economy of the practice must be deter- mined by the judgment shown in the selection and use of such food, as any excess in the cost of such food over and above the market value of the meat produced represents the cost at which the improvement in the quality of the manure has been secured. We had recently an opportunity of referring to the economical results arising from mixing various kinds of artificial food, and it was then shown that it had a very important influence upon the weight of meat produced. In like manner it is of very great im- portance that the preparation of such food and the general management of the stock should be such as to contribute to the production of the largest quantity of meat. In considering the product of meat to be derived from the use of food of this description — and which for con- venience has been termed supplemental food — it shoiild be remembered that, unlike other food, it has no demand upon it for keeping up the life of the animal consuming it, but all can be applied direct to the production of flesh. It is of course very well known that there is a demand made upon the food of every animal for the production of heat in the body and for repairing the waste tissues. In the ordinary course of things an animal receives certain supplies of food — it may be hay, roots, or any other food — and the first duty of such food is clearly the support of the body, and if the supplies are sufficiently abundant, growth takes place. This is the ordinary position of farm stock in relation to their supplies of food, and it is in this way that the food is taxed to maintain the life of the animal. If to an animal so fed it be determined to give some supplemental food — such as corn or cake — to assist in increasing the flesh and fat of the animal, it is clear that the food so given goes direct to the production of the result desired without bemg in any way taxed. This is one of the great advantages gained by high feeders. One farmer will keep a bullock for months together upon such a moderate supply of food, that at the end of the time it is neither better nor worse; but the food consumed during this interval is lost, being simply a tax paid for keeping life in the body. Another feeder will, on the other hand, supplement such supplies of food by judicious additions ; and the consequence is, such supplemental food has no demand upon it, but can be fully applied for the formation of flesh. This fuUy agrees with the well- established practice of keeping the stock of the farm improving in condition. Meat is thus more economically produced than under any other system. The supply of food being consumed by the animal, it passes through the body, yielding up such portions as can be appropriated in the increase of the body, whUst the residue passes away, and is added to the fai-myard manure. It is, therefore, perfectly clear that such food is either used by the animal, adding to its weight, or else it is to be found in the manm'c. We may illustrate this dis- tribution, by tracing one class of food, on which experi- ments have probably been more numerous than any other. A ton of linseed cake has been shown to produce from 370 to iSO pounds of mutton, according to the quality of the cake used and the manner in which it may have been given, thereby giving a return which leaves little due upon the cost of the cake. In the manure, however, we have a residue, in which the nitrogenised compounds cannot be worth less than thirty shillings, and alkaline matter, which is worth at least another ten shillings. Need it be a matter of surprise that the manm'e arising from the use of such food should give proof of its quality wherever it is used on the land ? Other descriptions of food might be tested in a similar manner ; but aU lead us to this conclusion, that one of the cheapest means of increasing the value and quality of farmyard manure, is to supplement the food grown upon the land by the use of additional food, which shall at little or no cost add to the dung these valuable materials. The cost of the production depends upon the meat which such food can be made to yield ; but with good manage- ment the cost can readily be covered by the value of the meat produced. This result should at least be attained, as it cannot otherwise be considered a success. There is an abundant opportunity for so conducting this branch of the business, that with judgment and careful management it shall in itself yield a profit. In any case, however, the arrangements cannot be considered satisfactory, unless the full cost of the supplemental food is repaid in the produce of meat. The success of this system wUl be determined very materially by the selection of such supplies of food as for the time being may range low upon the market. The pur- chase of inferior quality food of any description is rarely economical, and this is especially the case when purchases are made of manufactured produce such as the oilcakes. Care should be taken to form an accurate judgment upon the relative feeding capabilities of diflerent descriptions of food, not only when used alone, but — as we recently pointed out — in proper combination. The more perfectly the use of food is understood and carried out in practice the more satisfactory will the result be, for all will tend to secure the necessary supplies of fertilizing matter at little or no cost. Thus we have facilities for making additions to the manure of the farm which cannot fail materially to increase its value. We must not, however, overlook the character of these additions, and be led to suppose that we thus of necessity make such manure fully competent for its duties. An investigation wiU show that whilst we can thus immensely increase the supply of the alkalies and aramoniacal salts, we cannot thus make our manm'e rich in phosphates. The necessity for keeping up this supply will still remain and can never be overcome by any consumption of food. We have here a valuable source of manurial agents which are exceedingly expensive to purchase, and they can thus be obtained more economically than in any other way. To calculate upon thus keeping up the supply of bone is an error which should be fully recognized ; we can readily get an addition of ammoniacal and alkaline salts, but we cannot in this way restore to the land the phosphates which are so largely removed in the skeletons of the cattle and sheep we sell, or in the corn conveyed to the market. In the consumption of food the farmer has a valuable source of manure, which may be very advauttigeously cultivated and improved. It will be productive of much pecuniary advantage, and wiU very much promote the fertility of the land. To carry it out perfectly will need much watchful care and discretion, but th§ result will yield abuadaut cowpensatioa. THE FABMBR'S MAGAZINE. 19 THE COLONY OF VICTORIA. The colony of Victoria, first called Port Phillip, is one of the youngest of our Australian settlements, and in point of soil, climate, and other natural advantages, one of the most valuable. It occupies the southern part of the Continent, and is separated from the province of New South Wales thi-oughout a large extent of country by the River Murray — a noble stream, that is navigable for small ships to a considerable distance up its course. It empties itself into the Lake Victoria, the town of Wel- lington heing situated at a short distance from the em- bouchure. The capital, Melbourne, is situated at the head of Port Phillip harbour, an inland sea, and at the mouth of a confluence of streams of considerable import- ance to the commerce of the country, of which the Yai-ra Yarra is the largest. On its first colonisation in 1834, Victoria was considered a dependency of New South Whales ; but, like the other colonies, it has now a Governor and legislature of its own, under the Crown of Great Britain, but in other respects it is perfectly independent of the other Australian provinces, so far as its internal policy is concerned. The numerous streams by which the province is intersected and watered render it pe- culiarly adapted to agricultural and grazing pursuits, to which the colonists have devoted themselves with great spirit; and, notwithstanding a ruinous collapse in the years 1841, '42, and '43, owing to over -trading, the colony has become rapidly increased in population, as well as in wealth, pai'tly by emigration from the mother-country, and partly from other Australian colonies. In the year 1859 a Board of AgriciUture was instituted under the patronage of the Government, by whom a grant-in-aid was awarded for the purpose of encouraging the formation of local associations, of which there are twenty-eight con- nected with the Board. This grant, however, which amounted to £4,500, has been suspended, in consequence of some defects in the constitution of the Board, but these it is now proposed to rectify. In the ninth annual report for the year 1867-8, presented to the Board by the Council, the subject of the abolition or the re-modelling of the Board occupied a considerable part of the proceedings of the meeting ; and it appears that in reply to a circular letter sent to each of the local societies, eleven out of the twenty-eight had in reply expressed their opinion in favour of the entire suppression of the Board, and that the distribution of the grant-in-aid to the local agricul- tural societies should be made either through a Minister of AgriciUture, or some other ministerial department. After a discussion by the Council, a resolution was adopted to the efiect, "That the Act Vict. No. 83 for the Establishment of a Boai'd of Agriculture be repealed." In looking over the list of premiums offered by the Board, we find thirteen, varying from £5 to £20, for horses ; nine, from £5 to £15, for horned cattle ; thirteen for sheep, from £5 to £15 ; five for swine, of £5 each; three for butter, of £5 to £10 ; one of cheese, of £10 ; two of £10 each, for hams and bacon ; thirteen, from £5 to £20 for machinery ; two, of £5, for ale and porter brewed in the colony ; two, of £5, for flax ; and six, from £5 to £12 lOs. for wine. The prize-list of premiums offered at the national show of grain includes eveiy kind of vegetable produce, ranging in amount from £5 to £12 lOs. In this list are included two prizes of £10 each for mutton and beef, preserved in tins in quantities of not less than 1121bs. each. As this is a subject possessing some interest in the United King- dom, and being made the subject also of a special report by the Colonial Board of Agriculture, we give the follow- ing account of it, but this must be clearly understood not to be our own experience : The meat exhibited was reduced to four specimens of beef and one of mutton — No. 1 consist- ing of beef preserved in the raw state ; No. 2, of spiced beef cooked ; No, 3, fresh beef cooked ; No. 4, corned beef cooked. The one specimen of mutton was of fresh meat cooked. Of the beef (No. 1), put in tins in the raw state, two were sound, the third being decomposed in conse- quence of a defect in the tin case which admitted the air ; but it was found that the meat would not keep after being opened, and, though sweet at first, became unfit for use within twenty hours. The three tins of spiced beef cooked (No. 2) were all sound, and of good quality and flavour ; as were also three tins of fresh beef cooked (No. 3), being all sound, sweet, and good. The corned beef cooked (No. 4), on the conti'ary, was all tainted and quite unfit for use ex- cept one tin, which was high but eatable. The thi'ee tins of fresh mutton cooked were by far the best samples ex- amined, retaining the flavour and sweetness better than any of the others. The conclusion, in regard to the preser- vation of meat, at which the Judges arrived, was to recom- mend the " exhibitor to stick to ^t fresh meat ;" the only specimen (No. 1) raw turned out badly. The local agricultural societies were not behindhand in the awardincc of prizes for specimens ©f all kinds of agri- cultural produce and machinery. The amount for the twenty-eight societies of prizes awarded was £5,503 14s., the entire number of exhibits being 10,439, or an average of 372.1 each, which, when the scantiness and scattered character of the agricultural population is considered, shows the deep interest felt by them in the in- stitutions. Another subject of special report by the Board was the qualities of the wine manufactured from the produce of the colonial vineyards. There were in all 55 samples, namely, 27 of white and 28 of red. Each of these was divided into three classes, the white being all three good and some excellent, the greater portion of the red inferior and in some cases deteriorated. The result, how- ever, proves tliat the country is favourable to the cultiva- tion of the grape, and that the colonists will not need to import wine from a country twelve or fourteen thousand miles from their shores, A third article of produce was specially reported upon — linseed. Upon applying it to a chemical analysis, it was found to yield 28 per cent, of cold-drawn oil ; but the operator considered that in practice and by machinery not more than from 20 to 24 per cent, would be obtained, the remaining 4 or 8 per cent, being left in the oilcake, which must be of a very nutritious quality. The usual quantity extracted in commerce is estimated at 18 or 20 per cent, cold-drawn, and fi-om 22 to 27 per cent, by the application of heat. Linseed, therefore, offers a profit- able cultivation to the agriculturists of Victoria. Whe- ther the flax for textile manufacturing purposes can be prepared there is still to be determined ; but we see no reason why it should not. With regard to the meat question, however, the experi- ments that have been made of shipping the meat thus preserved to the European market, have not been of so satisfactory a character as to ensure a sale upon its arrival. The specimens set before the public, on a late occasion, were far from being equal to the frcsli slaughtered meat obtained at home ; and we much question whether any 0 2 20 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. class of English nicat-eaters would purchase it without a threat iraproveiueut iu the mode of preservation. With a soil and climate unrivalled, the British settler will here find himself at home in matters of religion, social manners, and habits. The chief objection is the dis- tance from his native shores ; but siucc emigration usually implies a life-long absence it can matter little whether the distance is 3,000 or four times that number of miles distance, whea it is once crossed ; and the use of steam navigation has materiallv shortened this. THE ALBERT MODEL FARM, GLASNEVIN The only recognized establishment in Ireland for the diffusion of agricultural knowledge is that known as the Albert Institution, situated within a convenient distance of the city of Dublin on the south side. This establish- ment was originally founded with a view of disseminating a fair amount of agricultural intelligence amongst the sons of the peasant farmers in Ireland. Owing to the disas- trous effects produced by the visitation of the potato blight, and that, too, during the existence of the famine years commencing in 1846, the general agricultural fea- ture of the country underwent a complete stage of pros- tration. Farms became neglected, small occupiers were reduced to a state of penury and want, landlords suffered for non-payment of rent, labour almost disappeared from the market, emigration increased to a wonderful extent, and the poor-law system was introduced with a view to affording relief to the masses then snffei-ing from destitution. The necessity of correcting or mitigat- ing an evil which, at the time, threatened to de- cimate the face of portions of the country, especially the south and west, became so self-evident that the gentry of the country and the legislature of the time set about devising a series of schemes more or less applica- ble to meet the contingencies and ameliorate the condition of the country. The agricultural element, constituting then, as now, the chief leverage whereby the prosperity of Ireland could be best effected, led to the desirableness of studying more closely and carrying out more systematically those features of farm management so inseparably con- nected with the occupation of land. Neither manufac- turing skill nor the establishment of any of those vast commercial undertakings so prevalent in other countries could scarcely be hoped to prove a success in Ireland, and, with the limited amount of capital available and the ])aucity of coal and other indispensable agents at command, all attention had to be turned to the soil, with a view of realizing from it under a more improved method of culti- vation the wherewithal to meet all the requirements of the people. At this period, too, the system of farming pursued was far from being perfect or reduced to system. The drawbacks in the way of progress were considerable, many of them insurmountable. The want of rudimentary knowledge in the cultivation of the soil or iu the breeding of stock operated most forcibly, indeed so much so as to justify the force of Sir Robert Kare's terse observation iu his invaluable work designated the " Industrial Resources of Ireland," wherein he states that the " Irish were igno- rant because education was deuied them." The combina- tion of circumstances and events called forth at the tinfle numerous and varied suggestions, which were subse- quently experimented upon. Large sums of money were granted by the Legislature with a view of being applied to the carrying out of the most feasible remedial measures for the country. Roadmaking, under the supervision of the Board of Works, was largely resorted to with a view of giving employment to the people. Practical instructors, under Lord Clarendon's administration, were appointed to teach the farmers of the country the peculiarities of green crop pultivation ; the propriety of pursuing a rotation of cropping, the more economical manufacture and applica- tion of manures, the necessity of draining, and such other conditions as iutelligent men thought necessary to be employed in the advancement of the science of farming. The Irish gentry found it their interest to co-operate in urging upon the Government the extreme desirableness of establishing an agricultural institution where the rising generation of Irish farmers could be provided Avith the best means which modern skill and capital could render available. This thoughtful step, some thirty years ago, led the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland to rent, in the vicinity of Dublin, a moderately-sized farm, on which to carry out the most modern species of hus- bandry. Accommodation was made available for a limited number of agricultural boarders, who took advan- tage of the liberal conception of tlie Government; whilst, at the same time, special facilities were placed at the command of extern pupils and the national teachers desirous of participating in the teachings of the institu- tion. So very satisfactory were the results arising from the experiment that the propriety of enlarging the con- cern and in pi'ocuriug additional land soon forced itself upon the consideration of the Commissioners, and ac- cordingly an area of neai-ly 200 acres of choice arable land, and the erection of a suitable residence for the superintendent teachers, managers, and pupils, together with commodious farm offices and other appurtenances soon followed. The increased expenditure attendant upon the accomplishment of this object produced corresponding happy results. The increased accommodation made available for the pupils selected from the minor schools throughout the country, and the facilities placed at their command to familiarise themselves with the theory and practice of systematic farming, the breeding and rearing of improved descriptions of stock, as well as acquiring a liberal share of elementary education, were soon aj)pre- ciated, and eagerly sought for by the rising generation ot farmers throughout Ireland. The advantage of obtain- ing a gratuitous yet comprehensive course of education, for a period of two years, as well as maintenance, and being supplied in contingent outlays, were objects too tempting not to be duly taken advantage of. So nu- merous and pressing were the claims of the candidates from all quarters, that steps were soon taken to establish minor institutions throughout the provinces, with the ostensible object of exemplifying in the several localities the combined effects of theoretic and practical farming. In this way the agricultm'al element soon became ramified throughout the several counties, until at last a sufficient number of first, second, third, and fourth-class schools were brought into existence. All those minor institu- tions acted as so many tributaries for supplying the vacancies which from time to time existed in the parent- institution at Glasnevin, where a higher and a more com- prehensive field for the acquiring of information on the various subjects connected with the system was provided. Professors in chemistiy, veterinary science, geology, botany, physical science, animal and vegetable physiology, horticulture, engineering, practical agriculture, as well as on general literature, were employed for in-door instruc THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 21 tiou ; whilst the out-of-door ilcpartiiicuts, in the farm, the byres, gardens, and conservatories, were sufliciently extensive to reduce those abstract sciences in practice. At subsequent stages in the working of the establishment the area of the farm was divided into three distinct de- partments, such being managed separately and inde- pendently of the others. The small farm, which is worked on the four-course shift, is exclusively intended for the instruction of the teachers from the ordinary national schools, who may be desirous of managing the plots of ground attached to the country schools, ou systematic principles. The aspect and results of mauagemeut of this little farm are most credit- able. It is purely worked by spade-labour, skilfully treated, and the realization of the maximum amount of produce, the result. There are four or five cuttings of green-soiling obtained from the Italian rye grass, whicli, together with stolen crops and the heavy return of roots, enables the manager to keep three times the number of cows usually fed ou similar extent of land. The cattle being almost exclusively house-fed leads to the accumula- tion of more genuine home-made manure than suffices to supply the necessary quota for maintaining the richness of the land. This department has been found to work creditably, and no doubt it is admii'ably adapted for the purposes iutended. The second or " intermediate" is worked on the Northumberland live-course rotation, viz., 1st year, roots ; 3nd, grain with grass ; 3rd, grass ; 4th, hay ; 5th, lead oats. The area of this farm would be some- thing bordering on the size of the average class of hold- ings amongst the small occupiers of the country. It is so managed that any ordinary farmer can adopt the process. There is nothing connected with it in either stock, imple- ments, or method of cultivation singular to those at the command or within the reach of any ordinary farm. No doubt its eroppiug and general tillage are carried out with care and system ; but this is what may be expected, regard being had to its objects, and the heavy rent to which it is subject. Similar to the small farm, the manager of this, too, takes due advantage in raising stolen crops and in manufacturing ample supplies of farm- yard muck. Both these establishments are under the management of a thoroughly practical agriculturist, on whom are also imposed the duties of lecturing on practical agriculture to both the pupils in the Albert Institution and the teachers in training at the Normal Establishment in Dublin. The large farm, which by far is the most interesting and importaul branch of the Board's teaching, was established upwards of twenty years ago ; and, no sooner had it eome into the possession of the Board, than its thorough draining, subsoiling, levelling inequalities on its surface, constructing roads, removing fences, eradicating weeds, erectiug new farm offices, forming gardens, conservatories, &c., were speedily put into requisition. The entii'e ISO acres, which it now embraces, represent one open field, perfectly free from waste on surface or obstruction in working. It is managed on what may be termed a " mo- dification" of high farming. At one time " high farming" was carried out to a very considerable extent. Underland pipes were laid for the conveyance of the liquid from the manure tanks, from which it w^as forced by steam-power to the hydrants in the several fields, where hoses were applied for its distribution over the surface. This scheme was found rather too expensive, not by any reason of its utility and application, but simply because of the insufficient quantity of the liquid to warrant a conti- nuation of the experiment on so extensive a scale. Mr. Baldwin, the superintendent of the Albert Institution and the system of agricultural education generally in Ireland, deemed it more advisable and practical to con- centrate both the liquid and solid manures and apply them jointly. He is not however opposed, but on the contrary an advocate for the utilization of sewage, especially that of large towns and cities, where the supply of the liquid would be ample and where its application could be made general. Great facilities for making vast supplies of genuine farmyard manure exist at Glasneviu. The farm offices are so planned and constructed that not a particle of eitlicr the liquid or solid droppings can go to loss. The underground pipes and sewerage from the several offices leading to the tank conveys all the liquid ; and this be- ing situated in the dungyard, at the rear of the premises, it can be at once and at will applied in saturating the dungheap prior to its application to the land. The ordi- nary Norfolk four-course rotation, with some sub-rotations for experimental pm-poses, is the system generally adopted. The fields are of a uniform size, and of parallelogram shapes. The aspect of the farm is much to its ad- vantage ; and there being no fences or trees, it enjoys the solar heat tlie entire time. To facilitate its cultivation, an excellent and straight macadamized road runs through the farm from eud to end. The fields jut off at right angles, and are separated from one another by a narrow edging of an ornamental grassy sod. Its culti- vation is most beautifully eftected, and the best criterion whereby to judge of the success of its management is the enormous profit recorded in its favour. This featm-e be- comes the more noticeable in view of the fact that, within a few years past, the entire system was threatened with annihilation. Its financial failures formed the base-work, ou which rested the superstructure for its downfall. Corrective measures were necessary to be applied. A change of supervision in the head of the department ensued, and with this change in management, sudden change in results followed ; and with this hopeful and growing results, public confidence became restored, con- verts enlisted, and opposition disappeared. In the cultivation of the farm the most modern appliances have been used. No sooner is a new patented or improved implement noticed in the market, than the farm is provided with one. This is of vast importance to the pupils, as they have the earliest opportunity of testing the specialities of the implement. For the elTective and economical working of the farmyard ma- chinery, a large and powerful steam-engine is erected, which is permanently worked in thrashing grain, bruis- ing oats, beans, and peas, chaffing hay and straw, dressing ilax, churning, and in such other processes as the endless number of belts attached to the main shaft are adapted for. Successive Viceroys in Ireland have watched the working of the concern with more or less interest. It has been visited by members of the Royal family — perhaps through attachment caused by its being called after their Royal parent; whilst foreigners and distinguished members of the legislature have been numerous in their \asits to the estab- lishment. Earl Spencer, the present nobleman representing her Majesty in Ireland, is not only constant in his inspec- tion of it, but has been a very large patron to its resources by sending thither several valuable animals of his Excel- lency's celebrated Shorthorn stock. This is rather a gracious feature on the part of that nobleman, as it mani- fests no small amount of confidence in the management of the concern, and the more particularly so as those ani- mals are intended to be exhibited at the coming Royal Irish Show to be held in August next. As regards the class of cattle kept on the farm itself, we were particularly struck with their suitability for dairy and slaughtering purposes. At one time the horned stock kept on this farm was composed of costly Ayrshires, Herefords, x\lderneys, Shorthorn, and Kerries. Although the locality and mode of treatment may suit the horned 22 THE FARMER'S MAGAZmS). stock, it waa found injurious to the keep of others. As the ulterior object was to make the dairy a remunerative branch of the establishment, preference was given to those cattle which filled the pail quicker and suited the shambles earlier. The ordinary class of county Dublin Aairy cows proved to pay for their keep with greatest advantage. Those having a dash of blood in them were kept for breeding purposes with a thorough-bred Shorthorn bull, and the result is that within the last four years by this species of crossing the manager has succeeded in producing one of the very best descriptions of dairy cows, possessing blood, frames, and qualities which it would be diiiicult to match. They combine the two-fold qualities of being capital milkers, and when dry accumulate flesh, fitting them for the butcher in a very short time. No sooner are any fat- tened or sold than they are leplaced by others, and thus a constant scale of sale and purchase is resorted to. The proximity of the farm to the city of Dublin, the facility of conveying milk to fixed customers, together with the high prices obtained for it per gallon, caused the selling of the milk to find favour in preference to converting it into butter or cheese. The cattle are milked twice a-day, and the produce delivered in town each morning and evening. During the summer months the cows are pastured : in winter time they are house-fed, with occasional exercises allowed them. The out-door exercise daring the fine weather, on the heavy permanent pastures on which they browse, gives them such a degree of health as to render the existence of pleuro-pueumouia or other contagious diseases altogether absent from the herds, "Whenever grass or other feeding-stuffs run short in supply, recourse is had to brewers' and distillers' grains to supply any want in the feeding condiments. Taking the farm and premises all in all, and viewing their bearing and results in every aspect, the most sceptical must admit that there is not in Europe another agricultural college which has proved so successful in its working, so eminently useful in its effects, nor so admirably suited to promote agricultural information or realize the hopes of its promoters, as what the Institution under notice has proved itself to be. THE LAW OF HYPOTHEC. Tke speech of Lord Elcho, on the Law of Hypothec, at the Haddington meeting, in November last, and inserted in the last number of this magazine, bases the de- fence of the law on premises so extravagant as well as false that we are disposed to bestow a few remarks upon them in order to expose their fallacy in a point of view which we have not seen taken up by any of those who have de- nounced the law. In doing this we must beg leave to give a rapid sketch of the former condition of real pro- perty in Scotland as compared with its present, and show to what and to whom the improved state of the land and its owners is to be ascribed. Previous to the middle of the last century the Scottish lairds, or landowners, were the poorest aristocracy in Europe, That old cynic, Samuel Johnson, in his tour through the Hebrides, illustrated this condition of the landed gentry by relating with more or less of truth, but with much unction, that on one occasion a raid was made on seven of the islands by some foreign ships, and that the freebooters triumphantly carried off three shillings and sixpence ! Admitting that this was a hyperbole, the fact of the scarcity of money in Scotland amongst the landed proprietors was patent enough, and rendered it not only the " one thing needful" but the one thing most conspicuous by its absence. In this respect the farmers or serfs were, as a matter of course, as great strangers to wealth as the lairds. Their occupation of the land was as tenants-at-wiU, and the farms consisted of Infield and Outfield, the manure being bestowed upon the former, which was the nearest to the homestead, and the latter was cropped as long as it would produce anything, and then abandoned to the sheep that were folded upon it in order to restore a degree of fertility. With regard to farm utensUs — such as they were — and stock, it was cus- tomary for the landlord to furnish them, and the produce was divided between him and the tenant, money-rents being in most cases out of the question. As in Ireland previous to the famine, the land was subdivided almost to infinity ; but however small the -occupations, each had a portion of hUl and valley, the latter of which only was cultivated, the produce being oats or here. Scarcity pre- vailed at the end of almost every season, and had been known to last seven years without intermission. About the year 1770 a change was effected by the pass- ing of an Act to modify the law of entails in Scotland, which enabled the landowners to grant leases and improve their estates. Under this regulation farms began to be taken by men of substance from the lowlands, the turnip husbandry was introduced, and a superior mode of culti- vation by modem implements, A system of banking was also adopted, which enabled a respectable farmer to ob- tain a loan of money for the purpose of permanent im- provements, such as draining, &c,, which he was enabled safely to execute under the nineteen years' leases that were generally granted. Thus the land of Scotland be- came gradually improved, and of double, treble, aye, ten times the value it would have fetched during the first half of the 18th century. But it was not until towards the close of it that the great stimulus was given to the landed interest, by the war with France, when the high price of all kinds of agricultural produce made the land the most valuable property in the kingdom ; and at the same time induced the owners to abolish the small-farm system, by throwing a number of them into one ; finding it more eligible to have one substantial tenant than ten or twenty needy ones who had neither the capital nor skill to cultivate it in a proper manner. It was under the former rSgime that the law or cnstom of hypothec was adopted ; and it was absolutely neces- sary when both the implements and stock — in many cases even the seed corn — were furnished and belonged to the landlord. This fact has been so often dilated upon that it is unnecessary further to allude to it than to show that a very different state of things now prevails, under which the tenant is expected to bring capital enough unto a farm to conduct every improvement and every operation in an efficient manner. What would any landowner — Lord Elcho himself, for instance — say to a farmer who, on applying for a farm, should tell him, " I have no money to purchase implements of husbandry or cattle to stock it ; but you, of course, will not object to find it for me" ? There would be but one reply to such an application — a flat refusal. We now come to Lord Elcho's astounding assertion respecting the different interest upon money employed in landed property and that in mercantile operations. In the first he states the interest at 3 per cent. ; in the latter, at from 5 to 15 per cent. Now, we do not want to value the land of Scotland at what it was worth a hundred years since — say, £5 per acre— and which the THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. S^ ancestors of the present occupiers woiilJ have been glad to have sokl it for ; but we will take it at its present valne — that is, arable and pasture laud — which would, if good, sell for £50 or £60 per acre. Does Lord Elcho mean to say that such land will not fetch more in Scot- land than from 30s. to 36s. per acre ? Why, iu some cases the very game (which, by the bye, is fed by the farmer) will fetch ahuost as much as tliat ; and the land itself is frequently taken at a rental of from £3 to £5 per acre, giving an interest of from 5 to 8 or 9 per cent., instead of 3. But it will be said it is the increased value of the land that obtains the increased rent ; that the im- provements ell'ected fully entitle the landlord to the in- creased rent. Granted ; but to whose energy, spirit, and capital are the improvements to be ascribed ? Cer- tainly not iu any degree to the owners, but to the occu- piers of the land ; and if the landlords of Scotland have risen from a state of indigence — almost poverty — to one of wealth and influence, it is to the tenant-farmers that they are indebted for the change. Let Lord Elcho and his compeers, the landed gentry of Scotland, look to the rock from which they were hewn, and the hole of the pit whence they were digged. Let them compare the con- dition of themselves, and the high class of tenantry to which they now entrust the management of their land, and they will surely see no just reason to retain them under a law one-sided and iniquitous, and which was established under a condition of serfage which no longer exists, under a feudal tenure, the proper place for which is •' the tomb of the Capulets." But, again, is it true that the manure and the cattle dealers make a profit of 15 per cent., or even 10 per cent., when their expenses and losses are taken into the account, especially with this law of hypothec in the hack-ground? Literally so; for the landlord may be upon the property in season or out of season if the fit takes him, and neither the tenant nor the merchant who trusts his property to him can avoid the consequences. Nor is it undeserving of notice that both the cattle and the manure merchant have by the credit they have ex- tended to the tenants contributed their share — no small one either — to the increased value of the land, and the wealth of its owners. The only return the latter makes them is, to watch his opportunity, and when the soil is super-saturated with manure and covei'cd with cattle, to put his sequestration in force, and sweep off eveij shilling for back rent, suffered to accumulate. Of course the lease, if there is one, is void ; and the landlord not only pays himself out of the property on the farm, but he re- lets the land at an advanced rent, in consequence of tho money laid out upon it at the merchant's and cattle- dealer's expense. Looking at this detestable law of hypothec in whatever light we may, we can only pro- nounce it unjust and one-sided as relates to the tenant, and iniquitous towards every class of tradesmen who have any dealings with the tenantry. Lord Elcho in his speech referred to Mr. Bright. We say Mr. Bright is worse than no authority on land questions, and his Lordship committed himself when he unfortunately re- ferred to such an opinion. THE CULTIVATION OF "ANTHYLLIS VULNERARIA." By G. Schulze, Sammenthin eei Arnswalde, Prussia. It is very astonishing, considering the general and ever-in- creasing complaints of the uncertainty of red clover, that the cidtivation ^of anthyllis has not spread more quickly. The cliief cause of tliis tardiness lies in the mistrust with which farmers regard the recommendations of new plants, or old ones under new names : a mistrust most certainly not unjusti- fied, since as a rule the results of the cultivation of such plants are in no way proportionate to the dazzhng promises held out. I have cultivated anthyUis for the last six years, and have discovered every year new qualities, which show clearer and clearer the immense importance of this plant for this part of the country. On the better soil of these parts, where barley and wheat yield sure and tolerably good crops, red clover is very uncertain, yields satisfactory crops only in remarkably wet seasons, and seldom outlives the winter after it has been mown. On the poorer soil, which is still more uncertain for clover, and has almost universally marl in the subsoil, lupines and serradella are uncertain, and yield also satisfactory crops only in excessively wet seasons. The want of a hardy plant, capalile of absorbing the nitrogen in the atmosphere, and the mineral substances in the subsoU, was felt very sensibly in this neighbourhood ; and proportionate to this want was the desire to find such a plant. AnthyUis, which had been successfully cultivated in some parts, has fully supplied this want. I have always had good crops of it, whereas some years the other green crops have quite failed. Anthyllis is extremely insensi- ble to frost and drought, which are always so injurious to the other green crops. In these parts the cultivation of anthyllis has rapidly extended, and on many farms quite supplanted that of red clover. The sowing of authylUs with summer corn does not deviate from that of other sorts of clover, but if it is to be mown, Timothy's grass is the only one suitable for mixing with it, as the other grasses ripen too early for the later de- velopment of anthyllis. AnthyUis may, like Timothy's grass, be sown at the same time as wheat and rye, in autumn. I have done this most successfully for the last three years ; whereas ray white and yellow clover sown at the same time froze. After the corn has been reaped, with which anthylUs has been sown, it may be fed off with sheep and cattle without disadvantage, in which it has an advantage over other sorts of clover. In the year following it may be mown twice if the first mowing takes place when it is just beginning to bloom. I consider it, however, more advantageous to let it bloom fuUy, and then mow it only once. In this manner an equal amount of food is obtained, and the working expenses are considerably less. The mowing, if mown but once, takes place about a fort- night later than the first mowing of red clover. There is plenty of time after mowing to prepare the ground for wheat and rye, which prosper remarkably weU after anthyUis, probably because the ground is so closely shaded by it, and a large mass of stubble and roots remain in it, AnthyUis stands tlie winter foUowing the mowing better than red clover, and if it is not mown but only fed off it lasts several years. I sow wheat the same year on ground where anthylUs has been mown. Cattle and sheep eat anthyllis just as readUy as they do red clover, but horses prefer the latter. I grow anthyUis on sandy-clay, clayey sand, and marly sand • and I have observed that it grows less luxuriantly on better soil when unmixed with marl, than on inferior marly soil. It seems to require a not insig- nificant mixture of Ume ; but for the rest it grows vigorously on all soils, witli the exception of moorland. On the worst soil I have hot harvested less than 20 cwts. of hay per acre. But the yield increases as the soil is better, and I have some- times had 45 cwts, per acre. AnthyUis may be repeatedly grown on the same ground at short intervals, without detriment to the crops. I have grown it on some land for the third time, so as to have one rye-crop between two anthyllis-crops. The second anthyUis-crop was better than the first, and the third quite as good as the second, AnthylUs grows wild in hoUow ways, and on the banks of dry ditches in these parts. In Belgium I have seen it wild on railway-banks, I'rom these remarks the value of anthyllis cultivation for these parts may be seen, and there are most certainly other parts where it would be equaUy valuable. Everywhere where tlie soil yields uncertain and light crops of clover, whether it is on account of the nature of the soil, or tlie oft-repeated culti- vation of red clover, trials should he made with autliyUis, which would be sure to prove satisfactory if the soil is not de- ficient in lime, 24 THE PARMER'S MAGAZINE. THE CULTIVATION OF ARTIFICIAL GRASSES. The usual moutlily meeting of the Winfrith Farmers' Club was held at Wool, when Mr. J. ScuTT.lj of Bare Regis, said : There are, as you are all aware, a great variety which may be classed under this head, but I shall confiue my remarks to a few varieties with which we are mostly acquainted, and which constitute a large portion of our forage crops. First, I will ask your attention to a few re- marks on rye grass — the green or perennial, white or annual, and Italian. These seeds do not appear to have been known in this country until about the middle of the 17th century, from wliich time they gradually grew into favour; but farmers then not understanding the difference in the varieties, and by constantly saving the seed from tlie first crops, it resulted in tlie prevalence of a short-lived variety, afterwards termed " annual or white rye grass," and unfit for laying down of lands to two or more years. This naturally directed attention to the selection of a more lasting variety, which was supplied by Mr. I'acey, whose perennial grass has since become known throughout the country ; but our best perennial seeds are ob- tained from Devonshire and known as the Devon rye grass. This variety is mostly in favour, as the hay made from it is not of as coarse a nature as that of the white or annual, the stalks being smaller with more root-leaves, which fully compensates for the extra length and coarser stalks of the latter, besides rendering the hay less wiry and more palatable to the stock fed on it. Italian ryegrass is a variety very generally esteemed as being more vigorous in its growth, gives a stronger braird, ar- rives sooner at muturity, has a greater abundance of foliage, grows much taller, is more upright or less inclined to spread on tlie ground, and one of its most distinguishing characters is that it is preferred by cattle to any of the common sorts, and which has been proved by many in different parts of the coun- try, while it yields early, bulky, and quickly succeeding herbage, which renders it an invaluable grass. AVith regard to its du- ration I think it cannot be called more than a biennial, and the greatest produce is obtained in the first year. There are many different opinions as to the real merits of the Italian rye grass, but perhaps the best proof is the great and increasing demand for its seeds. There are a great many varieties of the Italian as well as other rye grasses, and, although rye grass may be grown in almost any description of soil, it has a certain preference of soils by which its growth is naturally influenced. Thus it requires a little consideration beforehand as to the re- spective suitabilities of the crop and of the soil, which will enable us to avoid those unsatisfactory results that so fre- quently occur wlien these points are not attended to. A tem- perate cliinate and moist soil are the most suitable to its growth. Excessive heat or extreme cold climates are equally unfavourable to its growth. We find the difference of climate on our own coasts exerting a marked difference on the plants cultivated ; on the east coast we find, for instance, Norfolk and Suffolk celebrated for their grain in consequence of its being drier and more genial atmosphere than on the west coast. Thus we see that the climate of our side of the country is better adapted than the other for the cultivation of crops according to their natural characters, and this we find practically to be the case, as the one side of our country is celebrated for its grain, the other for its dairy produce and cattle, and also for its growth of grasses, the humidity of the air, from the greater rainfall, being more suitable for their development. Kye grass, too, thrives best in loamy and the stronger classes of soils, such as we find generally in the counties of Somerset and Devon. The preparation of the soil is another and very important thing to- wards the success of the crop and the conditions it meets with, favourable or otherwise, in the soil. We know no crop can thrive as it should unless this is attended to, and above all things keep the soil clean of weeds, which is always stealing the money from our pockets unheeded by grasping the food from the crop intended to be fed. Now, I suppose you will s.-iy " shop ;" but if I tell you what I believe by practical expe- rience to he the triitli you must forgive me. Tliis point is the selectiou of the seed ; tliis lias a particular bearing in tlie pre- sent case, as probably not one of tlie seeds we use in our ordi- nary crops is subject to the same amount of adulteration as the Italian and also all low quality grass seeds. This is well- known to seedsmen and farmers, and of course reprehended by both, but practically supported by the latter, who too often look to the quantity rather than to the quality of the seed, and fancy that because it is offered them at a low price it must be cheap. It is true that by increasing the quantity of seed per acre they increase their chance of getting a plant, but at the same time it should be borne in mind that they also increase their crop of weeds ; and it does not require much oljservation nor time to show that bad seed is dear at any price. I have seen an analysis of rye grass given in the A(jrmdlural Gazette, and I think no one could have any idea of the number of weeds found mixed even with apparently pure samples ; but re- member I do not believe at all times this is from adulteration, but from the careless way in which many are grown and brought to market, not half cleaned, and retailed by the grower often to his own as well as his neighbours' injury. It is often well to notice that the lighter samples of seed contain the greater number of weeds. This arises partly from the care- lessness of its growth on the one hand, and the impossibility of cleaning mere chaffy stuff on the other ; whereas the heavier samples of seed are more carefully grown, and the grains, being more plump and rounded, do not adhere to the weeds and are more easily separated. This, I think, sliows the great im- portance of a careful selection of seed, as when weeds are sown as well both are placed under exactly the same conditions, and as the latter are generally more vigorous in their habits and more hardy in their nature a struggle for possession takes place, and the weakest goes to the wall. The sanfoin crop is another of our best forage crops, and one I believe not half valued as it ought to be. This plant was introduced from France and caDed " French finger grass ;" hence the common name French grass. In soils suitable for its growth no farmer can grow too much of it ; it appears to have been long cultivated on the Continent before its introduction into this country, which was about a century and a half ago. The only two species cultivated in this country is the common and the giant. The common variety is that generally sown if required to re- main down some years. The quality of the hay from this would be, I should say, rather superior to that made from the giant, although this latter is no doubt the more profitable to grow if not allowed to remain down more than two or at the longest three years. The soils best suited to its growth are those of a light, shallow kind, particularly those of a calcareous formation ; in such it will probably give a more productive return than could be obtained from any of our cultivated plants. The soils containing large proportions of clay are unsuitable for its cultivation ; but lands that are thin, chalky, and too close to the rock to carry ordinary crops of corn may be brought into profitable cultivation by being laid down to sanfoin for a course of years. The yield of the crop greatly depends upon the condition in which it is sustained ; if con- tinually mown and sometimes saved for seed, without any compensating manure being applied to it, the plant will gra- dually become weaker, and the indigenous plants rapidly in- crease until they gradually stifle the sanfoin, and the land becomes filled with grass and weeds ; whereas, on the other hand, if the plant is not allowed to stand too long before being cut for hay, and the aftershare or second growth be fed off with corn or cake, or a dressing with farm-yard manure be applied during the winter, the condition of the land will be kept up, the plants will grow vigorously, and the weeds will not gain the ascendency. As with rye grass, so with sanfoin — I say I have the best seed, which, if apparently dear, is in reality the cheapest. The seed grown in France, as a rule, is not to be depended on as that grown in England, although a great quantity of it is used, especially of the giant variety, to mix with other seeds when the land is intended to lay for two years. Good, fresh sanfoin seed should be plump, of a light grey colour outside and of a greenish tint inside ; if of a very dark colour it has either been badly matured or else injured in the stack, and is of an inferior cliaracter. I do not think it is advisable to save a crop of seed except it THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 25 be the last crop liet'oie being brokou >.ip, as the, weeds and grass ripeu as well, dropping tlicir seeds and filling the land, thereby destroying the vigorous growth of the plant by consuming the food which would otherwise go to- wards the development of the cultivated plant. I think it a good plan to give the plant a good harrowing after the winter is over, which will destroy many of the annual weeds which have vegetated on tlie surface. With these few remarks I leave tlie subject in your hands, and trust that a good discus- sion may arise. I have only touched on a few of the leading plants euUivated for the supply of food for our stock. The clover crop with its numerous varieties nmy be classed among our artificial grasses, and would form a good subject to be treated on by some other member of this club on some future occasion. Mr. W. Chick expressed his conviction that the cheapest and most advantageous plan of growing artificial grasses was to use none but the very best seeds that could be procured. The inferior qualities contained a much larger proportion of the " tailing" aud rubbish than was to be found in the good samples of seed. Speaking of sainfoin he remarked that as his laud at Owcrmoigne was suitable for this grass he should be sorry to be without it. He had recently broken up a piece of land that had been down to sainfoin for the last nine years, and the grass was almost as good now as formerly ; it was only on account of the ground being full of bob and black grass that he was induced to break it up. His plan was to get a crop of hay from it first, then to hurdle it off for the sheep, which he supplied with a little cake in the autumn. He could not speak with such authority ou the matter as some of the gentlemen around him, as he had only had four years' experience. He spoke highly in favour of Italian rye-grass, and, although he would not go so far as to say they could not possibly grow too much of it, yet every man ought to have a certain amount of it, particularly on good soils. With refer- ence to rye-grasses he much preferred the Devon or green rye to the white ; they did not get so much in quantity, perhaps, but the quality was decidedly superior. Mr. D. Sturdy inquired of Mr. Scutt as to whether, in his opinion, the spring or autumn was the better time for sowing rye-grasses. Mr. W. BuDDEN agreed with Mr. Chick that the green rye was preferable to white when they were going to have a two- years' ley ; but tlie white variety would do equally as well for one year. He had very little to do, however, with either the white or green varieties, for he had discovered since he had sown Italian rye-grass that it paid him double and treble as much as the other, especially the foreign sort ; in fact, he would not sow English seeds if any one were to make him a present of a lot. He related an instance of sowing some of Pacey's green rye in the midst of a piece of Italian. The re- sult was that the latter had grown much more luxuriantly and would produce double the crop of the other. It might be argued that the green rye produced hay of better quality , but he did not think this could be proved — that was, if the Italian was cut soon enough and not allowed to gro k sticky. He had cut Italian rye-grass mixed with clover, and found the sheep had done better than ever before, and this year in particular he expected to cut it again, but the sheep had eaten the whole of it. If they had green rye they invariably had to let it stay too long, in order to get the clover out in flower. That was disadvantageous ; and he found Italian r3'e-grass could be produced more easily and profitably with the broad clover. He recollected a few years ago sowing some Italian rye- grass from seed that had been grown in the locality for one year; but tlie seed did not produce half the quantity as from the foreign seed, lie had two sacks to try, and the difference in the crops could be seen from a long distance — in fact, when the judges came over recently to inspect his roots they immediately detected the inferior patch in the field and asked him what it meant. He then informed them that was a piece sown with English seed collected from the first year's crop. They advised him if such was the case not to sow any more English seed, and he had fol- lowed their recommendation (laughter). The system of sowing depended much upon the season. Sometimes if sown in the spring the crop is more forward, but at other times it was just as well to sow after the barley or wheat was carried. He recollected seeing some Italian rye that had been sown after barley cutting at Cerne, and before Christmas it was as high as his ankles, when walking through it. He could uot have believed it if he had not seen it. Mr. T. C. Saunders : How was it sown P Mr. liUDDEN : It was dragged into the stubble just as you would sow trifolium seed. The ground was not ploughed. Mr. T. C. Saujjders said if a farmer hoped to keep his land clean it was essential that he should be particular in selecting the very best seeds. Like his friend Mr. Chick ho preferred the Devon to the white rye ; indeed, he had uot sown any of the latter description on his farm for many years, and he saw no reason to go back to it. Italian rye grass was very useful, but it was frequently found that the seed was very foul. He considered the foreign seed was far preferable, and, from the change of climate and soil, it answered far better than the English seed. One drawback was that Italian rye-grass seed contained so inucli couch ; although it was scarcely perceptible it caused much trouble for two or three years to clean the land. There- fore when he purchased Italian rye-grass seed he was particular in cleansing it as effectually as possible. He did not think, how- ever, there was so much adulteration of this kind in the foreign as there was in the English seeds. His own experience taught him it was advisable to let the sainfoin stand until it reached a certain stage before cutting, for having cut a portion of the crop early he found the plants bled, and there was always a marked difference between it and the remainder of the piece which had been allowed to remain some time longer. If they allowed sainfoin to attain a certain degree of ripeness it turned out better in the end, and the plants were not apt to bleed. Giant sainfoin did not foul the land as much as the other sort, and he did not object to have a portion of a field sown with it, to come in with the common sort. He could not go so far as some previous speakers with respect to the superiority of foreign seed, but the best he could get, in his opinion, was direct from a well-known respectable grower iu Hampshire. Mr. Scutt : Then you won't trust to the seedsmen ? Mr. Saunders : Well, I dou't like the foreign seeds (laughter). Mr. Reader agreed with Mr. Scutt in his remarks re- specting the green and white ryes, and the better they could get the green rye'seed the more profitable it was to the grower. A good green rye was undoubtedly a great benefit to the farmer, but the inferior seeds contained a large proportion of extraneous matter. He had not sown white rye on his farm now for many years. Demurring to the statement set forth in the paper relative to the weight of the Italian rye grass, he recollected when it was first introduced into this country some 25 years ago the prevailing opinion was that it should not weigh more than 131bs. per bushel ; but he cou- sidered the heavier they could got a good Itahan rye the better. One year he saved some himself, and thrashed it in the fall of the year, putting away a certain quantity to sow in the spring. He put it aside, however, and when the spring eame he could not find it, and he was obliged to sow some " tailing" in one part of the field. The result convinced him that the lighter seed was the best, for his "tailing" produced as good a crop as if he had procured foreign seed. Iu a field close by, where the "best seed" was sown, the plants went back like the common Italian ; it did not grow so fast as his " tailing" seed did. That convinced him that the opin- ion which prevailed when the grass was first introduced into the country was a correct one. If they sowed Italian rye- grass, in five or six years it would get as heavy almost as the English sort. They were all very well aware that he did not mix his rye-grass with his broad clovers ; he believed it was a very bad plan. When he sowed his clovers, instead of sowing them once iu four or five years he sowed once only in nine years, and varied the cropping with Italian or Devon ryes, hop, Dutch, and so forth. If tJiis plan were generally adopted much better broad clovers would be produced than by sowing them every " round." The land often became clover-siek be- cause it was sown too often with that plant ; the laud required longer time to rest, and he felt convinced Dy the nine-years' system the crop would yield half as much again than when sown every four years. A certain quantity of sainfoin should be sown on all farms ; but he did not recommend them to go too deeply into it. If land was sown down to sainfoin forfi.ve years they could not sow the same plant again with any ad- vantage for 3U years afterwards. He had two or three pieces 20 THE FARMER'S MAGAZIN:^. of land with rocky chalky soil well adapted for sainfoin, and here he had grown very good crops indeed for four or five years. Tliis had been broken up afterwards and sown to corn and other grasses for 14 years ; but on sowing sainfoin again after tlie lapse of that time it had not stayed more than two or three years in the ground, whereas formerly it had stood from eight to ten years, if he chose to let it remain so long. With respect to giant sainfoin, a certain portion of it was very useful ; but a mistake was often committed by not sowing it thickly enough. People said if they sowed a sack per acre it was sufficient; but he had never found six busliels too much. They heard people complain that the giant sainfoin grew too coarse. But why was that ? Because it was not sown sufficiently thick. If any of those present were in the habit of sowing it he recommended them to cut it early in the first crop and save the second for seed, the same as with broad clover. They would thus get a good amount of feed, and they would obtain more seed from the second cropping than from the first. He had proved this at different times. On all lands vrhere there was a poor subsoil sainfoin could be grown ad- vantageously ; but it was useless to sow it in strong clays or on sand. It required a dry porous subsoil, so that the roots might penetrate to some depth ; he recollected an instance where the roots of this plant had descended six or seven feet into the ground. Mr. C. Besent thought he could confirm much that had fallen from previous speakers, though he despaired of throw- ing much additional liglit upon the subject which had been treated in such an exhaustive manner by Mr. Scutt. With regard to Italian rye-grass he believed it was a great advantage to the country when that plant was introduced. He thought he had never seen more of this grass about the country than during the present season, especially in the neighbourhood where he resided. There could be no doubt that a little judi- cious care must be exercised in the selection of this seed, the same as with clover and other crops. It was only feasible to conclude that the better the seed they put into the ground the better chance they had of reaping a good crop. As to what ]\Ir. Header had said, he (the speaker) considered it was a good plan to sow only once in nine years, and very often they got only an indiiferent crop by sowing too often. If they varied the seeds and left their land to clover occasionally they would have a chance of obtaining better crops than at present. He also thought it paid the farmer well to have a little dress- ing sometimes put upon the land, and very frequently they were apt to take away the properties of the soil without re- placing it by the aid of manures. The Chairman (Mr. Bat«s) said ; The crops that had been under discussion that evening had been arranged in their lucrative and beneficial cultivation, varying from three years up to twelve or thirteen years' experience. It was not many men who could give them the benefit of twelve or thirteen years' experience on a crop, and that which he wished specially to mention — the sainfoin crops. It was a most important subject in their district. It was one of those crops they found lying upon a chalky subsoil, and it was very important to a farmer who kept a large quantity of stock, be- cause it rendered an immense amount of food, and it was of the greatest importance to know how long it was capable of being sustained to the advantage of the farmer ; this, how- ever, could only be leanit by experience. Mr. Scutt : In reply to Mr. Sturdy's question as to the best time to sow Italian rye grass, might mention that he sowed his with broad clover ; therefore it would not do to put it in till the spring of the year ; but he had occasionally sown rape and Italian rye in the fall, and it answered remarkably well. With respect to sowing in barley land, he put rye and clover together, and sowed them the same as green or white ryes. It must depend altogether upon circumstances how this was managed. He thought most gentlemen had agreed with him in the opinion that Italian rye was more profitable to grow than any other grass. Mr. Reader had made a remark with regard to the weight of the seed. He (Mr. Scutt) thought it must be borne in mind that the heavier seed as a rule had not such a bad character as the lighter ones had. When they sowed lighter seeds they must get only a mediimi quality, and hating so much " tailing" with it the inferior seed was indeed heavier than the better sorts, besides they could not clear the lighter seeds as they could the heavier, and conse- quently tliey must, as a rule, sow more weeds with the former. He agreed with Mr. Saunders that in the case of sainfoin the plant was strengthened by being allowed to remain a proper time before cutting ; at the same time if there were any weeds they dropped their seeds into the land and proved an injury to the succeeding crop. He could understand the feasibility of Mr. Reader's statement that six bushels of giant sainfoin seed per acre were not too much, because the seed was larger than the common sort. In all these matters he was an advocate for top-dressing ; it always paid the best La the end to keep the land well supplied with manure. MAKING HAY. The production ot good hay in this part of the world differs so materially in the processes, and in the nature of the article produced, from the production of good hay in the British Is- lands, that we propose to submit to our agricultural readers a few observations upon the ordinary practice, and upon the principles, which, as far as circumstances wiD permit, seem most proper to be observed here. We are induced to devote a little space to the subject the more readily, because in this very important branch of our agricultural industry, as relates to the metropolitan districts especially, neither the rationale of the treatment which ought to be kept in view, nor the suit- able manipulation as actually practised, seem to be generally so well understood or adopted as they ought to be. There are three principal descriptions of fodder, which it has here become customary to convert into hay for market — lucerne, the oat, and wheat. Formerly upon some of the larger farms, rye grass, either with or without Dutcli or white clover, used to be sown extensively for hay — but these have long since given way to the oat, especially the wild or black oat, and on the deep alluvial bottoms, to lucerne. We wiU take them in the order first stated. Lucerne. — This plant flourishes iu its greatest perfection in the rich, deep, well drauied alluvial soils on the banks of our rivers and streamlets. It is hardly necessary to observe that its habit being to strike deeply downwards with a strong tap root, five or six feet straight down, often considerably deeper, and wetness, stagnant wetness, being immediately fatsd to it ; no plot of lucerne can continue to flourish if the land, to the depth of several feet, be not friable enough to permit those strong tap roots to establish themselves, and so drained naturally or by artificial means, that after long continued rains, water cannot stagnate about them to rot them after they are formed. It is stagnant water or wetness, mind, that this plant cannot bear, for it will endure and even grow most rapidly in a soil usually very damp, so long as any excess of moisture he flowing, always in motion, however slowly and imperceptibly. But the produce in soils so damp is apt to be rank and spongy, and not comparable to the finer, though still most luxuriant produce, of a deep, rich, but at the same time thoroughly drained soil. In such as these lucerne is a very long lived plant,and may last, producing fine crops, twelve to fifteen years. In respect to the treatment ; it is desirable, in the first place, to have the land in a liigh state of tilth, rich in the elements of fertility, either naturally, or by suitable additions, and free from weeds, to have a close bottom of plants produced by seeding from 18 lbs. to 30 lbs. of seed per acre. " Well planted," at first, in a suitable soil, lucerne wiU soon bid defi- ance to weeds, indeed where fineness and qualty is valued as well as quantity, especially when to be made into hay, the bottom of plants can hardly be too close. If young lucerne plants he mown easily, say when five or six inches high, the season not being uasuitable, the plot will come to a ftill, close, and abundant crop much sooner than if left to grow on with- out being mown, THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. 27 For hay, in ordinary seasons, it is desirable to cut the crop just as the flower is beginning to become well developed ; at this stage it is in the greatest perfection for hay — left longer it may yield a little heavier crop, but it loses its leaves exten- sively and becomes woody in stem, with great loss of nutritive matter. But in dry weather, or on soils naturally too dry, it often becomes requisite to mow lucerne before it reaches the flowering stage, or, in fact, whenever it ceases to grow — for it may be taken as a rule, that whenever the growth of the stalks has, through dry weather, totally ceased for a few days, they will grow no more however favourable the weather may be- come ; therefore, no matter how short, the sooner they are cut down and removed the better, for if left, the growth of the next crop when rain comes will be most materially interfered with. Suppose in a dry spring a plot of lucerne with a growth of only six to eight inches, and all progress to be then stopped for want of moisture ; suppose part of the plot to be mown, leaving another portion uncut, and that sufficient rain should then come — the portion which had been mown would rapidly overtop and treble in produce the uncut portion. Lu- cerne, then, should always be growing, and when the season forbids that, it should be mown, or closely fed off. Wherever this valuable fodder plant is extensively grown it is most desi- rable that mowing machines and horse rakes should be kept ; without them it is hardly a managable crop ; with them a large breadth can, in suitable weather, be rapidly made into capital hay. Once cut down, the produce should in a few hours, fine weather being always understood, be placed in moderate " swaths" or " wind rows," kept loose and light and well off the ground, and as it " makes" be put into " grass cocks" or small hay cocks to be simply turned over and " lightened" up with the fork as often as necessary. The principle to be kept in view being to " hay" as little as possible in the sun, after the first few hours, and expose as little surface as may be to night dews, but to trust to the circulation of air through the numerous small rows or cocks — only in exceptional cases ought lucerne in the making to be risked in large cocks. It will ab- sorb every drop of a passing shower, and then if in large masses may become difficult to manage. As soon as fit it should be carried to the stack — a very little rain damages it, and too much exposure to hot weather makes it dry and brittle. For the stacking a certain though slight amount of toughness should be preserved in the hay in order that a thorough good warming should take place in the stack. To guard against excess of heating and danger, a lucerne stack should be well raised from the ground, with fine draft of air underneath, and as it proceeds, have chimneys or air-shafts carried up perpendicular- as high nearly as the ridge, to be kept open until the heating begins to subside sensibly. It is even some- times further advisable to provide horizontal flues right through a stack which is becoming too warmed. To ascer- tain the condition of a freshly-built hay-rick, it is proper to use pieces of f or f round iron 8 or 9 feet long, drawn to a point, and turned round into a strong ring at the other extremity to fit a stout round T handle of wood. These testing-irons being thrust into the parts of a rick suspected to be over-heating, and allowed to re main some minutes before being withdrawn, indicate its condition. So long as the heat is not greater than tlie hand can bear, there is rarely risk, but if of higher temperature than this, it may be advisable to adopt some of the various means calculated to let off the accumulating heat before it reaches the dangerous stage. A small sprinkling of common salt upon the hay as it is placed on the stack, but not exceeding 301bs. to 501bs. per ton, checks the tendency to violent heating, and renders the hay more palatable and more wholesome to stock. When a rick of lucerne lias been put together in good order, it will cut out of a rich, bright, dark-brown colour, compact as a cake, with a clammy, oily feel, and such an agreeable fragrance, that animals in the neighbourhood are immediately attracted to it. This is the sort of condition which in England is so much prized in clover hay, which here the producers should strive to attain, and the buyers to encourage by giving it the preference in their purchases. Lucerne hay so made, besides being more palatable to the animal, is at the same time rendered more soluble and easily dif^ested, as well as more nutritive. In a given weight of it there will be less insoluble woody fibre than in an equal portion of the same crop, but dried without being so fermented in the stack. But although the production of well-made, highly- fermented lucerne hay is so strongly to be advocated, what shall we say of the green clammy bales of pressed hay which, too often, are piled upon our wharves. Is it true, as reported, that the hay in many of these bales, which have none of the fragrance of hay, is found to be mouldy witliin ? that it has never undergone fermentation in the stack at all ? that it, or some of it, has never been moved from the field where it was produced, but gathered into large cocks, and in crude condi- tion it has at once been pressed into large bales for sale — a free use of salt and saltpetre being made to check heating and putrefaction ? Let our agricultural friends on the Lower Hunter look well to this, and unite to discourage such sophis- tication. In the long run it can never pay. Let them reflect that already a load of loose well-made lucerne hay from the Windsor or Richmond districts wLU, in Sydney, fetch 30 to 30 per cent, better price than equal weight of the best looking bales from the Hunter. Why should this be ? The quality being the same, the pressed hay should be of more value than that in loose trusses. Does not the difference, then, express the mistrust of the buyer — the risk he feels that he runs in finding halfjnade, mouldy stuff inside P If the practice be persisted in to any extent, instead of better prices for pressed hay, it will become almost unsaleable. — Journal of New South Wales Agricultural Society, THE MILLENNIUM OF FARMING. A seed must be a perfect seed in order to grow a perfect plant. It must be sound, ripe, and well preserved. This is a branch which is greatly neglected. A soU must be in a per- fect condition to grow a crop perfectly. Here we are, per- haps, more greatly at fault than in the other case of the seed. Both, however, must go together. We grow " fair" crops, " ordinary" crops, even " good" crops, and think we have a good thing, so far as it goes ; we even surmise we have a perfect thing, not in amount, but in quality. Perfect farming requires perfect work throughout. It is like perfect ma- chinery ; it will do its work well, and with facility. It will beat the product of the interrupted time. It is not the rich soil that gives us the best grain. It is not the rank crops that are the best. It is not manure plentifully applied that makes the largest or the best growth. AU things must be taken together. Every part of the plant must be administered to, and the parts arc many and various. Science points out these, or it is the business of science to do it ; and the time wiU doubtless arrive when this will be done. Now we know only in part, but we know sufficient to meet success — not per- fection ; not that there is not perfection found, caiiied out, for Nature has made some soOs that are perfect, or as nearly so as we can distinguish. She does this through the means of water principally — the brooks and rivers of the earth. The deep river bottoms have depth, richness, porosity, drainage, a mixture of vegetable matter, and a variety of mineral. The water has mixed it well, has done a good work, aided, of course, by the elements heat, air, frost, vegetation — each a means of amelioration and fruitfulness. These soils are our nearest perfect, if not absolutely perfect, soils. We imitate them in making soU, and succeed reasonably well ; yet, it would seem we have not yet reached the secret of Nature in her best soil, whatever that secret may be — a secret that grows quality more especially ; as we find a better grape, better tobacco, better fruit often almost of any kind, particularly in flavour, in some localities, without perceiving a corresponding difference in the soil. Thus, the to- bacco of Cuba is raised on the same soil, in the same field and grown from the same seed, treat- ment the same, with a difference in quality, which takes in al- most all the varieties, and the most opposite, the best and the poorest. So the Sanbuniton grape-vine grows a miracle of 28 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. fruit, iiud yet the soil is not kiiovva to be (liU'ereut iVom otlier soils. But there is a diU'ereuce, aud Nature kuovvs what this difference is ; hut we do not, though we may eventually know. We might confound without end with our present knowledge, and would be no nearer realisation. A perfect soil is there- fore impossiljle witii us, though we can approach very nearly such a soil — at least, practically and beneficially. Such a soil is the soil we should aim at. Why ? The question seems needless to ask. But it is important, as so few understand it, aud very intelligent, advanced farmers could be benefited by the proper answer. It will be said the answer is, to grow more grain. This is true. But this is not all, by any means. We are to grow good grain — good in quality. We are to grow good grain uniformly — that is, from year to year. We are to grow it with the least expense. We are to grow it with a relish in our lal)our — such a soil it must be a jjleasure to work. Such a soil has life — it breathes, it is warm, it ab- stracts, disposes of its surplus water readily, takes in the warm, fertilizing rains, appropriates their fertility, aud gets the Ijenefit of their warmth. This is the bed for the seeds of plants. This is the bed for their roots to lie in. They cannot help but luxuriate here. Here is a richness, a superabundance of food, hugging closely, yet softly and warmly, the roots which expand rapidly, freely, aud fully in all directions. There is no obstruction here — there IS every inducement to favour. There is no poisonous property, no hurtful plant food, no undecomposed, acrid manure, nothing to interfere with the full, free absorj)- tion of what in solution the plant comes in contact with. There is nothing to interfere, hut all to favour. There is no chance of disease through infirmness, unhealthy or abnormal growth — everything is in place, in time, in order. The frost has little effect on such soil. What effect it has is for its benefit. The rains hurt it not, but benefit it ; so do the snows. It defies the longest and the most copious rains, and it laughs at the drought. It invites the spade, the plough, the harrow, the loot of the husband- man and the foot of tlie horse presses, but does not hurt it. It may be ploughed soon after a rain, late in the fall, aud early in the spring ; will mature its crop early, and mature it well. It will remain by the ovraer, true to its place, only he must feed it — feed it as it needs, and treat it accord- ingly ; then it will be ever true — nothiug so true, nothing so lasting. It will last forever, hut it wants attending to if, at the same time, it is to work for us. If it works we must pay it — pay it by boarding it. Stir it well ; it likes to be stirred, likes to see the sun, and feel the fresh, life-imparting air. This it feeds upon and breathes — only give it a chance. Give it rest, also, occasionally ; this will recruit it, as sleep the body. Such a soil is an actual, a vital thing. It is owned, and it is worked. There is more, perhaps, than anyone is aware of, though not proportionally. Comparatively speaking there is but too little. The earth, the most of it, is starved, torn and ruined from what it was. It is medicined some, with little aid. A thorough work of nature is wanted, man supplying what nature suggests. Now, we can have such a soil, each of us — an actual feed of the land and soil, like the one we have described, and we have not mentioned all the good qualities, all the great good such a soil does — how it makes a home perpe- tual, a welcome, a treasure, a support — a sup))ort when all other things (poor lands included) fail. Such a soil is had, and may he had — not at once, not in a day or a year, and not extensively at first, but gradually and surely. It needs thought, which all can get, and application. Greed aside, it may be had ; but it wants an appreciative, liberal spirit, and not a close, grasping, mercenary hand. It wants to know and to do — an interest, a willingness ; shall we say a genius ? Certainly a love for the calling. The man must be tutored, brought up to tliis ; not necessarily a genius for poetry or great iuveution, but a true, intelligent, genial man, cultivated, developed — education must do it. We are not prepared for such a soil now, only to a small extent ; in Europe, perhaps, more than here. But the time will come when great strides will be realized, and earth be made a garden ; the millennium ft ill then have dawned. But now each farmer may do something — much more than he has done. Each may have a little millennium of his own, let him hut exert himself, and bring the moral and intellectual man up to the times. A garden ! This is what the earth wants to be, and will be, in time. Have we not gardeners already here and there ? In some places in Europe the landscape is a garden, diversified, the delight aud astonishment of travellers. Now and then we see it here, where a man has his land in thorough tillage, growing such pure grain — dear grain — aud heavy crops — grass, and clover, aud corn that reminds you of a forest, yet something better than a forest. The soil itself has a look that will pay — a deep body of fat, rich, mellow soil, black or brown, .and full of life ; you can see at once that it lives. Are we fancyiug? We are not. Do we not find such soils F Ought not all soils to be so, and has not the earth the material to make them so P Yes, a thousand times over. Look at her atmosphere, at her immense beds of carbon, her potash, her phosphorus, and other materials scattered the world over, and through it, down to the central fires including them. We shall not see the day w-hen this shall all be utilized. We shall not see the day, even, when the earth shall be made a mil- lenuium of gardening — when the old Eden, on a more magnifi- cent scale, shall return. Neither shall our children see it ; but the time will come when this shall be the case — when people shall have knowledge, and shall have learned to improve themselves in body as well as in mind ; when the race shall have become " thoroughbred," and, by the aid of Nature, in her infinite means, protect, expand, aud establish itself; when it shall be homogeneous — a power and a glory ; when the affections shall respond, the intellect soar. We have the earnest of this in what we see about us. The commencement is here ; the impetus is given. In all the departments there is that activity that augurs the " good time coming." Men have prophesied it ; we now see the demonstration of it — of its commencement. Tiie basis of all this will be the earth. Farming ! This embraces all the departments ; all things originate iu it ; all will go to it. — The Frame Farmer. THE FATTENING OF STOCK. We slaughter annually in Ireland about half a million of beasts, aud export to Great Britain about a third of a million. A large number of them are sent to market in very good con- dition by the graziers, large fanners, and landed gentry of Ireland. It is well kuowu, however, to those who attend the Dublin and provincial markets, or witness the shipments of cattle from the Irish ports, that a great many beasts are sold either iu a half-finished state, or sent to England as stores. The loss on the former is very consideiable; for, as every prac- tical man knows, beasts pay better for their keep in the more advanced, than in the early stage of fattening. And, again, as our climate is, on t,he whole, better adapted for roots than that of England, we sec no reason why a large numljcr of the store cattle now exported sliould not be fattened iu Ireland. It would increase the profit of the farmer aud the gross pro- duce of the country : the large quantity of valuable manure obtained would leave the land in bettiT condition for other crops, and the labouring class vcould receive more em])loyment. Tlie farmers who sell their cattle say stall-feeding does not pay. It must be admitted that the slovenly system of stall- feeding which many people follow cannot pay ; it is also true that the price of store cattle is sometimes so dear as to render it difficult to fatten them profitably ; but it may be safely as- sumed that the inielligent farmers of England and Scotland who fatten a great many of our Irish cattle do not lo:ie by the system. We have seen Irish cattle in the stalls of English farmers who pay a higher rent thau is paid for the same class of land in Ireland. Before a farmer embarks in stall-feeding, he should calculate the cost of raising a ton of roots on his farm, and tlie quantity of meat which that quantity of roots will produce. Ou laud fairly adapted for root crop cultivation, roots can be raised at about 7s. 6d. a ton. Now, the results of several experiments, conducted with great care, show that when cattle are carefully selected and skilfully stall-fed, they THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 29 pay not less tlum Gd. n cwt. for tlie Swedish tui-uips consumed. Tlie fatteniufjf of cattle divides itself into two great divisions — grazing and stall-feeding. The former of these is practised principdly upon what, hy way of distinction, is called fattening land ; and we tiiiuk that this is a profitable way of managing this class of land. The land is usually stocked at the rate of one beast per acre. About one-third of the number, or one beast to every tliree acres, is put on in October, and tiie re- mainder in May, wlicn the grass is pretty strong. The animals are sent to market as they become ripe. By stocking first- class land less closely, it often fattens two sets iu the year. Some graziers give cake iu troughs on the grass, at the rate of two pounds and upwards per head daily. Crushed oats are also used for the same purposes ; aud, considering the present low price of grain and the high price of beef, aud the im- provement which is elfected in the land by the dnug of the animals so fed, it pays very well. The average increase in weight of grazed cattle varies very much. Good two-year- olds aud three-year-olds increase at the rate of two pounds (live weight) daily from May to October. This is above tlie average, but we believe it is attainable by skill in breeding and feeding. The grazier shifts his cattle from field to field, so that they may always have a good fresh bite. Tor this purpose his laud may Ije divided into three or four sec- tions. One is kept free from stock until tlie most ibrwaid beasts need it. The cattle are grazing on section two until section one is ready for them. Section three receives the less forward beasts or dairy stock ; and store cattle aud sheep may occupy a fourth section. The animals are regularly shifted from one division to auotlier. Thus, when the stock iu No. 4 is transferred to No. 3, the former is cleared and closed up till it is ready for the most forward beasts, and so on of the otiier divisions. It is worthy of remark tliat as fattening ani- mals approach ripeness, they require better keep, which, iu the case of grazing cattle, means more succulent pasture. Grazing cattle also require a plentiful supply of water. It is found beneficial to place rock-salt within tlieir reach, so that they may lick it. The passages leading from field to field should be kept clean, to prevent disease of the feet, which keeps up irri- tation and wastes food. Most farmers whose holdings are large, and who grow roots, fatten a number of b iasts iu houses during winter and spring. The system is usually called stall- feeding. The animals to be fattened are withdrawn from grass and placed under shelter at the approach of winter. Irish tenant-farmers generally do this in stalls, which answer ex- ceedingly well for the purpose. The house should be warm, but not close ; there should be good ventilation, but no drafts of air. The animals should be kept as quiet as possible iu the stalls, because every movement of the limbs, as well as every excitement and irritation, causes a waste of the animal tissues, which is equivalent to a waste of food. Too much light causes stall-fed animals to be restless, and retards the fattening process. Tlie stalls should, therefore, be dark rather than lightsome. Eor about ten days after cattle are put up to fatten they should get soft turnips, which prepare them for the more nutritive sorts. Trom the very commencement tlie strictest regularity should be observed in the hours of feed- ing, aud the beasts should be kept clean and comfortable all through. Some farmers curry once a day, aud we have no doubt this extra trouble pays remarkably well, as it promotes the healthy action of the skin. Tiie house, as already ob- served, should be warm, but not so close as to cause sweating, which is injurious. The greatest attention should also be paid to the dung, which should be neither too watery nor too hard. At first the soft turnips generally scour them ; but, if not allowed to go too far, this brings about a healthier action of the entire system, and by providing dry fodder the excre- ments are soon restored to their proper consistence. The ani- mals may now receive more fattening food, the kinds and quantities of which vary with the size of the beasts and the views of the farmer. The kinds of food most commonly given to stall-fed cattle are roots, straw, and hay, with oil-cake or corn. The state in which it is best to give these substances to cattle is a subject on which opinions dilfer widely. Some (but we believe they are few in number) cook the roots. It is the general opinion, however, that this does not pay. The advocates of the system say the animals can digest their food with less exertion (whi»b n\eans less waste of tissue) when it is cooked for them. Hoots are, however, easily digested ; and, besides, the large quantity of saliva secreted during the mastication of tiie raw roots is required for the proper action of the stomach. T'o prevent choking, the roots sliould be cut into slices not exceeding an inch in thickness. Some, again, reduce the roots to shreds by what is called a pulping machine. Tlic pulped food is often allowed to undergo a slight fermentation before it is used. The pulping machine appears to be serviceable when the farmer wants his cattle to consume and assimilate a large quantity of straw. By mixing the pulped roots with straw cut into what is called ehalf by a chall'-cntting machine, and allowing the mixture to stand for a short time, cattle eat a great deal of straw. We have found the system exceedingly useful for milch cows, but not equally valuable for fattening beasts. The secretion of milk appears to be increased by a slight degree of fermentation. The use of the chaH'-cutter for cutting up straw and hay has been warmly advocated. Animals can assimilate cut straw with lees clfork than long straw. It is also said, and with truth, that we can thoroughly mix bad and good straw and bad and good hay after they are cut into chaif, aud so induce our farm ani- mals to eat the bad along with the good. But the farmer should have neither had straw nor bad hay. The chaff-cutter has special advantages, such as enabling us to mix roots and straw together in the way just explained ; but it remains to be proved whether the feeding value of the straw is directly in- creased by cutting it. When oilcake is given to fattening beasts it should be broken very fine, and given by itself, or strewed upon the turnips. We have found the latter plan to answer very well. Some people who cut the straw or hay into chaff make the oilcake into a mucilage, aud pour it upon the former. Eor feeding purposes corn should be either ground at the mill or crushed hy a machine specially con- structed for the purpose. The farmer who feeds horses and cattle on oats should have an oat-crusher, to be worked by hand on small and moderate-sized farms, and by water or steam power on large holdings. Every cwt. of oats given to thriving animals (along with roots aud good oat straw) pro- duces at least I21bs of beef and tallow. If given to ill-shaped and badly-reared cattle, it would not produce this. Stall-led cattle should receive three feeds of roots, or of roots and cake or corn, in the day — one in the morning, one at noon, and one in the evening. They should also receive some good oat straw or hay at night, aud after each feed. If fed ofteuer they are disturbed more than is desirable. The question, what are the proper quantities of the various kinds of food which ought to be given to stall-fed cattle? has never been fully answered. The usual practice is to give them as much roots and fodder as they can eat. This system often causes waste aud loss. Erom eight to ten stones of roots in the day, according to the size and condition of the beasts, may be given together with good straw or hay, and some ground corn or cake. For tin; first ten days or a fortnight — that is, while the animals are on soft turnips — no artificial food is needed, but when put on Swedish turnips, lib. or 2lbs. of corn or cake may be given daily to each, and the allowance may he increased to -ilbs. as the period advances. — Pnidical Ayrlcvltnre^ for ilic Use of Agricultural Classes in Pr/marj/ Sc/ioofs. TIIE QUALITY OE LABOUR : NORTH v. SOUTH.— Comparing Bedfordshire and Northumberland, we find that 31 per cent, of the labourers were under 15 years of age in the for- mer county, but only 23 percent, in the latter. One-half of the labourers iu Northumberland were between the ages of 15 and 45, only 42 per cent, of those iu Bedfordshire ; and the pro- portion of old men to able-bodied was greatly iu excess in Bedfordshire, doubtless because a large number of worn- out labourers returned thither from tlie manufacturing dis- tricts. These statistics account for the considerable diffe- rence in wages between the two counties, and to some e.rlent for the fact that the number of persons employed per acre is greater iu Bedfordshire than iu Northumberland. Erora this point of view it is interesting to compare agricul- ture with the other two great fields of labour, coal-mining and the manufacture of iron. Diagram No. 1 shows what per- centage of the total number ot labourers engaged in England and Wales in 18G1, iu each of these three occupations, was made up of persons of any given age. Thus the coal and iron trades employ altogether about 370,000 persons, and the 80 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. great majority are young, healthy, and ahle-bodied, because the business aflfords but slight employment to the aged ; whilst those employed iu agriculture consist, as already mentioned, to a considerable degree of lads and old men. The diagram also shows that the aged employed in agriculture in 1861 comprise many of those wlio had spent their best days in other employments, and had returned voluntarily or as paupers to their places of settlement. — Fmser's Magazine for April. — A.t the meeting last week at Exeter, Mr. Kennaway said : " A statement has been recently made to the effect that while wages in Bedfordshire were lis. per week, and in Northum- berland 16s. or 17s. per week, the culture of the land costs 7s. per acre less in the latter county than in the former." To this the Hon. C. B. Portman, the Government inspector, added : " It is a Northumberland man who makes the calcu- lation ;" and then there was some laughter. CARROTS AND THEIR CULTIVATION. The carrot {Dauciis) is a genus of the plants of the natural order {TJmbelliferit). They are mostly natives of the countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. The common carrot (-D. C'aoiia) is a biennial plant, common in Britain and most parts of Europe, also in the Caucasus. It is universally grown not only in Europe, the European colonies, and America, but also in China, Cochin-China, &c. The iield cultivation of the carrot is carried on to a mucli greater extent in some parts of France, Germany, and Belgium than in Britain or America ; but it is increasing in both countries. The carrot appears to have been cultivated at an early period in Flanders and Ger- many, and to have been introduced into the gardens of Eng- land in the beginning of the sixteenth century. The orange carrot and its varieties are the most common in England, but the large wliite and yellow carrots are more esteemed on the continent ; they are supposed to contain more saccharine mat- ter, and to produce a greater bulk of nutriment on the same ground. The wliite carrot will also grow on heavier soil. In this province both kinds are grown, but the white seems to be rather the favourite variety. Though the carrot will grow in almost any soil, they prefer a light or rather sandy soil, and often succeed well on a peaty one. The best crop of carrots I ever saw was grown on what had been a piece of a cedar swamp. According to Stephens, the nutritive matter contained in 25 tons or 56,000 lbs. per acre of carrots — consists of husk or woody fibre l,680lbs. ; of starch, sugar, Sic, 5,600 lbs. ; of gluten, &c., 8401bs. ; of oil or fat, 200 lbs. ; and of saline matter, SOOlbs. The carrot crop is deserving of more attention than it gene- rally receives, as it is one of the surest of our roots, withstand- ing our summer drought better than any other of our root crops. In preparing the ground for carrots, the best way is to ma- nure and plough the land in the fall, and if there is time sub- soil it at the same time, as carrots delight in a deep mellow soil. Then cross-plough the land in the spring as soon as it can be done. After it is in order, and after harrowing and cultivating, and rolling too if required, driU the ground np in drills, say about thirty inches wide — not that carrots require so wide a drill for their growth, as IS to 24 inches would be wide enough for that ; but room is required to clean the car- rots— so that they can be easily cultivated between tlie rows. If the ground had not been subsoDed in the fall, we would drill up the land, and then rim the subsoil plough up one drill and down another aa deep as we could, and then drill np the land anew, so that the seed would be sown directly above where the subsoil plough had run. There is a marked diife- reuce in the length of the carrot when thus treated, and when the ground is drilled up without any subsoiliug. Carrots are often sown by hand ; but if the seed is properly cleaned they can be sown with a drill, care being taken that the drill does not choke up. I generally use a light roller, attaching the seed drill to it, thus rolling the drill I am sowing, and the last one sowu. In this vray the seed is well covered, and the drills left fine and smooth. The carrot is a slow seed to start, so that the weeds are geueriilly before them, and require to be checked as soon as possible. So soon as the young carrot can be fairly seen, a drill cultivator should be run through them. Up one drill aud down another wiU be sufficient, then take a sharp hoc, and pare the sides of the drills as close to the young carrots as possible, walking backward — aud paring half the (Wll on each side, so that the weeds may not be trodden into the fresh loose earth, but die as quickly as possible. When they are well pared off thus, all the weeds left in the row (which need not be much more than an inch wide) will not hurt the young plants much, till they are sufficiently strong to thin out. In thinning and weeding them, use a small sharp hoe about four inches broad. It may be made out of an old cradle scythe, as by this means one cau thin and clean them much faster than when all the weeds in the row are pulled by hand. After they have been thinned they ought to be gone through again — some time after — hoeing out all the weeds and any carrots that may have been left too thick. Carrots, like all other root crops, are the better for having the ground stirred frequently between the rows ; indeed, they would be all the better if cultivated once in a week or ten days, if time can be found to do so. Though carrots grow slowly at first, they grow rapidly in the fall, and may be lelt in the ground as long as there is no dan- ger from frost. I have pursued different ways of taking them up, according to circumstances ; sometimes when they are white carrots, standing well up out of the ground, the harvest- ing has been done in this way ; with a hoe, cut off the tops, and draw them off out of the way ; then take a subsoil plough, with the side plate taken off, and run it close alongside of the rows of carrots loosening and raising them up, so that they can be thrown into a cart or waggon without any further trouble. If the ground is clear and mellow, this is perhaps the quickest way. Auotlier plan is to run the subsoil plough alongside the row of carrots, and then pull them up and cut off the tops. This method has to be pursued with orange or red carrots, as they do not grow at all above the ground like white carrots. But where the ground is stony, or there are stumps in it, or where a subsoil plough is not at hand, I have never found any better way than taking a common plough, and going as close as possible to the row of carrots, so as not to damage them, and then pull them over to the : ploughed furrow, throwing them in heaps, and leaving room to pass again with the plough. In this way they have to be pulled out of the way on the next row. It is best to plough two furrows for each row of carrots, one pretty broad, so that the furrow next to the row of carrots may be as deep and as close as possible. These have been the methods pursued on my farm ; if there are better or quicker ways of taking them up, I shall be glad to hear of them. Carrots, as long as they are growing in the ground, will stand a great deal of frost; but they should be secured as soon as possible after they are pulled, as they are then easier da- maged by frost than the turnips are. The principal advantages of the carrots are, that they stand our summer droughts well, are very seldom injured by insects, make excellent feed for horses, cattle, sheep, and even pigs, and do not impart any unpleasant flavour to the milk of cows, as turnips do — but if the red or orange varieties are used, they give a rich colour even to winter butter. The disadvantages attending their culture are — their slow growth at first, so that if the ground is weedy, there is danger of their being choked as tliey come up ; then they are slow and tedious to hoe and weed, especially the first time, over ; more- over, they seem to be rather an exhausting crop on land, at least we never see the following crop as good after carrots as after turnips, mangolds or potatoes, in the same field. I have generally found carrots, when grown alongside of turnips and mangolds, yield a greater quantity from the same amount of ground, but they have required more time aud work in hoeing aud cleaning. I have occasionally, as an experiment, tried sowing carrots late in the fall, but with no decided advantage. They grew well enough, but were harder to hoe, grew very little if any larger than when sowu in spring, and were very apt to run to seed. W. R CoBOTiKG, March, 18G9, Iu Tomi/o Globe. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 31 THE NUTRIMENT IN GRASSES. A correspondent of the Farmers' Club of the American In- stitute asks tlie foUowiug question ; " Are the nutritive quali- ties of grass materially affected by different degrees of fertility of the soil that produces the grass ? Or, to give tlie question a Uttle different form, suppose two fields, the soil of each by nature as similar as may be, but one of them by manuring and culture rendered so fertile as to produce from two to three tons of hay per acre ; the other, by neglect, so sterile as to produce only from haJf-a-ton to one ton of hay per acre (the kinds of grasses in each field the same, say half clover and half timothy), which would be most valuable — a tou of hay grown on the fertile or the sterile field ?" The club concluded that the question was one of too much importance to be de- cided hastily, and in this we entirely agree with them. It is a subject, however, which has occupied a good deal of our thoughts, and the conclusion at which we have arrived is — that the better the land the better tlie quality of the grass, or at least of the liay. It is probable that very succulent grass con- tains more water in proportion to the nutritive matter present than grass which has been grown on drier and poorer soil, although this is by no means certain ; for, while succulent grass contains more waste matter in the form of water, grass of a different quality contains more waste in the form of indi- gestible woody fibre ; but, wheu made into hay, the super- abundant water would disappear, while the indigestible por- tions of the grass would only be rendered more insoluble. Analogy leads to the same conclusion. Hard, stringy turnips, grown on poor land, do not contain so much nutriment as turnips of a better quality, and this is well known to every person who has fed with turnips. Slieep will gain largely on the one, while they wiU fall off on an equal weight of the other. But, aside from the absolute amount of nutriment contained in each, as shown by the balance of the chemist, there is another point to be considered : Succulent, well-grown vegetables, do not produce that derangement of the digestive organs which is the result of eating vegetables of a contrary kind. Any person that has compared the subsequent effects of well-grown and iU-grown radishes, will be able to appreciate this. And we must remember that in food, as well as in soils, the vUimaie analysis of the chemist is not the only circum- stance to be taken into account. One soil may contain double the amount of phosphates that is contained in another, and yet a plant might find an insufficient supply in the first, while from the second it could extract all that it required. It is a question whether tough beef contains absolutely less nutritive elements than beef of a different character. That it is less nutritive does not, however, admit of question ; and it is pro- bable that this arises quite as largely from its physical and physiological character as from the absolute per-centages of carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen contained in it. But, aside from the purely organic part of the grass or hay, it is well known that plants vary in the quantity of mineral matter which they contain. Of two tons of grass grown on different soils, it has been found that one contained several times the amount of bone-making material that was present in the other. Thus Voelcker found that clover grown on land which had become clover-sick, and which therefore yielded a poor crop, was greatly deficient in potasli. Mangold-wurzel has been found to vary in the same way, and Herapath found that the favourite food of the Scotch contained twice as much phosphoric-acid when grown on good soil than it did when produced on light sandy land. Hence it is quite possible that an animal may eat a due weight of grass or hay, and yet not get enough phosphate of lime for its milk or its bones, simply because tlie per-centage of phosphate is so small as to be insufficient. " Manure and culture" — both these may have an influence upon the constituents of the plant, and the latter quite as much as the former. For, as we just remarked, it is not sufficient that the necessary ingredients are merely present ; they must be in an available condition. Now there are many soils which contain abundant plant food, and yet upon which plants fail to succeed. Culture, deep, and above aU thorough culture, will remedy this, and without it mauure alone will uot be suffi- cient. Relying upon theory alone, we might suppose that an abundant supply of plant food in the shape of manure would enable us to secure crops of the highest degree of excellence, both as regards quantity and quality. Such, however, is not the case. The soil requires also that thorough culture which tends so powerfully to develope and render available its own latent stores. This requii-es time, and hence we can rarely attain the highest results at once, no matter how liberal may be our apphcation of manure. In soil which has not been properly prepared by deep aud thorough culture, the plant itself fails to reach that condition in which it is enabled to make fidl use of the abundant stores of food presented to it. Its roots, for example, may not be sufficiently developed, and hence the large quantity of food existing iu its vicinity is simply wasted so far as it is concerned ; for here, as in the moral world, the law holds good — " Unto him that hath shall be given, while from b.im that hath uot shall be taken away even that he hath." So, too, in other obvious ways, want of culture tends to diminish the food-absorbing power of the plant. This is not theory or speculation. Witness the effects of culture alone in the Tullian and Lois-Weedon systems of growing wheat. In his thoroughly practical work, " Garden- ing for Profit," Henderson jcives his experience on this point : " It rarely indeed happens that any amount of labour or ma- nuring can so prepare the ground the first season as to bring it to that high degree of tilth necessary for growing garden vegetables as they should be grown, and any attempt to do so will result in a meagre crop, which will not pay — at least in such districts as New York, where there is always abundance of products of first quahty." The low grade as regards quan- tity and quality is here due to the inferior physical condition of the soil — a condition which is to be ameliorated by liberal applications of manure, combined with such thorough me- chanical culture as will enable the fine roots and fibres to penetrate every part ; while, at the same time, the soil itself is thus brought into extensive contact with those atmospheric and manuriaJ agencies wliich are known to exert such a power- ful and beneficial influence upon it. — ^Aratoe, in American Cultivator. A PICTURE WITH A PEN.— A prettier sight, or one more interesting, could rarely be witnessed than the devotion of the water-cock [" water-hen"] in supplying the wants of liis family. Whenever the coast was clear, he made a dash at the feediag-grouud, driving every bird before him ; then, seizing a billful of the scraps, he paddled back with it to the island, first always to the spot where he knew his hen was concealed, which could just be seen rising to meet him and receive the tit-bit which, in the prettiest way imaginable, he put into her bill. If a crumb dropped, he picked it up in an instant, and again presented it to her. In this way he made several trips backwards aud forwards ; and when he thought his hen had had enough he then made for another part of the island, and as he approached the shore you could just see a little dark ball, not much bigger than a marble, showing itself at the water edge, when, with still more care, the food was put into its tiny bill. After several trips he changed his course again to two other corners of the island, and was met in the same way by two other dark balls. He daily visited each of his family the same number of times, taking them in the same order, and always beginning with the old hen. As they grew bigger, the young ones as well as the mother became bolder, and would meet him half-way across the water ; but not one moved till he approached their respective corners of the island. After his family were all supplied, but not till then, with a self- satisfied air he would courageously do battle for the smallest crumb remaining, and greedily devour it hmiself ; but when I saw how matters were, 1 took care he should be no loser by his unselfishness. I have occasionally taken a friend to witness from concealment this act of paternal devotion, and it was allowed by all who saw it that they had never witnessed a prettier or more instructive sight.W W, C." in The Field. 32 THJ5 FARMER'S MAGAZII^E. WHAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN DOING. At a meeting of the Dorset Chamber of Agriculture Mr. J. Flo\er, M.P., said, There had beeu several measures brought before Parliament affecting more or less the agri- cultural interest. Early in the session a measure was in- trodnced, making provisions for the protection of cattle from infectious diseases. Some of those now present might remem- ber that many years ago, before the cattle plague was intro- duced into this country (at least before we had tliat great out- break which took place in the year '65), he called the attention of the agriculturists of this neighbourhood to the subject, that he pointed out to them the importance of advocating and sup- porting in the Legislature provisions for improving and per- fecting the meansof transport of cattle ; for appealing to the railway authorities, and making it incumbent upon them to take great care of cattle in tranaitu, and to keep the trucks and carriages in good order. lie c.iUed the attention of the agri- culturists of this neighbourhood to that subject at that time. Shortly after that the cattle plague broke out. All those mat- ters were then discussed at cousiderable length in the House and elsewhere, and the result was that there was pretty gene- rel unanimity upon the main points as to how they should proceed to protect the cattle from infection. But there was one point upon which he believed still — aud he spoke witli some reservation, because, as they were aware, there were two bills introduced into the house, one by the spokesman of the Government, and the other by the highest authority — Lord Robert Montagu — on the Opposition side of the House. Those two bills were referred to a select committee, and that committee had only recently returned back a bill into the House. But the distinction, the ditference of opinion which he believed still existed between tlie different parties who dis- cussed this matter in the House was this; that wheieas the " advocates of free trade" (he supposed they called themselves) were very desirous that there should be no distinction made between foreign aud home cattle, those who advocated more especially the interests of agrieulture looked upon it a« essen- tial that at the landing ports a provision sliould be kept up by which foreign cattle and the home cattle should not be allowed to mix, aud that places should be prepared for killing all foreign cattle immediately upon debarkation, except, he pre- sumed, such cattle as might be required in the country for breeding purposes. Now that point, he believed, had not yet been settled; but he was of opinion tliat it was one of consi- derable importance. Whether the agriculturists would ulti- mately be enabled to obtain their view in the matter of course he knew not ; but meanwhile expressions of opinion from those interested in the matter might, he thought, very properly and very desirably be made. Another subject had been brought before the House in the shape of a bill to prevent the adulte- ration of seeds. It was a short bill, not many clauses, but yet it was a bill of considerable importance. They all knew of what immense value the root crop was — in the present days of improved agriculture ; perhaps he might almost say it was the most valuable crop, and, although he was not much of an agriculturist, he thought he knew enough to say that there was no case in which an agriculturist was moi-e to be pitied than if lie had bought bad seed and liis turnips would not come up. Now this bill was, so fiir as might be, to pro- vide that they should have good seed. One of his good friends in the room, who knew a great deal more about it than he (the lion, member) did, had, doubtless, well considered the bill, and knew whether or not it was likely to effect its oljject ; and, if that gentleman was satisfied with the bill, it would be a great guarantee to liim in deciding to give his support to it. Read- ing from the copy of the bill which he held in his hand, he saw that there were penalties provided for anybody who kept mixed seeds, and penalties for the man who should sell killed seeds. Another subject intimately affecting the interests of agriculture was before the House in connection with tlie Valu- ation of Property Bill. That bill led to a subject upon which many gentlemen now present had spent a good deal of time — he hoped to their o\A'n satisfaction. He was quite sure it had Iteen a painful, laborious, and troublesome time, for of all his duties which came upon him when he was acting as a member of the Board of Guardians, he thought the most troublesome was the duty of the valuation or assessment committee. Well, the bill proposed to mark down certain rules and regulations, by \\liich it was hoped a more correct and accurate valuation of property might be obtained. And certainly he was very much disposed in the main to agree with the bill, at least with some part of it ; because it proposed to make enactments by which certain proceedings should follow very similar, he might say almost identical, witli those which were adopted and pur- sued by them very shortly after the establishment of assess- ment committees. He dared say those present rememl)ered that they summoned together the chairmen and vice-chairmen of all the unions in the county to meet together in the County Hall ; that tlien, after some discussion — free discussion, in which different opinions were expressed and various sentiments elicited — they laid down certain bases upon which the valua- tion in the several parishes should proceed ; and those prin- ciples they laid down had chiefly reference to the deductions which had been made in estiinatiiig the net value upon which the rates should be assessed. Now this bill proposed to carry out just what they did then. And if that were all which it jnoposcul to carry out he should be very well satisfied. But it went further. Tliey would remember that they called in the assistance — wliich they were entitled to do, he tliought, under the statute — of the surveyor of taxes ; and his assistance, tiirough the communications he made regarding the income- tax, was very essential to the carriiing out of the objects which they had before them. But in the present bill he thought if so much power were put into the hands of a surveyor of taxes, it would eventually, it' not immediately, supersede the action of the local authorities in making their valuation lists. Now he must say he was always rather jealous of Government inter- ference in matters of levying local taxation. The Legislature of the day would, of course, lay down and order certain taxes to be levied ; Imt hitherto it had always been considered essen- tially important, with reference to the liljerty of the subject, that he sliould have the power of taxing himself. He taxed iiiinself through his representatives in Purliameut ; he was taxed through his neighbours, and through those whom he chose to represent him in the Board of Guardians, by the local assessment to tlie valuation list, which it was the duty of the assessment committee from time to time to make. There was another part of the bill to which he also ob- jected. As they were well aware, appeals from those who were dissatisfied with the assessment were now made to the justices in quarter sessions assembled. By this bill it was proposed to transfer that authority to the county court judges. He thought that, taking them as a whole — in fact, he did not know of any exceptions — the county court judges were a class of public servants who discliarged their duties to the satisfaction of the country; aud no doubt if the questions coming before them were questions of pure law, lie would at once grant that, so far at least as the judicial power was concerned, the action of county judges would be better than the action of the court of quarter sessions. But the questions relating to appeals from poor-rate assessments were eminently mixed questions. They were partly, no doubt, questions of law sometimes ; and then they must remember that in questions of law, although the decision rested with tlie Bench, yet they had the assistance of .ilile men, almost with- out exception counsellors learned in the law, on each side, aud througli them the Bench obtained that information whicli perhaps otherwise they might not have h.ad, and were thus, he believed, as a general rule, able to give decisions satisfactory to the country. But beyond that, it must be remembered that questions of poor-rate assessment were questions eminently of value. Now men situated as magistrates in quarter-sessions were, a great many of them knew a good deal more about the value of property than county-court judges, especially, be it observed, property in their own neighbourhood. They knew the kind of land, they knew the vivlue of house property, aud the different classes of property that were to be decided uppn. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. And remembering also that whou any magistrate was interested iu the question — by property in his own parish beiug under consideration — lie always retired from the l?ench, and left tlie case to the decision of those who had no direct interest in it. Those were reasons which to his mind were conclusive against parts of the Valuation Bill ; but, as he had said, it was a subject upon which geutlemeu present had had great experience — it came down upon them rather too often, for the visits of the tax-collector were generally more frequent than anybody wished to have them, and where a matter was one so eminently within their province, an opinion which they might form would always be valuable, and always, he might say, attended to with readiness by those who had the honour to represent them in Parliament. Another matter wliicli had only recently been brought before tl\e House was the bill for the establishment of county financial boards. It had been felt now for some time that, with the increased expenditure which had been forced upon the country by the action of I'arliament, it was expedient that the payers, the principal payers of county rates, should have a voice in the county expenditure — a direct voice as payers, not as owners of pro- perty, but as payers of rates ; and that principle, he thought, had been agreed to by both parties in the House for some time past. There were no doubt difficulties, aud there were at present some difficulties, in carrying that principle into the enactments which had been submitted to the Legislature, and which would shortly come on again for consideration. The line where the duties of financial expenditure, on the one hand, and the duties which belonged more especially to the justice of the peace as the conservators of the public peace and the governmental authority and power of the county on the other — the line of demarcation between those two pro- vinces was somewhat difficult to follow. It was spoken of the other night in the House, and he did not think tliere was any reason to doubt but that some satisfactory arrangement would be made in regard to the matter ; but that to which he had referred, he believed was the principal difficulty that at present had to be got over. There was another and he thought a valuable remark, made by the member for Nor- thampton, the late Chancellor of the Exchequer, aud it was this : Speaking to the Government, he said, " You have already introduced one bill (the Valuation of Property Jiill) in the House this year. You propose to build up an elaborate machinery for carrying out the objects of that bill ; and now you are bringing under the considera- tion of Parliament another matter, and you propose again building up more machinery — additional measures with additional staff ; treasurers, clerks, and so forth." Now this meeting well knew that clerks and officers could not be ex- pected in reason as wished to work for nothing, and all these matters must add to the expenditure. Well then, what did the late Chancellor of the Exchequer spy ? He said, " Why don't you put all these matters together? why don't you let the same body of men, appointed in exactly the same way, drawn from the same sources, dealing with nearly the same objects ; why don't you let them do all the work ? " The fact was, in the Valuation of Property Bill, after the parishioners had once met — as those who had met him some years ago knew well — and settled the rates of their deductions and matters of that kind, there was hardly anything to do ; there was no occupation for them. And they would not get men to come from Shaftesbury and Sherborne and the extreme parts of the county — to go home again. They would come if they had anything to do ; they were practical men, and didn't care to waste time in merely riding backwards and forwards ; and they would say, " As to being a member of the ' Valuation Board,' I don't care about that." But give them something to do ; give them something that really would be an assistance to the country, that would occupy them, and be of real utility ; and then he answered for it their men would come and set them- selves about it, and he had no doubt go through the business satis- factorily ; and a great deal would be saved by it. He did not say that it would be necessary to throw over the bill this year on that account if other matters could be arranged, as he didn't see at all why they should not be arranged ; those further arrange- ments might be carried out without much difficulty in all these bills, and one body deal with all those various questions and get through all that business. This was not a very entertaining discussion, but still they were matters of business ; and he believed they were come heicj as their noble chairman said just now, for business, not merely to make flowery speeches, not to talk claptrap, but they were come to consider what thoy could do as agriculturists to iiupruvc llii-ir position, aud in the same way to improve tlie position of the country at large. There was one fiirtlier matter, and he would not speak at length upon it, because it was in all their minds, because it was one of the great objects witii chambers of agriculture — at any rate witli those who joined them — and that was the question of local taxation. It was the subject of another resoUition, and it was therefore less necessary for him to call their attention especially to it. There was another reason — tliey all knew pretty well how he felt about it. He had told them before, and he had not changed his opinion upon it. He WES quite ready, nay, desirous of assisting them, and pro- moting by every meaus in his power a more fair aud just dis- tribution of the pressure of local taxation. He did not think it was at present in a satisfactory state ; he didn't know any- body who did think it was. Government didn't thmk so, because they agreed, on the occasion of that motion by Sir Massey Lopes, tliat as soon as they could find time for it they would lake it into their most serious consideration, and pro- pose such measures as tliey might think expedient. This meeting knew that he had spoken to them before now, that he had spoken in the House, aud wherever he had any call to speak', and that he had expressed his opinion as adverse to the establishment of what was called " national rating." He believed it was the highroad to communism ; he believed it would lead to extravagance, and that it would tend to destroy the independence of the nation, that it would tend to ruiu the tenant farmer, and that it would tend to the destruction of Parliament. That was his opinion ; and, what was more, he doubted whether there was any man who felt any sense of responsibility in the House who would advocate it. He knew that within the last ten days, when he had occasion to speak iu the House on Poor-law subjects, he then expressed an opinion adverse to a national rate ; and that was received with more cheers from tlie Government Bench, the Treasury Bench, than any other remarks he had the honour of making. But besides the more equal distribution of the pressure of taxation, he believed that there was room for much relief by placing upon the Consolidated Funds many items of expendituie which were now defrayed out of the local taxation of tlie country. And he observed that Sir Massey Lopes, who, as they knew, had taken a very active part in this province of public business, had now, within a few days, suggested a classification of the different kinds of county expenditure, suggesting that two classes should be made, placing in the one objects of a general or what might be called an imperial character, and placing in the other objects of a purely local or special character. He thought that was a very good suggestion. Matters of an im- perial character might fitly be voted from the public funds, be- cause there they might have central management. Blatters of a local nature must be dilfereut, as he thought, from tlie realty not moving at all, and on that account any property which could be brought within the scope of the collector's net was safe at hand ; and that he thought was the most es.sential dif- ference, from tliose local imposts being managed and distri- buted by tlie local authorities. They were the only people who could manage local business. It was impossible that per- sons coming from a distance — Government clerks and Govern- ment officers — could know their business as well as they could know it themselves. They could not be acquainted with the people, they could not be acquainted with the requirements of the place, they could not know the pressure of poverty here or poverty there. If they had to manage the poor-rate, the dis- tribution of the poor-rate, it must lead to this ; the unmiti- gated application of the workhouse test, which he believed would be the most severe and cruel blow that was ever aimed at the agricultural labourer. He spoke strongly, for he felt strongly upon it. He had been connected with the depart- ment of business between 30 and 4-0 years, and he had not been a careless observer of the poor : he knew something of their necessities ; and of all things he desired to defend tlicra from being handed over to the management of Government officials. The proceedings terminated with the signing of the following petition: — " To the Honourable the Commons of Great Britain and Ire- land, in Parliament assembled. " The humble petition of the Dorsetshire Chamber of Agri- culture, at Dorchester, sheweth,— That your petitioners cou- D 34 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. sider tliat the principles of justice demand that all taxes of an imperial nature should be levied on all descriptions of pro- perty alike. " That, as owners and occupiers of real property, they con- tribute, in common with all other classes of the community, to all those taxes which are levied for the general purposes of the State. " That, in addition thereto, your petitioners are almost exclusively assessed for the relief of the poor and the highways. " Tliat to these charges the Legislature has within the last 30 years made large additions by requiring payments to be made out of them for the support of the police, registration, vaccination, maintenance of lunatics and dangerous idiots in asylums, providing miHtia stores, &c. " That these additional charges now levied on the poor-rate are of common interest to the whole community, and may be considered of an imperial rather than of a local nature. " Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that your honour- able House do not permit any further additions to this burdea till the subject has been thoroughly considered by your honourable House. And further, they beg to submit that the above charges ought not to be borne by any one description of property, but should of right.be contributed to by all classes of her Majesty's subjects, according to ' ability,' as acknow- ledged by tlie committee of the House of Lords which sat in 1850, and affirmed the principle that the ' relief of the poor was a national obligation, and that every description of pro- perty should coatribute to it,' &c,, &c," THE BOYAIi CORNWALL AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. MEETING AT PENZANCE. Eor the second time since its re-orgauisation, the annual meeting of the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association has been held last month at Penzance, and for the second time the weather has proved such as to greatly interfere witli its com- plete success. This is the more to be regretted, because on this occasion everything had been done to render the meeting one of the most attractive and important that the Society had held. There have been somewhat larger shows of implements in connection with the Society, but never one more adapted to the pecuUar requirements of agriculture in the hilly county of Cornwall. The number of entries was greater than could have been anticipated, considering that Penzance is the most westerly town in the kingdom. There were twenty stands, and nearly all the articles entered were on the ground at an early hour on Monday morning, ready for the inspection of the judges. The judges for implements were Mr. W. H. Paige, Pathada ; Mr. G. Serpell, Treworgie, Duloe ; Mr. J. Paull, Probus; andMr.Steeper,Denzell,St.Columb. They commenced their duties under the very unpleasant influence of a thick drizzle, which was varied at intervals by heavy driving showers of rain. It was at first believed thatthe field trials could not come off in consequence of the extrenely unfavourable weather, or that, at best, only the ploughs would be able to compete. Early in the afternoon, however, the sky began to clear, and the judges, having discharged most of their duties in the yard, decided that the trials should take place. The prizes amounted to between £iO and £50, and consisted ot the Rodd memo- rial prizes, divided into three sections — first for implements connected with the preparation of the ground ; second, culti- vation of crops ; third, harvesting crops and preparing for market ; and prizes off"ered by the Society for implements con- nected with the preparation of food for market and for mis- cellaneous articles. The judges first directed their attention to the distribution of those prizes which were awarded to im- plements without any actual trial. Local manufacturers came well out of this trial, and the greatest success of the day was the winning by Mr. Brenton, of I'olbathic, St. Germans, of the prize for the best reaper, after competition with Howard's, Hornsby's.Samuelson's (manual and self-delivery), Wood's,Bur- gess and Key's, and Picksley and Sims' machines. Mr. Breu- tou received the prizeon the ground, as his was the strongest and mostsmply-constructedmachineexhibited. Mr.Brentonalsowon the first prize with his winnowing machine, against Sawney's, of the Bristol Waggon Works, Holraan and Sons', Penzance, and Baker's, Wisbeach. Mr. Brenton further took prizes for his turnip-driU and manure distributor. Mr. J. Davey was also very successful in obtaining prizes for' implements which have previously obtained prizes, and especially for his cultiva- tor, harrows, horse-hoe, and horse-rake. Messrs. Holman, Penzance, deservedly won prizes for their cart and waggons, and Picksley and Sims' chaff-cutter was awarded the prize in preference to Richmond and Chandler's. The competition for the ploughing took place in a field on the Treenere estate, a short distance from the show-yard. The single ploughs en- gaged were Ransome and Sims, from J. Vivian, junior's, Staudj Davey's, Crafthole] Horusby aud SonSj from Holman and Son's; Howard's, shown by J. Buckingham, and Howard's, shown by Holman and Sons. The double or turn- wrest ploughs engaged were all from local manufacturers — J. Davey, Truscott, and J. Buckingham. The field was a very excellent one for showing good work. That executed by Davey's plough, owing, it was thought, to its being badly handled, was not good ; whereas that by the " butterfly" plough of Buckingham was handled in capital style by a youth only 19 years of age, a son of the exhibitor, and turned out excellent Avork, turning the furrow against the hill in first- rate style, and was awarded the prize. One of Hornsby's single ploughs carried off the prize in the class. The compe- tition for the mowers took place in a field at Hea Moor, grown with Italian rye-grass and clover ; and though the crop was a very heavy oue, it was favourable for the trial. The following machines were tried : Picksley and Sims', by Plimsaul Bro- thers, Plymouth ; Burgess and Key's, by Buckiugham, Nort- hill ; Horusby and Son's, by Holman and Sons, Penzance ; Samuelson's and Brenton's No. 1 Nonpareil and No. 2 Non- pareil. They all did their work moderately well. The draft in all of them was very heavy, with the exception of Samuel- son's machine, which was not only much lighter, but possessed the additional advantage of driving wheels, which keep the knife in constant motion, and thus enables the machine to cut round the corners, and to Samuelsou accordingly was awarded the prize. The first prize for the collection of implements given to local manufacturers was carried off by Brenton, Polbathic, St. Germans ; the second by Holman and Sons, Penzance and St. Just ; and the third by Davey , of Crafthole, Devonport. Williams, of Helston, took the prize for the best cooking-range ; Davey, of Crafthole, received special prizes lor his swing steerage horse-hoe and for his expanding horse- hoe ; and Brenton for his combined sheep-rack and cattle-crib. A special prize was also awarded to a new chaff-cutting ma- chine by Richmond and Chandler, exhibited at Brenton's stand. There was no prize given for gates, the judges being of opinion that there was not sufficient merit in either of those shown. The show of live stock was above the average, any defi- ciencies in numbers being more than made up by more quality. The Devons were seldom better, with the old and young bulls unusually good, and although the covf classes were not so full as on some former occasions, the animals were creditable. Lord Palraouth was the largest prize taker, winning the first prizes for old bulls, for bulls not exceeding three years old, aud for bulls under two years. His three bulls were all good specimens of their class, the youngest being perhaps really the handsomest animal. His lordship also won two third prizes, one of these being awarded to a heifer not quite a year old, which was an extraordinary animal for its age. Mr. Tremain, of Polsue, took one first and two second prizes. The show of Shorthorns was remarkably good. As usual, Messrs. Hoskeu and Son, of Hayle, were conspicuous, taking four first, five second, and two third prizes, their other animals being either highly commended or commended. The com- petition among the Shorthorn eows and heifers was, however THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. 35 limited, only two being entered in each class beyond those be- longing to Messrs. Hosken. Those shown by these gentlemen were deservedly very much admired ; the only hint at a dis- approval of tliem that we heard expressed was a fear that they were somewhat too fat for breeding purposes. In the class of old bulls there were only two entries, both animals belonging to Messrs. Hosken ; one having been bred by themselves, and the other by Capt. Gunter, of Yorkshire. The first prize was awarded to the former, but it is only riglit to state that the deci sion of the judges was questioned by many agriculturists. In the nest class, buUs not exceeding 3 years old, the first prize was de- servedly awarded to Mr. Whitford, of St. Erme, Mr. W. T. Glan- ville, of Trebartha, winning the second prize with a handsome young bull bred by himself. In the next class, bulls not ex- ceeding two years old, there were several entries. The first prize was won with Mr. W. Trethewy's bull, " Lord Mont- gomery," which was bred by Mr. Fawkes, of Farnley Hall, Yorkshire ; and one of the few " genuine" sales at the late Birmingham Show. This animal deservedly attracted a great deal of attention. Messrs. Hosken won the second prize with a very handsome animal. The Herefords as a class were small, Mr. T. Olver, of Pen- hallow, exhibiting five out of the nine animals shown, and winning two first and two second prizes. It was evident that it was a great mistake to put the Herefords upon anything like the same footing regarding prices as the Devons and Shorthorns. There were not so many Herefords entered at the show as there were prizes offered ; and, in the absence of competition, there was nothing to interest in some of the classes in this breed. Mr. Wesley Grove, of St. Kew, and Mr. Paull, of Trelent, were awarded first prizes, each making only one entry ; and Mr. Lobb, of Lawhitton, witli two animals, a second and third -nine beasts thus winning eight prizes. In Jersey cows Mr. R. S. Bolitho took a first, a second, and a third prize, and Mr. J. Sydney Davey a first and a second. The cross-breeds shown for the local prizes were uncommonly good. The sheep were very good; but the classes for yearling Down rams, Down old rams, Down ewes, and long-woolled ewes did not fill ; and those for Leicester old ewes and long- woolled old rams bad only one entry each. Lord Falmouth and Mr. James Tremain were very successful competitors for sheep, the former carrying the whole of the prizes for Shrop- shire Downs, and the latter nearly all those for Leicesters. For pigs Mr, J. Sydney Davey took three first and one second prize. The judges were; Devons and Herefords — Mr. J. Eose- warne, Nanspusker ; Mr. Anstey, Menabilly. Shorthorns and pigs— Mr, J. Butt, Dodhill House, Taunton ; Mr. J. Tyacke, Merthen, Constanti-ie. Sheep— Mr. T, Porter, Thorverton, Collumpton; Mr. W. Clarke, St. Ewe, THE ADULTERATION OF SEEDS. The Meeting iu Dubliik last week is all in the right direction, and it is much to be regretted that something of the kind had not been urged many years ago by the respectable seedsmen at all sides of the Channel, for they have suffered in jiurse as well as the farming community ; but if the legitimate, experienced and well-informed seedsmen do not determine to denounce the miscreants engaged iu such a nefarious traffic, they will have done nothing to suppress it. Respectable seedsmen, who know and understand their business, are proof against adulterated seeds being foisted on them. The bruising of 100 seeds, taken indiscriminately from the parcel, on a sheet of white paper, decides the question at once, and the per-centage the killed seed bears to the sound, the pulpy flesh of the sound seed being of a greenish white, that of the killed being a brownish white colour. Another mode in use is to sprinkle 100 seeds on a piece of wet flannel stretched on a board, and, placing it in a warm place, the proportions of vegetating and non -vegetating seeds in a few days puts the matter beyond yea or nay ; others sow 100 seeds in a garden-pot, placed in a hot- bed, which produces similar results ; so that with oi"di- nary precautious there is no fear of the legitimate seeds- men being imposed upon ; besides they generally buy of the grower, whom they visit during the season. But the seed-trade has many ramifications, and amongst the rest general shopkeepers in the country towns iu Ireland, without any practical knowledge whatever, have engaged in the seed trade extensively, and with them the adulterators and their agents have no doubt done a pros- perous trade, to the loss, as already stated, of both the respectable seedsmen and the farmers — the former in not doing as much business as they otherwise would, and the latter in the loss of 25, 50, or 75 per cent, of the crop, or near the whole of it, and this without any moral blame at- tachable to the country tradesman, who is himself imposed upon. No doubt but adultei'ation — that is, mixing non- vitalized seeds with good ones is chiefly practised out of Ireland and exported to that country, but though manu- factories for destroying the vital principle in cabbage, rape, and charlock seeds do not exist in Ireland, it is an iucontroYertible fact that vast quautitiw of killed seeds have been and are yet exported to that country, which goes to prove that adulteration takes place in Ireland as well as out of it. There is no reason to doubt the veracity or integrity of the speakers at the meeting referred to, they must get the credit of being ignorant of the fact of large quantities of defunct seeds being imported into Ireland for years past which, if not for the purpose of mixing with and adulterating the geniiine article bought from respectable seedsmen, we are at a loss to devise for what other purpose ; and to this cause must be in some measure attributed the various vexatious law-proceedings that frequently take place by farmers seeking redress for the partial or total loss of their crops, and so ignorant are judges, lawyers, and juries of the matter that verdicts are not relied ou as perfectly just. It is strange, but yet true, that the seeds of charlock, called in Ireland p-essiagh, are sold in Dublin by the peasantry, for what purpose can only be conjectured. A gentleman of veracity states that the wife of one of his labourers asked his permission to take a quantity of the seeds of charlock which had been separated from corn pre- paring for market ; he asked for what purpose she wanted it, she said to sell it in Dublin, he gave her leave to take it, but on the condition that she would tell him where and to whom she sold it, but afterwards — though dependent on the gentleman for employment — she refused to do so for any consideration, so that whether those seeds were collecting for some non-vitalising manufactory, or for the crushing-mill and the adulteration of rape-cake remains a mystery. There are other mysterious tricks in trade, such as collecting the heterogeneous sweepings of seed stores, which, when passed through the dressing-machine to separate the dust, again enter the market through some unprincipled broker for some purpose or other ; so that if the respectable classes of seedsmen do not denounce and put down the parties engaged in such nefarious traffic, they will in effect be doing nothing, no matter what Act or Acts of Parliament they may get passed. That mode and that only has to any extent checked the sale of spurious and adulterated artificial manures in Ireland. It must have a similar effect as regards the sale of adulterated seeds if determinedly put iu operation and carried out. B 2 36 THE FARMER'S MAaAZTNE. ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. Monthly Council : Wednesday, June 3, 1869. — Present : Il.R.H. the Prince of Wales, K.G., President, in the chair ; the Dnke of Devonshire, K.G. ; the Earl of Lichlield, Viscount Bridport, Lord Chcsham, Lord Kes- teven. Lord Vernon, Lord Walsingham, the Hon. II. G. Liddell, M.P. ; Sir E. Kerrison, Bart. ; Sir A. Macdouald, Bart.; Sir T. Western, Bart., M.P. ; Sir Watkin W. Wynn, Bart., M.P. ; Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Barnett, Mr. Booth, Mr. Bowly, Mr. Cautrell, Colonel Challoner, Mr. Davies, Mr. Dent, M.P. ; Mr. Drixce, Mr. Braudreth Gihbs, Mr. Holland, Mr. AVreu Hoskyiis, M.P. ; Mr. Jonas, Colonel Kingscotc, M.P. ; Mr. Lavves, Mr. Mil- ward, Mr. llandell, JMr. Sanday, Mr. Shnttleworth, Mr. Statter, Mr. Stone, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Torr, Mr. Wallis, Mr. Webb, Mr. Wells, M.P. ; Major Wilson, Mr. Jacob Wilson, Professor Simonds, and Dr. Voclcker. The following members were elected : — Bisio, Maurice, C.E., 26, Rue Jacob, Paris. Borie, Victor, 1, Rue Casinier, Paris. Buat, Count du, Ch;\teau de la Liebradiere, Mayencc. Chenard, Baron, 0, Place St. Sulplcc, Paris. Densy, Ernest, Chateau de la Pacaudiere, Lucay-le-Mate. Grandeu, Louis, Nancy .-Meurthe. llouaa, Antonio, C.E., 20, Rue Jacob, Paris. Tachard, Albert, 97, Rue de Lille, Paris. Vibrage, Marquis de, Cliateau de Chaveruy, Loire et Cher. Vogne, Count Ch. de, 37, Rue de Bourgoyne, Paris. Ackers, B. St. John, Prinknash Park, Painswick. Bate, John, 10, St. Mary's, Maochester. Bell, Henry, Hempshaw Brook, Stockport. Bennett, William, Yate, Chipping Sodbury. Bouck, J. Augustus, Manchester. Brady, Charles Aldis, Cale Green Farm, Stockport. Brunskill, Stephen, Sand Area House, Kendal. Cholmley, Sir George, Bart., Howsham, York. Comber, Thomas, Rainhill, Prescot. DagUsh, Robert, Aston Hall, Preston Brook. Dalton, Pattinson, Cummersdale, Carlisle. Davis, Evan Harris, Patton, Much Wenlock. Delano, William Henry, 4, Cheapside, London, E.C. Duncombe, the Hon. Admiral, Kilawick Percy, Pocklington. Eckersleyj Nathaniel, Standisb Hall, Wigan. Elwes, H. P., West Iloathley, East Grinstead. Pair, Jacob AVilsou, Lytham. Pawcett, James, Scaleby Castle, Carlisle. Fletcher, Charles Edward, Dimple Egerton, Bolton-le-Moors. Follows, F. W., 9, Walnut -street, Cheetham, Manchester. Fox, WiUiam, St. Bee's Abbey, St. Bee's. Frost, Robert, Lime Grove, Chester. Gilbert, F. W., Little Eastley, Bishopstoke. Girasou, John, Ponsonby, Calder Bridge, Wliitehaven. Hankey, George A., Ferney Hill Farm, Barnet. Hardy, Joseph, Baguley House Farm, Nortliern, Hobson, Tlioraas, Pownall Hall, Wilmslow. Holland, Robert, Mobberley, Knutsford. Hutchinson, T. H., Manor House, Catterick. Juckes, George, Beslow Hall, Wroxeter, Salop. Kirby, Thomas, Crewe Hall Farm, Crewe. Lea, Rich. N., Vernon's Oak Farm, Doveridge, Stoke-on-Trent. Lister, Charles, Coleby Lodge, Lincoln. Lyou, William, jun., Chartwood, Crawley. Mewburn, William, Wykham Park, Bunbury. Murray, William, Lower Bronghton, Manchester. Nelson, Ambrose, Gorleston, Yarmouth. Newall, Heury, Hare Hill, Littleboro', Manchester. Newton, Thomas, Oldfield, Altrincham. Noble, Alfred, Greeting St. Peter, Needham Market. Phillips, Zachariah, Birclimoor Manor, Woburu. Pickworth, W., Deepiug Bank, Crowland. Pott, J. Manger, Nottingham, Prince, John, Home Farm, Foston, Derby. Quy, Edward, Goldhanger, Essex. Rowell, John, Ramsey, Hunts. Simpson, George, Wray Park, Reigate. Smith, William, Manchester. Staveley, Simpson, Tibtborpe Manor, Driffield. Stevens, Alfred Henry, Farnham, Surrey. Turner, Robert, Bishopiield, Bawtry. Wallworth, Joseph, White Hall, Wilmslow. Walrasley, George, Rudston House, Bridlington. Watterson, W. Craven, The Thorns, Bowdon, Altrincham. Willett, Richard, Shavington, Nantwich. FiN.VNCES. — Major-General Viscount Bridport pre- sented the report of the committee, from which it ap- peared that the Secretary's receipts during the past month, amounting to £1,257 10s., had been examined by the committee and found correct. The balance in the hands of the bankers on May 31, was £3,379 12s. lOd.— The report was adopted. Journal. — Mr. Thompson (chairman) reported that an application for a set of the Society's Journal had been received from the Secretary of the Nottingham Free Library, and that the committee recommended the pre- sentation of the back volumes of the second series, as well as future numbers of the Journal, to that institution. It was also recommended that the numbers of the Journal necessary to complete their set be presented to the library of the Geological Society. The committee further sug- gested that the Director-General of the Geological Sm-vey be requested to obtain the permission of the Government to present to the library of this Society a set of the maps which show the surface geology of England and Wales. — This report was adopted. Chemical.— Mr. Vfells, M.P. (chairman), reported that Dr. Voelcker was preparing a paper on chemical in- vestigations connected with the cultivation of Sugar-beet, which will appear in the next number of the Journal ; and that the field experiments which have been in pro- gress for some time, especially those connected with the growth of clover and root-crops, are being carried out this year oa an extensive scale. It was also announced that Dr. Voelcker had given a very interesting lecture, on May 10, on the results of his recent chemical investigations ; the committee expressed their regret that the attendance of members was very small, and suggested the desirability of the CouncLl considering what arrangements, if any, should be adopted for the future. — This report was adopted. Veterinary. — Mr. Dent, M.P., presented the follow- ing report : " Tlie Veterinary Committee have received the annual report from the Governors of the Royal Veterinary College, whicli caUs attention. 1st. To the establishment of a matriculation examination for students entering the College, so as to prevent the admission of those whose primary education is so defective as to preclude their profiting by the professional instructions afforded in the College. 2ndly. To the importance of suffi- cient time being granted for quarantine at the ports where fo- reign cattle are landed, in order to render the veterinary ex- amination more thorough and satisfuctory. 3rdly. To Profes- sor Simonds' report, which states that during the past year 120 lectures on cattle pathology were delivered, 63 students have passed their examination and received their diploma, and 66 new students have entered the College. The professor calls special attention to the cases in which scrofulous deposits have been found existing in different organs of the body in cat- tle. Tliis disease appears at present particularly rife in the THE i'^ARMER'S MAGAZINE. 37 Sliortlioius aud Devon breeds. A few years since scrofula prevailed to considerable extent amongst animals brougbt for- ward at our different shows, but was then checked by stringent veterinary inspection ; and the Professor thinks it may be ne- cessary to recur again to this practice, in order to check the spread of so datigcrous a disease. I'leuro-pneumonia has in- creased since the removal of the cattle-plague restrictions on travelling ; it has generally been prevalent among Irish stock. Experiments have been carried out for its treatment by carbo- lic acid, which have not proved successful, although the use of carbolic as a disinfectant has been shown to be of high value. The cattle plague exists with much severity in Eastern Eu- rope, but liappily the rumours of an outbreak in Holland were unfounded. Several cargos of sheep affected with small-po\ have been stopped and slaughtered at the ports, and some affected sheep which were taken into the metropolitan mar- kets were fortunately seized and slaughtered there. The con- tinued existence of parasitic diseases in auiraals is a constant subject of interest and anxiety to veterinarians. Poisoning of cattle by deleterious substances introduced into cakes lias been frequent ; and during last autumn several cases occurred of poisoning from cattle or sheep consuming excessive quanti- ties of acorns. Experiments then made led to the conclusion that acorns eaten to excess contain a powerful vegetable poi- son. Experiments on foot-rot in sheep have led to the con- clusion that under favourable Icircumstances mere contact of the discharge with the skin will suffice to develope the disease. It is, however established by other experiments that no such disease will follow if the animals are kept on dry ground, aud allowed natural exercise ; and, further, that the most advanced form of the disease will quickly give way, and ultimately yield entirely, to such means as these, without the application of any remedies to the affected feet. Lastly, the Governors of the Veterinary College request the assistance of the Royal Agricultural Society in their efforts to maintain the position of the deploma of the Royal Veterinary College as superior to the certiticate of any separate school." The Committee suggested that this report be referred to the Journal Committee, and recommended the publi- cation of Professor Simonds' report iu the next Journal. This report was adopted. General Manchester. — LordWalsingham presented the report of this committee, which contained the follow- ing recommendations : 1 . That the secretary be instructed to communicate with the North Staffordshire Railway Company, with a view of enabling visitors to the show- yard from that district to go and retm'n in one day. 2. That non-transferable season tickets for the week be issued at half a guinea each, admitting the holder once on each day only. 3. That arrangements be made, if pos- sible, to enable visitors to pass to and fro between the Society's showyard and that of the Royal Horticultural Society. 4. That the local committee be empowered to make a charge of 6d. each person for admission to the trial-ground (except to members of the Society), and to carry out such arrangements for its collection as they may consider necessary. 5. That the printer in the showyard be allowed to issue a daily programme at his own expense, charging for the same Id. per copy. This report was adopted. The draft of the programme of the Slanchester meet- ing, as arranged by the committee, having been read, a discussion ensued ou the recommendation that the charge of admission should be 2s. 6d. on both Wednesday and Thursday, and Sir Edward Kerrison, Bart., proposed, and ]Mr. Torr seconded, an amendment that there be three Is. days in lieu of two. The original proposition was sup- ported by Lord Chesham, Colonel Challoner, Lord Wal- siugham, Mr. Davies, aud Mr. Randell, on the ground that the local committee had made their arrangements for the show of foxhounds under the impression that the proposed programme had been delmitcly settled ; while the amendment was advocated by Mr. Thompson, Mr. Dent, M.P., the Hon. H. Liddell, M.P., and Mr. Shut- tleworth, on behalf of the large number of working men who would be desirous of visiting the showyard ou shilling days. The question having been put by his Royal Highness the President, the amendment was carried by 20 votes against 10. The charges for admission will therefore be 5s. on Monday aud Tuesday, 2s. Gd. ou Wednesday, aud Is. ou Thursday, Friday, aud Saturday. Showyard Contracts. — 5lr. Randell (chairman) reported that the contracts for the supply of refreshments had been entered into, and that the contractors had agreed to the plans prepared by the surveyor, and previously approved by the committee. It was also reported that the railway companies are preparing the necessary ac- commodation for the requirements of the meeting, that all the work undertaken by the local committee is pro- gressing most satisfactorily, and that the contractor's work is in a very forward state. — This report was adopted. Selection. — Mr. Thompson (chairman) reported that the committee having carefully considered the question referred to them respecting the annual re-election of the trustees and vice-presidents, they are of opinion that clauses 6 and 7 of the charter, make it imperative that the trustees and vice-presidents should be annually elected or re-elected at the general meeting of the Society on jMay 22. They consider that this opinion is confirmed by the wording of bye-law No. 32, and by the uniform practice of the Society from the time of its foundation, the election of the trustees and vice-presidents having always been made by a show of hands at the Society's general meeting in May. It was further stated that the committee propose to report on the bye-laws to the monthly Council iu November, a course which will not be productive of any unnecessary delay, as no alteration iu any bye-law can be made before the first Wednesday in December. — This report was adopted. Committee to obtain Reports on Scotch, Irish, and Foreign Agriculture. — Mr. Thompson (chairman) reported that the committee recommend their being authorised to expend £100 iu obtaining for inser- tion in the February number of the Journal a report on Belgian agriculture, to be written by some well-qualified person, after inspection of some of the best-farmed dis- tricts of that country. This report having been received, Mr. Thompson gave notice that at the next monthly Council he would, on behalf of the committee, move for a grant of £100 to enable them to carry the above re- commendation into effect. On the motion of Mr. Jacob "Wilson, a committee, consist- ing of the Stock Prizes and Implement Committees, with Mr. Statter, was appointed to recommend judges of stock, imple- ments, butter and cheese, as well as inspectors of sheep. His Royal Highness the President ordered a special Council to be convened on Tuesday, the loth inst., to receive the re- port of the above committee. A letter was read from Mr. Cole, C.B., and the accompany- ing prize-sheet and regulations of the Agricultural and Indus- trial Exhibition to be held at Altona, from the 3rd to the 7th of September. A letter was read from M. Drouyn de Lhuys, expressing his thanks to the Society for his election as honorary member, and for the proffered interchange of publications with the " Socidtc des Agriculteurs de France." The first number of the " Comptes Rendus des Travaux dc la Socit'tb des Agriculteurs de France" was laid before the Council, and the Secretary was instructed to express the thanks of the Society for the same. The Right Hon. the Earl of Lichtield gave notice that, at the next monthly Council, he would move the following reso- lution : " That the attention of the Council having been drawn to the increasing adulteration of manures and feeding cakes, especially guano, nitrate of soda, ground l)oncs, and linseed- cakp, Dr. S'oelcker he rfqnrst.^d tn =ubmit to the Council, monthly, a report on the various samples forwarded to him by members of the Society, and that such report, together with the names of the dealers, be published monthly in the agriouU tural ionrnals." 3g THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. THE BATH AND WEST OF ENGLAND SOCIETY AND SOUTHERN COUNTIES ASSOCIATION. MEETING AT SOUTHAMPTON. The celebration of the union between the oldest and the youngest of our agricultural institutions was so arranged that the success of the meeting came to depend Tery much upon the resources of the junior partner. The West of England Society was so far away from home, so thoroughly out of its own beat, that the presence of many of its strongest supporters could scarcely have been counted upon ; whereas Southampton is easily available for the Southern Counties, with some further advantage of site to be commanded, either by land or by water. The result was thus precisely such as might have been anticipated. The show of Devons was one 6i the shortest and worst our Bath Guide has ever had to speak to; and famous as the Cornish men are becoming for their Short- horn herds, not an entry was made by them in these classes. The West, again, was but indiiferently repre- sented in the way of Leicester sheep, a breed long since established thereabouts ; while, on the contrary, the numbers and merits of the Southdowns, the individual excellence of the Hampshires, and the general compe- tition created amongst the Shorthorns and the pigs must be mainly attributable to the infusion of new blood. It would seem, however, to be more and more impracticable to insure a creditable display of Herefords, let the trysting place be where it will ; and the breeders of Sussex beasts must be equally indifferent to their own interest, as there are bound to be far better animals left at home than were ever sent to the show. But, as was demonstrated when the Royal Society went Westward, the cargoes of Channel Islanders would come as readily into Plymouth Sound as into Southampton Water, and any such extraneous element will so be always a mere question of seaboard. So limited was the competition in some of the sections, or so economical a spirit actuated the Council, that the judges were occasionally jumbled together in the most admirable disorder. Thus, with a really large entry of Shorthorns, Mr. Thompson, of Badminton, was associated with Mr. Baldwin, of Luddington, on the understanding that the same couple should also take such Herefords as were on the ground. It is certainly not too much to say that the Shorthorn man would have got on a deal faster, and possibly a deal better, single-handed ; as with, on the average, never more than two or three in a class, the placing of the white-faces might have been reasonably left to one of their own friends. Then a Southdown man, a Hampshire man, and Shropshire man wei'c deputed, to do duty over all sorts of Short-wools, and as, like a scratch team, they went all ways at once, it looked for a time as if they would never get through even the shearling Down rams ; and the shades of evening were closing fast when the same sorely taxed trio had quite disposed of the little pigs. Over such breeds as the Leicesters and other long-wools, the riding and cart- horses, and the Devons and Sussex cattle, a judge for either sort worked well enough together, for the entries were never embarrassing as to numbers, nor the kinds of animals so incongruous as to make a man feel propor- tionately strong in one place and weak in another. But when they put a champion of either breed at equal main and chance on to one very large and one very small lot of such antagonistic laces as theDurhams and Herefords, then are we compelled to admit that the advocates of single-handed judging have something of an argument to offer. The Devons and Sussex are first cousins at any rate, and Messrs. Pord and Tremaine were fast bringing their labours to an end when Messrs. Thompson and Baldwin had quite arranged theu- scale of points for a Shorthorn ; or the short-wool authorities had arrived at any satisfac- tory understanding as to the quality of a Southdown. Of the four Devon bulls Mr. Buller's second prize shows the most character, although the Somerset was the best yearling at Palmouth, and the next best at Leicester ; since when he has grown and spread, but has lost his hail", and he did not altogether show to advantage. Mainly again, for lack of company, Mr. Farthing was first and second for yearlings, the one being a very plain animal and the preferred the best calf at the Leicester Royal, where it will be remembered his appearance was associa- ted with some certain sensation. These two classes of Devon bulls were in every way moderate, but the females were better, and Mr. Bui'tou's yearling for one, an almost per- fect specimen of her breed on such strong points as style, symmetry and flesh. She is so level to the eye and so good to the hand as to make it almost impossible to find fault with her ; and yet she is only chance bred as it were, being by a nameless sire in the possession of a small tenant farmer. Mr. Nixey's two-year-old is another good one, long, low, and light of bone, and his old Pink, for her age, wearing wonderfuDy well, though a trifle patchy behind. Mr. Farthing's second prize cow here, Miss Bessie, was the third heifer in-milk or in-calf at Leicester, although she eventually succeeded to the first prize in consequence of the disqualification of the two placed above her. There was but little more worthy of notice ; and with only Mr. Buller and Mr. Smith of Exeter as exhibitors from the home county, the display of Devons at Southampton was by no means a strong advertisement for the forthcoming volume of Davey's Herd Book, Of Sussex, where an effort was also made to start a register, there was no entry of old bulls, and the three yearlings numbered nothing extraordinary ; for Mr. Botting's was bad, and the second best, but a poor sample of the Angmering herd, while Mr. Tilden Smith's animal had certainly the recommendation of better quality. The cows were very superior, as in fact the whole class of five received some compliment from the judges, if their chief award was occasionally dis- puted. The first prize has size and use, but she is neither so level nor so handsome as the next, and it was a nice point between the two ; with Mr. Jenner deservedly dis- tinguished for a cow of fine character, if not more abso- lutely elegant ajipearance. The heifers in-calf were poor, but both prizes were duly awarded, a showing on which the Heasman's should also have received something for their yearling, an animal of more promise, but encoun- tering no competition whatever. The excuse offered for so indifferent an entry of these cattle was, that about Hastings, more particularly, the people knew nothing at all of the show, a fact which would tend to prove THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. S9 that the Sussex farmers must still be in a benighted condition. A dozen or so of Shorthorn bulls, of all ages, were pa- raded, a class mainly remarkable for the few good and more bad. Indeed, long before the judges had come to this conclusion everybody outside the ring had dete- miued that the Broadmoor bull nmst be first, and either Mr. Stratton or Lady Pigot second. But Mr. Baldwin could not see it so, and he held long and resolutely to James the First, an altogether plain animal, positively disfigured by a want of coat, and unusually weak behind his shoulder. Still he has good beef about him, and for this the Hereford man went, despite Monk being a really good bull, with a capital head and crest, and full of fine masculine character. He is also very well bred, by Duke of Towneley, a purchase from Towneley by Mr. George Game; and fairly overshadowing the other as he did, Mr. Baldwin is to be commended for the bull-dog tenacity with which he stuck to his choice. His travels, for he was last year as continuously on the rail and in the entry as a bagman, or a plate-horse, have told upon Rosalio, who growing worse in his quarter, was altogether out of bloom, but, nevertheless, he received the barren honour of third place ; while Fra Diavalo, who finished well up with him at Leicester as the reserve number and high com- mendation, was now never noticed. He was certainly in anything but public form, having been well worked by his new owner, 3Ir. Blyth ; although he was at all essen- tial points too good to have been passed over, particu- larly in such company, for the Coleshill Orkney has gone in his back, and the remainder might sell in a fair if they did not tell in a show. Fortunately there could be no possible mistake as to the best of the younger bulls, for Lord Sudeley's white two-year-old was, no doubt, the best auimal of any sort on the ground. He is long and straight in his frame, square in his ends, mellow in his touch, and with a capital coat ; while he has altogether a kindly handsome appearance, and is equally good in or out of his box. He was the Champion prize bull at the Gloucestershire Society's Meeting last season, and goes on to Manchester, where, however, his age, at then just over two years old, will be all against him, as he will have to encounter animals by many months his seniors. The Toddington bull is by Second Duke of Wetherby, out of a prize cow, bred by the late Mr. Law- ford, at Leigh ton. Mr. George Game was third with another white. Prince Airdrie, a plainish beast, but of some quality, who has doue well since we saw him put up at that mock auction in Birmingham. Mr. Stratton was second again with a better animal, of good quality, and with fine long quarters, but plain about his head, and pulled down by two companions from Burderop that dropped back readily enough into the ruck of which this class was composed ; for the many new men furnished nothing better than " food for powder." Queen, or as she is somewhat pedantically styled in the catalogue " The Queene of Rosalea," with her broad back, her beautiful coat, and her layers of good flesh, had almost literally nothing to beat amongst the cows ; and Mr. How's famous Lady Anne, was in reality only op- posed by Mr. Game's two useful half-sisters to the first prize bull. Lady Anne, however, is getting faster into flesh than ever, with some loss to her good looks, and more promise for Smithfield honours than any increase to the herd. The yearling heifers were more generally commendable than any other class of the Shorthorns, with Lady Pigot, Mr. How, Lord Radnor, the Broadmoor Games, and Mr. Stratton contributing to the entry. The first prize is a very neat true heifer, with a round symmetrical frame, and a good coat ; but the second best, also from Swindon way, is plain all over, as very bad be- hind, and we certainly prefer the lengthy handsome Ruberta, who would indeed run the winner herself very closely, although Ariel was a good second as a calf at the Leicester Royal. Lady Pigot's high commendation is an own sister to Mr. How's prize heifer of the pre- vious class, but bred at Branches by her Ladyship. The moral of the Southampton show of Shorthorns went to demonstrate that the cultivators of this fashionable breed of stock in Hampshire, Dorsetshire and Berkshire have still a deal to learn, at least before they can ever hope to shine in public. lu two classes there were four Hereford bulls exhibited in competition for precisely the same number of prizes, all of which were duly awarded, although there was actually but one prize animal amongst them. The two yearlings, one from Hampshire and the other from Dor- setshire, were both so terribly bad, that Mr. Thompson, if not indeed Mr. Baldwin, might have reasonably stood out and have refused to make any award, for nothing can be more conducive to harm than upholding a bad animal as a prize sire. The excellence of Sir Huugerford served to make the contrast more remarkable, as, with his fine size and legitimate character, he was at all poiuts one of the grandest beasts on the ground ; and why won't they, or why can't they show more like him ? Three of the fom- cows were good, but the Queen of the Lilies, from the Monaughty herd, and a daughter of Sir Benjamin, placed herself, showing wonderfully well and fresh at close upon seven years old, and with her young calf at her foot, bearing about her the very ideal of grace and beauty. There was also another small but excellent class of heifers in-calf, where the Leicester awards were reversed; Mr. Tudge's Royal third being now put first, and Mr. Arkwright's then first being here next best. And we certainly prefer the second reading, as, no doubt, the Hereford awards at Leicester were very open to comment; or, at any rate. Diadem must have vastly improved in the interval, for she is at this showing by far the better looking of the two, being really hand- some, whereas Lady Leicester begins all wrong with a bad head. Mr. James was honestly commended for two heifers that iiad been winning about home ; and with only two entered, Mappowder was good enough again to get second prize to Silver Star, the Royal best calf, which looks like i-ealizing all her early promise — not always a consequence. About the most satisfactory intelligence running thi'ough the Southampton range of Herefords was the rumour that the Americans were buying ; that four had already been purchased about home, three from Mr. Green, of Leintwardine, at an average of £50 each, and that the agent was coming on, in charge of Mr. Duckham, to buy all that Mr. James was willing to sell. But this was by no means the only remarkable rumour which was put about, the latest news bearing more upon our foreign trade and the establishment of foreign cattle markets. There is said to be a growing practice of buying up all the store stock anywhere about Southampton, and shipping these off in February and March for the luxuriant pastures of Brittany, where they are quickly fed and re- shipped for Southampton. The quality of the meat, more- over, is declared to be excellent, and the beasts readily purchased for the P. audO. boats, so justly known for the A.l. character of the commissariat. If this be so, the fact certainly opens up a fresh argument in the discussion over the importation of animals from abroad, the more especially as to their landing at any ports out of London. Even the Americans by no means stop at Mr. Booth's Shorthorns or Mr. Green's Herefords, for they have just been over to Jersey and cleared out some of the best of the famous Channel Island stock; taking thirty-one head of bulls, cows, and heifers, at £990 for the lot, or on an average of £32 each. The 40 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. SuuUianiptoii show suiTuicd in couscqucnce, auJ, no doubt, still more from tlie tearful passage to wliicli the animals were subjected, it being considered that the cat- tle shipped previously fox* America would laud in bet- ter condition than those started for the meeting in England. Even beyond this, the exhibition struck us as being by no means so good for type or quality as that got together at Plymouth, under the auspices of the iloyal Agricultural Society. And further, the Islanders can luckily, as occasion requires, speak in a patois incom- prehensible to any but themselves, or fearful would have been the anathema which they looked to heap on the heads of the judges. One of the trio was a native of Jersey, another an Englishman settled in Guernsey, and the third an Englishman outright, whose office it was to keep the other two straight. But Mr. Middleton's own experience of Channel Island cattle does not date beyond two or three years back, as he was previously a Short- horn |faucier, and he seemed to be utterly helpless in the hands of his more erudite colleagues. These disap- peared so soon as the business was over ; but the Britisher stood his ground and all the tongues of the Tower of Babel, as in happy uucousciousness he walked the lines, and complacently regarded the handiwork to which he was committed. For our own part we are much inclined to agree with the leading Jersey and Guernsey men, who maintain there should be separate sections ; while the Jerseys always look to have the pre- ference when the two sorts come together. But, then, the Guernseys will make good beef afterwards, and so the Shorthorn man might have been beguiled into a fancy for that first prize cow, over whose devoted head the natives apparently swore such oaths as would make the angels weep, let alone an honest gentleman from Oxford- shire. In the first instance the chief honours would seem to have been awarded to a very pretty young cow the property of Mr. Gaudin, who was first and second in the same class at Leicester, and against this little ob- jection could have been urged, as she was no doubt oue of the best ; but the mere size of the old Guernsey eventu- ally prevailed, and certainly there was little more to re- commend her, for Lizette has a bad head even for a Guernsey, with a wretched neck ; as, what with her crooked almost deformed legs, she is still worse behind, and it would be difficult for any one not in the secret to say how she came to be placed so high. Many other of the decisions provoked considerable comment, but no- where was the discussion so warm as over this animal. The judges, however, held to their line, and the second prize was far above the usual size of a Jersey, as well as being very coarse forward ; and Mr. Arthur's other merely commended cow was a much more perfect specimen of the breed, but for her having lost the fore- part of her udder. Captain Maxse was also deservedly noticed for a really good Jersey bred in England, a practice that does not often answer, for, as with Mr. Uauncey's stock, they get coarse. Mr. Gater, of Southampton, should also have had some notice for a nice cow with a beautiful head ; while oue or two from the Island were virtually put out of competition from the rough passage they had encountered in crossing. Mr. John Dorey — a somewhat savoury title — was thought to possess " the best of all the Channel Island heifers," for which a special prize was offered, but the judges pronounced Diana to be only the best of her class, and awarded the champion cup to another heifer competing in the classes bred out of the Island, and exhibited by Mr. Compton of Lyndhurst. The English mouse-colour is certainly very neat and true, but she lacks something of the style of the other, although as we had no opportunity of seeing them side by side it would be unfair to protest so warmly as the Jerseyites themselves did against the decision. The second best one in the open class was a rather useful than handsome heifer, also bred at Lyndhurst from Mr. Compton's stock ; and, in fact, as we have said the judges adhered pretty closely to this reading, and often threw over the sweet deer-like heads and elegant necks for what might be more substantial qualifications — in other breeds. Mr. Le Cheminant's good, true, uniform Guernsey was honestly and highly commended, as Mr. Gaudin com- mended for a little grey beauty whose time was just up ; and Mr. Le Page's Guernsey really looked like feeding into beef. Mr. Compton's best cow of the special classes is rather coarse in her character, but Mr. Arthur's second is a showy fashionable dowager, with a good back, and altogether wearing well for her age at over nine years old. What, by the way, is the average life or use of a Jersey? and when does a Gurnsey go to beef? There were few better samples of the true Jersey than the first, second, and third, which stood together in the succeeding class of heifers, where ]\Ir. Le Coruu was first and second with a grey and a fawn, to be dis- tinguished by their yellow horns, fine character, and graceful carriage : and for the choice of which £60 was refused early in the week. Mr. Bronard's second Guern- sey, with her silky coat, good " quality," and great size, as many would have it, should have been first ; but the first and second Guernsey heifers were both very good, where Mr. Alley showed something which looked to be almost as useful for any purpose as a Yorkshire cow. Mr. Digby, in Dorsetshire, has a herd of some thirty Jerseys, which he keeps for the use of the Castle, and from which he breeds ; thus sacrificing something of the original style for growth and flesh, and he showed some very use- ful animals at Southampton, that occasionally caught the eye of a judge. The Channel Island bulls are generally quick tempered, at the same time that they have not the attractive appearance of the cows. One of the neatest was a yearling Jersey placed second in the special class, though rather cft'eminate about his head; while the best of all these bulls was declared to be Mr. Nicolle's Browu Prince, out of Browny, the beifer which made such a sensation at Plymouth, and her son is in every way worthy of her. Even the judges deemed him good enough for a commendation ! And with this we close a cha])ter that might be headed appropriately enough as " Playing at Cross Purposes." There is no more attrac- tive element in an English show than the presence of these beautiful milking cattle, which fairly divide the atten- tion of the general public with the horses themselves ; but there is no kind of stock that takes more careful judging, or for which a man should be so thoroughly up in his " points." It is to be feared that this was not altogether the case at Southampton. The entries of Southdowns and Hampshires went to make the sheep show, and never during all its long career has the old Bath Society ever got together anything ap- proaching such a gathering of the Downs. Habitual winuers here, like Mr. Neville-Grenville, could do no- thing more now than look on; and although " the old Squire " Farquharson did not send up his entries, these were never missed from the well-filled classes to which Mr. Rigden, the Heasmans, Sir William Throckmorton, Lord Portsmouth, Mr. Kent, Mr. Humphrey, and others contributed so largely. It is true that Mr. Rig- den was thought to be holding his hand and keeping back his best shearlings for Manchester, and so he suf- fered defeat from the brothers Heasman, who won hand- somely, although not until after a terribly prolonged de- bate amongst the judges, with a sheep not beginning very well about his head, but ol otherwise high character and remarkably good quality. He may be supposed to inherit this more especially from his sire, the Goodwood Crop-ear, a son of the Duke of Richmond's sheep, which TH^ FABMER'S MAGAZINE. •il beat all Babmham at the Warwick Royal. Although the lot of shearlings actually sent reached to somewhere about thirty, the judges only appended one commendation ou to the award of the two prizes, and that also went to Augmeriug, Mr. Rigdeu just saving his credit with the second place. The class generally would thus seem to be of no very exti'aordinary merit ; but, as, it looked to us, the judges had quite work enough to do in apportioning the prizes without embarrassing themselves any further, or their mere compliments might have been extended. AVe speak, however, undfer some possible cor- rection, as we learn from a very remarkable report in The Times, that scarcely aims at anything more than a prize list, how " the most wonderful class is that of the Southdown shearlings, numbering twenty-nine rams. Mr. Rigden wins both the prizes in this class and also a com- mendation." Considering this communication was not published until Thursday morning, undue haste can hardly be pleaded for defrauding the Heasraan's of their first prize and high commendation and bestowing these on Mr. Rigden. Fancy the authority of a writer who, three days after the award has been made, does not know the best animal in about the best class — according to his own account — of any in the show ! Mr. Rigden did get to first again amongst the old rams with his famous Royal Bobtail, who is still looking well, and as grand a sheep as ever ; but the two other entries from Hove, never out in public before this, could not make much mark, and they were beaten for second and third by Sir William Throckmorton and Mr. Humphrey, a fi'esh exhibitor from the Southdowns. But Mr. Rigden has just lost one of the leaders in his old team, a sheep which he himself always fancied, although he got no higher than a Royal commendation when a shearling. The Bucklaud second sheep is lengthy and stylish, and their ewes very bloodlike and sorty, with the Heasmans coming in here again with a very nice useful pen ; but beyond first and second, the ladies' battle Avas not very exciting. The sensation over, the Hampshire Downs was Mr. Morrison's shearling ram, which, according to common opinion, had won before ever the judges saw him. And he did so, despite the opposition offered by such breeders as Mr. Rawlence, the Russells, Mr. Bennett of Chilmark, and others. The Fonthill sheep is, in fact, no doubt the best Hampshire ever out ; of famous quality, good size, and square frame, while his head, without losing the Hampshire character, is of itself a wonderful improvement on the coarse sour- visaged lop-eared frontispieces we have been hitherto instructed to recognize, despite our continual protest, as "theproper sort of thing." He is by one of Mr. Rawlence's rams, which Mr. Morrison has been fortunate enough to take for two seasons in succession; the first at 06 gs., and the second at 42 gs. The Bulbridge flock could here get no higher than commendations ; very plentifully bestowed upon the class, and of which the Russell's had their full share. The Kentish-Hampshire shearlings were, however, only in working condition ; and the brothers did better with their old ram, the best shearling at Leices- ter and elsewhere, now grown into a very grand sheep that will try his fortune again at Manchester. Mr. Raw- lence did better in this class ; but his best ewes were not so handsome as we have seen them — say at Salisbury. About home Mr. Bennett ^vould seem to be established as second best ; but it is significant that the Hampshire flock-masters were buyers of rams from the ^lessrs. Russell, who have been very successful in naturalising the sort at Dartford. There were some extra or special prizes for Hampshire ewes and ram lambs, but these brought but little com- petition, saving in one class of lambs, which was fairly lilicd. Amongst the Shropshires, Lord Cheshani, Avith his two smart rams and his pen of pretty ewes, won everything he entered for ; the main objection to any of these being that they were too neat or, saving their heads, more Southdown than Shropshire in character. But wc are fast coming to this, as Mr. Rigden, for one, sells quite as many rams to go down amongst the Shropshires as for use elsewhere ; and Lord Cheshire's sheep, whatever their looks or touch may imply, trace their pedigrees home to Sutton Maddock. The other Shropshire sheep exhibited were but indiffer- ent specimens of their kind ; Mr. Horton's entries being mostly remarkable for being ornamented or disfigured by a long lock of wool left on the body of each sheep, to show, we assume, how fairly he had been shorn ! These sheep should, accordingly, be good to know ; but, if a steward does his duty, he will for the future see that they are cleanly clipped before they meet the judges, or exhibitors may as well follow the Irish- man's plan of branding his pig on the back, so as to make sure of Mr. Turner knowing the one to go for. Although so handy home, the Somerset and Dorset Horns did not reach to a dozen entries in three classes ; but there were some very good sheep amongst them, the best of all being Mr. Mayo's two-shear, the first shear- ling at Falmouth, and at all points as ^jod a Dorset as ever was exhibited. It is doubtful, moreover, whether, for union of size with quality, Mr. Mayo's ewes were not as good or better than Mr. Bond's pen, smartly got up as these were, but one or two of them with weak, long necks. Still, Mr. Bond has something to go on, as he has just succeeded to his uncle the well-known Mr. Danger's flock, which maintained its usual place amongst the shearlings. Mr. Maunder had the Exmoors, entries and prizes, all pretty much to himself. Mr. Sandy's sheep did everything for the Leicesters, the Turners, the Tremains, and other west-country folk sending nothing, and leaving this business mainly to the Messrs. Gould and Corner. Nevertheless it was long before the award over the shearlings could be arrived at, for Mr. Twitchell, the second Leicester or long-wool judge, never turned up, and as Mr. Treadwell, who was put on in his place knew nothing of Leicesters, Mr. Painter undertook to englighten him. Ultimately Mr. Thurnall was called in, and then, of course, the Home-Pierrepoint sheep was declared to be a better Leicester than that from Poltimore, as no doubt he is. The Devon sheep has more size and is better in his hind-quarter, but beginning with his head he lacks the quality and character of the Lei- cester, and it was any odds on the other. In the old class Mr. Corner's sheep were also coarse, and Mr. Sandy did as he pleased with them. His first prize, a three- shear, has been hitherto on hire in Yorkshire, and never shown previously, although a grand sheep, with a well sprung rib, and a good touch ; while the second as a shearling commanded no notice at Leicester. There were only two pens of ewes, but the two prizes were awarded ; and Mr. Thomas Gillett, in every way a young exhibitor, made his mark thus early with some very smart, high- bred looking Cotswolds, if he had in reality only his own relative to encounter. The Oxford Downs were not in numerical force, although IMr. Wallis lost his lead with the shearlings, where his sheep were out of show-form ; but his two-shears, or one of these, is especially good, if there was nothing to beat but his companion from Shif- ford. Mr. Milton Druce's sheep were not only neat to the eye, but clean to the hand, and that is saying some- thing, too ; while another, Mr. Gillett, was strong enough to beat Mr. Wallis, not only for shearling rams, but for pens of ewes, the second prize pen being a very mode- rate lot. In the large breeds of pigs the honours were very 4>2 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. equitably divided between Messrs, Duckering's white Lincolns aad Mr. Heber Humfrey's BerksMres. There is something almost terrible in the ai)pearauce of a large white pig, the more particularly when exhibited in any- thing approaching to breeding condition, and with his great gaunt frame not quite smothered in fat. But the Duckerings get them with something like quality ; and Mr. Humphrey's Berkshires are amongst the best out — that is for really farm-yard use. They have not been refined away from their original type, but are nevertheless quite good- looking enough, and his young boar is really handsome. His couple of young breeding sows are also very excellent, and Mr. Clark'^ seconds scarcely inferior, being of very nice quality. The Sussex pigs would seem to be shown either as of a large or small breed ; but, although other- wise, with plenty of merit about them, they are pretty generally short of haii', and for this reason it is satisfac- tory to see that they commanded no particular attention. There are no nicer pigs for people who do not go in for contracts to feed the million, than the black Essex, as ex- hibited by Mr. Sydney Davey, and it would seem fi'om the return here, that the Fisher Hobbs fashion was fast coming in again. The show of small pigs, especially of the younger boars, and the single entries of breeding sows, was uuusually strong for almost any meeting ; but Mr. Davey had a clear lead with the sows in pairs, where the Coleshills seconds were not so good as they have 'been. For some inscrutable reason a longwool sheep man is assumed to be an equally good judge of a big pig, as a shortwool breeder must own to a like experience amongst little pigs. But surely the dignity of " the Bath and West of England Society and the Southern Counties Association" would be better maintained by having a dis- tinct bench of Worships, learned in hogs-flesh. At any rate, Mr. Cureton, with the gout flying about him, must have been weary of his day's work by the time he came to apparise the points of the best small boar. Three years since, at the first Salisbury Show of the West of England Society, the premium for the best thorough-bred stallion went to Hunting Horn, an award which was not altogether fancied by some of the Direc- tion. But, with all his coarseness, there was that in Hunting Horn which surpasseth show, as he is one of the finest-bred horses in the kingdom. By Sur^jlice, Touch- stone's best son, out of Ferina by Venison ; and Ferina is also the dam of the Pretender, who has just won the Derby. In fact, no one could be more highly connected, as, even beyond this. Hunting Horn's stock have been turn- ing out capitally, either with hounds or over a steeplechase course. The Council, however, was not satisfied either with the three or four really creditable stud-horses they got to- gether in Wiltshire, or with the good beginning they had made at Exeter. And so the hunter-sire class has been abandoned, notwithstanding the results which have already followed, as more well-bred "nags" have of late years been reared in Devonshire, and thereabouts, than had ever been heard of before ; and Mr. Barnes, the Andover dealer, now makes regular visits to those parts. Surely, considering the calibre of the Society, a prize-staUion should in his degree be as serviceable as a prize-bull or a prize-ram, and the ofl'er might be advantageously re- vived at Taunton. Although the entry was not large there was something quite refreshing in the very look of the gi-een grass ring at Southampton ; as, only the more so, when one remembered the cockney contrivances and Barnum business being just then enacted at Islington. The lot of all-aged hunters was led oft' by a handsome old chesuut, the property of Mr. Hambro, M.P. — a smart, showy horse in his box, and a still better when extended. He won all the way, though The Swell, by Autocrat (just destroyed from an accident), is a very spiry, blood-like horse, and quite a prize-hunter up to a certaiu weight ; while Mr. Battams's high commendation by Hungerford, of a coarser stamp, promised to make more money for a welter, as, indeed, he was sold during the day to Mr. Barnes for 300 gs. Despite all the outrageous puffs and "Walk up!" and wild-beast-showman tricks, we doubt whether there were three much better hunting horses than these in the Agricultural Hall, as they were far in advance of the rest of their class. Amongst the four- year-olds, Mr. Battams, who seems to buy up all the promising things he can find about, entered a Brocket mare of more fashion, who fairly placed herself; but his Ratan horse, in no way so good-lookiug, was fearfully blemished from an accident ; and the second went to a raw, raking Irish colt, sent up all in the rough by Mr. Clement Champeney, who makes it a rule never to overdo his young things, either for show or sale ; and, on his own merits, never was a prize more honestly earned, though he did bolt with the lad, thau by young Hunting Horn. Amongst the others, Mr. Michelmore sent in an animal of great substance, but with badly-laid shoulders, so that he could not walk, as he is fit for nothing better than a winker-bridle and a well-spread collar that will cover up his weak places. Mr. Battams, again, had clearly the pick of the three-year-olds, though a very sweet and stylish chesuut, bred by Mr. Canning, was not far behind the other, until a cataract put him out of competition ; and so the second place fell to a coarse, cobby gelding, with far more the look of making a farm hack than a hunter. Mr. Humphrey's best yearling, by Master Bagot, what with his good limbs and great reach, has only to furnish to more than justify his rank here, if there was not much against him ; while the hacks were a bad class outright, Mr. Barnes' best being all top, and shown in regular dealer's condition. The four prize-ponies were, on the contrary, all good — especially Mr. Keyne's black, and the dun mare from Devonshire, of very true and pretty pony character ; but the Foresters were a ter- rible failure, and the judges refused to give anything to the stallions, as they might reasonably enough have also declined to recognise any merit in the New Forest pony class. Jupiter, the best cart-stallion, who has already taken plenty of prizes at local shows, walks away with all the freedom of a racehorse; but he wants the weight and power of Mr. Gibbs's four-year-old, and the decision was much canvassed, although the roau is short and cramped in his quarters. Mr. Fitt's prize-mare was the only entry in the class, and hence her place on the list ; but there were some very promising two-year-olds amongst the colts and fillies, Mr. Gale's second prize being a bar- gain from Lord Aylesbury, whose people cleverly con- trived to draft about the best they had at Savernake. Mr. Hampton's grey is a great, growing filly, but with no very strong Clydesdale character about her beyond her quick, smart action ; and this is a point which might be made more of in a draft-liorse. Many of the stallions, more particularly, often rather waddle than walk, but they could mostly move a bit at Southampton. There were as usual flower shows, poultry shows, and picture shows — all to be seen at the small charge of one shilling ; and when we left on Tuesday the meeting had every promise of being a great success, as indeed it has been. PIUZE LIST. CATTLE. DEVONS. JtJDGE3 (and for Sussex). — H. Ford, Rushton, Blaudford. J. Tremain, Cornwall, Grampound. Bull, exceeding two and not exceeding four years old. — First prize, £-25, W. Farthing, Slowey Court, Bridgwater (Master Arthur) ; second, £10, J. H. Buller, Downes, Crediton. THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. 43 Bull not exceeding two years. — First prize, £30, W. Par- thing (Napier) ; second, £10, VV. Farthing (Sir George). Cow in-calf, or if in-railk. — First prize, £15, W. G. Nixey, Upton Court Farm, Slougli (Pink) ; second, £10, W. Fartliing (Miss Bessie). Highly commended, W. Farthing (Honest). Heifer in-calf, or if in-milk, not exceeding three years. — First prize, £15, W. G. Disey ; second, £10, J. H. Buller. Heifer not exceeding two years. — First prize, £10, E,. Burton, Place Barton, Broadclyst (Daisy) ; second, £5, W. Farthing (Pretty Maid). SUSSEX. Bull not exceeding four years. — No entry. Bull not exceeding two yet.rs. — First prize, £35, TUden Smith, KneU Farm, Beckley, Stalplehurst (Young Knell) ; second, £10, J. and A. Heasman, Augmering, Arundel (South- ampton) . Cow in-calf, or if in-milk. — First prize, £15, W. Botting, Westmeston-place, Hurstpierpoint (Betsy) ; second, £10, Tilden Smith (Young Betty). Highly commended, G. Jenner, Parsonage House, Udimore, Rye (Fill Pail). Commended, J. and A. Heasman (for Plymouth and Fritter). Heifer lU-calf, or if in milk. — First prize, £15, J. and A. Heasman (Leicester) ; second, £10, J . and A. Heasman (Michaelham). Heifer not exceeding two years. — No competition. SUORTnORNS. Judges (andforHerefords). — J.Baldwin, Luddington, Strat- ford-on-Avou. J . Thompson, Badminton, Chip- penham, Bull, exceeding two and not exceeding four years. — First prize, £25, T. Game and Son, Broadmoor, Northleach (Monk) ; ■second, £10, R. Stratton, Burderop, Swindon (James 1st). Highly commended. Lady Emily Pigot, Branches Park, New- market (Rosolio). BuU not exceeding two years. — First prize, £20, Lord Sudeley, Toddington House, Winchcombe ; second, £10, R. Stratton (Monmouth). Highly commended, G. Game, Churchill Heath, Chipping; Norton (Prince of Airdrie). Cow in-calf, or if in-railk. — First prize, £15, Lady Emily Pigot (The Queen of Rosalea) ; second, £10, J. Atkins, Barton Peverill, Bisliopstoke (Lucky). Heifer in-calf, or if in-milk, not exceeding three years. — First prize, £15, J. How, Broughton, Huntingdon (Lady Anne) ; second, £lO, G. Garne (Lady Lavinia), Highly com- mended, G. Garne (Duchess of Toivneley). Heifer not exceeding two years. — First prize, £10, R. Stratton (Ariel) ; second, £5, R. Stratton (CaraiUa). Highly commended, J. How (Windsor's Queen) ; Lady Pigot (La Belle Helene) ; and T. Game and Son (Ruberta). HEREFORDS. BuU, exceeding two and not exceeding four years. — First prize, £35, J. H. Arkwright, Hampton Court, Leominster (Sir Hungerford) ; second, £10, AV. Rossiter, Strangways, Mam- hull, Blaudford (Chancellor). Bull not exceeding two years. — First prize, £20, N. Benja- field. Short's Green Farm, Motcombe, Shaftesbury (Theodore) ; second, £10, W. Barrow Simonds, M.P., Abbott's Barton, Winchester. Cow in-calf, or if in-milk. — First prize, £15, J. D. Allen, Tisbury, Salisbury (Queen, of the Lilies) ; second, £10, W. Tudge, Adforton, Leiatwardine (Lady Adfortou). Higlily commended, J. H. Arkwright (Hampton Olive). Heifer in-calf, or if in-milk, not exceeding tliree years. — First prize, £15, W. Tudge (Diadem) ; second, £10, J. H. Arkwright (Lady Leicester). Highly commended, J. W. James, Mappowder Court, Blandford (Helen). Commended, J. W. James (Dolly Vorden). Heifer not exceeding two years. — First prize, £10, W. Tudge (Silver Star) ; second, £5, J. W. James (Beryl). CHAJfKEL ISLAND CATTLE. Judges. — M. Gibout, Jersey. — James, Guernsey. H. Middleton, Cutteslowe, Oxford. Bull not exceeding four years, — First prize, £10, T. Le Sueur, Maufant, St. Saviour's, (Jersey Bright) ; second, £5, F. Pettis, Newport House, Newport, Isle of Wight (Jersey, Vectis). Highly commended, E. Nicolle, La Fontaine, Trinity (Jersey, BrowA Prince), Cow in-calf, or if in-milk. — First prize, £10, T. Maindonald, St. Peter Port, St. Andrew's (Guernsey, Lizette) ; second, £5, N. Artiiur, St. Mary's (Jersey, Iris). Highly commended, Capt. F. A. Maxse, R.N., Holly Hill, Southampton (Ruby) ; commended, N. Arthur (Jersey, Rose). Heifer, not exceeding two years. — First prize, £10, J. Dorey, St. Martin's (Jersey, Diana) ; second, £5, J. D. Sherston, Bramsham, Lyndhurst (Jersey, Fanny). Highly commended, D. Le Cheminant, Sablons, St. Petcr-in-the-VVood (Guernsey, Polly) ; commended, P. Gaudin, Spring Farm, St. Martin's, St. tlelier's (Jersey, Mignoune). SPECIAL LOCAL PRIZES. JERSEYS (bred in the island). Bull, not exceeding four years. — First prize, £7, T. Le Sueur (Happy) ; second, £3, W. Alexander, Manor Farm, Trinity, Jersey (Red Knight). Cow in-calf, or in-milk. — First prize, £7, H. Compton, Manor House, Lyndhurst (Duchess) ; second, £3, N. Arthur (Lily). Commended, J. Gater, West End, Soutliampton. Heifer, not exceeding two years and a-half. — First prize, £7, C. P. Le Cornu, Trinity Manor, Jersey (Nelly Grey) ; second, £3, C. P. Le Cornu (Lucy). Commended, H. J. Le Feuvre, Les Niemes, St. Peter's, Jersey (Duchess 7th). uiTERNSEYS (bred in the island). Bull, not exceeding four years. — First prize, £7, T. Main- donald (Billy) ; second, £3, J. Le Page, Rue Frairie, St. An- drew's, Guernsey (Sweet Guernsey). Commended, J. Talbot, Sherrington Bridge House, Newport Pagnell, Bucks (Sarniam). Cow in-calf, or in-milk. — First prize, £7, E. A. De Putron, Pierre Peicee, St. Peter Port, Guernsey (Fanny) ; second, £3, J. Bronard, Courtil au Preel, St. Peter Port, St. Andrew's, Guernsey (Lily). Highly commended, P. Blampied, St. Peter Port, St. Sampson's Parish, Guernsey (La Belle) ; commended, T. B. Lc Page, Maison de Bas, St. Andrew's, Guernsey (Lily). Heifer, not exceeding two years and a-half. — First prize, £7, U. Wakeford, St. Peter Port, St. Andrew's, Guernsey (Lady Jane) ; second, £3, J. Rougier, St. Peter Port, St. Andrew's, Guernsey (Guernsey Lily). Commended, De Le Cheminant (Kate). CHAXNEL isla:xds (brcd out of the island). Channel Islands bull, not exceeding three years. — First prize, £5, J. B. W. Fleming, Chilvvorth Manor, Romsey, Hants (Jersey, Prince) ; second, £3, R, C. Priddle, North Stoneham, Southampton (Jersey, Briton). Jersey cow in-calf or in-milk, having had a calf within six months. — First prize, £3, Capt. F. A. Maxse, R.N. (Bonbon) ; second, £3, Mrs. L. Malcolm, Beechwood, Totton, South- ampton (Buttercup). Commended, J. B. W. Fleming (Blue Bell). Channel Island heifer, not exceeding two years and a-half. — • First prize, £3, and £10 extra, as best of all the heifers, H. Compton (Jersey, Princess) ; second, G. D. W. Digby, Sher- borne Castle, Sherborne (Jersey, Fanny). Highly commended, G. D. W. Digby (Jersey, Julia). Commended, A. C. Sayers, Crolt House, Horton Heath, BishopstoKe (Jersey). SHEEP. LEICESTERS. Judges (and for other Long- wools). J. Painter. Nottingham. J. Treadwell, Upper Winchendon, Bucks. Y'^earliug ram. — First prize, £13, G. H. Sanday, Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham ; second, £6, J. and A. E. Gould, Poltimore, Exeter. Commended, G. H. Sanday. Ram of any other age. — First prize, £5, G. H. Sanday ; second, £3, G. H. Sanday. Pen of five yearl.ng ewes. — First prize, iGlO, J. and A. E. Gould ; second, £5, J. B. Comer, Longforth, Wellington. COTSWOLDS. Yearling ram. — First prize, £12, T. Gillett, Kilkenny Farm, Faringdon ; second, £6, T. Gillett. Commended, T. Gillett. Aged rams. — No entry. Pen of five yearling ewes. — Prize, £10, J. Gillett, Oaklands, Charlbury. (No competition.) SOUTHDO'WNS. Judges (and for other Short-wools). J. Cureton, Beam House, Shrewsbury, J. B. Cannhig, Elston, Devizes. — Hart, Beddingham, Lewes. Yearling ram.—First prize, £12, J. and A. Heasman, Atig- 44 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. meriug, Arundel ; second, £6, W. Rigden, Uove, Brighton. Highly commended, J. and A. Heasman. Kara of any other age. — First prize, £5, W. lligden ; second, £3, Sir William Throckmorton, JBart., Buckland, Farringdon. Highly commended, H. Humphrey, Ashington, Hurstpierpont (for two sheep); coraraeuded, W. lligden and J. and A. Heasman. Pen of five yearling ewes. — First prize, £10, Sir William Throckmorton ; second, £5, J. and A. Heasman. Highly commended, Ralph Neville-Grenville, M.P., Butleigh Court, Glastonbury. HAMPSHIRE DOWN. Yearling ram. — First prize, £12, A. Morrison, Fontliill House, Tisbury ; second, £6, W. F. Bennett, Chilmark, Salis- bury. Highly commended, R. and J. Russell, Horton-Kirby, Dartford (for two sheep) ; J. Barton, jun., Hackwood Farm, Basingstoke ; A. Morrison ; R. Coles, Middleton Farm, War- minster ; J. Rawlence, Bulbridge, Wilton (for two sheep). Ram of any other age. — First prize, £5, R. and J. Russell ; second, £3, J. Rawlence. Highly commended, J. Moore, Littlecott Farm, Pewsey, and J. Rawlence. Pen of five yearling ewes. — First prize, £10, J. Rawlence: second, £5, W. F. Bennett. Highly commended, J. Rawlence. SHROPSHIRES. Yearling ram. — First prize, £12, Lord Chesham, Latimer, Chesham ; second. Lord Chesham. Highly commended, T. Horton, Harnage Grange, Shrewsbury. Ram of any other age. — First prize, £5, T. Horton ; second, £3, H. Wood, Pucknall Farm, Romsey. Pen of five yearling ewes. — First prize, £10, Lord Chesham; second, £5, H. Wood. OXFORDSHIRE DOWN. Yearling ram. — First prize, £12, F. Gillett, Upton Downs, Burford; second, £6, A. F. Milton Druce, Burghfield, Reading. Ram of any other age. — First prize, £5, G. Wallis, Old Shifford, Bampton, Faringdon ; second, £3, G. Wallis. Pen of five yearling ewes. — First prize, £10, F. Gillett ; second, £5, G. Wallis. SOMERSET AND DORSET HORN. Yearling ram. — First prize, £12, A. Bond, Hnnstile, Bridg- water ; second, £G, A. Bond. Commended, H- Mayo, Coker's Frome, Dorciiester (for two sheep). Ram of any other age. — First prize, £5, 11- Mayo ; second, £3, A. Bond. Pen of five yearling ewes. — First prize, £10, A- Bond ; se- cond, £5, H. Mayo. Highly commended, H- Mayo. EXMOOR AND OTHER MOUNTAIN SHEEP. Ram of any age — First prize, £10, E. Maunder, jun., North Molton, Devon. Pen of five ewes of any age. — First prize, £5, E- Maunder, jun. ; second, £3, E. Maunder, jun. SPECIAL PRIZES. Hampshire Down ram-iamb. — First prize, £10, C. Long, Ratfin Farm, Amesbury, Salisbury ; second, £8, C. Long. Highly commended, J. Rawlence (for two lambs). LOCAL PRIZES FOR HAMPSHIRE DOWNS. Pen of ten yearling ewes — Prize, £5, J. Rawlence. Pen of seven yearling ewes. — Prize, £5. No competition- Pen of four yearling ewes — Prize, £5, W. E- Fitt, Little- ton, Winchester. Pen of five ram-lambs — Prize, £5, W. F. Bennett, HORSES. Judges — R. C- F. Howard, Temple Bruer, Lincoln. H- Thurnall, Royston. FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES. Stallion foaled before 1867— First prize, £25, W. H- Gale, Manor Farm, Burbage, Marlborough (Jupiter) ; second, £15, E. Glbbs, Chitterne, Heytesbury, Wilts (Banker). Com- mended, C- Haskell, Rutlake, Hursley (Herschel). Stallion foaled in 1867. — First priz'e, £20, J. Feaver, Manor Farm, Stony Littleton, Wellow, Bath; second, £10, W. H. Gale. Mare and foal, or in foal. — Prize, £15, W- E- Fitt (Damsel). Filly foaled in 1867.— First prize, £10, G. Hampton, Fin- don, Worthing (Heather Bell) ; second, £5, J . Gay, Attwater, Britford, Salisbury (Young Bonnie). HUNTEHS- Mare or gelding foaled before the 1st January, 1865. — First prize, £25, C. Hambro, M.P-, 14, Cavendish Square, London (Dumree) ; second, £10, M. Guest, Fifehead, Magdalen, Gil- lingham, Dorset (The Swell). Highly commended, G- B. Battams, Kitworthy, Tavistock, Devon (Ermington). Mare or gelding foaled in 1865 — First prize, £25, G. B. Battams (Lady Gane) ; second, £10, C. Champeney, Tlieale, Wells, Somerset (Hunting Horn). Filly or gelding foaled in 1866 — First prize, £15, G. B, Battams (Tantivy) ; second, £6, H- Barnes, Heath House, Andover (Armitage). Colt or filly foaled in 1868 — First prize, £10, H. Humph- rey, Ashington, Sussex ; second, £5, E. Coles, Stone Farm, Yeovil (Wrangler). HACKS. Mare or gelding not more than six years, nor exceeding 15 hands- — First prize, £15, H. Barnes (King Charming) ; se- cond, £5, J. Gater, West End, Southampton (Katie). PONIES. Mare or gelding not exceeding 14 hands — First prize, £10, G. Keynes, jun., Spettisbnry, Blandford (Charlie) ; second, £5, M. Guest (Jack Sprat). Mare or gelding not exceeding 13 hands — First prize, £10, J. Michelmore, Berry Pomeroy, Totness (Miss Richards) ; se- cond, £5, F. L. Popham, Hunstrete House, Bristol (Tommy). SPECIAL LOCAL PRIZES. HACK STALLIONS. [No Merit.] EOREST HORSES. New Forest pony not exceeding 13^ hands, for saddle and harness — £5, J. Fletcher, Eling, Southampton. PIGS. Judges — Large breeds. — Painter. Treadwell. Small breeds. — Cureton. Caoning. Hart. LARGE BREEDS. Boar above one year old, and not exceeding two. — First prize, £5, R. Elmhirst Duckering and Son, Nortliorpe, Kirton Lindsey, Lincoln (white) ; second, £3, R. E. Duckering (white). Highly commended, II. Humfrey, Kingstone Farm, Shrivenham (Berkshire). Boar not exceeding one year old — First prize, £5, H. Humfrey (Berkshire) ; second, £3, J. and F. Howard, Britannia Farms, Bedford (white). Commended, Sir W. Heathcote, Bart., Hursley Park, Winchester (Sussex, black). Breeding sow in farrow, or exhibited with her litter. — First prize, £5, R. E. Duckering (white) ; second, £3, R. E. Duckering (white). Highly commended, H. Humfrey (Berk- shire) ; commended, J. H- Clark, Altwood, Maidenhead (Berkshire). Pen of two breeding sows, not exceeding nine months old. — First prize, ^65, H- Humfrey (Berkshire) ; second, £3, J. H. Clark (Berkshire) . Commended, R. E. Duckering (white) . SMALL BREEDS. Boar above one year old, and not exceeding two — First prize, £5, R. E. Duckering (white) ; second, £3, R. E. Duckering (white). Boar not exceeding one year old — F'irst prize, £5, J. S. Davey, Redruth, Cornwall (Essex) ; second, £3,T. R. Cornish, Wolfsgrove Farm, Bishop's Teignton, Tcignmouth (Essex). Highly commended, the Earl of Radnor, Coleshill House, Highworth (white), and T. Chamberlayne, Cranbury Park, Winchester (Sussex) ; commended, T. R. Cornish (Essex), M. Portal, Laverstoke House, Micheldever (Sussex), and E. Coles, Stone Farm, Yeovil, for two boars (Essex). Breeding sow in farrow, or exhibited with her litter — First prize, £5, R. E. Duckering (white) ; second, £3, R. E. Duckering (white). Highly commended. Captain R. P. Warren, Worting House, Basingstoke (Essex), T- R- Cornish (Essex), and M- Portal (Sussex). Pen of two breeding sows, not exceeding nine months old. — First prize, £5, J. S- Davey (Essex) ; second, £^, tlie Earl of Radnor (white). HORSE-SHOEING. Shoes and nails made and fixed in the yard. — First prize, TIIF. FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 4S £3 r,s., J. Woodford ; second, £-2 3s., W. Lovo ; Uiird, £1 Is., M- Poor. A copy of Mr- Miles' " Tlaia Treatise on Horsc- Slioeiufj," aud a pair uf models of horses' feet properly shod, were also given to each of the successful competitors. Veteeinart Inspeciok. — Professor Browu, New Caven- dish Street, London. THE IMPLEMENT TRLVLS IN THE FIELD. Oa the Tuesday morning the implement makers despatched a number of their assistants to Eling, on the Dorset line of railway, to enter upon a trial of field implements. From no prizes being offered the Council does not enter into actual investigation of the merits of the machines on trial ; but provision is made for enabling the public to examine the machines aud their work, as crops are provided for the reapers and mowers, and land for the ploughs and cultivators, while one or two stewards superintend the arrangements. Eling is near to the Totton Station, and the railway company ran trains at intervals of about two hours, while the visitors had also further facilities for reachiug the trial ground, which many did not fail to avail themselves of. The manufacturers also were quick to take advantage of the opportunity of making a dis- play, and on the morning of Tuesday there was quite a supplementary show of reapers and mowers, horse-rakes, and hay-making machines gathered at the homestead of the farm belonging to Miss Bourne, of Testwood House, on whose lands the trials took place. Mr. J. E. KnoUys, of Taunton, and Mr. H. P. Jones, of War- minster, were the stewards in the field, and under their superintendence the machines were marshalled aud set going. The first work was commenced with the mowers; and the machines on trial were Pieksley and Sims's, a two-horse combined mower aud reaper, " The Standard ;" Walter A. Wood's two-horse mower ; Howard's " British" ; the Reading Iron Works Company's " Clip- per" ; Samuelson and Co.'s mower ; Kearsley's mower ; Hornsby's " Paragon" mower ; and late in the field, after the work had been pretty well advanced, came Burgess and Key's mower, of which formal notice had not been given, but that the stewards, with characteristic courtesy, allowed to go to work. The grass selected for mowiug was a fine piece of park sward ; by no means a heavy, hut a fair swathe, green and sappy, aud full of moisture from the heavy rains of the previous week. Each ma- chine had an acre of grass staked out, aud although there was no formal start, they got to work pretty nearly to- gether, with the exception just mentioned, aud the several acres of grass were soon down. Much interest was manifested in the work, and it was with some diffi- culty that the spectators could be kept back so as to afford room for turning the machines out and in, at the ends. To judge from the remarks made by the less travel- led portion of the spectators, reaping machines cannot be very common in that part of Hampshire, or certainly it cannot be usual to see them managed with such consum- mate cleverness as was here manifested. With the ex- ception of a trifling clog of the knife, owing to the green- ness and the dampness of the grass, at the starting of Wood's machine, there was literally not the slightest hitch throughout, and the work was in every case Rood. Wood put a one-horse mower to work at the finish of the first acre, and that was the only one-horse mowing machine which was tried on Tuesday. In the afternoon some further mowing took place in the same place, and Howard's haymaker and rake, and Le Butt's haymaker were set to work to turn, scatter, and collect the gi"as3 which had been cut in the morning. The reap- ing trials took place in a field on the same estate, aud ad- joining the park, The crop was rye, very green, but a fine, stout piece nearly six feet high, and standing well for the machines. The Beverley Iron Works Company's three-horse reaper had cut rouud the field, and also divided it into plots to enable the other machines to get into it. The reapers set to work were Pieksley and Sims' two-horse combined, " The Standard;" W. A. Wood's combined two-horse mower and reaper, and also a one-horse reaper ; Kearsley's two-horse combined mower and reaper ; Robert Page's ; The Beverley Iron Works Company's self-acting swathe-delivery two-horse reaper ; Hornsby's " Governor" self-raking reaper, and Howard's " British" self-delivery two-horse reaper. These machines were all but "mobbed," in the sense of being constantly surrounded by a crowd, when they went to work, and the interest evinced in their movements was even greater than which had been shown in the mowiug. Many practical men were amongst the spectators, who showed considerable readiness in catching up the points of ditference in the machines, and were not slow at expressing their opinions. It was, however, not very easy in an informal set of trials such as these to see precisely the points in favour or against each machine, especially as the important element, weight of draught, conld not, of course, be accurately ascertained. The Beverley Company's machine is a powerful one : it does a great amount of duty, and, like all machines which per- form a large task, catches the eye of the casual spec- tator by its masterly method of dealing with a crop. It was, however, not overlooked that it was worked by three horses, aud that it was, more than anyone present, a machine fitted for large occupiers alone. Thei'e was in this field ample means, however, for judging as to the merits of the two systems of delivery — self-delivery or tipping platform — for machines of the best construction on both principles were worked. Some of the machines required a considerable amount of help ; as, for instance, iu one case a man drove the horse, another raked off the sheaves, and two others had no light time of it to scuffle after the machine and remove the sheaves I'cady for the next bout. Their task, indeed, somewhat resembled that of the professional pedestrian, who occasionally under- takes to pick up a hundred stones lying a yard apart, one by one, and carry them to a certain point — only that here they had much more than the hundi'ed to deal with. The weak point of all reaping machines is in the delivery, and although some are vastly superior to others, much remains to be done before practical men will see the policy of em2)loying machines, which, like troublesome servants- of-all-work, are plagued with too many " followers." Still the conviction upon the mind of everyone who saw these trials must have been that the reaping machine is even now a wonderful example of human skill, and as it has already revolutionized harvest-work, we must look to the time when it shall be every farmer's assistant and some- what less of a curiosity than at present. In the trials on Monday and Tuesday the length of the stubble, or rather its shortness, cannot be much insisted upon as a characteristic, as all the machines were compelled to cut higher than they might possibly have done, in conse- quence of the stony state of the surface of the soil. In a field contiguous to the homestead the Howards, Taskers, and Fowler and Co. ploughed aud culti- vated by steam during a great part of both days. Howard 'set to work a set of cultivating apparatus of their invention and manufacture, worked by an engine of new design, of ten-horse power : this engine represents many improvements, one of which con- sists in placing the boiler trauversely on the carriage, and by that means shortening the length of the whole, so as to bring it into a more manageable compass in turning. The weight of the engine is 10^ tons when at Avork. Howard's tackle was got to work on Tuesday, and on 46 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Wednesday for several hours, and made good work. Tlie field was an old layer, but the rains had mellowed the surface just sufficiently to make what would otherwise have been a steely and intractable piece of light stony land turn up in a good continuous furrow-slice. Taskers were also in the field with their patent improved windlass, a twelve-horse-power double cylinder traction engine and Fowlers' four-furrow balance plough. These were all at work during the greater part of Tuesday and Wednesday. Howard's engine worked a three-furrow plough, and was waited upon by an improved iron water-cart, intended to supply steam-ploughing engines with water. In one respect it was unfoi'tuuate that both the systems on trial should be " roundabout," for the public had no opportu- nity of forming an opinion as to the relative merits of that in comparison with the direct system. Here, as in the reaping and mowing trials, everything went on smoothly enough, for the machinery was well ma- naged. The land was ploughed to the depth of about seven inches, and the furrow slices were laid up smoothly and well. It was necessary, howevei', to ascertain at once all that was needed about the coudi- tion of the land which had been turned-up, for the number of visitors was so great and their curiosity was so keen, that each bout was trampled as flat as if rolled, as soon as the plough had passed. For a short time on Tuesday afternoon, Howards worked a cultivator, and they had also the cultivator out on the next day ; but being short-handed, owing to the distance at which these trials took place from the show-field, they were unable to work continuously. Taskers, also, exhibited a five-tine scarifier at work on Wednesday at intervals with the plough, and Howard had an iron double-furrow plough, with two wheels, in the field. Fowler aud Co. set to work one of Pirie's patent double-furrow horse ploughs; the peculiarity of which is that the sole and side plate are entirely dispensed with, and their place is supplied by a wheel at each end of the plough, arranged in such a manner as to i-un in the angle formed by the bot- tom of the furrow slice last removed. The reduction of friction is, of course, very considerable, and the power so saved is expended in turning the second fur- row. The inventor claims that one man with a pair or three horses could do as much work in a day with this plough as two ordinary teams could accomplish with the common single plough. No attempt was made to test this claim, but the plough turned a capital furrow-slice from twelve to fourteen inches wide and from five to six inches deep for more than two hours each day with two horses, and although a third hoi'se was put on during the latter part of the trial, it is but fair to say that the work did not appear at all distressing to the two. The interest evinced towards this plough was only second to that which was showu to its larger rival in the other corner of the field, and the ease with which it was got to work and managed was greatly appre- ciated when contrasted with the digging of pits and fas- tening down of snatch-blocks which formed so large a portion of the business of the steam-cultivators and ploughs. The work was not timed here, any more than in the reaping and mowing trials, and it woiild be idle to give results which were not officially ascertained, more especially as there was not, and could not, under the cir- cumstances, be anything like racing. The great distance from the show-yard rendered it extremely difficult to the implement-makers to send a staff of men sufticiently large to keep mowers and reapers and steam-cultivators at work at one and the same time ; but there was no question as to the amount of work which each of the sets of steam-machinery at work could accomplish when once fairly at work. The trials wound up on Wednesday afternoon with a good shake at the newly-eut hay by Howards' hay-maker ; and they also put oa one of their horse-rakes into the same field. We give a complete list of the Implement Stands with the machinery here exhibited; but, as there was no competition and there were but few novelties, any close criticism of this section of the show is scarcely called for, THE IMPLEMENT STANDS. Clayton and Shuttleworth, Lincoln. — Steam-engines, finishing and dressing machines, straw elevators, sack-lifting barrows, and Haye's patent portable straw elevator. Humphreys, Pershore. — Steam-engine, and combined finishing machines. Sutton, Southampton. — Steam-engine, corn-grinding and crushing mills, combined straw, corn, and haystacking ma- chines, ploughs of every description, whipple.trees and har- rows, horserakes, haymaking machines, mowing and reaping machines, cultivators, rotary corn screens, winnowing and screening machines, rick ventilator, chaff-cutters, steaming aud cooking apparatus, land and garden rollers, portable boilers, seed and malt crushers, drills, horsehoes, lawn mowers, mills, washing macliines, liquid manure distributors, aud one and two-horse carts and waggons. Ransomes, Sims, and Head, Ipswich. — Steam-engines steam thrashing machines, straw elevator, iron water pans, ploughs, whippletrees and pomeltree, horserakes, new " Star" haymakers, jointed harrows, rotary corn screen, bean cutters and oat mills, oilcake breakers, chaff-cutters, turnip-cutters, root-pulpers, horse gear, lawn mowers, and garden rolls. Garrett and Sons, Leiston. — Steam-engines, straw elevator, thrashing and dressing machines, corn seed, turnip, mangold, aud manure drills, manure distributors, horsehoes, corn dressing machines, and rick ventilator. The Reading Iron Works (Limited), Reading. — Steam- engines, steam power thrashing and finishing machines, circular- saw bench, thrashing machine and horse gear, reaping and mowing machines, chain corn drills, horserakes, oilcake and crushing mills, and grass and seed sowing machines. RoBEY AND Co., Lincoln. — Steam-engines, tlirashing ma- chine, aud straw elevator. Barrow's and Stewart, Banbury. — Steam-engine, thrasliiug machine, steam cultivator, cattle cribs, lifting-jacks, and driving-bands. MarshjVLL, Sons, and Co., Gainsborough. — Steam-en- gines, thrashing and finishing machines, straw elevator, and circular-saw bench. TuxFORD AND SoNS, Bostou. — Steeple-engine, with two vertical cylinders, and thrashing, shaking, dressing, and finish- ing machine. Tasker AND Sons, Andover. — Steam engines, steam cul- tivating and ploughing apparatus, circular saw bench, chaff- cutting machines ; grinding, bruisinsr, and splitting mills ; thrashing machines, straw elevators, lifting-jacks, portable gra- nary, ploughs, harrows, and drags ; cultivators or scarifiers, land pressers aud field rollers, seed and manure drills, grass and seed sowing machines, horse hoes, haymaking machine, grass- mowing machine, corn-dressing and winnowing machine, corn- screens, one-horse gear, turnip cutters, galvanized troughs, water and liquid-manure carts, carts and waggons, well ma- chinery. HoRNSBY AND SON, Grantham. — Steam engine, finishing tlirashing machine, mowers and reapers, ploughs, turnip cutters and root pulpers, washing machines, mangles and wringers, corn and seed drills, and rotary corn screen. Cambridge and Co., Bristol. — Steam engines, rollers and clod crushers, chain-harrows, " Excelsior" harrows, land pressers, horse rakes, horse gear, turnip cutters, and winnowing machine. Lewin, Poole. — Steam engines six-horse power vertical en- gine, saw table, and sanitary pipe-making machine. Holmes and Son, Norwich. — Steam engine, finishing thrashing machine, seed sheller, rotary harrow, corn, seed, and manure drills, corn-dressing machines, and barley hurameller. Brown and May, Devizes. — Steam engines, blast thrash- ing and finisliing machmes, and portable circular saw table. Gibbons, P. and H., Wantage. — Steam engines, and thrash- ing machines. RusxON, Proctor, and Co., Lincoln,— Steam engines, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 47 vertical eugiue, thrashing and finishing machine, and small cir- cular saw bench. AsHBY AND Jeffery, Stamford. — Steam engine, thrashing machine, stone grinding mill, chafiFcutter, new solid axle iiay- makers, horse rakes, chaffcutters, root pulpers, oilcake nulls, and churn. Woods, Cocksedge, and Waknee, Stowmarket. — Steam engines ; corn grinding, crushing, and other mills ; one-horse carts, root graters and pulpers, oilcake breakers, turnip cutters, pig troughs, roll, mower and combined mower and reaper, weed extirpators, and horse rakes, lamb hurdles, saw table and saw bench, asphalting apparatus, and cattle drinking pans. Turner, E. R. and b\, Ipswich. — Steam engine, thrashing and winnowing machine, crushing mills, and oilcake breakers. Maynard, Cambridge. — Chaff engine, and horse rake. "Wallis and Stevens, Basingstoke. — Steam engines, thrashing machines, straw elevators, ploughs, harrows, horse hoes, cultivators, field rollers, horse rakes, drills, oilcake crusher, winnowing machines, corn screens, and sack-holders. HAi'WARD, Tyler, and Co., London. — Steam engines, steam boiler feeder ; steam, force, and other pumps ; lubri- cators ; house, farm, and garden engines ; water harrows, leather bands, and vertical boiler. Powis Aj>rD Co., Millwall. — Steam engines, saw benches, band-sawing machine ; mortising, tenoning, and boring ma- chines ; jomer and moulding machine ; and trying-up, thick- nessing, and planing machine. Bradford and Co,, London. — ^AVashing, wringing, and mangling machines ; drying closets, linen presses, patent churns, dairy utensils, boilers, riddling apparatus, and cinder sifters. Plenty and Son, Newbury. — Horse-power marine engine. Watson, Andover. — Elevator, oue-horss portable gear- work, and iron cattle crib. Fuller AND Simpson, Leamington. — New patent omnibus. Coleman and Morton, Chelmsford. — Cultivators, water and liquid-manure carts, rotary coruscreens, oilcake cutters for hand, horse, or steam power, one-horse gear, land roll, feeding troughs, and shares for cultivators. The Bristol Waggon Works Company (Limited). — Pony, light farm, harvest, agricultural, tumbler, and other carts and waggons ; street -sweeping machine and cart, garden barrows, sack trucks, mowing and reaping machine, horse rakes, hay collectors, grass-seed distributors, corn drills, sheep racks, road scrapers, and machine-made wheels. HoBBS, Basingstoke. — Ploughs, harrows, clodcrushers, water-ballast rollers, horse hoes, reapers, mowing machines, haymakers, horse rakes, straw elevators, thatch-sewing ma- chine, chaff cutters, one-horse gear, grinding mills, turnip cutters, corn screens, garden rollers and barrows, sack elevators, sheep and cattle cribs, wheelbarrows, and garden seats. Cannings, J. S. and G., Horn Dean. — Ploughs, rollers, and land pressers, chain harrows, horse hoes, winnowing ma- chmes, turnip cutters, chaff cutters, sheep and hog troughs, and iron sack cart. PiCKSLEY, Sims, and Co., Leigh. — Chaff-cutting machines, oat and bean mills, corn crushers, roller mills, turnip cutters and pulpers, one and two-horse combined mowing and reapmg machines, pony and one-horse gear, horse rakes, and hay collectors, lawn mowing machines, garden rollers, garden and croquet chairs, pig and cattle-feeding troughs, sack trucks, and American hay and manure forks. Howard, J. and F., Bedford. — Steam-cultivating apparatus, steam plough, water carts, ploughs, trussed whippletrees, iron zigzag and beam and chain harrows, horse rakes, hay- making machines, mowing and reaping machines, steam boiler and super-heater often-horse power, and stand of models. Bentall, Heybridge. — Chaff-cutters, root pulpers, turnip cutters, oilcake mill, and broadshare and scarifier. Larkworthy and Co., Worcester. — Iron ploughs, iron harrows, sets of whippletrees, cattle crib, and root pulpers. Lankester and Son, Southampton. — Cooking ranges, lawn mowers, garden water engines and barrows, rollers, chaff and turnip cutters, washing and mangling machines, stable fittings, seats, pumps, and weighing machines. Page and Co., Bedford. — Draining pipe and tile machine, oat, bean and linseed mills, chaff cutters, root pulpers, field rollers, horse rakes, ploughs, horse hoes, harrows and whip- pletrees, and bench drilling machine. BA3NABP, Bishop, a.]^» Barnarps, Nowch,— Lawn mowers, garden rollers, lawn cleaner, swing water barrows, garden stools, chairs, and tables, wire netting and cottage cooking ranges. Tuck and Son, Bath. — Carriage and field gates, wire fencing, hurdles, stable fittings, saddle boilers, footpath stiles, garden engines, seats, chairs, tables, and lawn mowers. Bryan Corcoran and Co., London. — Prench burr stone, millstones, corn mills, smut and wheat cleaning machines, flour dressing machines, weighing machines, corn measures and shovels, and tools for millers' use. Downs, Romsey. — Ploughs, harrows, oat and bean miUs, corn screens, lawn mowers, carts, chaff cutters, reaping and mowing machines, horse rakes, haymakers, churns, kitcheners and ranges, corn bins, and turnip cutters. Headley and Son, Cambridge. — Hydraulic apparatus for watering gardens and roads, water and food troughs, weather- vanes. Puller, Bath. — Carriages, with harness.' The Beverly Iron and Waggon Company (limited), Beverley. — Reaping and mowing machines, market and harvest carts, pair horse waggon, liquid manure distributor, pumps, clod crushers, and cart and waggon wheels. Penney and Co. (Limited), Lincoln. — Corn separator, flour dressing machine, sack lifters, wire netting, and galva- nized wire safes. CiiURTON, Southampton. — Water and steam-boiler meters, pulley blocks and hoists, lifting jacks, shears, hydraulic boiler power, pumps, corn bins, hand trucks, and weighing ma- chines. WooLF AND Co., London. — Atmosplieric churn, ice safes, milk cooling apparatus, and dairy utensils. Clunes and Davis, Worcester. — Steam engine, horse rakes, harrows, mowing machines, sack elevators, and mangles. Richmond and Chandler, Salford. — Chaff cutters, corn crushers, steaming apparatus, root washers, sack holders, bread kneading machine, and turnip butters. Baker, Wisbeach. — Blowing, screening, winnowing, and corn dressing machines. Nicholson, Newark-on-Trent. — Haymaking machines, horse rakes, cake breaking machines, combined elevator and weighing machine, sack elevator and truck. Kidddle, Salisbury. — Waggons and carts. Hunt, Earls Colne. — Horse gear, corn and seed dressing machines, oilcake breakers, root pulpers, turnip cutters, horse rakes. Taylor, Romsey. — Commode for collecting and drying solid residuum of human excreta. Rollins, London. — American pumps, garden engines and hydraulic rams ; American hay and manure forks, grindstones, horse rakes, thermometer churns. Perman, Salisbury. — Cottage kitchener and cooking appa- ratus, stoves, and cookery utensils. BoBY, Buvy St. Edmund's. — Haymakers, horse rakes, corn dressing machine, self-cleaning corn screens ; barley, malt, and gravel screens, and chaff-sifter. Dening and Co., Chard. — Haymaking machine, horse rakes, ploughs, horse hoes, horse gear, apple mill and corn bruiser, cheese press, root graters, oilcake breakers, and corn and pulse bruisers. Carson and Sons, London. — Anti-corrosion paints, paint- brushes, and pots. Pox AND Co., London. — Hurdles, galvanized wire-netting, and wire- work for gardens and conservatories. Tipper, Birmingham. — Medicines and ointments for horses, cattle, sheep, and dogs. Hawkes, Spencer, and Co., Taunton. — Corn drills, sheep- dipping apparatus, seif-raking reaper, mowing machine, and small seed drills. Moule's Patent Earth Closet Company (Limited), Loution. — Earth commodes and urinals, portable iron drying stone, dustless earth and cinder sifter, galvanized iron sieve, and iron tanks. Alway, London. — Utensils for dairy purposes. Reynolds a^d Co., Loudon. — Poultry-fence and netting, and specimens of wire-work. Sawney's Trustees, Beverley. — Winnowing machines, sack elevators, grindstones, sack trucks, meat safes, and reaper-knife rests. Netvnham; and Son, Bath,— -Carriages mi harness, 4S THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Burgess and Key, London. — Reaping machines, mowing machine, and combined mowing and reaping niacliiue. MiLioKD, Tliorverton. — Carts and wuggons. White axd Co., London. — Oil-feeders, cans, hibricators, au*i-fever and cholera sink traps, and spiral thatch fasteners. Smitu, Kettering. — Horsehoes aun grindstones. Marshall, Upton Pyne. — Carts and waggons. Perkins and Bellamy, Boss, Herefordshire. — Manure carts, sheep-dipping apparatus, and painted and galvanized iron sheep-troughs. Simpson, London. — Condition powders or cattle spice. Beach, Dudley. — Food for cattle and condiments for horses. GowER and Son, Winchfield. — Corn, seed, turnip, man- gold, and manure ridge drills, aud machines for sowing clover and ryegrass. Reeves, R. and J., Brattou. — Manure and seed drills, steerage hoe, ploughs, barrow pump, and water carts. Hetherington and Moore, Alton. — Traction-engine, steam-engine, oilcake mill, chafi'-cutting machines, ploughs, hop cultivators and harrows, sheep and pig-troughs, reaping and mowing machines, horserakes, chain harrows, fencing, hurdles, and barrows. Abell and Co., Worcester. — Washing machines, wring- ing and mangling machines, aud mangles. Affleck, Swindon. — Water cart. Lee, Windlesliam. — Beehives, and German honey ex- tractor. SiLVFSTER, London. — Weighiug machine, blade- sharpener, and magnetic hammer. Hilton and Co., London. — Refrigerators and wine coolers. Davis, London. — Knife-cleaning machines, mincing ma- chines, and coifee mills. Dodge, London. — Tarpauliugs, asphalte roofing felt, driv- ing-bauds, straps, waterproof clothing, aud covers. Carson and Toone, Warminster. — Chaff-cutting tngines, turnip-cutters, oilcake crushers, horsehoes, cheese presses, curd mills, cultivator or scarifier, ploughs, wood and iron sack trucks. Wake and Co , Southampton. — Colours aud btushes. Kent, London. — Knife cleaning machines, carpet sweepers, churns, and washing and wrining machines. Andrews, Southampton.— Carriages. Hillary, J. and M., Andover. — Ploughs, harrows, seed and manure drills, and patent lock bolt latches. Waide, Leeds.— Revolving barrel churns. KiTTMER, Fulstow. — Corn dressing and blowing machines. Dav, Son, and Hewitt, Loudon. — Medium chests for stock-breeders. Samuelson and Co., Baubury. — Reaping and mowing machines, and turuip cutters. Baker, Compton. — Manure carts, horse hoc, aud sheep trougii. Robertson, Cook, and Co., London.— Washing machines. DowMAN, Southampton. — Butter powder, lotion for foot- rot, aud fly and lear powder for sheep and lambs. Vezey, E. aud H., Bath. — Carriages and carts. Jones, Gloucester. — Composition for water-proofing, spe- cific for loot-rot in sheep, and essence for wounds in cattle. Spooner and Bailey, Southampton. — Linseed aud other cakes, and artificial manures. Andrews, Melksham. — Haymaker, horse rake, and chaff machine. Day, Bridgwater, — Apple mill, haymaker, horse rakes, cheese presses, and curd mill. Page, Morchard Bishop. — Reaping machines, haymaking machines, horse rakes, and winnowing machine, Carr, Bristol. — Disintregator for pulverizing manures. Hancock, Birmingham. — Machine for clipping horses, small haymakers, and machines for purifying butter. Kearsley, H. and G., Ripon. — Grass mowers and reaping machines. Mitchell and Burgess, Manchester. — Machines for sharpening mowing and reaping knives. Markall, London. — General joiner for sawing and mor- tising, &c., and cross-cutting machine. HuxHAM and Brown, Exeter. — Mill stones aud bedstones, chain harrow, clodcrusher, yacht aud ship caboose, and boilers for ships' cooking. Brown Brothers, and Co., London. — Kitchen ranges and cooking apparatus, water baths, ice closet and ice-making machines. MusGUAVE Brothers, Belfast. — Loose boxes, stalls, aud manger fittings, cowhouse fittings, dog kennels, and piggeries. Wood, London. — Mowiug aud reaping machines, and Nova Scotia grindstones. EowLER, Leeds. — Pirie's patent double-furrow ploughs. Blatch, Millbrook. — Farm cart, rollers, and pressers ; ploughs, horselioes, liarrows, chaffcutters, root pulpers, oat and bean crushers, oilcake breakers, turnip cutlers, pig troughs, and winnowing machine. Foster and Sons, Withani. — Reaping and mowing ma- chines. MiLFORD AND SoN, Thorverton. — Carts, waggons and im- proved lifting-jack. Lee, Gloucester. — Models forpublic exhibitious. Eddy, Keunford. — Ploughs, horse rakes, beam iron drags, harrows, rotary machine, and grass-seed drills. Johnston, London. — Butter churns and dairy utensils. Belcher, Gee, and Co., Gloucester. — Slate chimney- pieces, roofs for sheds and houses, slate coolers, for milk and whey. DuFFiELD, London. — Butter prints and dairy utensils. Eddington, Chelmsford. — Portable steam engine, water cart, screw lifting-jack, and driving bands. Aslatt, Southampton. — Carriages. AsLATT AND SoN, Southampton. — Carriages. Grant, London. — Automaton music leaf turner and music stand, portable railway, turntable, hallast-truck, aud farm truck. Priest and Woolnougii, Kingston-upou -Thames. — Corn aud land drills ; turuip, mangold, and manure drills; broad- cast manure distributor, and horsehoes. Hill and Smith, Brierley Hill. — Sheep racks and troughs, barrows, gravel screens ; garden, field, aud entrance gates ; sheep and cattle hurdles aud fences. Colthurst, Symons, and Co., Bridgwater. — Roofing tiles, ridge tiles, and eave tiles. Le Butt, Bury St. Edmunds. — Hay-making machines, lamb hurdles, drills, and reaper and mower knife. Corbett, Shrewsbury. — Blowing, winnowing, and screeu- iug machines. Cheavin, Bo.ston. — Water-filters, Parham, Bath. — Orchard house, verandahs, irou-wiie cattle fencing. Robinson, Wembdon. — Machines for cleaning the iusides of casks. Smith and Grace, Thrapstou. — Corn dressing machine, horse rake, grist aud bean mills, and chaff cutters. Gardner, Gloucester. — Millstones, hoisting cranes, mill- staff provers, millpecks and handles. Hard»n, Manchester. — Cake and condimental food. Martin, Southampton. — India-rubber and cotton canvas machine belting, hose, and piping, garden engine aud pump. Lyon, London. — Mincing aud sausage making machines, pea shelling machines, slicers, root pulpers for cattle and poultry. Pike, Southampton. — Phaetons, dog carts, and waggonettes. BouLTON, Norwich. — Manure carts, water barrows, lawn mowing, rolling, and collecting machines. Cranston, Birmingham. — Greenhouse and conservatory. Sutton and Sons, Reading.— Specimens of dried natural grasses, collection of 100 varieties of grasses in a growing state, and garden and farm seeds and roots. Dear, Soutliampton. — Artificial food for horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, and poultry. Scott, Redbridge. — Artificial manures and oil seed cakes, Raynl.vnd, CALDEC0T;r, Bawtbee, Dowling, & Co. (Limited), Basingstoke. — Specimens of wheat, barley, and oats ; samples of agricultural seeds, grasses, oilcakes, and feeding stuffs, guano, aud artificial manures. Piggott Brothers. — Rick cloths, waterproof sheeting, cloths, coats, and driving aprons. Goss, Plymouth. — Stencil plates, branding figures and letters, and blocks for marking linen. Dixon and Cardus, Northam. — Linseed and other feeding cake, linseed oil, bones and bone dust, guano and artificial manures. Carter, Dunnett, and Beale, London. — Grass seeds, roots, garden and farm seeds, and porcelain and terra cotta pots. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 49 RoLiEPvTS aud So^•s, Bridgwater. — Carriages. Majou, H. J., & Co., Bridgwater. — Roofing and oruaraeutal tiles and bricks. Brown and Co., Bridgwater. — Bricks, tiles, and pottery. Wright, Boston. — Straw elevator or stacking machine, and portable horse works. RiciiAEiis, Wiiicauton. — Cooking stoves and hot closet. THE PUBLIC BANQUET, As it was termed, took place on the Tuesday evening, but the time, six o'clock, was a deal too late, and the dinner ticket seven-and-sispence, without wine, a deal too high for anything like a large attendance of agriculturists, and the company accordingly consisted chiefly ot the members of council and other officials, witli tlie Mayor aud townsmen of Southampton, the numbers in all not reaching to a hundred. The proceedings were proportionately tame, and Lord Carnarvon, who presided, made the only speech of anything like general interest, when proposing success to the amalgamated Societies, in the course of which he said : Fifteen years ago no steam engine for agricultural purposes could be found in that county, whilst now they had a magnificent show of such engines, drawn up in the show-yard like a park of artillery. He could remember the time when no such steam engines were within sight or sound of his residence, but now they were to be met with on every side, and he had even got one himself. Agriculture, no doubt, had improved enormously within the last half century, and a great share of it must be attributed to the influence and action of such societies as this. They had enabled farmers to interchange ideas and profit by eacli other's experience, and in this way had raised the character and position of the farmer. Burke, in describing the agriculturists of his day, said that the English farmer had to eke out his living by following some otiier trade or profession, but he was quite certain that in these days they had quite enough to do to attend to their own business, the work of the farmer becoming every year more and more of the nature of a Uberal profession, requiring more skill, more capital, and more enlarged views of agriculture, and in connexion with it, a knowledge of almost every science aud every branch of human knowledge. It was quite true they must look to something else besides ; and it could not be too often repeated at such meetings as (this, that they had to look to the hearty co-operation of landlord and tenant. He believed that to be the root and basis of all agricultural success, and whatever difficulties might exist elsewliere on that point — and some such difficulties of course there must be in the nature of things, where two men were in the relation of one receiving money and the other paying it — there must be some difficulties to be overcome. He maintained that these difficulties were fewer in England than those of any other nation they could think of. It was sometimes said that this nation was a commercial one, but he did not think it was any the worse for that. But it was not wholly a commercial one, for if they met as landlords and tenants he rejoiced that they also met in a liundred different ways. They met in Boards of Guardians, in Assessment Committees, in the discharge of parochial work generally, and in a thousand and one relations of English life, including the hunting field. And whatever changes might come over the face of English society he hoped that hunting would be the last to disappear. More than that, he believed there was something in the very nature of land itself, with the sunshine on the landscape and the fresh air blowing over it, which exercised a softening and purifying influence upon men's relations to each other. Great, however, as the im- provement in agriculture had been, they should not forget, especially on such an occasion as the present, that much yet remained to be done ; that British agriculture had yet to go much further forward before it accomplished all that was ex- pected of it. There were still large tracts of land in England to be reclaimed, waste land to be made productive, and un- drained land to be brought into cultivation. Eresh machinery had to be invented, combined and adapted to different parts of the country. He must say, for his own part, that living in a southern county, he never passed through the southern parts of Scotland, where the cultivation was so perfect, without feeling a little humiliated that we were behind them. He be- lieved they had something to make up in the race in this re- spect. Lastly, he could not but feel that English agriculturists. whether as landlords or farmers, had to look, particularly in the present day, at the whole question of cottage accommoda- tion and the condition of the labourer. He was well aware how delicate a subject this was to introduce. He was aware from his own experience how tlie shoe pinched, but, on the other hand, no reasonable man could look at it without perceiv- ing that it was one of the main difficulties which lay before them. He thought it could be clearly shown, not only by the experience of individuals, but by facts and figures which there was no disputing, that labour in many agricultural districts was growing not only less in quantity, but inferior in quality. No one would doubt it, and it was a serious problem for them to consider. At the same time there was this cheering feature in connection with it, that the difficulty was to be met rather by the action of individuals than by that of any great society or institution. Each of them, in their individual capacities and spheres of action had it in their power to remedy this evil. The landlords had to look to the farmers as coadjutors in the matter. He believed that whatever might be their past shortcomings, the landlords of England, as a whole, were de- sirous of making up arrears, and of doing their duty in future. He knew that manyMiad the subject most earnestly at heart, although they felt a difficulty as to the best mode of dealing with it. The farmer was also very much concerned in the accommodation to be giv^en to the labourer, and in the improve- ment of his condition ; and as a class, he believed they were generally anxious to do so. At the same time they, like the landlords, had great difficulties to contend with, and allowance must be made for both parties on that account. On the other hand both farmers and landlords miglit be assured of this, that the future position of English agriculture depended, in a great degree, upon the well-being of the labourer, and it was there- fore their policy and interest, no less than their duty, by some means or other to make him more contented with his lot, so as to induce him to stay with them on the soil, and give them all the strength and help which he had given their fathers in former years, and which had, in a great measure, made British agriculture what it was. He could not conclude without ex- pressing his hearty congratulations on the result of the show, which, so far as it had yet gone, fell short of only one show which the Bath and West of England Society had ever held. Tlieir entries at this meeting were within 17 of the largest number on any previous occasion, but they had certainly a far finer exhibition of implements and machinery than was ever exhibited before. Thanks to the amalgamation of the two societies they had had a show of sheep which was, in some respects, better than on anv previous occasion. No one could go round the show-yard without being gratified at that most beautiful, and, he might almost say, romantic exhibition of Cbaunel Islands' cattle, than which he had never seen anvthing of the kind more graceful and more beautiful. THE ANNUAL MEETING Of the members of the Society was held in the council tent on the Wednesday morning, the Earl of Carnarvon presiding. There was a large attendance. The Secretary, Mr. Goodwin, read the following report, which was adopted : — The Council of the Bath aud West of England Society and Southern Counties' Association, at this their first united meet- ing, have to report that there are at present entered on the books of the society 1,07G members; of tliese 317 are con- nected with the county of Somerset ; 299 with Devonshire ; 109 with Hampshire ; 05 with Dorsetshire ; CO with Wilt- shire ; 59 with Cornwall ; and 107 with various counties of England and Wales nut classified. During the past year the council have had to deplore the deaths of Captain Scobelland Mr. Jacob Heniy Cotterell, two valued and prominent mem- bers of the eastern distiict ; and of the Earl of lladnor and Sii Charles Wentworth Dilke, the one eminent in the promotion of agriculture, the othir in that of art, science, and literature. It is earnestly hopod tluit tlie community of interest now estab- lished between the agriculturists of the western and southern counties may be attended with beneficial results, and that by the accession of a large number of new members the Society may be enabled to put forth greater effort and extend the 50 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. sphere ofits operations. The financial position of the Society luis been little affected by the events of the past year. The fnnded capital has not been diminished or disturbed, and the balance in the banker's hands is satisfactory ; but where much depends on the caprice of the wind and weather an ample reserved fund is essential to a society's permanence and utility. It is hoped that the results of the present exhibition, so well represented in all its departments, and so warmly espoused by the inhabitants of the district, may tend to the substantial ad- vantage of the community. The show of stock, though vary- ing in some of its maiu features from those of former meet- ings, is eminently satisfactory ; and the fine display of Channel Islands' cattle, and Hampshire and Southdown sheep, cannot fail to attract special notice. The collection of implements is the largest and most important ever entrusted to the Society for exhibition. There arenotless than 56 steam engines pro- pelling machinery in motion, and the general excellence of their construction and mechanism deserves the highest com- mendation. Among the articles exhibited in the miscellaneous department there may be a few having only a remote connec- tion with the objects for which the Society was founded, but these will necessarily find their own level, whilst the excellence of by far the greater part of the machines and implements de- mauds the attention of every qualified observer. The poultry department is well represented, particularly in the Dorking, Cochin China, Brahma Pootra, and French classes, and the pigeons are pronounced by the judges as exceedingly good. Tlie arts department has this year been filled by a more than usually large collection of works of interest. The committee have adhered to their custom of giving priority to the works of living artists ofi'ered for sale. Nearly 500 works of modem artists have been displayed. The committee have only to re- jfret that the limited space at their disposal has made it impos- sible to hang all the pictuies sent in for exhibition. The So- ciety are indebted to the local committee for a beautiful col- lection of choice works of artists of established reputation, which have given great effect and eclat to the exhibition, and cannot fail to attract visitors to the art building. The South Kensington glass cases are remarkable for a very choice ar- rangement of carvings, plate, and china, and of jewellery worn by Italian peasants. In the glass case belonging to the Society are contained models and photographs of Sinai and Jerusalem made by the Royal Engineers under command of Sir H. James. These are explained to visitors by a sergeant rnd corporal en- gaged in the survey, who returned from Palestine only a few days before the exhibition. The art manufacture building is filled with samples of furniture and decoration, chiefly con- tributed by weU-knowu estabUshments at Southampton, and by exhibitors who have followed the Society from place to place for several years. The Journal of the Society will henceforth be pubhshed half-yearly ; the first part as soon as practicable after the annual meeting, and the second part in sufficient time to give members of the Society full and early notice of the ar- rangements for the year next ensuing. It is thought desirable that Vol. 16, recently pubhshed, should be considered as con- cluding the series commencing with the extension of the So- ciety's operations in 1852 ; and that with the part of the Jour- nal containing the report of the first united annual meeting of the Society, a new or third series shall be commenced. The bailihs and local committee of Taunton having invited the So- ciety to hold the meeting of 1870 in that town, and having undertaken to comply with the necessary requirements of the Society, the council have resolved that the meeting shall be there held. The council recommended that the Eight Hon. Sir Stafford Northcote, Bart., be appointed president for the ensuipg year. To supply the vacancies occurring in the coun- cil by resignations and the usual retirements, the council re- commend that the following members be appointed ; Eastern Division.— Mr. H. G. Andrews, Rimpton, Sher- borne ; Mr. W. A. Bruce, Ashley, Chippenham ; Mr. R. H. Bush, Clifton; Mr. H. Fookes, Wliitechurch, Blandford; Mr. J. D. Hancock, Halse, Taunton; Mr. H.P.Jones, Port- way House, Warminster ; Mr. J. Lush, Hartgills, Kilmingten, Bath, Mr. H. A. F. Luttrell, Badgworth-court,Weston-super- mare ; Mr. W. Thompson, Bath. Western Division.— Mr. E. Archer, Trelaske, Launces- ton ; Mr. F. W, Dymoud, Bamfylde House, Exeter ; Mr. M. Farrant. Growing, Collumptan ; Mr. W. Froude, Chelston Cross, "yorquay ; Mr. J. Hooper, Chagford; Mr. T. Hussey, Waybrooke, Exeter ; Mr. W. R. Scott, St. Leonard's, Exeter ; Mr. J. C. Moore Stevens, Winscott, Great Torrington ; Mr. W. Wippell, Cutton, Poltimore. Southern Division. — Mr. W. Barttelot, M.P., Hilliers, Petworth ; Hon. and Rev. S. Best, Abbott's Ann, Andover ; Mr. R. Glutton, Hartswood, Reigate ; Mr. W. Deedes, Sand- ling Park, Hythe ; Mr. J. Druce, Eynsham, Oxiord ; Mr. F. Gill, Beenham, Reading ; Sir J. C. Jervoise, Bart., Idsworth House, Horndean ; Mr. J. Farnaby Lennard, Wickham-court, Bromley, Kent ; Mr. H. Middleton, Cuttleslowe, Oxford. Members to be Elected avithout Reference to Dis- tricts.— Mr. R. Allen, M.P., Shockerwick House, Bath; Mr. C. Edwards, The Grove, Wrington ; Mr. E F. Mills, Or- cheston St. Mary, Devizes ; Mr. J. P. Pitts, Newton House, Drewsteignton, Chagford ; Mr. J .Rawlence, Bulbridge, Wilton ; Mr. R. Trood, Matford, Exeter. Sir Stafford Northcote was appointed the president for the ensuing year. The gentlemen recommended by the Council for election to supply the vacancies occasioned by members retiring in ro- tation, were elected members of the Cotincil for the period of two years. Mr. R. J. Spiers proposed to move that so much of the ar- rangements with the Southern Counties Association adopted by the special general meeting, held on the 25th of August, 1868, as relates to the holding of the Council meetings at the very inconvenient town of Yeovil (Hear, hear), be rescinded, and that the Council meetings be henceforth held at Bristol ; but he was told at the outset that this ought to be brought before the CouncU, and not the general meeting of members. He thought, therefore, that before time was taken up this should be settled. The President suggested whether it would not be advisa- ble to adopt a resolution requesting the Council at its earliest opportunity to take the subject into its consideration with the view of reporting upon'it. No doubt the question was one which mainly, though not entirely, affected the Council, and he thought it would be imprudent on their part to step in and anticipate any conclusion to which they might arrive. Mr. Spiers moved, and Mr. Acland seconded, a resolution embodying this view ; and Mr. DucKHAM suggested that the Council should meet di- rectly after the conclusion of this meeting, which, with the re- solution, was adopted. Lord Portsmouth then moved " That as the area of this society is so much increased, it would add to the usefulness of the Society if a minor meeting were also held in each year, so that the breeders of short-woolled sheep on the one hand, and the breeders of Devons and long-wooUed sheep on the other, might each conveniently exhibit every year." No one rising to second the proposition, Mr. T. D. Acland, M.P., said he would do so, although probably he should vote against it. The motion was eventually withdrawn, and the proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the Chairman. The number of visitors exceed those of any previous meet- ing, with the sole exception of Bristol in 1864, the total num- ber during the five days being 57,732, and the receipts amounting to £3,771. Of this number no less than 31,139 were present on Thursday, the first of the shiUing days, and on Friday 10,953 paid for admission. The results of the last ten years' exliibitions are as under : Paid admissions. Money taken. Dorchester, 1860 22,658 £2,069 Truro, 1861 29,421 2,709 Wells, 1862 15,353 1,608 Exeter, 1863 34,453 2,973 Bristol, 1864 88,055 5,997 Hereford, 1865 51,836 3,648 Sahsbury, 1866 26,025 1,775 Salisbury, 1867 24,190 1,690 Falmouth, 1868 30,881 2,284 Southampton, 1869 67,732 3,771 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. !^l HORSE BREEDING AND HORSE SHOWING. Towards the close of last year, the Editor of this Journal was requested by the proprietors of a Loudon Magazine, of by no means sporting proclivities, to give his views on the present practice of horse-racing ; and au article appeared accordingly in the number published on the first of December. After dwelling at some length on the evils existing, the writer wound up by recom- mending that no two-year-old should run before the first of May ; that no race in which three-year-olds or up- wards are engaged should be run over any less distance than a mile ; and that in a handicap no horse should carry less than 6st. 71b., or a stone more than the mini- mum weight hitherto sanctioned. This paper so far effected its pm-pose that it attracted some attention, being given in full by certain of the English and American prints — as occasionally approved of, or as often abused, the more especially by the turf-prophet school, who talked of ignorance, unfairness, and so on. However, in the January following, Sir Joseph Hawley, as a member of the Jockey Club, gave notice that, amongst other matters, he should move, at a general meeting of the Club, that " no two-year-old shall run earlier than the first of July;" while Colonel Forester would propose that "no two-year-old shall run before the first of May;" and Lord Coventry, that " no horse shall carry in any race a lighter weight than 6st." On the Saturday in the Epsom race week, at the largest meeting of the Jockey Club ever held, only one of these propositions was adopted, viz., that of Colonel Forester, for prohibiting two-year-olds running in any race before the first of May — an alteration pi-ecisely in accordance with that suggested by TAe Broachoai/ some six months previously. All this is now an old story, for of late almost every paper issued has revelled again and again in leaders and letters on the evils of two - year - old racing, and the assumed deterioration of the horse. That most illogical of debaters. Admiral Rous, has led the way, condemning the principle and upholding the practice ; while at longer intervals Sir Joseph Hawley, Mr. Henry Chaplin, Lord Derby, and the Speaker of the House of Commons have followed, and all on the other side. The result is that which at least every reasoning man has hoped for, if he did not altogether expect it thus early. The first blow has been struck, and the unwhole- some impolicy of over-taxingan animal's powersbeforethese have come to anything like maturity, has not merely been admitted but the " iniquity" prohibited. Is it not possible to look with advantage a little fui'ther in the same direction ? If a colt suft'ers from being alike over- forced and over-worked when young, may not other animals be liable to injury from something the same cause ? For our own part we are inclined to believe that no small per centage of our highly-bred stock are utterly ruined through the system adopted in getting them for- ward for the show-yai-d. The Royal Agricultural Society has now for some years sanctioned a plan, in which, of coiu'se, it has been followed by other similar associations, of exhibiting calves, that is, animals under twelve months of age. So far as the great object be concerned, of encouraging animals for breeding purposes, nothing could have a worse tendency than the establishment of such classes. The calves come to be pampered from the day they are dropped, with the almost inevitable effect of weaken- ing their constitutions and productive powers. During oiUf Iftst week at Southaiapton we saw beasts still high in the prize-list that at two or three years old are fast hastening to the butcher's block, though of the best blood and finest shape of any in the country. The Hanover- square Council might take example by the meet- ing next door in Burlington-street, and enact that from 1870 no buU or heifer shall be exhibited at a less age than eighteen months. The consequences, indeed, of awarding a prize to a very young male animal are frequently utterly disastrous ; from being over-fed, his celebrity conduces to his being over- worked, and bulls are thus occasionally used up before they are two years old. But to return at this very " horsey " season to certainly the hero of the hour — the horse himself: Mr. Evelyn Denison says, " It is to be feared that the business of breeding half-bred stock for the road and the hunting- field will be found to be in a depressed and declining state. Before the invention of railways every farmer kept a horse to carry him to markets and fairs. Now, thousands of farmers have laid aside their riding horses, and trust mainly to railways for means of locomotion." And then, in answer to his own question as to how this decline may be arrested, the Speaker suggests that landlords " should form an institution, and agree each of them to place two or three good mares in the hands of tenants on their estates." Having quite as little faith in joint-stock Com- panies, or other kinds of Companies, as Mr. Denison has himself, it strikes us that far the more feasible plan would be to begin from the other side. One of the great wants of the country is a supply of useful, sound, thorough-bred horses ; and here, as we have continually suggested, even the Government might afford some assistance. Let a few Royal £100 premiums be granted for competition at such meetings as those of the Royal Agricultural Society, the Yorkshire, the Lincolnshire, and the Bath and West of England. So far the offer of £100 in this way has never ended in a failure, as the countenance of the State would tend to the more permanent success of such a business, and the gradual introduction of a better stamp of horses for farmers' service. There could be no other such agency^ for accomplishing the object ; for, as The Times says, and says well, " Without entering minutely into a comparison between the respective influences of shows and races upon the breed of horses, we may safely say that at bhows the more useful qualities of the animal, such as en- durance, strength, and general vigour, are always sure to be well represented." This is written as appro- priate to the success of the Islington Horse Show, but here we join issue. The success of the Agricul- tui'al Hall exhibition is merely a matter of the shillings and half- crowns taken from the public. As "a national in- stitution"no one who judges for himself can fail to see how the thing is falling away. There were never so many bad and never so few good horses entered here as were paraded during the past week. The better class of sportsmen and horsemen, moreover, are fast sickening of the fooleries and catch-penny tricks adopted, the water jumping, the trotting matches, the jumping matches, and so forth. Of course all this Barnum business draws, as it would, only the more, if the Directors could be induced to swallow fire or to go, head fii'st, through pink-paper hoops. There is a bad tone, a kind of half-coping, half-circus air about the whole affaii', that may make a man laugh more perhaps than he might at other scenes in the circle, but that the exhibition is productive of any good to anyone but the F 2 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. managers is a questiou whicli scarcely admits of discussion. There can be no doubt, however, bat that it has been well >vrittea up ; as indeed, as we are told, some of the people employed here boast that " they know how to manage the Press." And the Press has had its reward. After making the show these gentlemen were, on Saturday week, in turn, made a show of themselves — the very laughing- stock of the public. They were ordered up aloft into a corner, where they were so cai'efully disposed as to be able to see little or nothing of what was going on. Of course our own representative paid his half-crowns and took his seat where he could command the business, with- out being ever degraded, or rather exalted, through the exercise of such miserable privileges. But would it not be altogether more convenient to have the reporters locked up in one of the clerk's rooms, where they coidd be provided with victuals and drink, have the awards duly supplied to them, and receive instruc- tions as to what they should say ? It will be seen from what we quote elsewhere that one or two of the sporting journals have protested against the insult to which they were subjected ; while others seem only too happy to lick up the dirt and to write of the good order, aud good fun, and so forth. As to " order," there is, or was, little or none, from the arrangement of the bewildering cock niiied catalogue up to the admii-able plan upon which a man could pass in his own unsound horse as a sound one. As lovers of the horse from our youth upwards, we pro- test against the base uses to which he is turned at Isling- ton ; and on behalf of an independent journal, we are proud to say that we receive no favours from the mana- gers of the Islington Horse Show. At the dinner of the Newspaper Press Fund, on Saturday evening, we heard Noblemen aud officers of long service speak to the charac- ter of the English Press, and to the services which it rendered alike to the senator and soldier. OflB.cers dwelt on their reminiscences of the pleasant days they had spent in the tented field with " our own correspondents," as of " privileges" readily granted aud ably exercised. At the Islington Horse Show the Press receives no pridlcge beyond a negative insult, of being ordered into a cockloft, >vhere a proper discharge of its duty is rendered impos- sible. And yet we are told still of " the able manage- ment," of the people grinning aud grimacing in the ring, as seen from afar oft'. THE ISLIXGTOX HORSE SHOW. From the catalogue of the sixth show of horses at the Agricultural Hall we find that men of note as exhibitors are getting scarcer, and in looking over the horses we miss the pick of their large studs, for among the present gathering of very saleable useful animals there are few really first-class horses. This retrograding is no doubt caused as much by the '" mountebank business" as it is by the length of the show, for there are many owners of valuable horses who would not mind sending them for ] three, bat have a decided objection to six long days' ] sweating and as many shivering nights. The doors opened at a quarter-past ten, at which hour we ^ found Lords Macclesfield and Combermere with Cap- : tain Percy Williams in the ring, ready to commence with i the weight-carrying hunters up to 15 stone. It was a large class, but not a grand one; and the winner, St. Clare, anything but a good specimen of a hunter. He is a yellow bay, standing sixteen hands two inches high, with a good forehand, and walks away well : but he is slack in his back, with thin thighs, and goes weak in his hind-legs ; besides this, he is as soft-looking as a short- horn. Harkaway had a nicely -laid shoulder, but with a little more at the point than we like to see, and ra- ther ilashy action for a hunter ; whilst Kildai'e, the third prize horse, was the nicest of the three, having plenty of blood and character, as well as good hardy looks, with length and short muscular limbs. If they ever meet in the open we should not be surprised to see this award reversed, like many others made on the saw- ; dust. Of the defeated, those that looked like hunters i were Mr. Pawlett's, Rugby, a slow-looking servant's horse, • with more[charaeter than beauty ; Major Creed's, Rosslyn, I a very good-lookin? nice deep-topped chesnut of breed ; ! Captain Fyler's Tyrconnel, who took second honours 1 in this class last year, and whose shoulders, as we wrote at the time, "ought always to stop his prize- taking as a hunter." Then Mr. Charles Symonds of Oxford had a well-formed bay, but rather light and rainboAvy in the neck ; Mr. Haines had an old-fashioned one in Samplon, that we shovild say he had no desire to part with from the price asked ; and Mr. Jewison a deep compact well-bred horse called Tippler by Tipple Cider ; whUst Mr. Percival brought up the rear with the useful Marquis and North Star Irom Wausford in England. There was a strong muster again in the hunters without conditions as to weight, aud some nice horses among them, but a great many quite unworthy of the title of hunters. Some had appeared in the previous class ; in fact, many horses were entered in two classes, which helped to swell uut the catalogue. Those that we fancied were Rosslyn, whom we described in the former class ; and Major Quentin's Placid, a deep lengthy short-legged horse, with a somewhat old-fashioned look. Mr. Mcintosh's Baronet, a winner of a three-year-old hunting gelding prize in Yoi'kshire, was a good framed horse with action, but an enlarged fetlock joint, which bore the marks of the irons, stopped his pretensions to any further honours. Then with good looks were Mr. ^lorrison's Raglan, Mr. Bennett's neat brown gelding by Orpheus, who was not more fortunate here than at Leicester last year, and Mr. S. Gales' Topper, Mr. Beasley's Valentine, Mr. Jewin- son's Telescope, Mr. Turner's Nobby, Mr. Van Wart's Thelka, Mr. Lywood's ^liriam, Mr. Toynbee's Birdseye, Mr. Hall's Mustard, and ilr. Jones' black gelding; then !Mr. Sander's Darkey and Playmate, the latter with Mr. Thompson's stud-groom up, looking like going, as well as being very neat ; whilst for a varmint look and oily moving there was nothing to beat Captaiu Barnett's Glen George. Mr. Booth's Bannagh we did not like, but Captain Barlow's Topstall has a deal of character, and was by far the most gentlemanly hunting-like horse in the class. Next came the hunters without condition as to weight, and not exceeding fifteen two inches high. Mischief headed the list and took first honours; for, with blood, he is a model of a light-weight hunter that one never tires of looking at, and by far the most perfect thing we saw in the yard. Mr. Stanford's horse Spanton's merit over Mr. Leesmith's Girl Graduate we could not see, while the only other we thought worthy of notice in the class was Mr. D. Mcintosh's quick cobby Voltigeur. The four- year-olds were not a grand class, the prize horse being Commissioner by Motley, who afterwards defeated Mischief and St. Clare for the gold medal, and was paraded as the best horse in any class. If he has the THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. h^ forehand of a huater theu St. Clare and .Mischief's are ail wrong — but he has not. The Commissioner can move and so can many a harness horse, which he is undoubtedly, and not the first who has taken a hanter's prize by a good many. For the Hall medal and £."50 there were twelve thorough-bred stallions entered — Broomielaw, Earl Derby, and Carlton, all three by StockwcU. The tirst is a wiry, muscular-limbed horse, rather high on the leg, with a light rainbow neck, good ends, waspy middle, and very spare of muscle about the loins ; while Earl Derby is of a very ditferent mould — a round, tight, powerful-looking horse, with not racing-like shoulders, his toes out, and fired on the coronet : with his form and his white markings, he looks like coaching, or getting very neat machiners. Carlton is fine grown, but not right in the shoulder. The Student, by Oxford, although serving mares at 15 guineas each, and full, did not look full himself, and stood about as much chance of taking a prize for form as a kangai'oo. "When we looked upon this wretched descendant of the grand Sir Hercules we could not help exclaiming " If this is not deterioration what is it r" Dalesman, by King Tom, with a nice head and neck and a compact top, was veiy taking ; but no horse could have been shown worse, or he may have fared better : while the Czar, by "Warlock, was very neat, but light in his girth. IvanhotF we have often described, who for top was as good as anything, or better : and Naseby, the second prize taker at the Koyal Leicester, although in his twenty-first year, looked as springy and as game as ever. A bay colt, by Gibral- tar, out of Kaffle by Alarm, was not at all a taking one. The other entries wei-e Xarbonne and .\conite that we don't recollect ; and the prize horse, AVhitby by Bamton, out of .Tolia by Launcelot, who was made up as level as a die. He is a dark-brown, standing sixteen hands high, with not the best of heads, light in his back ribs, and brushes with his foreleg. None of them went through the squeezing Mr. Varnall pnt the stud-horses through at Leicester, so we know nothing of their musical capabDities. There were the usual num- ber of Norfolk roadster stallions run up and down, the verdict being in favour of ^Ir. Abel's two-ended, high-step- ping Young Phenomenon, beating ^Ir. Beart's Ambition, a horse that had often beaten the young one be- fore ; and, we should say, a much better horse in form and action, but they are no loves of ours. Earham, an Arabian, had the lifteen pounds for getting hacks and cobs; and Pacha, another one of ancient descent, and thicker, and nearer the ground, but with not so good a shoulder, the medal. Captain Bastard and Colonel Kingscote now went into active service with the riding- horses, giving Mr. Earquhar the £20 for Champagne Charlie, a short but taking horse, with a strong cross of the -\rabian about him, and plenty of fashion, with nice stylish action. The second was the well-known Peer, a restless, fretful, fidgety gentleman that would not settle down to any pace for a minute together. Oxford, a good-looking bay, was third ; and the others worthy of notice were Mr. Robson's The Harp, ilr. Lavington's Ncwbmy, Mr. Toynbee's Bird's Eye, and Mr. E. Jones' blackgelding. Polly Brown, a deep compact mare, with high andround action, that reminded one of the Norfolk trotters, that no ordinary" man would covet or desire to ride, had the place of hononr in the weight-carrying hacks and roadsters; and Card Sharper, a lengthy good-looking brown, with not quite riding shoulders, the second; Cheshire Phenomenon, who took third honours last year, but no favonrite of ours, was sent empty away with some others, the best looking being Voltigem-, Mr. Spence's Howden, !Mr. Edman's Tea Blossom, Mr. Casson's Red : Cap, and Mr. Davis's Sir Roger. In park hacks and i ladies' horses, Mr. Badham, after showing that Eclipse, a j neat son of Wetherden, knew the use of the umbrella, and was not alarmed at (he most elaborate Parisian style of saluting with the hat, cantered off with the first colours ; the second being a thorough-bred chesnut stallion, a I rather showey Ereuchified-looking park hack or light 1 charger by Joe Lovell, and Joe Lovell by name, but not in the least taking after his sire, whose white facing and wall eye many may still recollect. AYhitby was objected to as a roarer. On the Monday the judgingwas resumed, and — whatwith objections and corrections, and so many horses having two numbers, with seconds first, thirds seconds, firsts no- where and the nowhere firsts or thirds, with seconds in one class seconds in another, and the firsts first ; with one horse first as a single and then as a pair — there was such a conglomeration that people who studied the blundering catalogues looked up as helplessly as the abstemious gen- tleman who took a little too much stimulant in his tea, and was rather in a doubt whether it was yesterday, or to- mon-ow, Tuesday fortnight, Saturday week, or the day be- fore yesterday. Never did any owner of three thimbles and a pea contrive to so mystify a crowd of lookers-on. The Peer, as an instance of one of the " objected and corrected," was described as 15'3, and disqualified in the class e.r- ceeding fifteen, txco and qualified in the not exceeding fifteen t'tc'o. After the judging there was an end of the exhibition as a show of horses, for with the exception of the winners, one, two, three, trotted round, we did not see a whole class paraded ; not even of the stud horses, for several were absentees, the Student being particnlarly studious. There were rumours as to the fate of the ob- jected Whitby, but nothing certain until Tuesday, when he was disqualified and the three highly commended. Broomielaw, Dalesman, and Ivanhoff came in the ring, and the verdict was given in favour of Dalesman, who is, in our opinion, a much better looking horse than "VN hitby. "\Miitby, however, is not the first roarer that has taken a prize in a showyard ; and although all interested in horse shows ought always to try and clear the yards of heredi- tary cripples, malformations, and rotten constitutions, still, if all roarers had had their throats cut from the time of Eclipse down, we should be we fancy rather short of stud horses ; as perhaps of many of our best, for by all accounts Sir Hercules was troubled with a "slight impediment." But doctors differ, and the Senior Pro- fessor of the Veterinary College straightway issued the subjoined certificate : " Royal Veterinary College, 2nd June, 1S69. — I certify that' I have this day examined for Mr. George Holmes, of Beverley, a brown, entire thoroughbred horse Whitby, and I find that the said horse has a slight impediment in his breathing, which, strictly speaking, renders him unsound. I, however, am of opinion that the above-named defect is not likely to be hereditary, or in any way to interfere with his serving as a stud horse. (Signed) Chakles Spooneb, Principal and Senior Professor." In an amended certificate the Professor has been good enough to omit all mention of unsoundness, and to speak to the impediment as in the opinion of this learned man " not hereditary." But what does all this rubbish amount to, this lame attempt to help a lame dog over a stile ? If the horse was properly dis- qualified, and we beileve he was, then we beg to tell Pro- fessor Spooner that which he should know already — viz.. that no kind of disease is more hereditary or more likely to increase with age than roaring. Did Professor Spooner supply the certificate upon which Whitby was in the first place passed ? or, if not, who did - Eabulous stories were floating about as to the large soms in pounds sterling for which certain horses had been sold and others matched across country, bnt *om-i uu • u ME FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Ijelievers openly declared it to be " all kid, or in half- pence." It's a pretty good rule to divide the sum a horse is said to be sold for at these places by three, if one wishes to get at about the right iigure. The more we saw of St. Clare the more we were convinced that he lacks quality for a hunter, and if not greatly mistaken a brougham is more suitable to his abilities. Placid, in the hunters without condition as to weight, on a close in- spection does not appear to be blessed with a strong- wearing-looking pair of hocks ; and Sedan, a prize in the riding horses, is a long-backed unmeaning horse, more at home we should say in a riding-school than anywhere else. In the other classes there were some nice harness horses ; but if there was nothing better than Belinda in the park hacks and ladies' horses, it could not be much of a class, as she has a very little form or fashion. The park hacks and cobs were much on a par with last year, that admira- bly-matched pair. Hero and Mr. Salter, attracting quite as much attention as Hero and Leander in the Royal Academy, and they again took second honours. There were several old stagers and among them the varmint little Piccadilly, who has changed owners and been raised to the peerage under the title of Lady Nob. There were some nice ponies, including Tradesman, a stallion of nice form and action, as well as Alice, now known as the Princess of Wales' favourite. Besides the pea-green leaping bars topped with gorse, there was the much-talked-of water- jump, a pool about the size of a good sponge bath vTith some furze on the taking-off side, as if set to trap some one. Now as it is stated the management are always open to suggestions, we would advise that this puddle be made a little wider and deeper next year, and the gorse laid thinly over it, and then covered with tan, so that the would-be officials and others who throng the ring while the judging is going on may stand a chance of meeting with their deserts. As a speculation the exhibition we be- lieve was a great success ; but as a show of horses, as we have already said, a great falling off from former years. PRIZE LIST. HUNTERS. Judges. — Lord Corabermere, Lord Macclesfield, and Cap- tain Percy Williams, (and for Thoroughbred Stallions). Weight carriers up to 15 stone.— Pirst prize of £80 to Mr. D. M'Intosh, Romford (St. Clare) ; second of £40 to Mr. Potter, Cheltenham (Harkaway) ; third of £20 to Mr. Bredin, Liver- pool (Kildare). Highly commended; Sir Geo. Cholmley Howshara, York (Julius). Commended: Captain Fylers, VVanhara, Dorset (Tyrconnel), and Mr. Pawletts, Rugby (Rugby). Without conditions as to weight. — ^Pirst prize of £50 to Major Quentin, Woodleigh, Cheltenham (Placid) ; second of £25 to Captain Barlow, Hasketon (Topstali); third of £15 to Mr. Sanders, Brampton Hill (Playmate). Highly com- mended : Mr. Drage, Moulton Grange, Northampton (Gay Lad) ; Mr. D. M'Intosh, Havering, Romford (Baronet). Commended: Mr. Booth, Killerby Hall, Catterick (Bannagh). Without conditions as to weight, and not exceeding 15 haods 2 inches high.— First prize of £40 to Mr. S. Mott, Bar- ningham, Norfolk (Mischief); second of £30 to Messrs. Stanford, Steyning, Sussex (Spanton). Highly commended : Mr. Percival, Wansford (Abdel Kader). Commended: Mr. Leesmiths, Malton (Girl Graduate), and Mr. D. M'Intosh (Vol- tigeur). Pour years old.— First prize of £50 and gold medal to Mr. J. Casson, Carlisle (Commissioner) ; second of £25 to Mr. Ly wood (Handcuff). Highly commended : Sir Geo. Chobn- Itfy (Don Juan). STALLIONS. Thorougli-bred.— Prize of £50 and medal. Captain Barlow, Hasketon (Dalesman). Highly commended : Colonel Astley, Bngg (Broomielaw), and Mr. E. Griffiths, Cheltenham (Ivanhoff). Roadsters, not less than 15 hands high.— Prize of £30 and TO«dal, Mr, Abel, Norwich, (Young Phenomenon) ; second of £15 and medal, Mr. C. Beart, Downham Market (Ambition). Highly commended : Mr. Mitchell, Denver, Downham (Hark- away) ; Mr. Bultaft, Ely (Clear the Way), and Mr. Goggs, Chelmsford (Sir Titus Shales). Under 15 hands, for getting hacks or cobs. — Prize of £15 and medal, Lady Anne Spiers, 14, Eaton Place (Farham) ; medal, Mr. A. E. Hope, Cavendish Square (Pacha). Not exceeding 13 hands, for getting ponies. — Prize of £10 and medal. Colonel Astley, Brigg (Tradesman). HACKS. Judges. — Captain Bastard and Colonel Kingscote. Of any height exceeding 15 hands 2 inches high. — First prize, £20, Mr. H. Farquhar, Lowndes Square (Champagne CharUe) ; second of £10, Captain Hargreaves, Reading (Ox- ford) ; third of £5, Major Quenlin (Sedan). Weight carriers, not exceeding 15 hands 2 inches high. — • First prize of £15, Mr. Beart (Polly Brown) ; second ot £10, Mr. Percival, Wansford (Cardsharper) ; third of £5, withheld. Ladies' horses, not exceeding 13 hands 2 inches high. — First prize of £20, Mr. G. D. Badham, Sudbury (EcUpse) ; second of £10, Mr. G. Taunton, Westminster Bridge Road (Joe Lovell) ; third of £5, Mr. G. Holmes (Charley Boy). Not exceeding 15 hands and an inch. — First prize of £20 to Mr. Cholmley, Rillington, York (BeHnda) ; second of £10, Mr. Sexton, Ipswich (Elegant) ; tliird of £5, Mr. Williams, Cornwall (Beeswing). Cobs not exceeding 14 hands. — First prize of £20 to Mr. E. Locke, Wymondham (Duchess) ; second of £10, Mr. L. Law- son, Brook-street, Hanover-square (Beauty) ; third of £5, Capt. Hargreaves, Reading (Hero). Highly commended : Mr. Sharman, Fakenham (Norfolk Hero), and Mr. W. Gilbey, Stanstead (Lady Nob). The whole class commended. HARNESS HORSES. Not exceeding 15 hands 2 inches high. — First prize of £15 to Mr. J. Hornsby, Grantham (Sambo) ; second of £10 to Mr. R. Campbell (the Peer). Highly commended : Mr. C. M. Baker, Clapham Common (Moggy). Pairs of Phaeton Horses. — First prize of £10, Mr. J. Hornsby (Beda and Sambo). Tandem. — Prize of £5, Mr. Baker, Clapham (Lord Charles and Moggy). PONTES. Not exceeding 14 hands, in single harness. — First prize of £15, Mr. Lawson (Beauty) ; second of £10, Mr. T. Howdle, Cottingham, Hull (Frank) ; third of £5, to Mr. E. Hunt, Spalding (Black Diamond). Highly commended : Mr. Grou- cock, Stanfield Hall, Norfolk, for Champagne Charley and a grey cob. Not exceeding 14 hands in pairs. — First prize of £10 to Mr. Beverley (Tommy) ; second to Mr. Thomas, Banbury (Alice). Not exceeding 13 hands, in single harness. — First prize of £12 to Mr. Howdle's Tommy ; second of £8 to Mr. White- head, Yarley, Peterboro' (Fan) ; third of £5 to Mr. Adams, Chiselhurst (Tommy). Highly commended: Mr. Wilkins) Windsor (Jesse). WATER LEAP. Judges : Mr. W. W. Tailby, Mr. Clowes, and Mr. Morritt. The prize, Mr. John Bailey's Huntsman, in Class 1, for weight-carriers ; to Mr. Edward MacMorland's Major, in Class 6, for cover hacks and roadsters ; to Mr. C. H. Morris, Young Squire, in Class 2, for hunters. HIGH LEAP. The prize, Mr. Thomas Percival's grey, The Marquis. TROTTING. Judge : Captain Heath. First, Mr. Seart; second, Mr. Patmord; tliird, Mr. W. Brown's pony, Betsy. " THE PRIVILEGES" OF THE PRESS AT THE ISLINGTON HORSE SHOW. From the fresh air of Epsom Downs to the heated and stifling atmosphere of the Islington bnilding was a change in- deed ; and our task is to chronicle not what horses actually do, bnt what they appear capable of doing. Ths show was a TH:^ FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 55 fair average one in all points, and though more crowded than ever, the arrangements were as unsatisfactory as they well could be — " filthy lucre," in fact, being evidently the sole aim of the management. The Press, to which the show owes its chief success, were treated as badly as on former occasions. It is true that a box in the upper gallery was ostensibly set apart for the representatives of " the Fourth," but the holders of " reserved seat" tickets were indiscriminately admitted ; whilst the said box was so far removed from the scene of ope- rations as to disarm all adverse criticisms emanating there- from. As regards seeing, or knowing anything of the points or merits of the horses exhibited, its occupants might as well have been in a balloon. This was doubly beneficial to the management, as it either incapacitated those to whom the courtesy (!) was extended from adverse comment, or drove them to the alternative of investing half-a-crown or five shil- lings for places in the nearer seats, or battling with the crowd below to obtain a vietv of what was going forward. In either one or the other of the latter places we found all those repre- sentatives of the Press who attended for the purpose of doing more than describe the " general features," and make very random guesses at the merits of the candidates. The catalogue, too, was as great a " delusion and snare" as ever, conducing on more than one occasion to " gnashing of teeth," when horses entered the ring decorated with numbers which were not to be found in the " class," or, as was sometimes the case, not numbered at all — The Sporting Gazette. Most unfair on the part of the Agricultural Hall manage- ment to the Press, to which it owes so much, the box and seats appropriated to its representatives were converted into hard cash at their expense ; but so it was, and the " Fourth Estate" were left to discharge their duty as best they could. — BelVs Life in London. On the present occasion, though several additional boxes were inclosed in the galleries on each side, and extra charges made for occupying them, notwithstanding their great distance from the ring and the mere bird's-eye view they afforded, people were found to patronise them. Here, where there was not the slightest chance of seeing the horses or gaining in- formation, was also placed the allotted space for the members of the Press. Thus, though it is the first time they have had the privilege of a place into which the public could on no ex- cuse intrude, it was perfectly useless to them, and one and all, of the sporting Press at least, either went into the reserved seats (where their chairs were placed last year), or saw what they could in the crowd around the tan. — The Field. CONTAGIOUS DISEASES (ANIMALS) BILL. MEETING IN DUBLIN. On Wednesday, June 2, an adjourned meeting of the Agricul- tural Committee of the Royal Dublin Society was held, to take into consideration the effects of the Contagions Diseases (Animals) Bill, now before Parliament, on the export trade of Irish cattle, the object of the meeting being to have an inspec- tion of Irish cattle before embarkation at the Irish ports, so as to obviate the necessity of an examination at the ports of debarkation in England and Scotland. Mr. Robert Craven Wade (Clonabreny) occupied the chair, and Mr. Cn.vs. C.va'non (Mayghere) proposed the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr. P. IIahee, : " That the Government be requested to add a clause to the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill, requiring a rigid exami- nation of cattle at the ports of embarkation in Ireland, and that a licence be issued there by the inspectors duly appointed, in the form prescribed by the Cattle Diseases Act (Ireland), 1866, setting forth the name and address of the seller or owner, the route to be taken, the name of purchaser or con- signee, the name of the drover, the port of embarkation in Ireland, and the port in Great Britain, and the place of desti- nation ; such licence to be available for six days from the day of issue, and no longer ; further movement to be in accord- ance with regulations applicable to English cattle ; the pe- nalties attaching to offences to be ruled by Act 29 and 30 Vic, c. 110, sec. 10 ; and lurther, that a certificate of health be handed by the inspector at the port of embarkation, stating he has examined the cattle described in such certifi- cate, and of what they consist, setting forth the owner of such cattle, and the port they are despatclied from in Ireland, and to the port of landing in Great Britain ; further certilying that, after due examination and inquiry, ihe aforesaid de- scribed cattle are free froni any infectious or contagious dis- ease ; such certificate to be presented, previous to landing, to the party duly authorised to receive same, and that such licence or certificate as aforesaid shall be held to be valid and sufficient as to the health of the said cattle." The resolution was met with the following amendment by Mr. J. Byrne, of Ballyboghill : " That the Royal Dublin Society be requested not to sup- port any clause being introduced into the English Cattle Bill, extending it to Ireland." The amendment was seconded by Mr. R. Welsh, and lost, as was also the original resolution. Mr. Btrjne then proposed the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr. Walsh, and adopted : " That, in the opinion of this meeting, no action be taken by the Royal Dublin Society at present, but that they be re- quested to wait and watch the progress of the proposed or any future bill affecting the cattle-trade of this country." The bad character Ireland has got, whether justly or not, as being the nursery and hotbed of pleuro-piieumonia, certainly would not warrant the Government in permitting an examina- tion at Irish ports to be a full acquittance for an examination at the ports of debarkation in Great Britain, or satisfy the stockmasters or dealers in Great Britain, whose losses, conse- quent on the introduction of the cattle-plague in 1865-6, are quite sufficient to render them jealously careful about the healthy condition of imported animals ; besides that it would seem a reckless waste of money to saddle Irish funds with the pay and maintenance of an enormous staff of inspectors at that side of the Channel, in the vain hope of preventing a thorough inspection at the several ports of debarkation in Great Britain, where the most important part of the work would have to be repeated. HOW TO SAVE MANURE.— A correspondent from Erie County, Pennsylvania, describes his yard as situated on a side hill, with the horse stable on the lower side. He complains that the liquids are mostly wasted and asks advice as to some inexpensive way of arresting this loss. Nothing looks more hke a brilliant future for our agriculture than a growing inte- rest in just this class of subjects. As a rule, American farmers are more behind on that subject than any other. We lead the world in the mechanics of farming ; but Germany, Belgium, France, England, and even old China, are far in our advance in the care they take of all substances worth anything as ma- nure. To encourage our Erie friend in his stable improve- ments we will give him one or two scientific facts discovered by the patience of a German chemist named Stockhardt. He and a Frenchman by the name of Bossingault deserve the gratitude of all farmers for having carried their researches into a region as important as it is repulsive. He experimented with his horse, keeping him in a stable with a tight floor, and found that the liquid droppings, as compared with the solid, contain three times as much potash and two and-a-half times as much nitrogen. These two substances are the most valuable part of any fertilizer. So our Erie friend, if he has been losing all the urine of his animals, has thrown away five pounds of potash where he has saved one, and thrown away twelve pounds of nitrogen where he has saved five. This is just as bad farming as it would be to dig one hill in five in the potato field, or to skip two hills of corn and gather the third. Now for ways of stopping the waste. Build a low circular wall below the yard and stables, bank it with dirt on the upper side, covering the dirt with concrete if you can, if not, clay well rammed down, so as to be watertight. If you throw a shed over it all the better. Into this throw fifty or a hundred loads of peat, if you can get it, or swamp muck, or straw, or mud, or turf, to absorb all the waters from stable, yard and stalls, allowing none to be lost. If you took a hundred loads of manure out of your yard last year you can take out three hundred next year without in- creasing your stock, and when you take out three hundred loads yon can double the stock on your farm. For there is no sounder rule than this : The more manure the more fodder, the more stock, the more money. — Kev) York World. 56 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. THE CENTRAL CHAMBER OF AGRICULTURE. Tlie coucluding Council Meeting of the Central Chamlier of Agriculture for the present season was held on Tuesday, JuneS.at the Salisbury Hotel,when theattendance was not large. The subjects fixed for consideration were The Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill, County Financial Boards, and The Over-preservation of Game. The chair was taken by Mr. C. S. Head, M.P. The minutes of the last meeting were confirmed. Some new members were elected. A communication was read from the Bradford Chamber of Commerce, signed by the president, Mr. Jacob Behrens, relating to the growth of wool. It was reported that at the last meeting Mr. Lipscorabe, who represented the West Riding Chamber, communicated a resolution of that body to the effect that the Central Chamber of Agriculture be requested to send lecturers on the subject of local taxation to every chamber of agriculture and farmers' club in the kingdom. The Business Committee recommended that the matter should be referred to the Committee on Local Taxation, which decided against the recommendation. Sir Massey Lopks, M.P., said the Committee on Local Tax- ation met that morning and agreed to the following report, of which he moved the adoption :— " The Local Taxation Com- mittee have to report that they have already received from all quarters and from all classes, as well as from gentlemen representing every shade of political opinion, the most abun- dant proof of the necessity for, and tlie importance of, the work committed to their charge. Copies of the report of the sub-committee, accompanied by a letter from the chairman. Sir Massey Lopes, Bart., M.P., have been sent to every Chamber of Agriculture and Chamber of Commerce, to the }nayor of every proviucial town, to the chairman of every Board of Guardians, and to the railway companies, and other influential bodies. Very many Members of Parliament, the presidents of important associations, and the secretaries of many Chambers of Agriculture have already written, expres- sing their liearty concurrence with the objects the committee have in view. Among others Mr. S. S. Lloyd, the president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, wrote, saying : ' I have long in my private capacity been strongly convinced of the injustice of the present unequal incidence of Local Taxation, and share your desire to see that injustice wisely redressed.' The town clerks and clerks of several local Boards have also requested to be informed from time to time of the steps proposed to be taken by the Local Taxation Committee, in order that they may seek the assistance of their Boards when required, and have been instructed to furnish the committee with any local information which may be useful to them. Many Chambers of Agriculture have already discussed the question of Local Taxation, and various sums of money have been voted in aid of the present move- ment. Amongst these are the following : Sir Massey Lopes, £10, the Worcestershire Chamber, £50 ; the Shropshire Chamber, £20 ; the Essex Chamber, £20 ; the Staffordshire Chamber, £10; the North Durham Cliamoer, £10; the Gloucestershire Chamber, £10 ; the North Cheshire Chamber, £10; the Lincolnshire Chamber, £10; the Cheshire Cham- ber, £10 ; the Norfolk Chamber, £5 ; the West Kent Cham- ber, £5 ; the Banbury Chamber, £5 ; the Devonshire Cham- ber, £5 ; the Blonmouthshire Chamber, £5 ; the North of England (Newcastle) Chamber, £5 ; the Northampton Cham- ber, £5 ; the Peterborough Chamber, £5 ; the Herefordshire Chamber, £5 ; the Scarborough Branch, £5 ; the Lincoln- shire Chamber, £5 ; Sir Laurence Palk, £5 ; and the Lough- borough Chamber, £1. The committee would respectfully urge upon the considerations of all owners of real property the claims which this organisation has more particularly upon them, and recommend that they should raise a special fund for the purpose of carrying on the objects the committee have in view. The chairman ventures also to make this appeal to all those who sympathise with him in raising this special fund, wiiich is absolutely necessary for the purpose of venti- lating tliis admitted grievance. Witli regard to the future, the committee have taken into their serious consideration what line of poHcy should be pursued, and would recommend to each Chamber and Board thus co-operating with them, the desirability of collecting facts in their several districts, which will tend to illustrate the unjust incidence of the present rating system. As these inequalities differ in every district, the committee do not think it advisable at present to limit the inquiries to any set form of questions. But as important facts are collected, they purpose arranging for their analysis, and for the publication and distribution of results throughout the kingdom. They would direct special attention to the serious addition which has been made of late years to Local Taxation, and to the threatened imposition of increased burdens which are yet looming in tlie distance. The com- mittee await with anxiety the fulfilment of the promise made by Government to introduce a comprehensive measure dealing with this important question, and until that is done they will hesitate to recommend any specific remedy for present grievances. Their object at present they conceive to be the collection of facts, and the preparation of the public mind for a fair, but full and earnest discussion of the whole subject. The committee are now in communication with several eminent gentlemen already identified with this question, and hope to avail themselves of some valuable documents, which will be published and circulated as soon as they have been collected and arranged. Mr. R. Dudley Baxter, M.A.., a very great authority upon the subject of taxation, has given the committee permission to reprint any part of his able essay on taxation. In conclusion, your committee cannot too strongly express their opinion that this is a question which should be totally and entirely removed from party politics. The most distinguished statesmen on both sides of the House have admitted that the present mode of assessment is unjust and anomalous, and agree that it is a subject which must very shortly occupy the serious attention of the Legislature. It was never originated as a party measure, and its promoters are most anxious to divest it of all party feeling, in order that it may be fairly, fully, and impartially considered and dis- cussed." Mr. Whtttaker (Worcestershire Chamber) briefly seconded the adoption of the Report. Mr. Clark (North Cheshire) believed that the reason'why some people had hesitated to join in the movement — he spoke from a knowledge of several provincial bodies, including chambers of commerce and agriculture — was that a suggestion had been made, which it was feared would be acted upon, that itinerant lecturers should be sent out. He had not seen any denial of the intention to carry out the suggestion. Sir M. Lopes said the proposal was made at the first meet- ing, but it was never adopted by the sub-committee. The Council from the very first set their faces against it, and thought it most undesirable that anything of the kind should be done. The motion was then agreed to. The Chairman said the nest question was — What steps should be taken with regard to the Government Cattle Diseases bill ? The subject had been so thoroughly thrashed out, as it were, that it could not be necessary to have a long discussion , but he hoped the meeting would in some way back up the amendments, which, though they stood in his name, were in fact those of the Chamber itself. Mr. Masfen (Staffordshire Chamber) said the feeling of the meeting of the previous evening was that unless Mr. Read's amendments, or a large proportion of them, were adopted, the measure would be cumbersome without producing any corre- sponding benefit. He moved — " That this chamber reaffirms its resolutions of April 6th as to the provisions essential for rendering the Contagious Diseases (Animals) (No. 2) Bill acceptable to the agriculturists of the kingdom ; and considers that, if the moderate amendments of which Mr. C. S. Read has given notice should fail to be carried, tlie most determined opposition should be given to the bill." Mr. WiLLSON (Leicestershire Chamber) seconded tlie THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 57 jidopliou of these ameudineuts, with the exception oi' Clause 70, which was set aside ou the previous evening. Mr. SoLTAU (Little Efford, Devonshire) said tlie chamber which he represented had passed the following resolution: " That this meeting approves of Mr. Sewell Read's amend- ments to the Contagious Diseases (Animals) (No. 3) Bill, with the exception of Clause 70, which seeks to omit the power of withholding compensation in respect of foreign cattle affected with cattle-plague at the time of landing ; it being the opinion of the chamber that all foreign cattle affected with disease and ordered to be slaughtered within 14) days from the time of leaving any foreign port, or 7 days after landing, should not receive any compensation, and that all fat cattle should be slaughtered at the port when lauded." Mr. TuR>ER (Peterborough Chamber) said on the pre- ceding Wednesday that Chamber passed a resolution ap- proving of the amendments, with the exception of clause 70. As regarded clause 3:3, providing that notice of an outbreak of disease might be given to a police constable as well a^ to the local inspector, it was pointed out that if the constable hap- pened to be engaged in a criminal prosecution, or in pursuing a robber, that might involve considerable delay, and that a great deal of mischief might be done in consequence. Mr. "RiGBY (Cheshire Chamber) said that Chamber ob- jected to the first amendment on the ground that it would be impolitic to do anything that would limit the supply of meat in this country. They thought it would be best to leave pro- hibition to the Privy Council. The CiiAiRMA-N observed that clause 70 was a misprint, and he was sorry that a proof was not sent him before it was for- warded to the local chambers. His idea was that, if foreign cattle were stricken, the loss should fall upon the importers, and not upon the British ratepayers ; and he did not wish the local authorities of the Port of Harwich to have power to inflict a grievous wrong on the ratepayers of Essex. With regard to what passed in the Peterborough Chamber re- specting giving notice to a constable, he was very desirous of carrying out the wish of the Council that owners and others should give notice of disease; but the standing local in- spector might be many miles from the place of an outbreak, and it seemed hard to require that an owner should go all that distance when there was a constable close at hand. The resolution was then put and carried. It was further resolved: "That a petition in support of Mr. C. S. Read's amendments shall be signed by the Chairman on behalf of the Chamber, and presented to the House of Commons." Mr. Myatt (North Cheshire) said lie hoped the Chamber would support Earl Grosvenor's amendment to the effect that ninepence in the pound shall be the maximum rate levied in that county. There was no other county in England but Cheshire where a rate had been levied exceeding that amount ; while that county suffered more than any other in England from the long drought during last summer, in consequence of the soU being so heavy ; and the silk-trade and the cotton- trade were both in a depressed state. He moved: "That this Chamber approves of the clause proposed by Earl Grosvenor being inserted in the Contagious Diseases (Animals) (No. 3) Bill, and recommends its embodiment therein." Mr. Neild (Lancashire), seconded the resolution. Lord Egerton of Tatton observed that Clieshire had been made to suffer for the public benefit, and it would not be right that it should have a heavier rate levied upon it than was imposed on any other county. Mr. Cornwall Legh, M.P., supported the resolution. The Chairman said. Lord Grosvenor's pro))osal would have his own hearty support in the House of Commons. The resolution was then adopted. Mr. Neild moved — " That this Chamber approves the prin- ciple of the County Administration Bill in introducing the representation of ratepayers into the administration of county finance, but considers that the proportion of elected members should be greater than is proposed by the bill." He said he must congratulate the Chamber on its recurrence to the old principle that taxation and representation went together, for that was the essential feature of the bill in question ; and that the ratepayers should have the management of their owu atfairs. He would not say one word ignoring the )iosition of the magistrates, but he thought a combination of magistrates and ratepayers would afford the best security for the proper administration of county finauces. In the local chambers the prevailing sentimeut was one of approval of the principle of the bill ; but it was generally felt that representation was not carried out sufficiently, and he trusted the Central Chamber would endeavour to get that defect removed. He thought that the area of the union, instead of the amount of assess- ment, should be the basis of representation. Mr. Tkindek (Worcestershire Chamber), in seconding the resolution, cited a resolution of his Chamber to the efl'ect that, while approving of the principle of the bill, they thought that half the Board should he elected by the magistrates and the other half by the rate-payers. He thought the rate- payers ought to have an equal share in the management with the magistrates. While the bill was founded on the principle of representation, that principle was carried out only to a very small extent. In the Murtley Union in Worcestershire, where the gross estimated rental exceeded £100,000, under the Bill as it stood there would be only three elective members of the Board, while there would be sixteen ex-ofiicio members ; so that the proportion would be only about one-fifth. Would three men of independent views, three men of the class whose services they desired to obtain, consent to serve on a Board where they would practically be powerless ? He did not mean to assume that they would be at variance with the magistrates, but they would clearly be iu such a position that there could be no security for the object of the bill being carried out. Mr. Barrow, M.P., was glad to be able to say that one of his first efforts in the House of Commons, eighteen or nine- teen years ago, was to advocate a Bill having the same object as that now under consideration Two other Bills of the same kind succeeded ; and iu conversation on the subject, Lord Derby admitted to him that the principle that taxation and representation went together ought to be carried out in that case as in others. That principle was carried much fnrther in the three Bills to which he alluded than in the present one. If this Bill were passed in its present shape, in the Union in which he had been Chairman of the Board of Guardians for the last thirty or forty years there would, he believed, be three elective members of the Financial Board ; while in the whole county there would pro- bably be twenty-four. On the other hand, there were 73 magistrates in the county ; and if any question involving a difference of interest between the two classes were to arise the result might be that the elective members would be com- pletely swamped. He had too good an opinion of magistrates to suppose that they would as a rule be inclined to swamp the elective members ; but the fact that power was not likely to be improperly exercised was not a sufficient reason for its being possessed. He quite con- curred in the opinion that the number of members elected by the rate-payers should be the same as that elected by the magistrates. In his own union the principle of equality had been carried out in the case of the Assessment Committee, and the arrangement had worked very well. Sir M. Lopes, M.P., said, the effect of the bill as it stood in the county of Devon, would be this — that there would be 49 elective members, and upwards of 350 magistrates ; and he was quite satisfied that under such circumstances there would be a general feeling that the elective members' must be swamped by the ex-officio element. It was always a bad plan, when anything was being given, to give what might appear like a sham ; and therefore, he for one strongly advocated the principle of equality. In order to bring the matter to issue, he would move the following addition to the resolution : " and they recommend that an equal number of official members be elected by the magistrates to meet the elective members of the County Board." Jlr. Randell (Lincolnshire) supported the proposed addition. Mr. Corrance, M.P., agreed that though the bill was founded on the principle of representation, some of its pro- visions were opposed to that principle. As the bill stood, there would be two or three hundred members to manage busi- ness, not amounting to more than five or six thousand a year. The result would be that the business would all be left to committees, and every one kuew that when a flagrant job had to be done, it was almost always done by a committee. That was the very worst mode of transacting public business. Without assuming that there would l)e any antago- 58 TSfi FARMER'S MAGAZINE. nism, he was ready to see the elective principle carried to an even wider extent than was proposed by Sir Massey Lopes, thinking that the election of magistrates themselves should he made by the ratepayers at large. What he would suggest in the first place was that instead of valuation, the area of the union should be the basis of representation ; believing that that would be the safest ground. Within the union there were generally two men at least among the rate- payers who were suitable for the office in question. He would propose that the members of the Board should be elected in the proportion of half and half; the qualification being on the one hand a magisterial, and on the other a ratepaying qualifi- cation. In that way, supposing there were two of each kind of members for each uniou, there would be in his county a workable body of from 24 to 30 members. He attached great importance to the representation of the ratepayers on this ground — that, whereas the control of the magistrates over expenditure was very limited, and they yielded to everything that was sent down from London, an elective body might be ex- pected to display more of the element of resistance to pressure from the Government. Indeed, he felt convinced that if the principle of representation were properly carried out, the power of the Financial Boards would soon be, in many respects, abso- lute, especially if, as he thought ought to be the case, five years' service on a county financial board should be considered a qualification for a seat on a magisterial bench. Mr. Chadwick, M.P., said nine-tenths of the members of the House of Commons were magistrates, and lie had always observed that in discussions on this subject there were the greatest professions of respect for the present management of county finances. Having seen something of that management he was impressed with a different feeling. The Home Secretary recently congratulated the House that it was never intended that the rate-paying element should have such weight as would interfere with magisterial influence, in relation to county finance; but he (Mr. Chadwick) believed that the rate -paying element would prove at least equal in value to the magisterial one. He entirely agreed with Mr. Corrance as regarded the basis of representa- tion, and he thought one tendency of his proposal would be to elevate boards of guardians. Capt. Ceaigie thought the less the bill was hampered with amendments the better chance would there be of its passing in the present session, though he did not think that chance a very good one. They all agreed in supporting the principle of the bill, and all that was wanted was the strengthening of the elective element. At present, he would remark, there was not sufiicient information afibrded as to the manner in which the money was disbursed, and he saw no adequate provision in the bill for the correction of that evil. He strongly approved of a suggestion which had been made, that the duties of county financial boards should embrace valuation. IWajor Parker, M.P., supported that principle of repre- sentation. Mr. Clark (North Cheshire) thought the County Valuation Bill of the Government so defective and impracticable in its present shape that it would he better to withdraw it altogether than to attempt to patch it up, adding that in that case the two questions might be dealt with together. The Rev. C. W. Holbech (Banbury) said he had been a hearty supporter of the Chambers of Agriculture ; but he had regretted to see growing up of late a feeling of antagonism to- wards the magistrates, and he hoped something would be done to crush it. The term " ratepayers" seemed to him to be used in too narrow a sense. People spoke of ma- gistrates and ratepayers. He was a magistrate himself, but he was also a ratepayer. He was a considerable landowner, and as such paid a large amount of rates ; and he would ask the other landowners present whether they did not, in letting their farms, take into consideration the question of rates. In sitting on an assessment board he had never seen anytliing like antagonism ; but, from what he cotild gather from the general tone of the meeting, he thought there was something like antagonism there, and he believed the less there was of that, the more the Chambers would prosper. Mr. Turner (Peterborough Chamber) wished to ask Mr. Corrance whether he thought that, as the law stood, magis- trates could be prevented fi'om taking part in the administra- tion of the county finances. Mr. CoRRAMCE believed ttiat that could not be prevented, except by an Act of Parliament abolishing the power of ma- gistrates in that respect. Mr. SoLTAU (South Devon) said the Chamber which he represented had passed the following resolution : " That, in the opinion of this Chamber, the whole of the members of the Financial Boards should be elective, and that they should be elected by the Boards of Guardians and Highway Boards con- jointly." He believed that, if the elective principle were carried out in that way, a great number of magistrates who had been in the habit of attending to business would be elected by Boards of Guardians, and that thus, whUe the power of the magistrates was diminished, the wishes of the ratepayers would be carried out more than they were at present. Mr. Jasper More believed that no member of the Central Chamber had taken a greater interest in this question than he had. As a magistrate and a late member of the House of Commons, he would advise the Chamber to accept Mr. Hu- gessen's Bill, although it did not go far enough, especially as it had to pass through a Chamber including so many Lord- Lieutenants. They might afterwards apply for an extension of its principle. He advised the Chamber not to risk the failure of another measure on this important subject. Mr. Randell seconded the amendment of Sir M. Lopes. Mr. Neild suggested, with the view as he stated of securing unanimity, the addition of the following, which he thought embraced Sir M. Lopes's view : " And that any county financial board to be established should be wholly elective, one-half qualified as magistrates, and the other half not being magis- trates, as ratepayers." Mr. Clowes, M.P., observed that at present a justice of the peace had a right to share in the administration of the county finances. In order to meet that they must provide for having an equal number of each class, magistrates and ratepayers. Mr. Chadwick, M.P., thought the proposed addition would prevent the biU from being passed, as the change would be considered too radical. The CiiAiRJiAN would suggest that the meeting should omit the concluding words of the resolution " that the proportion of elected members should be greater than is proposed by the bill," and substitute for them those proposed by Sir M- Lopes — namely, " that an equal number of official members should be elected by the magistrates to meet the elective members of the county board." Mr. Genge Andrews said it would be wise for the Council rather to advocate delay than the pressing forward of the bill in such an incomplete state as to shut out any real reform, especially as Mr. Gladstone had announced, in the discussion on the motion of Sir Massey Lopes, his intention to propose a radical measure of reform relating to poor-rates. Coming up as he had done from the country, he must say that his ideas were not very clear when he came up, but that they were much more confused when he went home. In Somersetshire it was thought an awkward practice to put the cart before the horse, and he thought that in this case the real horse was Mr. Gladstone's promise that the Government would fully consider the whole question at issue. He would move — not in opposition to the resolution, but in the same spirit as Sir M. Lopes — a rider. The Chairman thought it would be better to settle about the resolutions before any rider was moved. He then read the resolutions as proposed to be amended by Sir M. Lopes. Mr. Stratton (Hampshire) seconded the amendment. The Chairman said he could not help thinking that the original resolution would meet every practical purpose. Sir M. Lopes, M.P., said that for the sake of obtaining unanimity he would withdraw his amendment. The amendment was accordingly withdrawn. Col. CoRBETT, M.P., thought the original resolution aff'orded the only chance of having the bill passed in an ac- ceptable form. Mr. Genge Andrews than moved the following amend- ment : " That, in the opinion of this Chamber, the Financial Board Bill, the Valuation of Property BUI, and others relating to the Poor-rate Assessment and the administration of the fund raised, cannot be sufficiently considered by Parliament, or by the country, during the present session, and that all im- portant changes should be postponed until after the Govern- ment has brought forward its promised measure for reforming the present unjust basis on which the poor-rate is now levied." THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 59 Mr. RiGBY (Cheshire) agreed with Mr. Andrews that the more they discussed matters the more confused they got. He was in favour of passing the resolutions as submitted by the Committee. Mr. WiiiTTAKER hoped Mr. Andrews would withdraw what he had just proposed. Mr. Andrews said he was entirely in the hands of the meeting. If any considerable portion of it wished him to do so he should divide. The CuAiKMAN observed that jMr. Andrews was a member of the Committee that met on the previous evening, and that he ought to have placed his amendment before that Committee. Such a course as he was uow pursuing tended to create irritating discussion. He (tlie Chairman) could state that so far as he was concerned, so far as the Norfolk Chamber was concerned, and so far as his constituents were concerned, they were perfectly satisfied with the bill as it now stood. He did not know whether or not he vvas to regard Mr. Andrews's proposal as a rider or as an amendment. (A Voice : It is an amendment). Regarding it as an amendment he should put it first. On the amendment of Mr. Andrews's being put only three hands were held up for it. The original resolution was then adopted. Mr. Randell rose, in pursuance of notice, to move " That agricultural produce ought to be protected by law against the ravages of ground game." He said he would remark, in the first place, that he brought that motion forward as a member of the Central Chamber, and not as a delegate from the Lin- colnshire Chamber, which had not yet discussed the subject. They might rely upon it that a sound state of things could never prevail unless the truth were freely spoken on the one hand and freely admitted on the other. He would ask the Legislature to take up the question on public grounds, inas- much as game, and especially ground game, interfered with the supply of food for the people, in the cultivation of the soil, and in the destruction of growing crops. As to the de- struction of growing crops it was only necessary that the eyes should be kept open and th3 judgement allowed free scope for the would-be unbeliever to see that facts were too glaring for incredulity itself. Those hares and rabbits ate that which ought to be the food of man, destroyed more than they ate, and when they did not destroy defiled. They did more, they nibbled at men's hearts. The British farmer would not be wanting in spirit when his course was clear. Give him full liberty, and he would cultivate the land, which lie hired generously, for his own benefit and the benefit of others, devoting his time, his skill, and his capital unsparingly to that two-fold purpose ; but without liberty he was staggered in his purpose at the onset, and tempted to belie his own nature in spite of himself. Sorely against his will he became a coward, and, though it might be well for individuals or for a class, it could not be well for a nation that there should be enforced cowardice. Men would not dare to do full justice to the soil unless they had free trade in the produce. Prepared as they might be to do their best, leaving the issue to One above, they could not be taxing their energies and spending their money amid wretched fears that their crops would be sacrificed to the spoiler. Hence the resources of the country were by no means thoroughly developed, nor would they ever be so till the tenant farmers of the kingdom were in a position to enjoy the fruits of their own enterprise. It was as much the province of " the powers that be" to protect the agricul- tural produce against the ravages of these four-footed thieves as to throw their regis over game of any kind as a defence against the biped marauders. Parliament already possessed sufficient data to afford an insight in- to the loss and damage sustained through the depreda- tions of ground game, and if further information were desired it would be forthcoming on the shortest notice. True it was that farmers had been looking mainly at their own position, and had enUed upon the Legislature to regard it from the same point of view ; but it was impossible that the subject could be legislated upon in a proper manner without a prospect having opened up of moral and social re- sults more precious than gold. Fair play would thus be se- cured for bold scientific farming, waste lands might be culti- vated profitably, there would be an increased demand for labour, pauperism would be checked,and poor-rates diminished. Having regard to the fact that a large sliare of public atten- tion had been given to this subject for more than half a cen- tury, and bearing in mind that a searching investigation into the working of the game laws took place as far back as twenty-four years ago, he hoped the Council would not only adopt a resolution on the subject, but follow it up with some- thing definite and feasible as regarded the modus operandi. Should his motion be carried, it would, he believed, be found in that case, as in others, that where there was a will there was a way, and that justice in principle was combined with practicability iu details. Mr. DucKHAJi, in seconding the resolution, said that the evils arising from the over-preservation of game were of national consequence, and could not be overlooked by any- one ; those evils including tlie destruction of crops and the increase of rates. The ratepayer was called to pay for the prosecution of the poacher, and frequently to pay also for the subsistence of his wife and family. Moreover, hares and rab- bits reduced the agricultural value of a large quantity of land, and thus the burden of the local taxation of the surrounding district was increased. While they objected to the over- preservation of game, tenant-farmers as a body were delighted to see their landlords come among them to have a fair day's sport ; and he wished it to be clearly understood that he was not one of those who thought that no hare, no rabbit, and no head of game should exist. Capt. Craigie moved, as an amendment, " That this Chamber regards the over-preservation of ground game as an unmitigated evil, but considers that it would be undesirable to introduce into this question legislative interference betweenland- lords and tenants." He said what had most struck him in listen- ing to Mr. Randell's eloquent speech was, tliat he ended where he began ; in other words, did not suggest anything practical. He had indicated that something should be done, but he had not told the meeting what that something was. The evil brought before the meeting was no doubt very great, but the subject required very delicate and careful handling. They had been reminded that day that it was very desirable that fanners and landowners should be united, but he knew no more disintegrating cause among agriculturists than game. The game question raised difficulties that tended to disturb the harmony which ought to exist among them aU. His sense of the evils of over-preservation were increased within the last few days by the spectacle at the Islington Horse Show of a van or waggon which was intended to be used as a vehicle for game. He moved his amendment without the least desire to prevent the question from being discussed. He knew that the over-preservation of game was a curse, but the question was how it was to be done away with ? and he thought the best mode of deahng with it was by rousing public feelings to a proper pitch tlu-ougli calling attention to their rights and wrongs connected with this matter. He had no doubt that the settlement of the question, which was growing in importance among landlords, would be aided by such discussions as that ; but he deprecated the Chamber's playing into the liands of persons outside so as to interfere with those friendly relations which ought to exist between landlord and tenant. He must remark that the law already gave the tenant protection as regarded hares and rabbits, and if he voluntarily abandoned that posi- tion in signing his contract, it was not for him to complain that he had tied a rope round his neck. The landlord and the tenant were in partnership, and it would be an evil day for England when that partnership was abolished. Mr. Randell had put this question on public grounds. He (Captain Craigie) was opposed to that mode of presenting it. The very mention of public grounds and of the good to the people gave a handle to those agitationists who wished this question to have a very different issue from that which Mr. RandeU desired. As to what Mr. Duckham said about the poacher, he did not see why a man who violated the law should not be punished. The law must be enforced. Before sitting down he would just remark that the result of the agitation in Scotland had been to produce three bills and postpone legislation, because Scotch agriculturists could not agree as to tlie amount of protection required. He thought the meeting would best consult the welfare of the country, as well as the dignity of the Chamber, by passing thp amendment and not playing into the hands of those who told them that they regarded Bengal tigers as preferable to hares. Mr. WiilTTAKER, in seconding the resolution, said he 60 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, thought they ought to be very careful how they interferecl with private rights, or vphat Mr. Randell called public grounds. He trusted tliat landlords vi'ould be induced to abandon the over-preservation of game ; and he thought that if the case should be otherwise, many good tenants would refuse to occupy land where there was a superabundance of game, unless, in- deed, the landlord paid them full compensation for damage (cheers). If public grounds were to be made a basis for interfering with private rights, he could mention many cases to which that argument would apply. For example, Mr. Randell might be a better cultivator than himself; and, on public grounds, it might be said that lie ought to have liis farm. Mr. Duckham might, with the aid of steam, grow more corn than Mr. Randell, and on that account the latter might be turned out. He could conceive nothing more prejudicial to the interests of the tenantry of this king- dom than its being allowed for one moment to go abroad that they were opposed to the interests and wishes of their land- lords. He was a landowner, but he was also a consider- able occupier of land ; and he believed tliere was a strong feeling in his county (Worcestersliire) that tl;e tenantry should go hand in hand with their landlords. There were exceptions in that district, as well as everywhere else ; and there was, in some cases, a tendency to yield to tlie wishes of those who caused mischief by treating this question as a sentimental one. There were those out of doors — he must allude at once to Mr. Bright, who wanted to set landlords against tenants — [Ex- pressions of dissent]. He did hope and trust that the members of that Chamber would not pass such a resolution as that of Mr. Randell. The Chairman expressed his regret at what had just fallen from Mr. Whittaker, and said he was sure that gentleman did not mean to say anything personal. Colonel Bkise, M.P., said he was as much opposed as any man to the over-preservation of game ; but he thought it \Tas desirable to leave legislation in abeyance for the present. Over-preservation brought its own punish- ment. It injured the land directly as well as indirectly ; and he believed that in many instances woodlands were perma- nently depreciated to the extent of Gs. or 7s. per acre ; while land which would otherwise let at 35s. per acre would not fetch half that amount. Moreover, gamekeepers were sometimes arbitrary ; and their conduct did not tend to foster that good feeling which ought to prevail. The keeper was said to be the natural enemy of the fox ; and unless he had his master's interest thoroughly at heart, it was difficult to induce him to assist in preserving foxes. In his own couuty there did not appear to be a very strong feeling on the suliject under discus- sion. During a three or four months' canvas at the last election, he vi'as only on one occasion asked his opinion upon ■ it, and he replied that he should not object to the abolition of the game-laws if there were a stringent law of trespass. But, then, this difficulty arose : if there were a stringent law of trespass, what were they to do with the hunting men, or with the youngsters during their holidays ? Col. CoRBETT, M.P., said the importance of this question had been forced upon his attention for some years, in conse- quence of his having been obliged to let his shooting. That necessity was always a great evil, as it was almost impossible for either owner or occupier to touch the person who got the benefit of over-preserving. As a landlord, he had been obliged to pay his tenant for damage, and he thought there ought to be a power of recovery against a person who had hired shooting. Mr. T. Searby (Lincolnshire Chamber) said his Chamber liad adopted no resolution on this subject ; but, as a tenant farmer, he was extremely pleased that it had been introduced that day by a gentleman connected with the landed pro- prietors of his county. He thought it would be very unwise in tenant-farmers to take a step which might possibly tend to destroy that confidence which existed in the county of Lincoln. Mr. Randell spoke of game as nibbling men's hearts. It appeared to him (Mr. Searby) that in the discus- sion on the subject at Mr. Duckham's Chamber the other day the speakers nibbled the hearts of each other. For his part, he could not help thinking that Chambers of Agriculture never came into existence to undertake questions of that? kind. There were sufficient subjects of in- terest besides, and why did tliey not prosecute them as they ought to do ? As \o the payment of rates, did not the land- lords pay rates as well as tenants ? It was very easy to make a great bugbear out of a very little matter indeed. Mr. Neville (Staffordshire), in supporting the amendment, said that the over-preservation of game was a great evil, no one could doubt, but the question was, how it was to be reme- died P No remedy had been suggested by either the mover or the seconder of tlie resolution. He did not, indeed, believe any remedy was to be found in legislative enactments ; but he thought the mooting of the question in the Central Chamber and the local Ciiambers would have a good tendency, and would cause landlords to look at the evil and endeavour to remedy it as far as possible. Mr. Maseen also supported the amendment. Nothing, he remarked, operated more unjustly to a tenant than the letting of game. That was a constant source of irritation in parishes where it occurred. He thought that many landlords were too much in the habit of listening to their keepers in cases where they should hold friendly communication with their tenants. Mr. Long said the resolution declared that agricultural pro duce ouglit to be protected by law. It was partly protected already, unless the tenant signed away his rights. But it ap- peared to him that the special laws with regard to the pre- servation of game required to he amended, and he wished, therefore, to move the following : " That in the opinion of this Chamber, the special laws which surround the preservation of game are at variance with tlie interests of the agriculturists, and also with the interests of the whole of the community as consumers, and therefore require the serious consideration of the Legislature, as it regards the over-preservation of ground game as an unmitigated evil." At present it was only a trespass to take game, while it was a felony to take a sheep or a fowl. Mr. Jebb (Shropshire Chamber) thought the greatest evil to be dealt with was the preservation of rabbits, an evil arising in some cases from their being sold by the landlord, and in others from their being the perquisite of the gamekeeper — the very worst sort of arrangement that could be made. Mr. RiGBY thought tliey must all feel that some action was necessary, whether in the way of legislation or otherwise. He would vote for the first part of the amendment, but not for the last, as he did not like it to go forth that that Chamber was afraid to touch the question. He was for simply recording that the Chamber regarded the over-preservation of game as an unmitigated evil. Mr. Neild said : Having been mentioned on a previous occasion as a person who had suffered greatly from the over- preservation of game, he wished to remark that he thought such a discussion as had taken place that day would do more to benefit the farmer than the passing of the original resolu- tion. He believed that the more landlords read such senti- ments as had been expressed on that occasion, the more would they be disposed to place full confidence in their tenants, and to do away with the nuisance of excessive game-preserving. The other day he remarked to his landlord, who was one of the best in the country, that as regarded rabbits, unless the word " annihilate" went forth, there would be no end to the evil. Mr. Stratton observed that the other day, a tenant of his father's being about to sign a contract by which he agreed not to touch " rabbits and game," his father struck out those words, and substituted " foxes." General Herbert, M.P., was much gratified at the tone of the discussion. There had been a moderation about it which showed good sense ; and he thought they were more likely to gain their point in that way than in any other. He believed that legislation between landlord and tenant in this case would be found almost as impracticable as legislation between buyer and seller. A great deal must depend on good sense and kindly feeling on the part both of tenants and landlords. As a sportsman, he did not like reading long lists of game killed ; and he did not see how any one could be benefited by such extensive slaughter, unless it were the gamekeeper. Almost every one had said something on behalf of foxes : let him say one word for the rabbits. They aU knew that there must be a few rabbits, for the foxes to live. Mr. Randell, in replying, said he could see no good in passing the amendment, except that which consisted in the declaration that ground-game had become an unmitigated evil. As regarded the objection that he had suggested no remedial measure, it did not follow that he had not one to offer because he had not proposed one. He had thought it best that the THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Gl 1)road question of principle slioiild be disposed of before he introduced any other matter. The Cu.viRjiAM said : let me remind the Chamber that we have frequently been taunted with being afraid to discuss the question of the game-laws ; but now tliat we have taken it up, I think we have demonstrated that, however ditlicult and delicate a subject it may be, it is possible to handle it in a reasonable and proper spirit. I do not think a single ob- servation has been made in this room that could .iustly olfend the most sensitive of our aristocratic landowners. This shows that this assembly, which is composed, in a very great degree, of representatives of tenant-farmers, does not wish to enter into a crusade against the game-laws, but only to protest against the over-preservation of ground game. Mr. ilaudell has just said that if we pass the amendment, we shall do very little good. Allow me to say that if we pass his resolution we shall do still less. Let me just allude to tiie public grounds which Mr. Randell put forward. Admit- ting that he is right with regard to the public grounds, let us consider what an immense number of other subjects might be brought forward and discussed on similar merits. There is the absence of leases, the cultivation of ash trees, the great number of small enclosures, and the waste of town sewage. All these are, no doubt, great evils, and tend, more or less, to lessen the production of corn in this country. Eut Mr. llandell may say, " There is no exceptional legislation in the case of ash trees, and when town sewage becomes a public nuisance, it may form the subject of an indictment." If he had worded his resolution so as to declare that exceptional legislative protection should be removed in the case of hares and rabbits I should have been happy to join in that declaration. But I believe that it is, in reality, public opinion alone that will ever remedy this great evil. Tlie evil would soon be removed if we could bring all landlords to the same state of mind on this subject as that of the Lord-Lieutenant of my own county, who, as was mentioned in this room a month ago, by one of the clauses in his form of lease, gives the tenant power to destroy all rabbits, rats, and other vermin. But, as Capt. Craigie remarked, where there is a commercial contract between the landlord and tenant, it would be unrea- sonable for the tenant to complain. Li all commercial con- tracts there are certain stipulations ; but if landlords, instead of keeping- 100 rabbits keep 1,000, and still receive the same rent, there is a real case of injury. It is the increase of the (luantity of game during a lease or a tenancy that is the great source of this evil; and in the case of the three Scotch bills there has been good ground for coming to the conclusion that it would be easy to provide for a tenant's being enabled to recover for damage arising from an increase of game during his tenancy. As regards the argument of Mr. Duckham, that the game laws arc a great curse to the country by increasing the burden of the poor-rates, it appears to me that there is really more in that than there might at first sight appear to be. Why was there such a strong feeling witli respect to what was called the Police Poaching Act ? It cer- tainly was not because the farmer has any sympathy with the poacher, a marauding vagabond, who if he could not get any game would perhaps be quite ready to take a slieep or a hen ; but the game preserver pays nothing whatever for thn wood in which the hare lives, lie is altogether exempt from local taxation in that respect ; and the result of the over-preser- vation of game is not merely a depreciation of the rateable value of his own laud, but an increase of the burden of the rates of the land occupied by bis neighbour. Therefore, I say, there are one or two minor questions connected with the game ques- tion which clearly demand the attention of the legislature. In the case of the Valuation of Property Bill, I have proposed that game and timber shall both be assessed ; and if that pro- posal be adopted, one great evil as regards the ratepayer will be removed. Gentlemen, let me, in conclusion, again com- pliment you on the very interesting and reasonable discussion which has taken place. Ca()tain Craigie's amendment was then put and carried without any alteration, the numbers being ~0 for and 4 against it. Only delegated members took part in the voting. Mr. Long's resolution was withdrawn, as was also one brought forward by Mr. Duckham, after a division. The proceedings then terminated. THE KETTON SHORTHORNS. The first account, relating in any way to Charles Colling as I a bull breeder, is given in a letter of Mr. John Hutchinson's, | dated 1821, wherein it is stated that, "Charles Colling being an established breeder, exhibited in the spring of 1790 his first two yearling bulls for sale, and succeeded in selling them both. Mr. Coates, of Smeaton, was the purchaser of one for £26, and Mr. K. Thomas of the other for £23." Mr. Bailey, the Durham historian, writes in 1810, that, " They (Messrs. Colling and JNlason) let bulls out by the year at prices from 50 to 100 guineas each, and tlie public are so fully convinced of the bull's merits that these celebrated breeders cannot supply the demand from the pure blood, which they are cautious of preserving, and which takers of bulls are become so well acquainted with that the prices they give are in proportion to the good qualities of the individuals and merits of their progenitors, more regard being paid to their pedio;ree than to anything else ; for this purpose they have books containing the full pedigree of their stock, similar to tiie stud book of race horses, by which any person wanting to purchase or to hire bulls may see how they are descended. IMessrs. CoUiug have frequently sold cows and heifers for £100 each, and bull calves at £100. Charles Colling has refused £500 for a cow, and in 1807 Mr. Mason refused £700 for a cow." Mrs. Charles Colling took much interest in the management of the cattle, indeed it was she who ridiculed her husband's niggardhness in giving Mr. Maynard only 30 guineas for i'avourite and Young Strawberry ; fifty guineas was also bid in vain to Mr. Scott for Sockburn Sail, the ances- tress of the present Blanche tribe. The cows layout in the fields, having a little hay taken out to them in bad weather, but always calved in a warm place. The calves had new milk till they were two or three weeks old, then for a month they got half- and-half (new and skim), afterwards skim milk with linseed, beau, or other meal porridge ; they were then turned out to grass, getting nothing else. Nurse cows were kept for the bull calves that were going out on hire, as will be seen by the priced catalogue. The most noted breeders who hired Charles Col- Hng's stock, were Mr. John Charge of Newton, Darlington, who used Favourite 252, Mr. Mason of Chilton, Mr. Jobling of Styford, Mr. Gibson of Corbridge, Sir George Strickland, Mr. Hobertson of Ladykirk, and Mr. Ostler of Aylesby and Audby. Windsor 698 was used by Mr. Hustler in 1808-9, Mr. Parker of Mai ton had him five years, and George 111. hired him lor three years, at £40 a-year, for service at tlie Royal Farm, Windsor, whence he was named. The reader must bear in mind that the first volume of the Herd Book was not compiled until twelve years after the Ketton sale; that the stage coach and post chaise were the only fast con- veyances, whilst the cattle were walked in easy stages or conveyed by waggons to their destination. Newspapers too, although in existence, gave no special report of the pro- ceedings ; indeed, the only notice of the sale that is to be found in any paper is given in the Times of Friday October 19, IS 10, as follows : " Cattle— For the information of your agricul- tural readers and those who are interested for the improve- ment in the breed of cattle, I furnish you with the following particulars of sale of the celebrated stock of cattle sold on the nth instant, the property of and bred by Charles Colling, of Ketton, county of Durham." (Here follow a few of the higher prices and buyers' names). "The total produce of Mr. CoUing's sale of cattle and sheep is stated to be £8,485, and if I recollect right, Ketton Farm is not 300 acres. Your insertion of the above will oblige, A Member oe the Smith- field Club." The sale was on a fine October day, and early in the morning people rode and drove to Ketton, leav- ing their horses and gigs at the adjoining farms ; all the strawyards were full and the tiirong at the sale was immense; everything was eaten up, so that bread 62 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. had to be seut for into Darlington. Mr. Kingston, the auctioneer, sold the cattle by the sand-glass, and in accordance with the custom of the time received about five guineas for the business, the work of the sale falling more on the owner than the auctioneer. The K.ev. Henry Berry writing in 1840, says, " that in Charles Ceiling's sale in 1810, there were some very fair lots bred with a Kyloe cross and he (C. Colling) publicly declared such to be the fact." Eye- witnesses, however, believe that no such statement was made to the whole of the company, for no general knowledge of the alloy blood prevailed, and it is probable was unknown, save to Robert Colling and Mr. Mason, and onlfe or two others. The cattle were not fed up for the sale, but kept naturally, and sold vihen they were in great condition from natural keep. The Kettou stock at tliis time is described by Mr. Wright as of great size and substance, with fine long hind quarters ; the space from the hip to the rib was long and counteracted by a broad back and high round ribs. The shoulders of the males were upright, and the knuckles, or shoulder points, large and coarse — a defect not so apparent in the females. The general con- tour, or side view was stately and imposing, but their great superiority consisted in their extraordinary inclination to fat- ten. On handling, the skin was loose and pliant, and the feel under it remarkably mellow and kind. The colour was greatly iaried ; red, red and white, roan, and also white being found n the same kindred ; while in all cases of close affinity there was a tendency to white, M'ith red ears and spots. — Thonitou'i Circular. THE ADULTERATION OF SEEDS BILL. On Thursday, June 10, Mr. Welby, M.P., and the Hon. Henry Brand, M.P., who have charge-of the above BiU, ac- companied a deputation of dealers, growers, and consumers, in- cluding representatives of those interests in Scotland and Ire- land as well as in England, to the Board of Trade Office, Wiitehall-gardens, where they had a long interview with the President of this department, Mr. Bright. The following gentlemen were invited to attend on the deputation : Earl Grosvenor, M.P., Mr. W. E. Welby, M.P., Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., Mr. M'Conibie, M.P., Mr. Dent, M.P., Mr. R. Young (Cambridgeshirt), Sir. C. Bramley, Mr. John Farrell (Dublin), Alderman Mackey (Dublin), Mr. Charles Sharpe (Sleaford), Mr. William Hurst (Leadenhall-street), Mr. Kennedy (St. Thoraas-street, Borough), Mr. M. Sutton (Readirig), Mr. A. Dickson (Chester), Mr. G. I. Alexander (Dublin), Mr. Jas. Robertson (Dublin), Mr. R. Edgar (Edinburgh), Mr. W. Mein (Kelso), Mr. James Watts (Hythe), Mr. Henry Sharp (Wisbech), the Editor of the Gardeneri Chronicle^ the Editor of the Marie Lane Express, the Proprietor of the Irish Farmers' Ga-Mte, and the Editor of The Farmer (Ediuburgli). One of our statf was present; but Mr. Bright strongly ob- jected to any full report of the proceedings being published, and we consequently withhold ours. Mr. Sharpe, however, who opened the business, has forwarded the following su7n- raary of what lie said, in doing so : The system of adulterating seeds, which the bill is intended to remove, exists at the present time on a large scale ; as it has increased, and is in- creasing with the intensity of competition in the seed trade. The grievances which have long been complained of are these : Large quantities of Rubsen or German rape-seed, and inferior samples of English rape-seed, are killed by a process of steam- ing and kiln-drying for the purpose of mixing with English- grown turnip-seed. Seeds of the cheaper kinds of Brassicas are prepared in a like manner, for adulterating the seed of those varieties which have a higher value. Trefoil, a cheap and inferior kind ol clover, is killed and dyed for mixing with red clover and cow-grass ; and inferior, old samples of clover- seeds are coloured and dyed for the adulteration of seeds of a much higlier value ; this process of killing or dyeing generally destroying, to a great extent, the germinating power of the seed so treated. There are other minor cases, liut these con- stitute the principal evils. To carry out this system of adulte- ration there exist in London, and other places, manufactories for the preparation of seed for adulteration, their sole business being to kiU and colour seed for tlie uses of the trade. The Bill proposes to inflict a penalty upon any person engaged in this business of preparing seed for adulteration, and the pro- moters anticipate that this clause alone will do much to pre- vent the practices complained of. Penalties are also imposed upon the persons selling adulterated seeds. Purtlier tlian this the bill does not propose to go. It does not deal with admix- tures of seeds which have been kept too long or which are simply of an inferior description, as the seeds of weeds, for in neither of these cases is the presence of bad seed necessarily the result of intentional fraud, at which alone this bill is directed. The rest may fairly be left between the dealers and the consumers without much fear of injustice to the public. The passing of this bill must be for the public good ; the adul- teration is a direct fraud upon the consumers, who are unable of themselves to detect it ; they expect a genuine article and obtain a spurious one. By reason of adulteration, more seed is required, and the consumer increasing the quantity of seed he sovi's, hoping thus to secure a better crop, only leaves an opening for the dealer to increase the proportion of killed seed. A portion of the seed thus committed to the ground being silent and without result, must be considered a dead loss to the consumer, whose money is withdrawn from him by false representation. In case of disappointment and failure of crop proof that it has been caused by tampering with the seed is necessarily difficult, and the remedy at present provided by law is so tedious and expensive, that even in cases where distinct proof of fraud could be adduced, the victim often prefers to put up with his first loss in silence. The Bill must also prove advantageous to the grower of seeds ; because, in the case of bad seasons and short crops he is pre- vented from realising a remunerative profit in consequence of the quantity being increased by an extra infusion of killed seed, and it may be stated that when seeds are expected to be dear, from the crop being known to be a failure, there is often a heavier stock left over than in more plentiful years. The seed dealers throughout the three kingdoms, so far as the pro- moters have been able to ascertain, are unanimous in sup- port of the BiU, because they will be freed from a sys- tem which they know to be dishonest, and which entails considerable trouble, annoyance, and responsibility — a system bequeathed to them by traditional custom, and which is so thoroughly rooted in the trade, that the frequent attempts which they have made to rid themselves of it liave failed, and they now feel it necessary tliat their hands should be strengthened by the present bill, to enable them to eradicate a practice which is indefensible on any grounds. Especial care has been taken by the proviso in the 6th clause that the operations of the BiU sliaU not be wider than they profess to be, and that no legitimate operation of trade shall be in the smallest degree interfered with. The honest dealer who sends out genuine seeds is unable to compete with the seUer of adulterated seeds, because the great body of pur- chasers are men unable to discriminate between adulterated and unadulterated seeds. All the interests concerned — the public or consumers, the grower, the dealer, and the various Royal Societies, except such as are prevented by their charter, but are represented in this room — are unanimous in support of the Bill becoming law. Mr. M'Combie spoke almost entirely to the grievances of the smaU Scotch farmers ; and Mr. Bright, in a series of closely-put questions, inferred the difficulty of legislative interference, and the almost impossibiUty of proving that seed had been " know- ingly" adulterated. The right honourable gentleman mentioned that he had received a number of letters against the Bill, and at first appeared incUned to maintain the good policy of caveat emptor, or of every one taking care of himself ; although he stated subsequently that one of his great objects would be to ascertain how the abuse could be effectuaUy put a stop to. ;THE F/UMEB'S MAGAZINE. 63 THE DISEASES OF STOCK Pleuro-Pneumoniai — Siace the publication of our last number the severity of this disease seems to have abated in the London dairies, but in the home counties, and also in Notting- ham and Yorkshire in particular, it continues to widen the area of its existence. We learn that the malady has assumed II very malignant type on a farm near to Northallerton, and that it is also attacking one animal after another on a dairy farm in the neiglibourhood of Nottingham. As we have so frequently remarked, nothing short of stern legislation will keep this contagious and destructive disease in check. The Cattle Plague. — Down to the middle of May we have information that the cattle plague was prevailing exten- sively in many parts of Lower Austria, Hungary, Transyl- vania and Galicia. It is also reported to be raging to an alarming extent in Turkey, in Asia, and great fears are enter- tained that it would again be conveyed to Egypt. During 1868, 35,519 animals are reported to have been attacked with the plague in Roumania and adjacent Turkish provinces, out of which 18,703 died. Reports have also reached us of the existence of a very fatal and' contagious disease among both cattle and sheep in the country around Erzeroum in Asia Minor, but the information is not suiTiciently explicit to enable us, at present, to state the true nature of the malady. Smallpox in Sheep. — ^According to our advices from the Continent, the smallpox in sheep prevails in many places, some of which are far removed from each other. Thus we learn tliat the malady still exists botli in East and West Prussia, and that it was reappearing in other parts of the kingdom. Pome- rania and Hanover are also infected. The province of Dreuthe in Holland is stQl slightly suffering, while Schleswig-Holstein is reported as being free of the disease . The malady has also shown itself in Southern Italy, especially in the districts sur- rounding the towns of Cotrone and Gallipoli. In the neigh- bourhood ofBrindisi fewer cases are said to exist than during last month. The Scab in Sheep. — This parasitic and highly contagious disease is reported to be prevalent to an unusual extent in many parts of Northern Europe, especially in Pomerania. An export trade in cattle and sheep has, we learn, sprung up be- tween Leith and Stettin, one of the chief ports of Pomerania, fey which an increased risk is run of infected sheep finding their way here, as not only scab prevails in the neighbourhood of Stettin, but the smallpox is believed not to be yet extinct. Ticks in Lambs. — It is seldom in this country that we no- tice any serious ill consequences arising from an attack of ticks, Ixodes riciniis, although in more southern climes, particularly in Brazil and other parts of South America, it is a frequent occurrence even for oxen to succumb to the irritating and ex- haustive effects of these parasitic epizoa. Temperature has no doubt much to do with the multiplication of these parasites, and the greal heat which prevailed last summer, followed by the mildness of the winter, favoured both their reproduction and preservation in unusual numbers in England. During the last month we have been consulted respecting the death of several lambs, in the county of Kent, from attacks of ticks. Portions of skin were sent us which may be described as being thickly covered witli these epizoa. Their size varied conside- rably, many being as large as beans, while others were not bigger than kernels of wheat. They were still firmly holding on, their sucking organ being deeply planted in the skin ; nor could they be detached without breaking and leaving this in the common integument. The covering of wool so completely concealed most of them from observation, that the true cause of the death of the lambs was not at first understood. Two varieties were chiefly met with, the ixodes ruhidus and ixodes plumbeus. Dipping the lambs in a diluted mixture of carbolic acid was found effectual in destroying the parasites. We re- cord these cases as the first coming to your knowledge of ani- mals sinking under the irritative and eraaciative effects of ticks. Mr. Charles Morgan, V.S., Nonington, near Wing- ham, to whom we are indebted for specimens of the parasite, says, in his communication, that " they had attacked sheep and lambs, both on upland and marshes, and that one farmer found a large quantity on some colts which were at pasture ou a marsh near to sheep." Crusta Lactea in Lajibs. — Our attention has been called to some interesting cases of skin disease which have shown themselves in several parts of the country among the lambs. The disease has most of the characters of so-called Crista Lactea of the human infant ; indeed, it appears to be identical with it in its pathology. The parts affected are chiefly the face, eye- lids, and ears ; on the latter especially the crusts are thick, and of a dark colour. In some lambs the eyes suffer conside- rably, and a glutinous discharge comes from the conjunctiva, which glues together the lids. In a few cases the disease ex- tends down the neck of the animal, after having existed for a few weeks ; butin the majority it is confined to the head and face. It is accompanied with much irritation, and the young animal frequently breaks the crusts, and causes slight hiemorr- hage from the surface, by scratcliing and rubbing the parts. Death has followed in a few instances from irritative lever. The attack generally comes on when the lamb is about three weeks old, but only about half a dozen cases are usually found in a flock of 150 to 300. The disease does not yield rectdily to treatment. We have found it necessary to bring the lambs with their dams into the sheds, so as to protect them from the sun, and also inclement weather. Good nursing is required, and also careful dressing and cleansing of the affected parts. The application of the oxide-of-zinc ointment has proved bene- ficial. In some cases advantage has resulted from the exhibi- tion of the bicarbonate of potash to the ewes, after the use of a saline aperient. — The Veterinarian for June. ALSIKE-CLOVER.— Alsike-clover does not attain its full luxuriance until the second year after sowing, and during the first year seldom arrives at any great degree of growth, unless on a rich, moist clay soil. In the spring of 1867, I grew, from seed sown about the 1st of March, clover twenty-four inches in height. The spring was very wet and warm, and clover of all kinds grew extraordinarily, and lodged very much. This Alsike or Swedish clover is best adapted to mistixre with other grasses. For permanent grass land, orchard grass and Alsike-clover mixed, I consider the best and most nutritious fodder that can be grown for all kinds of stock. Orchard grass and Alsike flower at the same time, and can be mowed as scon as in flower, or as soon as the flour commences wilting. Alsike-clover flowers ripen very slowly, and can stand a long time after coming in flower. It is the best clover to sow with Timothy, as it does not die oft' and get black. If the farmer vi'ishes to let his Timothy stand until after harvest, as a great many farmers do, the Alsike will still hold a fresh green colour, and give the dry, over-ripe Timothy a fiesh and healthy appearance, and wiU also make Timothy feed far better, as stock relish Timothy, especially if it be over-ripe, where there is a mixture of good, green clover in it. Alsike yields, on suitable soil, when piixed with grass, two tons per acre. It loves clay soil, especially marly clay. It also thrives on almost any kind of soil with a clay mixture. Alsike-clover does not grow as rank as common clover, after mowing ; therefore no second crop can be expected from it, as in the case of red clover. Its great advantage lies in the fact that it is more hardy than any of the red clovers, and can be cultivated on moist soil and land that is flooded at certain times of the year, on which red clover will not grow. — Pennsylvania (AmericaJ Correspondent of the Farm Journal. H THE FARMER'S MAGAZmii. PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. At a general meeting of the Derbyshire Agriciltural Society, Mr. Gilbert Murray read a paper on " Pleuro-pneumonia," Dr. Hitchman in the chair, who in opening the proceedings, said : Nothing could exceed the importance of this subject to the farmers of England, and more especially to the farmers of Derbyshire, inasmuch as this county was so especially and peculiarly liable to the scourge. During tlie last si.\ years 124,9412 head of cattle had died in this county from that disease, while in the whole country during the same period a milUon head of cattle had been lost by it. Six large cattle in- surance societies had been broken up through this malady, and they seemed to have failed to the extent to which they were sup- ported. No remedy had yet been discovered by the faculty for the disease. Those who knew Mr. Murray knew that he was a peculiarly observant man, slow to come to conclusions, and they might take it that his conclusions had not been arrived at without much consideration. Mr. Murray then read his paper as follows: — From the frequent occurrence of pleura, and the heavy losses sustained by the tenant-farmers in this and adjoining counties in con- sequence, we have been induced to bring the subject before the members of this Society, hoping that their united efforts may devise some means, if not such as to put a stop to its ravages at least to arrest its progress ; and I see here present many gen- tlemen of great intelligence and large practical experience, who are well qualified to grapple with the subject under consi- deration. Pleuro-pueumonia first made its appearance in Eng- land in the year 1840 or 1841, and spread with great rapidity over a large area in all the three kingdoms of Great Britain. During the first year after its appearance it proved extremely fatal, sweeping off entirely thousands of valuable herds on many farms, not leaving a single animal alive, and reducing many respectable and industrious families to a state of jjoverty. Since then the country has never been entirely free from its ravages, though in many cases it has assumed a milder form, and frequently runs a less rapid course ; still, in the end, in nine cases out of ten, it terminates fatally. The nostrums of the cow-leech and the scientific compounds of the best educated veterinary professors alike generally fail in arresting the disease. When once an animal has become severely at- tacked, it rarely recovers under the most skilful treatment : tlie pole-axe of the butcher will then be held to be the most certain cure, as it generally proves the most profitable to the owner. Tiie veterinary surgeon seldom has a fair trial to exercise his skill in treating the disease, especially when it comes on slowly and insidiously, iu which case the lungs have become too far decayed to admit of restoration before his advice is obtained. Close observation is necessary in order to detect the first symptoms of the disease. The appearance of the coat is a sure index to the state of the animal's health : the coat stares from the skin, becoming dry by the stoppage of per- spiration. If, with this, a short husky cough is heard as the animal moves about, it should immediately be removed from the rest of the herd to the most distant part of the farm, and kept separate from all the other stock, and no time should be lost in calling in the aid of a well-qualified veterinary surgeon, whose instructions should be strictly carried out. We think on all farms there should be a sort of small hospital or in- firmary, as far distant from the homestead as possible, and to which all animals suffering from disease could be removed at once, and the person in attendance on them I would prohibit from milking, feeding, or in any way coming into contact with the healthy portion of the stock. Ever since the first appear- ance of pleura in this country, this and the adjoining counties have suffered heavier losses than any other locality. This has been attributed to various causes ; by some to drainage, and others to the extensive use of bones and other artificial manures on the grass lauds. We think neither a valid reason, as other counties have adopted those improvements even to a greater extent without experiencing any ill effect. Whether climatic influences or the peculiar geological formation exercise any in- jurious effects on the health of the stock, is a question open to scientific investigation, as also that of the sanitary condition not only of the towns and villages, but also of the homesteads of England, as regards the comfortable housing of the farmers' stock. That this last subject is now occupying the thoughts of many busy minds we are daily seeing practically demon- strated by the improved buildings erected on every hand, and still there is ample room for more. In towns and villages where fevers aud other contagious diseases prevail, where do they first make their appearance ? Is it not in the badly- drained, ill-ventilated crowded dwellings of the poor ? If this be the case of beings endowed with the powers of speech and reason, may not similar causes be productive of similar results amongst our domesticated animals P We tliink few intelligent men are belie\ers in spontaneous generation. To produce an eft'ect there must be a cause, and we hold that contagious diseases are propagated by contact, either directly or indirectly ; yet animals are much more susceptible of disease in some states than they are in others, as milking cows, or cows in-milk and in-calf, if fed on a scanty allowance of unnutritious food, and daily exposed to the recurrent changes of a variable climate, and at night immured in a low ill-ventilated hovel, with the bare stones of the floor for a bed. If stock treated in this way should be attacked and struck down by pleura or other conta- gious diseases, need the owner wonder? Although pleuro- pneumonia, like most other diseases, attack animals more readily when reduced by want of proper food, and other condi- tions which minister to the general health and vigour of the system, yet the most liberal system of management will not in- sure an immunity from the malady if animals suffering from the disease are pastured or allowed to occupy the same sheds as those in health. I wrote to Professor Armitage, of the Glasgow Veterinary College, asking his opinion as to the sub- ject of contagion. This is his reply : " The contagious nature of pleuro-pneumonia is frequently denied, and this has led to positive error, as well as having had the effect of clogging the legislative machinery, to the great loss of the nation. There being in this disease a specific poison circulating in the blood, consequently all the secretions contain portions of this poison, which is being constantly eliminated ; the breath and exhala- tions from the skin are loaded with it ; it follows, therefore, that wherever there are substances on whicli that virus has fallen, the seeds of the disease may be conveyed aud propagated if cattle come in contact with it. An instance recently occur- red where a person was called in to examine cattle suffering from the disease, went into his own cowshed, and 17 out of 30 either died or were slaughtered iu various stages of the disease. Such cases as this show that we cannot be too careful, and every precaution should be used where the least suspicion exists. I know it is a most difficult matter for a farmer to keep his stock separate, yet if possible I would place all cattle purchased at fairs and markets in a separate yard or en- closure for at least ten days." There are farms which are said to have never been clear of pleura for the last twenty years ; such farms invariably gain a bad reputation, and are said to produce it spontaneously. I think you will agree with me that this cannot be the case if all the buildings on the farm are well white-washed vrith quicklime, the manure all removed frcni the yards, and, if pos- sible, ploughed into the land ; all the stalls and mangers dis- infected with Condy's fluid, and the land left without stock for 30 days, as in such cases the disease would lie eradicated under ordinary circumstances. We pay far too little attention to the sanitary state of our farmyards ; the whole of the buildings should once every year receive a coat of lime-wash ; it is done at small cost, and adds much to the appearance as well as contributing to the health and comfort of the slock. The only authentic statistics I can give you are those of the Harleyan dairy, at Port Dundas, where, before the cattle- plague made its appearance, the number of cows kept varied from 1,500 to 1,700, and the annual losses from pleura were on an average one-fourth. Those who are best informed esti- mate the losses iu the United Kingdom at 40,000 head yearly, which, at the moderate computation of £13 per head, shows that nearly £50,000 of the capital of the tenant-farmer is an- THE PiRMER'S MAGAZINE. 65 uuslly irretrievably swept away by this disease aloue ; and the loss does not always end here, as in numerous instances the produce often of the best part of the season is sacriliccd as well. The shipowner or the merchant by the payment of a small premium can insure his property against all risks, cither by laud or sea ; the farmer cauuot do this. 1 think nearly all cattle insurance societies have come to grief. Although the loss falls first and heaviest on the tenant farmer, yet I think it presses more or less on .all classes of the community. For the last 28 years the disease has been prevalent in this country ; and, during the whole of that time, the dairy counties have always suffered the greatest losses, consequently it has affected the income of the landlords by reducing the value of their lands. From various causes this county is peculiarly adapted for dairy farming, and much of the land would not produce an equal return under any other system and mau.agement. It likewise trenches on the income of the consumer by lessening the supply, and consequently enhancing the prices of butcher's meat and the produce of the dairy. It is often a most puz- zling and dillicult matter to trace or account for contagion reaching previously sound stock ; as a rule we generally find it to break out first amongst stock grazing near public roads much frequented by cattle passing from fairs and markets, or near large railway depots where cattle are constantly being landed from all parts of the country. Farmers who are fre- quently changing their stock cannot possibly long be without it. A few out-of-the-way places, where the farmer breeds all his own stock and never has occasion to purchase, may for a long time escape. Pleura differs front rinderpest in that the former may remain for several weeks in an incubative or latent state, whilst the latter will not so remain for as many days. It is during the earlier stages of the disease that the greatest injury is done, as it is then as contagious as in a more ad- vanced stage, although beyond the detection of the most prac- tised veterinary surgeon. Cattle are seldom exposed in a public market when the disease has become so far advanced to admit of its being easily detected. When once the disease makes its appearance on a farm, every means should be used, and the most prompt measures at once adopted, in order, if possible, to arrest its progress. I have very little taith in medical treat- ment. A few years ago, having then the management of a va- luable herd of cattle amongst which the pleura broke out, thinking then it could be cured, I tried every remedy and con- sulted many eminent veterinary surgeons, and out of upwards of twenty cases only one cow was saved and she was only sUghtly attacked. If little can be done by way of cure, I think a great deal may be done to prevent the disease spreading even after it has made its appearance amongst the stock of a farm. If the disease be in the neighbourhood, or any purchases at fairs or markets have recently been made, I would endeavour to impress on the farmer the utility of keeping a vigilant eye upon his stock, particularly early in the morning and late at night, when he will more readily discover if anything is amiss ; on the least suspicion, the animal should at once be removed from the rest of the herd and as far from them as possible. I would then set to work at once and limewash and deodorize the whole of the cattle-sheds on the farm. Should the malady from which the beast is suffering prove to be pleura, I would immediately send for a butcher and have it slaughtered at once, as the first loss generally proves the least. Whilst the cattle- plague restrictions were in force it was generally admitted that even the counties most subject to pleura had not been so free from it for many years. Since those restrictions have been withdrawn, it has been steadily on the increase, and I do not think it ever was more prevalent than it is at the pre- sent time ; the rinderpest which proved even more contagious than pleura was completely subdued andbanishedfrom these isles, andthisleadsme to think that if the same stringent measures were carried out all over the country in the case of pleura, in less than two years there would not be a single animal in the United King- dom suffering from the disease. Then comes another most important question, that of compensation for cattle which under those regulations would inevitably be slaughtered ; in- dependent of any Government aid, would it not be more bene- ficial to the interests of the tenant farmer to have his stock placed under the most stringent regulations for thirty d.iys with every chance of stamping out the malady by probably sacrificing a part of his stock to that of running the risk of losing the entire number? and, under present circnnistances, when he re-^tpcks his farm he has no means of protecting- himself from again introducing the disease in some of the animals he purchases. Many are in favour of certificates of health being issued and passed along with all cattle when re- moved to fairs or markets, or passing from one owner to an- other. This certificate should contain a clear description of the animals, and be signed by the owner and one other person fully competent to judge of the state of health of the stock to which this certificate refers, that they have been at least thirty days in the owner's possession, and no contagious dis- ease has been on the farm for the past three months ; if such cattle are taken to a market and sold, the certificate is en- dorsed by each successive owner ; if sold to various purchasers, a copy of the original document would be required for each lot. I think if some regulation of this kind could be carried out it would be a great security to purchasers. Clause 51 of the Contagious Diseases Bill of the present session is thus put : " Where an inspector finds pleuro-pneumonia to exist within his district, he shall forthwith make a declaration thereof under his hand, and shall deliver a notice under his hand of such declaration to the occupier of the field, stalile, cowshed, or other premises where the disease is found, and thereupon the rules set forth in the sixth schedule to this act," in this act called pleuro-pneumonia, rules of this act shall have effect in relation to such field, stable, cowshed, or other premises until the determination and declaration of the local authority relative thereto in this Act provided for. 52. Where an inspector makes a declaration of the existence of pleuro-pneumonia, he shall with all practicable speed send a copy thereof to the Privy Council, and deliver the declara- tion to the local authority, who shall inquire into the correct- ness thereof; and if it appears to them that pleuro-pneumonia existed, as declared by the inspector, they shall so determine and declare, and thereupon the pleuro-pneumonia rules of this Act shall continue to apply to the field, stable, cowshed, or other premises, to which the declaration relates ; but if in any such case it appear to the local authority that pleuro-pneu- monia did not exist as declared by the inspector, or that a fresh case of pleuro-pneumonia has not occurred for ten days in such field, stable, cowshed, or other premises, then the local authority shall so determine and declare, and the pleuro- pneumonia rules of this act shall cease to operate in relation thereto. Schedule 6, clause 1. These rules are to have effect with respect to any field, stable, cowshed, or other premises affected by pleuro-pneumonia. Clause 2. Cattle affected with pleuro-pneumonia are not to be moved from any field, stable, cowshed, or other premises, or from any land or buildings contiguous thereto in the same occupation, except for imme- diate slaughter, and according to regulations to be from time to time made by the local authority for insuring such slaughter. Clause 3. Other cattle are not to be moved from such field, stable, cowshed, or other premises, or from any lands or buildings contiguous thereto, in the same occupation, except for immediate slaughter, without a licence signed by an officer of the local authority appointed to issue licences in that behalf, certifying that the cattle moved are not affected with pleuro-pneumonia, and have not been in ilie same shed or herd, or in contact with cattle so affected. Clause i. Sheds and places used by cattle affected with pleuro-pneumonia are forthwith, after being so used, to be cleansed and disinfected. I think if some provision had been made to compensate the owners in cases of compulsory slaughter it would have been much more satisfactory to the owners of stock throughout the country. Mr. HoDGKiusON was of opinion that they should shoot animals afflicted with it as soon as they found it out. Mr. GiLMAN complained that farmers, whose cattle were palpably aiilicted with this disease, recklessly moved them about from place to place, and amongst other cattle, many times a day. A man in his own neighbourhood did so. Mr. Alderman Roe asked why could not the farmers of Derbyshire form themselves into a body to insure as the manu- facturers and shipowners did. He thought the example ought to be set by the landowners. If the landlords would pay an annual subscription he was sure the tenant farmers would follow, and pay an annual subscription also. A small sum per head from each individual would go a long way, as in some years the disease was not so prevalent as in others ; and if at the end of any year there had been no disease, and the money subscribed was in hand, they could divide those funds and go on again. He thought they nev^r could make this a national Q 66 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. questiou, but must depeud on some course of action which would be taken in the county, and the sooner they put their slioulders to the wheel and divided the county into sections the better. Mr. Greatorex differed from Mr. Eoe as to the formation of a club. He was sure farmers could not continue it with success, as he had had painful experience of that fact. He believed pleura was contagious, and that in a very early stage ; on two occasions, it broke out on two different portions of his farm, aud he removed the animals affected as far as possible from tlie remainder of the herd. At the time of the rinder- pest it broke out again, when he lost eight rearing calves out of ten, and it went on until he had lost 26 animals. After that he was called upon to pay the cattle plague rate. If he ever should be afflicted with it again, he should closely watch his beasts as Mr. Murray recommended, and remove them quickly. He believed if he had not done this the last time he had it on his farm he should have lost more. Mr. Coleman said the first question raised was that of prevention ; cure, he believed, and most of them be- lieved, there was none. Mr. Murray had told them how to prevent it. He had been into many cowhouses in Derby- shire in which cows got very much heated at night, being very often turned out in the cold in the middle of the day ; he coun- selled them to keep their animals shut up in cold weather, aud to give them more air. In the Coutngious Diseases 15111 there was no provision for remunerating men whose cattle were com- pulsorily slaughtered. He did not think the people of England could be got to agree to a proposition to compensate them either. He agreed with Mr. Roe that landlords and tenants might combine and secure some kind of insurance (Hear, hear). But what they wanted most was to prevent tlie moving about of affected animals. He deprecated the buying of poor stock, and said a man who went into the market and bought the poorest and cheapest beasts he could find would ruin any in- surance society. If they could get restrictions, call in in- spectors, and isolate herds, he thought they might then adopt some system to insure owners from loss, and measures miglit be taken against spreading the disease. In conclusion, he thanked Mr. Murray for bis paper. Mr. Cromptom added his thanks to those of Mr. Coleman to Mr. Murray for the able manner in which he had brought tbis matter forward. It had always struck him that the pre- sent system of forcing dairy cows to give a large quantity of milk, by the administration of bran, chop, grains, and other food cut into very small pieces, was so entirely contrary to the habits of cows, that it could not be persevered in without bringing a punishment in the shape of disease ; and he could not help feeling that to the proximity of this district to that very fruitful source of grains, Burton-on-Trent, could be traced a very considerable portion of this disease, If they toojt the human subject, healthy men, aud submitted them to a dif- ferent system of food for a number of years, they would so debilitate them that it would manifest itself by falling upon the most sensitive organ they possessed, the lungs. And he said that by our long-continued treatment of our dairy stock in this way, the constitution became debilitated, and hence the disease. If these remarks of his were not true let tliem be refuted, hut it would not be sufficient for him for a man to say that he had pursued the system of feeding cows on the kind of food he had described, but they must take the whole district round, and there were few gentlemen who had not suffered. The bill before them seemed to go to the root of the matter. They knew that at the time of the rinderpest the doctors failed, but when the slaughtering of cattle was adopted they soon got rid of it, and he believed they would be obliged to adopt something of that kind with regard to the disease under discussion. He thought men sometimes sacrificed their dairies when disease was amongst their cattle, and by selling the animals dispersed them and the disease over tlie country together. He should he glad when the measure before him became law by having the sanction of the House of Lords. It seemed a hard thing that there was no compensation for those who had their cattle slaughtered. There was ample reason for understanding why Parhament gave them powers to levy rates for compensating men for losses l)y the rinderpest ; hut that was a loss which affected the nation at large, tberefore it was right to give compensation from the national funds, and also from the different county rates. But an act of this kind for pleuro-pneumonia would only apply to Derbyshire, part of Staffordshire, and Cheshire. There was the fact of this disease, and what were they to do. He could see nothing for it but to raise some sort of insurance society as sketched by Mr. Roe, so that those farmers who had prudence could come forward and establish and support a good and stable society ; and those gentlemen who were following what used to be a profession free from risk and loss, but what had now become peouliarly liable to them, could be assisted to pursue their business with a reasonable expectation of profit and prosperity. The only disadvantage would be that to make it on a firm basis it must be placed on a large area. His only doubt was if this district was large enough for such a society to succeed. TJiey M'ere exceedingly deeply indebted to Mr. Murray for bringing this matter forward, and he thought the more it was talked about, and the more it was ventilated, the better it would he for all. Atler some remarks from Mr. Hay, Dr. HiTCHMAN delivered an able address on pleuro, its con- tagiousness, aud the means of preventing it ; and a vote of thanks liaving been passed to Mr. Murray, the proceedings termiiiEtted, THE MIDLAND FARMERS' CLUB. At a general meeting in Birmingham, Mr. W. Brewster in the chair, ..n?/'"' '^V ^- ^"TLEDGE, of Southam, read a paper on Ihe Administration of the Poor Law." He sketched the history of the law, which owed its origin to the necessity felt by tlie Legislature of adopting some other mode of repressing mendicancy and vagrancy besides the plan of attaching those severe penalties to the crime of begging which Parliament ])assed into a lavv in the year 1536 (3? Henry VIII, cap. 35). He sliovved the increase of pauperism and expenditure which led to the Royal Commission for inquiry into the subject, and the passing of the Act of 183-i. He then quoted a sentence trom the last report of the Poor Law Board to the effect that a sum of £0,959,841 had been expended for the relief of the poor during the year, being £530,330 more than the sum ex- pended during the preceding year. Tlie rate was collected upon real property of the net annual value of £93 038 4-03 At the same time the income of the country pavin- income- tax was over £313,000,000. The general income of all the in- natutants ot this country had been estimated at £600,000,000. It was evident, that if all citizens contributed according to ttiei.- ability, m accordance with the early statntr- ^f Elizabeth. instead of a poundage of Is. 4|d. upon real property a poundage of 3^d. upon the general income would he sufficient to meet the present demands of the Poor Law. As one kind of property does not derive any advantage over another in tbis matter of relieving the poor, it seemed only justice that all property should be taxed alike. On the 1st of January, 1868, the total number of paupers in England and Wales was 1,010,103; of which number 477,169 were able-bodied; or more tlian would populate two towns of the size of Binningham. Of this number 430,940 were in receipt of ont-door relief; and only 53,329 were to be found in workhouses. The average for the year of paupers at one time receiving relief was 951,546; or about 4^ per cent, of the population. The cause of this lamentable amount of pauperism could not be found in the general poverty of the country; for during the last ten years the increase in the amount of rateable property had been great. Neither did it take its origin in ff, M.F., said we have near us that most interesting experiment at Barking, the sewage farm, and 1 hope any of you going in that neighbourhood will visit it. Not only every large town, but every small town, every farm-house, and even every labourer's cottage, has some sewage to dispose of, and the sooner we all learn that the best possible way to dispose of it is to apply it to the land the better it will be. Mr. Hawkins said that the somewhat small attendance at the dinner was to be mainly attributed to the extent to which private hospitality had been dispensed by the in- habitants, and which, he said, had kept many friends away who would otherwise have been present. This spoke well for the hospitality of the town, although it militated against the at- tendance at the dinner. Mr. PAPILLO^■, speaking of the unprecedented success of the show, said on making inquiries as to who were most suc- cessful with the All-England prizes, he was very well satisfied in finding that at all events in the first twelve All-England competitions the names of eight Essex farmers appeared as winners of prizes ; and he had no doubt that if he had all the successful competitors before him he should find that Essex farmers had this year held their own as they had done before. He urged that the time had now come when Essex might throw open its arms to All-England, reserving only for Essex the special prizes given by the locality in which the show was held. He was confident that if the area of the society was thus opened Essex would still hold its own. Competition did the Essex breeders a good deal of good, and he was certain tliat after the exhibition they had seen that day the Essex meu might go home jicrfectly satisfied that their association was in a healthy and active state, and the members of the committee who had hitherto been rather timid as to extending the area of the association might now throw aside their fears and sup- port him iu goodly numbers at the annual meeting, when the subject of opening the society would be brought forward. Mr. Mecii I said, as regarded agriculture, he must congra- tulate them on the grand show they had held to-day, and which formed so great a contrast to their early exhibitions. Some of them were aware that he took great interest iu one department — that of the implements — and he regretted that he could not accept the ofler to become one of the judges. They knew that in 1851 he introduced to the county a reaping machine — he bought it at the Exhibition of 1851, and it was exhibited to a large party of influential gentlemen at his farm. He had used his reaping machine ever since, until he had worn it out, and he had had the pleasure that very day of buying a new one. W'hen he first began his fixed steam engine twenty-one years ago there was nobody in the county who understood it or could repair it when out of order ; but he was happy to congratulate the town of Colchester on having some very intelligent engineers, who had not only ma- nufactured boilers, but who he saw to-day had exhibited a very fine instrument for the drying of corn, and which was likely to form a very important implement on any farm, and especially valuable in any season when corn was not well harvested. He was happy also to see from the same manufactory a new iron hurdle for the penning of sheep. His agricultural friends must give up their old prejudices in order to carry out those improvements which they would find more profitable to them. Mr. Ejison, the Secretary, said while others had been en- joying their dinner he had been looking after the finances, and collecting together the proceeds of the day. Erom the extent of the show, and the efforts that had been used to make it a success, they had hoped that they should have been enabled that evening to have deposited in Messrs. Round and Green's bank £500 as the proceeds of the day ; but, notwithstanding the highly-unfavourable state of the weather, he was glad to say that he had had the pleasure of depositing in the bank the handsome sum of £348, besides a sum left in the careful keeping of Mr. Masbiter. — [With regard to the number of horses exhibited, we believe that in this calculation the same animal was often counted two or three times over, as ]ie con- tended in two or three different classes.] GLASGOW AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. MEETING AT GLASGOW. JUDGES. Ayrshire Cattle.— Andrew Allan, Munnoek, Dairy ; A. Allan, High Carbarns, Wishaw ; Mr. H. D. B. Hyslop, Tour, Sanquhar. Sheep and Swine. — A. Young, Keir Mains, Dunblane ; J. M'Farlane, Faslane, Helensburgh ; G. Torrence, Sisterpath, Dunse. Horses for Agricultural Purposes. — 0. Brown, Shiels, New Galloway ; R. Einlay, Springliill, Bailliestown ; J. Calder, Colgrain, Cardross. Hunters, Roadsters, and Ponies. — Captain Arbuth- not, Hatton, Marykirk ; Sir W. Bailie, Bart., Polkemmet ; R. Calder, Kelloe Mains, Edrom. Dairy Produce. — A. Osborne, 45, Candleriggs-street ; J. Paton, 328, High-street; J. Williamson, 313, Sauchiehall- street. Implements. — J. Donaldson, Paisley ; J. Renwick, Mary- liill ; G. Richmond, Scotston Mains, Partick. CATTLE. AYRSHIRE. Cow ill milk, — First prize, £15, J, Williamson, Auchen- rath, Blantyre ; second and third, £7 and £3, L. Drew, Merry- ton, Hamilton ; fourth and fifth, £3 and £1, R. Murdoch, Hallside, Cambuslang. Highly commended : J. Feming, Car- muirs, Falkirk ; A. R. Foulds, Clerklaud, Stewarton. Com- mended : W. Carswell, Craig, Neilston ; R. M'Kean, Lum- locli, Cadder. Cow bred by the exhibitor. — First prize, £4, J. Jackson, Blantyre Farm, Blantyre ; second, £3, A. Snodgrass, Mol- landhu, Cardross ; third, £1, J. Meikle, Seafield, Bathgate. Commended : J. Meikle. Three-year-old cow in milk. — First prize, £10, A. Holms, Jaapstone, Neilston ; second, £5, J. Meikle; third, £3, J. Jackson ; fourth, £2, R. Wilson, Forehouse ; fifth, £1, R. Murdoch ; sixth, certificate, J. Stewart, Burnside Cottage, Strathaven. Commended: J. Williamson, Auchenraith, Blan- tyre. Two-year-old quey in milk. — First prize, £5, J. Coats, Blan- tyre Farm, Blantyre ; second, £3, R. Murdoch ; third, £1, J. Jackson ; fourth, certificate, A. Holms. Cow in ealf. — First prize, £4, R. W^ilson, Forehouse, Kil- Larchan ; second, £3, J. Stewart; third, £2, J. Fleming, Meadowbank Cottage, Strathaven ; fourth, £1, J. Meikle, 74 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, HiglUy couimeucled : H. Youug, Crooks, Bishopton ; and J. Stewart. Three cows of auy agc^Pirst prizCj L'6, 11. M'Kenu ; sec- ond, £3, J. Stewart. Two-year-old quey, yeald, and not in calf. — i'irst prizo, £3, R. Murdoch ; second, £3, J. M. Martin, Aucliinfroe, Card- ross; third, £1, A. Graham, Blackwater, Kilmarnock ; fourth, certificate, A. Holms. One-year-old quey. — Krst prize, £3, R. Dick, Turnlaw, Cambuslang ; second, £3, J. Fleming ; third, £1, J. Mit- chell, Blackhouse, Eagleshara. Highly commended : James Fleming, Carmuirs, Falkirk ; and J. Mitcliell. Bull, calved before 1st January, 1807. — First pris^e, £Ci and silver medal, 11. AVilson ; second, £3, J. F'leming ; third, £3, Sir M. 11. Sliuvv Stewart, Bart., Ardgowan ; fourth, £1, JR.. Craig, Buckley, Bishopbriggs. Highly commaudcd : W. M'Adam, Kepculloch, Balfron. Two-year-old bull. — First prize, £1-, J. Dick, Sliirrel, Bells- liill ; second, £3, 1\ Ballantyne, Netherton, East Kilbride ; third, £1, W. Scott, Dykehead, Hamilton. Highly commended: J. Meikle, Blackburuhall, Whitburn. One-year-old bull. — First prize, £3, L. Drew, Merryton, Hamilton ; second, £3, A. Snodgrass ; third, £1 10s., D. llid- dell, Kilbowie, Duutocher ; fourth, certificate, T. Ballan- tyne, Netherton, East Kilbride. Highly commended : J. Fleming. ExTUA. — Best cow or quey, belonging to tenant-farmers, graizers, cottars, or proprietors farming the whole of tlieir own lands, farming being their prhicipal occupation, whether members of the Society or not, in Renfrewshire, Dumbarton- shire, and the Lower and Middle Wards of Lanarkshire (the gift of Lieutenant-Colonel Carrick-Buchanan, and the mem- bers of the Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire Hunt). — £5 and silver medal, J. Williamson, Auohenraith, Blantyre. HORSES. roil AGUICULTUKAL PUliPOSES. Brood mare in foal, or with foal at foot. — First prize, £10, J. Gourlay, Westerfarm, Tollcross ; second, £5, Major Findlay, Boturich Castle, Dumbartonshire ; third, £3, L. Drew ; fourth, £1, J. Hendrie, Kirkwood, Coatbridge. Yeald mare. — First prize, £10, L. Drew ; second, £5, D. lliddell, Kilbowie, Dnntocher ; third, £3, A. Buchanan, Gar- scadden Mains, East Kilpatrick ; fourth, £1, Col. Campbell of Blythswood, Renfrew ; iiftli, certificate, Sir M. R. Shaw Stewart, Bart. Three-year-old filly. — First prize, £5, L. Drew; second, £3, J. Freeland, Broadgate, Strathblane ; third, £1, A. Gra- ham, Blackwater, Kilmalcolm. Three-year-old entire horse. — First prize, £5, J. N. Flem- miug, of Keill ; second, £3, W. Crawford, Ancholtcr, Rothesay ; third, £1, and fourth, certificate, D. Riddell. Two-year-old filly. — F'irst prize, £4, A. Buchanan ; second, £3, J. Watson, Glencairu House, Motherwell; third, £1. Major Findlay ; certificate, J. Brownlie, Holehouseburn, Whit- burn. One-year-old iilly. — First prize, £3, J. N. Flemmiug ; second, £3, R. M'Indoe, Easter Walkiushaw, Paisley ; third, £1, J. Coubrough, Blairtummoch, Campsie. Two-year-old entire colt. — First prize, £-1, W. Anderson, Barneil, Kirkmichael ; second, £3, 11. Weir, Browuhill, Caru- wath ; third, £1, W. Stewart, Thornley Park, Paisley ; fourth, certificate, J. Hendrie. Highly commended: R. Nelson, Cul- reoch, Stranraer ; D. Riddell. One-year-old entire colt. — First prize, £3, P. Cr;iwford, Dumgoiaek, Strathblane ; second, £3, J. Ritchie, White Castle, Carnwaith; third, £1, J. Craig, Drumsbang, Maybole ; fourth, certificate, W. M'Gaviii, Merkland, Partick. Draught mare or gelding in harness. — First prize, £6, A. Wallace, Westburn, Cambuslang ; second, £4, J. Young, Hamilton Farm, Rutherglen ; third, £3, J. Bell, Cleddens House, Bishopbriggs ; fourth, £1, J. M'Call, Gallowhill, Car- muuuock. Highly commended ; Mrs. Bowes, Croftfoot, Car- muunock ; J. Gourlay. HUNTERS. Horse or mare of any age. — First, £10, R. F. Alston, Bath- street, Glasgow ; second, £5, D. Mathesou, (5, Park-terrace, Glasgow ; third, £3, J. A. Brodie, Waterside, Busby ; fourth, £3, A. Uiliiujiir, ^luirlK.'fV': Neihton. ' KOADSTEKS. Horse or mare of auy age. — F'irst prize, £5, A. J. H. Somer- \ ille, Grcenbauk, Bothwell ; second, £3, W. T, Ellison, 23, St. Enoch-square, Glasgow ; third, £3, M. Clark, Croftengea, Alexandria ; certificate, J. H. M'Nab, South Arthurlie, Barr- head. Pony suited for sweet-milk cart, not exceeding 14| hands high. — First prize, £3, A. Gilmour ; second, £3, D. Riddell ; third, £1, J. Ritchie, 39, Weaver-street, Glasgow ; fourth, certificate, R. Cowan, 11, Kent-street, Glasgow. Horse or mare suited for butter-milk cart, not exceed- ing 15 hands high. — First prize, £3, J. Gilraouv, Stouebyres, Eaglesham ; second, £3, H. Stewart, Balgray, Spriugburn. Pony, not exceeding 13 hands high. — F'irst prize, £3, J. Watson ; second, £1, A. Gilmour ; third, IDs., Miss Anne Ross, Bredisholm, Ballieston. Extra. — Mare or filly, belonging to tenant-farmers, graziers, cottars, or proprietors farming the whole of their own lands, farming being their principal occupation, whether members of the society or not, in Renfrewshire, Dumbartonshire, and the lower and middle wards of Lanarkshire (the gift of Lieut.- Col. Carrick-Buchanan and the members of the Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire Hunt). — £5, A. Buchanan. Colt, not exceeding tliree years of age, belonging to tenant- farmers, graziers, cottars, or proprietors farming the whole of their o\i'n lands, farming being their ])rincipal occupation, whether members of the society or not, in Renfrewshire, Dura- bartoiisbire, and llie lower and middle wards of Lanarkshire (the gift of Lieut.-Col. Carrick-Buchanan aud the members of till! Lanarksliirc and Henfrcwshire, Hunt). — £5, D. Riddell. SHEEP. I.EICESTER. Tup, not less than four-shear. — First prize, £3, A. Smith, Stevenson Mains, Haddington ; second, £1, L. Drew ; third, certificate, L. Drew. Shearling ram, lambed after 1st January, ISGS. — First prize, £4, A. Smith ; second, £3, the Dnke of Buccleuch, Dalkeith Park, Dalkeith; third, £1, A. Smith. Highly commended : L. Drew. Pen of three shearling ewes or gimmers. — First prize, £5, the Duke of Buccleuch ; second, £3, A. Smith ; third, £1, L. Drew. Highly commended : L. Drew. BLACKFACED. Pair of tups, not more than four-shear. — First prize, £3, second, £1, highly commended, D. Foyer, Knowhead, Campsie. Class V. — First prize, £3, second, £1, commended, D. Foyer. Pen of three ewes, not more than four-shear, in lamb, or with lamb at foot. — £3, J. Orr, Linthills, Lochwinuoch. Pen of five ewe lioggs, lambed after 1st January, 1868. — £3, J. Orr. EXTRA STOCK. Pair of shearling gimmers in wool. — Highly commended : J. M'Call. SWINE. Sow, large breed. — First prize, £3, J. Gordon, of Aithen- head, Cathcart ; second, £1, J. M'Creath, Stobcross Farm, Saudyford. Boar, small breed. — £3, J . Gordon. Sow, small breed. — First prize, £3, second, £1, J. Gordon. DAIRY PRODUCE. Best fresh butter — not less than 3 lbs. — 1, £3 and a silver medal, A. Lithgow, Drumtall, East Kilbride ; 3, £3, A. Lara- bie, Kirkland, Eaglesham ; 3, £1 10s., R. Patersou, West Burns of Clyde, Yoker ; 4, £1 10s., AV. Lambie, Netherton, Eaglesham ; 5, Certificate, A Bulloch, Milliken, East Kilpat- rick. Highly commended — A. Aitkenhead, New Farm, East Kilbride ; S. Wallace, Chapelton, Maryhill. Commended — A. Aitkenhead, Murray, East Kilbride ; A. Gilmour, Cross- hill, East Kilbride ; W. Pollock, Mains, East Kilbride. Best powdered butter, not less than 3 lbs. — 1,£3 and silrer medal, Andrew Lithgow, Drumtall, East Kilbride ; 2, £3, John Harailtou, Brisbane Mains, Largs; 3, .£1 10s., Arthur Gil- mour, Crossbill, East Kilbride ; 4, £1, Archibald Lambie, Kirkland, Eaglesham ; 5, 10s., Robert Patersou, W^est Barns of Clyde, Y'oicer; C, Certificate, G. Muir, Fiugart, Dunlop. Highly commended — W. Harvey, Miludovan, Strathblane ; W. Lambie, Nethf;r|»n, Eaglesham. Commended— T. Morton, Dfilrauir ; S. AVapn.ce, Chapelton, Maryhill. THE 1 ARMER'S MAGAZINE. 75 IMPLEMENTS iND MACHINES. Kemp, Murray, & Nicholson, Stirling— liiglily commended for consolidating laud roller. J. Richardson, Bnmton Place, Carlisle— medal for combined corn and grass seed cleaning machme. A. Jack & Sous, Mnybole, Ayrshire— highly commended for collection. ]). Gordon, S: Co., Ayr — highly commended for one new re- gistered double-dash churniug machine ; four improved curd mills ; and four registered compound lever cheese presses. T. Hunter, Maybole — medal for one set Dickson's new patent double-drill turnip oieaner ; and one set improved zig- zag harrows, with patent fastened tines. G. M'Carteney & Co., Cumnock, Ayrshire— highly com- mended for thrashing machine for two or three horses ; straw- eutter, with two-length cuts, for hand or power ; and double- sole cheese press. J. WHtt, Biggar — medal for improved broad-cast sowing machines. J. Druramoud, Cumnock, Ayrshire — medal for one thrash- ing machine with fans, for four or six horses ; and highly com- mended for one cheese press. A M'Kerrow, Beansburn, by Kilmarnock — commended for collection. A. S; J. Main Sc Co., RenSeld Street, Glasgow — highly com- mended for patent hay tedder, aud also for general collection. P. &R. Fleming & Co., 29 Argylo Street, Glasgow— medal for one Pirie's patent D. F. B. plough ; and liighly commended fer Pirie's improved zig-'/.ag harrows. J. Angus, Parkhead Smith .lud Wright Works, Glasgow- medal for collection, J. Uunlop, 185 Main Street, Miiryhill— commended for two pair harrowis. Brigliam and Bickerton, Tweed Implement Works, Berwick — liighly commended for one patent drill roUer. J. Norman, Pnlteney Street Engine Works, Port-Dundas, Glasgow — liighly commended for machine for dressing the face of millstones with a diamond. J. & M. Craig, Perceton and Ilillhead Fireclay Works, Kil- marnock— medal for collection. J. Wallace & Sou, 7 Graham Square, Glasgow — highly com- meuded for No. 1 mowing and reaping machine. W. Ilume, 195 Buchanan Street, Glasgow — commended for general collection. • J. Fowler & Co., Steam Plough Works, Leeds— commended for one two-horse patent improved lever drill-sowing machine. R. M'Tear, 37 Renfield Street, Glasgow — commended for general purposes. W. D. Young&Co., lOS St. Vincent Street, Glasgow- commended for collection. C. W. Murray & Co., foundry, Banff — highly eomraended for one improved drill sowing macliiue ; and. commended for improvement on horse rake. Law, Duncan, & Co., Shettleston, Glasgow — highly com- mended for farm tipping cart, witli broad wheels. J. Pringle, 33 Horse Market, Kelso, and 1 Victoria Street, Edinburgh — highly commended for one Pirie's double furrow plough. Mackay and Fairbairn, Scicnnes Iron Works, Edinburgh — highly commended for new improved continuous fence. J. Robertson, IG, Greenhill Street, Glasgow — commended for general collection. THORNE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. MEETING AT THORNE. The number of entries this year was 173, which, though less than the previous year, were considerably better in quality. The names of former successful competitors will again be found this year amongst the prizemen, particularly Mr. H. AV. Godfrey, Mr. Michael Askern, Messrs. Coulman, and Mr. Jackson Everatt. Hunting and carriage horses were quite equal to previous shows, whilst draught horses were so exceed- ingly well matched that the judges had some little difficulty in awarding the prizes. The usual ring in which the animals came before the judges, as before mentioned, was placed a short distance from where the horses stood, and proved a most attractive spot to many of tliose present. Separating the horses and cattle were the agricultural implements, of which there was a good assortment. The exhibition of horned cattle was not large. The largest class was in cows for dairy purposes, and of these there were some very useful animals. C)nly two bulls were exhibited, and their owners took the two prizes Of sheep there were about 40 entries, comprising some good and first- class stock. Leicester gimmers, long-woollcd Leicester ewes, and aged rams were all well represented. PRIZE LIST. JUDGES. Horses. — J. Brook, Imminghaiit, Ulceby ; W: Munday, jun., Wrawby, Brigg; W. Godson, Normanby-by-Stow, Ijainsbro'. Cattle.— T. Rollitt, Southorpe, Kirton-Lindsey ; T. Smith, Gringley-ou-the-Hill, Bawtry ; JMr. Wright, Oglethorpe Hall, T'adcaster. IMPLEMENTS. Implement manufactered by e.\hibitor, £2 2s., B. Sander- son, Thorne. Collection of implements and macliines, £5 53., J. Glew, Hovvdcn. HORSES. Mare and foal for agricultural purposes, £2, J. Coulmin, Thome; second, Baddiley, Hatfield, Mare and foal, hunting, £-2,[il. W. Godfrey, Thorne; second, M. Askern, Thorne. Mare and foal, carriage, £2, T. and A. Reynolds, Carlton ; second, J. S. Hill, Newland, Epworth. Mare and foal, roadster, £3, H. W. Godfrey ; second, I. Wells, Hatfield. Yearling colt or filly for agricnltnral purposes, £1 10s., H. Robinson, Thome ; second, M. Durham, Thorne ; commended, Mr. Borman, Wombwell. Two-year-old gelding or filly for agricultural purposes, £1 10s., F. T. Turner, Armthorpe"; second, T. Bramley, Barlow ; commened, J. Fox, Owston I'erry. Yearling colt or filly, hunting, £1 10s., B. Tate, Qusquo ; second, W. Glentworth, jun., Goole ; commended, M. Askern. Two-year-old gelding or filly, hunting, £1 10s., W. Burton, Eastoft Hall ; second, T. Perkins, Snaith. Three-year-old selding or filly, hunting, £1 10s., H. W. Godfrey; second, W. Burton; commended, T. Long, Leeds. Yearling colt or fitly, carriage. No entry. Two-year-old gelding or lilly, carriage, £1 10s., II. W. God- frey ; second, G. Outwin, Hatfield Parks. Carriage gelding or mare of any age, £3, A. Brown, Ponte- fract ; second, J. Reader, Holme, Spalding Moor. Y''earluig colt or filly, roadster, £1 10s., R. Maw, Grove House ; second, 11. W. Godfrey. Two-year-old gelding or filly, roadster, £1 10s., T. E. Mor- rell, Hellaby; second, E. Ellis, Bentley ; commended, II. W. Godfrey. Tliree-year-old gelding or filly, roadster, £2, T. Wakefield, Messingliam ; second, W. Whaley, Thorne. Three-year-old gelding or filly for agricultural purposes, £5, W. Tennant, Barlow ; second, J. Everatt, Langhton. Pair of draught horses, £5, S.Thompson, Skipwith ; secnnd, E. Coulman, Plains House; commended, E. Coulman. Pair of dray or other dransht horses, cnp, value £5, Crawshaw and Blakeley, Dewsbnry ; second, C.Brierley, Mid- dleton. Single draught hor.se, of any age or sex, for agricultural pur- gQses, £1 10s,, M. Askern ; second, E. Coulmai}. 76 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. lloadsfer, uag-, or mare, of auy age, cup £6, G. Wakefield ; second, A. Cranswick, Tlioruholme ; commended, J. Benson, Westliale. Lady's hackney, of any age or sex, cup, £5, Mrs. Ibbetson, Greenland Hall ; second, Mrs. Clarke, llook House, Uowdcn. Pony, not exceeding 14 hands, cup, £3 3s., Mr. Gurnell, Bronghton, Brigg ; second, J. Wright, Howden ; commended, G. Harrison, Scrooby. Pony, not exceeding 13 hands, £1 10s., C. Dook, Levels, Thome ; second, Crawshaw and Blakeloy ; commended, T. Dannatt, Belton. Yearling colt or filly by Antwerp, £1 Is., M. Askern. Two-year-old colt or filly, hv Antwerp, £2 2s., R. Hopkin- son, Kirk House Green. Two-year-old colt or filly, by Engineer, ±2 2s., G. Outwin. CATTLE. Bull, not more than three years old, £4: 4s., J. C. Coulraan, Bradholme ; second, J. Dickenson, Partridge Hill. Cow in calf or milk, for dairy purposes, £2, J. Dickinson ; second, Mr. Stacy, Wilby. Heifer, in calf or milk, under three years old, £1, M. Askern ; second, B. J. Whittaker. Pair of calves above 12 and under 18 months, £1, E. Stones, Thome ; second, M. Askern. Heifer calf — Very highly commended : E. Casson, Thorne. SHEEP. Long-wooUed or Leicester ram, of any age, £2 and second, J. E. Moorhouse, New Chapel, Peniston ; commended, E. T. Turner, Armthorpe. Shearling long-wooUed or Leicester ram, £2, J. F. Moor- house ; second, J. Mann, Sprotbro'. Two-shear long-wooUed or Leicester rara, £2, J. Mann ; second, H. W. Godfrey. Pen of five long-woolled or Leicester ewes, £2, E. T. Tur- ner ; second, J. Winder, Newton ; commended, M. Askern. Pen of five long-woolled or Leicester gimraers, £5, G. AVood, Doncaster ; second, E. T. Turner. Pen of five long-woolled or Leicester wedders, £2, G. Wood ; second J. C. Coulman. Pen of five lambs, £2, B. J. Whittaker ; second, M. Askern. PIGS. Boar of any breed, £1 10s., P. Eoster, Ealand; second, M. Askern. Sow, of any breed, £1 10s., E. Whaley, Thorne; second, G. Swallow, Thorne. EXTllA. STOCK. Highly commended : W. Bleasby, Thome ; W. Hepworth, jun., Beavswood Green ; and E. Harrison, Thorne. HANTS AND BERKS AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. MEETING AT READING. Occurring so soon after the meeting of the West of England Society at Southampton, it was to be expected that the Hants and Berks would be shorn of somef of its glory ; and this was the more observable in the sheep and horse classes, both of which have been much better, and, as regards the sheep, far more numerously represented. A large number of pens, for which entries had been made, were unoccupied, and the com- petitors scarcely exceeded the number of prizes. This was particularly the case in the class for ewe tegs, and in the class for shearling rams. It is possible the shearling ewes of Mr. Rawlence, and the ram of world-wide fame of Mr. Morrison, of Eonthill, might have scared many an intended exhibitor from his post, for there was little chance against such superior animals, good in their growth and quality,audskilfully got upforshow. Mr. Druce, of Burghfield, was very successful with his Oxford- shire cross-breds, against the Shropshires and Cotswolds, but Lord Chesham obtained the prize for his very superior pen of Shropshire shearling ewes. In the horse stallion class there was nothing remarkable ; some useful animals, but nothing su- perior. The mares were more useful, but the entries few. In the two chisses for two ajid three-year-old fillies there were no entries. In the hunters' class there were only two competitors ; the first prize in which was carried olf by Mr. J. Cauuiiig, of Sutton Scotney, whose horse proved himself a superior fencer. The cattle section surpassed all the others, and there were some good animals in most of the classes, where Mr. Walter, M.P., took the chief j)ri/,es. The show of pigs was not large, but the quality was good, and the Berkshire breed maintained its pre-eminence in these parts ; Mr. Heber Humphrey, however, having a long lead. The stand of the Suttons, seedsmen, was an object of great attraction, but agricultural machinery was not largely repre- sented, although local firms exhibited their usual quantum of steam power and other implements adapted to the requirements of the day. The Heading Ironworks Company, Tasker, Wallis and Steevens, Gower, Hobbs, Wilder, and Williams were amongst the e.xhibitors. A suitable piece of grass for the trial of mowing machines was obtained contiguous to the field in which the exhibition was held, and there was a trial between five mowing machines. Half an acre was allotted to each of the competitors : — Samuel- son, Wood, Burgess and Key, Kearsley, and the Reading Iron Works Company. The first prize of 3 gs. was awarded to the machine of Messrs. Samuelson and Co. ; Wood's patent re- ceived the second of 2 gs. ; while to Burgess and Key was awarded the third prize of 1 gn. The dinner took place in the Town Hall, with Mr. J. Walter, M.P., in the chair. In the course of the proceed- ings the secretary, Mr. Henry Downs said : With respect to the Show, Hampsliire had been a little behind-hand. The sheep were not equal to the pigs. A good deal had been said about the success of the Society, and he knew that there was an under-current at work, and the fact was that if the Society stood still, other Societies would swallow it up. He offered no opinion on the matter, but those who knew him best knew that the sooner his duties were over the better it would be for him. He believed that the funds of the Society were in a fair condition, but the question was whether they should be able to compete with the people in the West of England ? He had no doubt it could be done if they would put their shoulders to the wheel ; but if not, they had better merge into some other Society. Some steps should be taken to enlarge the sphere of the Society's operations. EXPORT OE SHORTHORNS.— The following Short- horns were shipped from London in the " Cornelius Grinnell" for New York, on the 2nd of June, by Mr. R. Gibson, for Messrs. Walcott and Campbell, of Oneida Co., New York : — " Royal Briton," roan bull, calved July 20, 18G8 ; bred by Mr. T. C. Booth, Warlaby, Yorkshire ; by Lord Blithe (22126) ; 500 guineas. " Bride of the Vale," roan cow, calved January G, 18G5 ; bred by Mr. T. C. Booth, War- laby, Yorkshire ; by Lord of the Valley (14837) ; 1,000 gs. " Merry Peal," roan heifer, calved June 22, 18GG ; bred by Mr. T. C. Booth, Warlaby, Yorkshire ; by Commander-in- Chief (21451) ; 500 gs. " Jolly Queen," roan cow, calved March 10, 18G4; bred by Mr. J. Logan, Maindee House, Newport, Monmouthshire; by Prince of the Empire (20578) ; 200 gs. " Empress of Acomb," roan heifer, calved April 18, 1867 ; bred by Mr. T. Jolly, Acomb, York ; by Lord Blithe (22126) ; 100 gs. " Pair Maid of Hope," white heiler, calved Eebruary 4, 18G5 ; bred by Mr. R. Chaloner, King's Eort, Kells, Ireland ; by General Hopewell (17953) ; 150 gs. Royal Briton, Bride of the Vale, and Merry Peal, were purchased by private contract from Mr. Booth, being the first females sold for breeding purposes from Warlaby for many years ; while Jolly Queen and Empress of Acomb were from Mr. How ; and Pair Maid of Hope was the highest priced animal at Mr. Chaloner's sale in 1869. THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY'S MEET- ING AT MANCHESTER.— Not only, as we have already re- ported, are the entries of horses and sheep very large, but the Shorthorns will also be represented in such strong numerical force that it has been found necessary to appoint two sets of judges for this breed, the one set to take the male and the other the female classes. At the great Battersea Meeting, if we re, member aright, tlie same cpurse was adopted. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. THE ADULTERATION OF SEEDS BILL. The ailulteration of seeds has settled into so thoroughly an established branch of business that it becomes very difliciilt to deal with. Such was one of the main argu- ments advanced in the House of Commons. Tn fact, just as it is customary to give compensation on the abolition of certain offices and places, so should there be some consideration evinced when upsetting a trade that has descended for generations from father to son. But even beyond this, the admitted ob- stacles which have so far existed to proving a case, or bringing the practice quite home, would almost appear to be accepted by some as a sufficient reason for coun- tenaucing its countinuance. The same seed will not grow equally well on different soils ; as there are varie- ties of season, comparative excellence of cultivation, and other matters which must be all carefully taken into account before we too hastily uphold or condemn the sample we may have been using. All such points, however, are mere truisms when placed side by side with the plain facts that the system of adultera- tion is recognised almost as a profession, and that where one plant misses by chance or unfavourable circumstance ninety-nine fail, simply because it was impossible for them to flourish. If a man sell by short measure, he is amenable to fine or imprisonment. The law very properly makes it a duty to hunt him out and show him up. And where could there possibly be found any worse example of short mea- sure than with a tradesman who offers a bushel of seed, two-thirds of which is good and the remainder utterly useless, if not more positively injurious ? The customer, moreover, who is defrauded of so many ounces in his loaf of bread, or joint of meat, can calculate his loss, whereas it is quite out of the power of the defrauded farmer to do so. lie is robbed alike of his time, his means, and his labour, and through him the public suffers, at least in a degree, The failure of a crop of any kind iu this country must be felt by the people, and there are few such utter failures as are traceable to the now com- mon adulteration of seeds. The matter, then, is scarcely more an agricultural question than a general one, and yet we see the President of the Board of Trade very much inclined to laugh the thing out of Court, as he draws a picture of " One half of the county inspectors looking after the other." Surely, though, a Minister can put forward no so feeble a plea as that he declines to correct a wrong, because this would be attended with some trouble and expense ! In the good old days our fore- fathers hesitated to travel through the land from the num- bers of robbers that were known to infest the highways ; but iu our own times shall we refrain from cultivating the land for much the same reason ; and that is, the numbers of robbars who infest our markets and home- steads ? The oue evil is now as monstrous as ever was the other. The flash Toby-man who put his pistol to your head and demanded your money or your life, floui-ished for a period with all the impunity which in this age attends the dealer in 000. He made money rapidly and easily, and the means by which he did so were as well known as if he had been engaged iu some honest calling. A.nd it is pre- cisely so with his successor. There can be no more pos- sible secret as to the existence of this nefarious business than when Macheath sung of his doings on the road. But the Captain was eventually driven from his fastnesses ; not without difficulty nor without cost to the State, although these would appear to be considerations suffi- ciently weighty to deter those who have now the care of our fortunes from anything like prompt or decisive action. But the difficulty is, as we believe, exaggerated. It is impossible to go through the admirable speech in which Mr. Welby moved the second reading of the bill — an address which we give in full — without seeing that the actual proof of fraud is not altogether impossible, as that it is by no means idle to expect that the trade may be broken up. The system itself affords peculiar facilities for suppressing it. Unlike the aduiteratiou of bread, beer, or other articles of consumption, the adulteration of seed is a wholesale rather than a retail business. As Mr. Welby clearly shows, were the local dealer or agent to do much for himself, iu this way, he would be pretty certain of detection ; but, like Peter Pinder's pedlar, he procures his brooms " ready made." Iu an amusing letter, which we published last week, the writer, Mr. Richardson, says " the best guarantee is to go to a local seedsman of known respectability ; " although, at the same time, it might be quite as well to ascertain to whom the local dealer goes. We so get the line laid out with tolerable clearness ; as once make the offence a punishable one, and we do not think that the difficulty of tracing it out would be altogether so great as has been anticipated. The evil, as we have already said, is in a great degree a national one, or if it has another phase it is essentially a poor man's question. The inspectors — we avail ourselves of Mr. Bright's own words — the inspectors employed to look up the tradesman's weights and measures are found to be employed mainly for the protection of the poor, and so it would be with the inspectors of seeds and samples. As is well known, it is the small farmer who suffers above all others from the tricks i)layed with cakes and corn. The man of capital and position can command the services of science, can afford to pay his price and go to the best houses, and so far he is comparatively safe. But it is the great majority of those lower in the scale who arc robbed and deluded, and whose custom flows away from respectable firms to others where the business comes to depend upon systematic chicanery and dishonesty. And the respectable firms have been the originators of this movement. The respectable firms have afforded Mr. Welby the matei'ial for an address, of which he has made the best use ; and that, so far as Agriculture be concerned, is far away the most serviceable speech of the Session. Not but that the whole debate, whatever may come of the Bill, must do good ; for Mr. Sewell Read and Mr. Hunt also spoke with cftect, while certain awkward facts were elicited that at any rate should serve to put the farmer more and more upon his guard. He has become keenly alive to the losses he may sustain by the spread of disease amongst his stock, as he has been occasionally a heavy sufferer in this way ; whereas, from the use of adulterated seed in raising his crops, he has long been an habitual sufferer. He is here the victim not of a visitation, but of a system. He is deliberately plundered in the outset, only to be the more injured in the end. His loss, moreover, is not confined to himself; and, as all this is admitted, it is certainly time that some vigorous effort were made to remedy a practice in modern husbandry that tends quite as much to the growth of weeds as of corn. Mr. W^LBY, who moved the second reading of the Seeds Adulteration Bill, in the House of Commons, said ; 78 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. In the remarks 1 am aljout to offer it will be, I fear neeessary for me to make statements reflecting seriously on the probity of seedsmen as a class ; but I wish to guard myself at the outset from being supposed to imply that there are no honourable exceptions, no men who do and will supply their customers with a pure and genuine article. On the contrary, this Bill owes its origin, in a great measure, to the desire felt among the principal members of the trade to seethe practices formally put au end to, which they have iiound tlieir own individual ofiorts unable to cope with. Although, this .subject may not be very familiar to many members, I am sure I need not point out at any length the importance to the farmer of having pure and vigorous seed to put into his land. On all arable farms a large proportion, and, on many, half of the whole produce of the farm depends on the seed and root crops, especially turnips and clover. These are the cases in which the farmer is most extensively detrauded, and they are precisely those in which he is most deficient in the knowledge neces- sary to protect himself. In wheat, barley, oats, &e., his con- stant habit of handling, at all stages of growth, and com- paring samples, renders him as good a judge as any profes- sional expert ; but in the smaller seeds, whicli he is seldom able to grow for himself, and where there is infinite variety with very close resemblance, he is almost entirely at the mercy of the seedsman; and this is true of the small farmer even more than of the large farmer. The latter lias the means and opportunity generally of going to some seedsman of esta- blished reputation ; but the little man is obliged to go probably to some small retailer in his immediate neigh- bourhood, perhaps, the only man who will give him credit ; and he looks to him very often, not, perhaps, exactly as his "guide, philosopher and friend," but as a guarantee that the seed sold him is pure, and as an adviser as to what sorts of 'seed are best suited to the climate and soil of his farm. Now, the House may take it as'au established fact, that all well-grown, well-preserved new seeds ought to be capable of germinating to the extent of at least 90 per cent. It is also, I am sorry to say, a fact that of the seed sold to the farmer, especially tur- nip seed, as a rule, not more than 66 or 70 per cent, is capable of germinating, and frequently not nearly so much; in other words, at least one-third of them are rubbish. This part of the subject was carefully tested about ten years ago by Professor Buckmau in a series of experiments, the result of whicli was, that of ten picked samples of tur- nip seed 92 per cent, came up, 8 per cent, failed. Of eight marliet samples, said to be sold just as they were re- ceived from the wholesale dealers, 68 per cent, came up, 32 failed. Of eight market samples of Swede turnips 24.8 per cent, failed. Of twenty samples of common and Swede turnips, obtained direct from wholesale dealers, 70.2 per cent, came up, 29.8 failed. Within the last few months a sub-committee of the Royal Ilorticultural Society instituted a further series of experiments, the results of which, curiously corroborate those of Prof. Buckman. They procured samples from nearly all the wholesale dealers in London ; and they found that of white turnip seed, on an average 74 per cent, came up, and 20 failed ; of yellow turnip seed, 06j came up, while 33J, or exactly one-third of the whole, failed; while of otlier sorts of less, though still of great importance— of cauliflower and broccoli, only 51 per cent., or little more than half, came up ; and of carrots — which, however, are rather an exceptional crop — actually less than 40 per cent, germinated, showing that 60 per cent., or three-fifths, was valueless. So I think I am warranted in my statement that of the seed sold to the farmer at least one-third is rubbish \Yhich never comes up at all ; and if any further proof of this were needed, I miglit adduce the fact, that when a farmer grows his own seed he uses fully one-third less on his land than he would of bought seed. This, then, is one branch of my subject : one great complaint against the seedsmen, that of tlie seed sold by them a large proportion has in it no vitality at all ; the other is, that of that which has vitality a great deal is not what it is represented to be, but is the seed of inferior species, frequently spurious sorts and mere weeds, which either naturally bear or by artificial means lias been made to bear so close a resem- blance to the genuine as to be undistinguishable by the ordi- nary purchaser. Now, I may say at once, that with the ad- mixture of seeds inferior indeed, but bearing a natural resemblance to that with which they are mixed, this bill does not in any way profess to deal. I am quite aware of the extent of this evil. I know, for instance, that sainfoin is adulterated with the seed of a strong rank-growing weed called " burnet" to such an extent that by the third year the burnet has completely choked out the sainfoin, not more than 5 per cent, of which is left. I know that in a bushel of clover-seeds the weed seeds are frequently to be counted by the million, and the weed plants which they produce in an acre by the 100,000. I know that plaintain-seed is uublush- ingly mixed largely with clover, and sold at full price, though worth at most only half ; but these are cases which I hold it is impossible to touch by legislation. You cannot draw the line between fraud and carelessness, or even between inten- tional adulteration and unavoidable impurities ; and tlie pur- cliaser must look out for himself. So, too, I may say that T do not propose to deal with seeds which have lost their vitality simply by being kept too long, although I have been very strongly urged to do so ; and some parties whose authority I cannot but respect think that unless they are included the bill will be virtually inoperative. I know the inj ury done in this way is enormous ; the temptation to the fraud lies in the uncer- tainty and precarious nature of the crop of most seeds, and the profit which is consequently to be obtained by buying cheap in a good year when tliere is a glut, and holding over to sell dear in a year when there is a scarcity, either alone or mixed with new seed. I should be very glad indeed if I could meet this evil, but I do not think it is possible ; for the germinating power continues in different sorts of seeds for very different periods of time, and even varies in the same sorts under dif- ferent circumstances. Sometimes old seed is even better than new : all seeds from which oil may be extracted preserve their vitality for a number of years if well harvested and afterwards stored in a dry warehouse ; and well-known instances of mummy wheat, whicli has germinated after being laid by for thousands of years, will readily occur to the minds of honour- able members. So, great as I know these evils to be, I fear I must leave them alone ; indirectly I do to some extent hope to reach them ; for if I can prevent the use of killed seed, less seed will be stored, and the actual supply of old dead seed will not be enough to do much harm ; besides which, it generally betrays its presence by its appearance. Tliis bill is directed solely towards the suppression of practices which; beyond all contradiction and all question and all possibility of mistake constitute wilful intentional and deliberate fraud. And these are, first, the killing of spurious worthless seeds, on the principle that " dead men tell no tales," in order to mis them with and increase the bulk of parcels of valuable seeds to which they bear a natural re- semblance. Secondly, the doctoring, without much regard to the powers of germination of inferior seeds, by colouring, sulphur, smoking, &c., so as to give them the appearance of, and mix them with, and sell them at the price of seeds of a superior quality. Now, through the investigations to which I have before alluded, it has become notorious that these manipulations have been for many years past a regular and distinct branch of the seed trade. Some six or eigiit manu- factories, I believe, exist solely for the purpose of doctoring and killing these seeds and supplying them to the seedsmen, among whom the dead seed is perfectly well known and re- cognised under the name of "trio" or 0 00. This, I believe, is scarcely denied by the trade ; but that I may not be sus- pected of making accusations whicli I cannot substantiate, I will quote a letter published in Professor Buckman's " Science and Practice of Farm Cultivation," which he says was addressed to a most respectable firm : " Southampton, April 27th, 1860. — Gentlemen, — Being in possession of a new and improved method of killing seed without the use of any chemicals'so that the seed when in a 000 state has not that unpleasant smell it has when killed by the old method, and does not look perished if it be crushed, a man by the new process may kill 10 or 12 quarters per day, and the apparatus is so constructed that it is impossible for a single seed to leave it alive ; and one great advantage is that if you want a sack of 000 seed in a hurry, you may kill a sack of rape or turnips, or any seed, and have it fit for use in an hour. Seed in the process of killing increases in measure and weight, and when you send it out to be killed, of course the seed-killers keep the extra weight and measure. If you think it worth your attention, I will send you a small working-model, so that you may kill a few pounds of kail or cauliflower, or any small seeds, in a few minutes, and instructions for making a large THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 79 oue, on receipt of a P.O. order for £-2. — Yours trulj',— — ." To this Jlcssrs. Sutton added that they had called from curiosity at the address given and ascertained tliat " it was no hoax, but wore assured by the inventor tliat he had supplied several tradesmen with the apparatus, and that lie was formerly in the seed trade himself." Professor Buckmau afterwards tried to procure some 000 seed, and was told by a most respectable London fir)n that, " -Miongh jierfed/i/ ivell- knowii and understood in the trade, they do not care to have it known beyond. Our asking Ibr a small quantity will be sure to lead to the question. What do we want it for ? We could obtain a large quantilij v;ithonf hesitation." If any fur- ther proof is wanted, I might refer to letters which appeared in the Gardener s Chronicle last November, and in the Times on the loth of IMarch last, written by one of the original pro- moters of this Bill, himself a seedsman, who there publicly charges the trade with being guilty of these practices, and challenges them to deny it ; which they have scarcely at- tempted to do. The utmost they have ventured to say is that everybody can have genuine seeds who is willing to pay for them ; thus apparently presuming that the public knovc that adulterated seeds arc the rule, and that genuine seeds must be specially asked for. These frauds prevail extensively in all sorts of root crops, cauliflowers, cab- bages, &c., &e., but chiefly in the most important ones of tur- nips and cloverseed. Large quantities of German or Indian rubsen or rapeseed, and inferior samples of English rape, are killed by steaming and kiln-drying, for mixing with English turnip seed ; the rape being worth about 50s. a quarter, the turnip seed £10, Trefoil, worth 16s. per cwt., is killed for mixing with red clover (worth 80s. to 00s. per cwt.), and cow- grass, and is dyed pale yellow or purple to suit the sample for which it is intended. Cheup brown white cloverseed is pre- pared with sulpluir, which gives it a bright straw colour, re- sembling that of the finest quality with which it is mixed ; the same with alsyke, broccoli, cauliflower, &c., are adulterated with killed turnip or rape seed, often not one-twentieth of the value. It has been estimated that ■i0,000 to 50,000 bushels of prepared seed are annually used for mixing with turnip seed ; and many hundred tons of spurious clover seed. What the loss to the country involved by this may be, I cannot pretend to calculate. I think I have now established the existence and enormity of these frauds ; and I have to deal with the ques- tion, Why is legislation necessary ? why cannot the seedsmen themselves act l\onestly by their customers, and at once put an end to these malpractices ? I fear that as oue of the public, in whose interest alone I have taken up this Bill, I can only reply. They do not : and judgiug from experience, until they are compelled by law, the majority of them will not. That there are some honourable exceptions I have already stated ; that among all the more respectable members of the trade there exists a strong desire to put an end to these frauds I firmly believe ; but with too many of them circumstances are stronger than their inclinations. They tell you that these frauds are the " traditional custom of the trade ;" that the present generation of seedsmen have not originated them, but have " succeeded to them as a fatal heritage," a burden which they cannot east olf. They think, and perhaps with some reason, that customers are not yet sufliciently enlightened to know that it is cheapest in the end to give a good price for a good article ; and they fear that if they restrict themselves to selling pure seed at a necessarily high price, they will at once Idc undersold by more unscrupulous men, and that the only result va]l be ruin to their own business without ad- V antage to the public. They contend that " any effort for good must not be limifcd to the voluntary abstinence of individuals, but must be compulsory and of universal application ;" and to prove the sincerity of their desire tliat such an effort should be made they warmly promote this Bill. This, then, is my case for the Bill. 1 have established tiie existence of a great evil, beyond the power of individuals to cope with, and for which the remedy now provided by law (a civil action) is so tedious and expensive that practically it is seldom re- sorted to. It only remains for me to show why I think the remedy I propose, summary conviction, will be effectual ; and, perhaps, the strongest argument I can use will be to read a circular lately addressed to the various seed houses by one of the individuals whom business consists in manipulating seed for them ; his speciality, I am informed, is killing rubsen seed : " Gentlemen, in consequence of the Bill now before Parliament for the suppression of my trade, and the agitation that has been going on for the last 18 months, I am compelled to solicit your sym- pathy and support in my behalf, as the passing of the above Act will be my total ruin, and also a heavy sacrifice in my machinery, &c. (laughter), part of which has been recently laid out to enable me to conduct my business more perfectly, the nature of which you are fully aware. Knowing this, and the number of years that my father and myself have faithfully served and conducted any work you have put into our hands, I trust that you will take this memorial into your kind con- sideration and give it all the support which lies in your power. I am, gentlemen, your obedient servant, T. S." This is the opinion of one to whom the bill comes home more nearly and vitally perhaps than any one else ; and I venture to think that this by itself is almost sufficient proof that it wiU be effsctual. I do not believe there will be any great difficulty in carrying it out. The Royal Ilorticultural Society, it is true, say that there are no means of knowing whether a seed has been killed or died a natural death ; but I am told, on the contrary, that it is as easy for an expert by cutting the seed in two as to see whether a potato has been cooked or not. At any rate, the whole sale dealers have ample means by their experience and technical knowledge, and by proof-rooms and by proof-beds of testing the quality of the seed which comes into their possession ; so that if what they sell is adulterated it must be with their knowledge. If you can make them send out pure seed, the retailer as a rule will sell it exactly as he receives it ; or if he is inclined to cheat, he won't find it easy to obtain doctored seed. The British manipulator will have been put an end to ; it will be unsafe so keep in stock large quantities of foreign 0 0 0; and the expense of procuring it in small parcels or of sending seed to be mixed abroad will destroy the profit ; more- over, there is a difliculty in mixing small quantities, if it is not done artistically the fraud is sure to be detected. That my remedy is perfect I do not pretend, but I believe it will be effectual as far as it goes, and that it will not do more than it prjfosscs to do. The proviso in the 6th clause is, I think, wide enough to protect all legitimate operations of trade ; but if not, I shall lie glad to amend it with that view, and the same with regard to the other clauses. I now ask the House with some confidence to assist me in the suppression of a system of rascality which has this aggravation above ordinary frauds, that it is impossible to discover the full effect of the cheat till the mischief is irretrievably wrought ; and to assent to the second reading of a bill which seeks to encourage the honest and deter the dishonest trader, to protect the ignorant or un- wary customer, and ultimately to increase the provision of food for the community at large (Hear, hear). ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. Special Council : Tuesday, June 15. — Present : Lord Walsingham, Vice-President, in the chair ; the Earl of Powis, Viscount Bridport, Jjord Kcstevcu, Lord Tre- degar, Sir E. Kcrrison, Bart., Sir A. K. Maodoiinld, Bart., :\Ir. Cantrell, Mr. Dent, M.P., Mr. Druce, Mr. Braud- reth Gibbs, Mr. Hornsby, Mr. AVren Hoskyns, M.P., Colonel Kingscotc, M.P., Mr. Milward, Mr. Statter, Mr. Terr, Major Wilson, and Mr. Jacob Wilson. Finance. — Major^General Viscount Bridport (Chair- man) I'eported that, with reference to the cases of ttose members against whonr legal proceedings have been taken, two defended cases, viz., Henry Stanton, of Coleman Street, Loudon, and Richard Hodgson, of Chingford, Essex, were heard in the Westminster County Court, on Juue 3, when the former was decided iu the Society's favour, the latter being adjourned until July 1, to enable H 2 80 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINB. ths Society to produce its original charier; anil the com- mittee now recommend that the Secretary be authorised to produce the same before the coui't, and his agreement as Secretary to the Society; as well as such other docu- ments as the Society's solicitor may think fit. The com- mittee are happy to state that in no less than five cases of defaulting members the arrears and costs have been paid ; the two remaining cases, of the nine authorised by the Council to be proceeded against, are at present in abeyance, one member being in Canada and the residence of the other not yet ascertained. — This report was adopted. Genek.vl M.vnchester. — Lord Walsingham reported that the committee recommend that the sum granted for advertising the iManchestev meeting be increased to £000, on condition that the local committee pay any amount spent in excess of that sum, and that the Secretary be instructed to apply for double the usual force of London police. — This report was adopted. Judges' Selection. — Major-General Aiscount Brid- port presented the report containing the proposed list of judges of live stock and implements at ^lanchester. — This report was adopted. On the motion of INIr. Torr, it was resolved that the Society's small dynamometer be lent to the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society, immediately after the jNIanchester meeting, that Society undertaking to pay all expenses. On the motion of Mr. Brandreth Gibbs, it was resolved that four new exit turnstiles be procured, and that the number of entrance turnstiles be increased to 16. The Honorary Director was empowered to make such alterations in, and additions to, the showyard plant as he may deem necessary. CALENDAR OF AGRICULTURE. The sowing of turnips, as directed last month, must now be finished in a late season in which the fly is not so prevalent, and the crop is not so liable to be mildewed as in the previous month's sowings. Horse and hand- hoe potatoes, beet, and the eailiest sown Swedish turnips, and repeat the pro- cess till no weeds appear. Plough deeply the I intervals of the drills on stiff bottoms of soils with the miniature plough of wood or iron, of which the narrow point of the single share pene- trates the ground much more effectually than a number of pointed shares either duck-footed in the bottom of the intervals, or with sharp edges to cut the sedges of the ridglet.s. Morton's expand- ing scarifier, on the principle of the parallel ruler, which causes the face of the knives ahvaj-s to point straight forwards, acts well on soils of medium tenacity, and the Northumberland light one-horse scufl^ler with a. flat share ir front moving in the bottom of the intervals, and two bended knives behind to cut the sides of the drills makes most excellent work on the lighter turnip lands. The young plants of turnips derive much benefit from the stirring of the intervals of the drills, and most in dry weather, as it causfsevaporationsof moisture, which is imbibed by the leaves. Clay lands in fallowing for wheat roust be con- stantly jirepared by ploughing, harrowing, and rolling, hand-picking of weeds and stones, and in the end of the month the most forward in pre- paration will be ready to receive the dung and the lime, or one of these manures in a season. The dung in a semi-putrescent state is placed on the ground in heaps, spread evenly over the surface, and covered with one furrow of ploughing. Far- mers with nice ideas on evaporation may prefer to open drills in the land with one furrow of the common plough in which the dung is spread in tur- nip fashion, and covered by one furrow, which splits the ridglet?, the plough opening a drill in going outwards, and covering a drill in returning. This mode will cover the dung more effectually than in broadcast, and will be much facihtated by the straws of litter being cut into short lengths, as has been frequently mentioned in our monthly notices. The lime may be applied previous to the dung if both are used in one season. The cinders are dissolved by water into quicksilver condition, spread evenly over the ground, and covered by a double tine of harrowing in which state the land may rest for two weeks or more. The powdery lime is rather iconvenient for men and horses, as it is a hot caustic, but in that state it will best mix with the soil by running into every opening and im- parting heat to the land and raise its temperature. The cinders being small in bulk from broken crude stones may be spread undissolved on the surface of the ground, and covered with a furrow of j)loughing. The moisture in the land will dissolve the cinders, which will evolve caloric that will penetrate every particle of the soil, and produce damp and warm exhalations that are very beneficial to the growth of vegetables. These two modes of usinglime may be the readiest channels of conveying the benefit of lime. Draining of lands is done with much neatness in dry weather, both on fallows and on grass lands. On spouty grounds the course of the drains must be marked in wet weather during winter, when every wetness shows itself. Hay harvest will be mostly finished during this month. Make dry and carry the grass quickly, build into long stacks, lay the herbage high to- gether, and allow it to settle down by its own weight, and when consolidated pull and dress the sides into correct form, and thatch the stack with- out delay. For the purpose of getting up the hay to high ricks when building, use a scaflfold raised on four posts resting on a platform with wheels, and elevate or depress the scaffolding by means of pulleys to any height as may be required, and the wheels will move the platform to any position of use. A tarpaulin cloth will defend the ricks from continued rains, and must be removed the first dry moment to allow the escape of the sweating of the grass. A light white cloth will defend a slight rain by being suspended on a rope passing the length of the rick and attached at each end with an upright pole. Vetches and clovers will constitute the green food of the farm, but the herbage daily to be used fresh by horses and cows in the yards, and by the THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 81 store pigs. Provide ample littering for all animals on juicy fooJ, when the summer-made dung will equal the winter manufacture. Wean the latest lambs and give them the best pasture grounds. Put mares to the stallions regularly. Attend to the grazing fields and see that they are well watered, and that no gaps are continued in the gates and fences. Nothing more clearly evinces a careless management than these tools of use being neglected. Broken fences and gates in a falling condition are a sure mark of slovenly management in other respects. Apply the contents of the dredging-box to pre- vent the maggot-fly from depositing the layvse on the bodies of sheep, which prevails mostly near lO the sea. Dress clean the po.sterior pails of the animals from the adhesiuns of excreineiits or any other articles that may stick to the body. On dry warm soils, under benign climates, the harvest of grains will commence in the end of this month. Early peas and rye, with barley in some places, will be first cut ; the peas laid in small heaps frequently turned over, and the rye tied into sheaves, carried when dry, and built in ricks or lodged in barns. Peas are built on the top of a rick of grain, or over a layer of props, without any pressure over the herbage, which must be quickly thatched, being very open to rains, CALENDAR OF GARDENING. KITCHEN GARDEN. In the earliest days sow peas again in any short kinds — the crop " may" be fine, and therefore acceptable in September. Sow kidney and endive, and again in the third week, or twice in the month. Sow round spinach early, and the winter or prickly sort at the close of the month. Sow early the last crop of scarlet runners and French beans ; a row or two of cos and Cilicea lettuce, radish, white and red turnip varieties for succession ; a sprinkling of carrots, onions, and saladin-; as re- quired. At last sow a full crop of turnips, the early Dutch, white and yellow, to come in late in the year, and to stand through winter. After the second week sow cabbage seed for coleworts called "greens" — one of the sweetest of spring vegetable— the York variety is very suit- able ; and at the close of the month, in some situations for early hearting spring cabbage. The small onions must be sown to be drawn young, and in poorish soils a sprinkling of the large bulbers to stand the winter, and subsequently to be transplanted for an autumn crop. Propagate herbs by slips ; collect camomile flowers ; sow celery, the last crop. Celery is to be carefully earthed, and in doing this for the first and second times, hold each plant compactly with one hand while the other applies the fine earth closely around the lower part of the leaves, but not so high as the growing heart. Give water copiously along the trenches if the weather be dry, for the first good start is always the most important. Celery is a choice vegetable, and quite a farmer's plant, delighting in deep earthing, with rich and heavy manuring. Transplant brocoli at various periods for early and later spring supply, chosing if possible a moist condition of soil, otherwise, if the weather be dry every hole must be filled with water; the ground ought to be rich in nitrogenous manure, and there- fore some soot mixed up with spit dung would be useful, as it contains salts of ammonia. May- sown cauliflower may be treated in the same manner. Transplant leeks, dig and manure richly a plot for a row or two, and try with the dung two ounces of sulphate of ammonia to a small barrow-load of dung. Very pure guano to the extent of a pint to the same bulk would confer phosphates of ammonia and of lime, several ammoniacal and nitrogenous compounds, common salt, and neutral sulphate to the soil. It is the comprehensiveness of pure guano which stamps its value, and there- fore it should always be added to the more ex- hausted manures as a restorative. In planting leeks make deep case-like holes, and drop them in, applying water in a small stream so as to fix the roots of each. Transplant vegetable marrows and cucumbers abroad if raised in heat. Dig a hole for each in a warm ojjcn spot of ground, put in a barrow or more of rich leafy manure and cover it with light rich soil ; plant, water, and cover with hand glasses till growth be established, and then gradually train out the runners; stop the points occasionally to obtain laterals. The following operations are required at all seasons while crops are growing : Stick peas, top them, also broad and kidney beans, earth up legu- raen and potatoes ; train and peg down the regular advancing shoots of vegetable marrow, gourds, and cucumbers ; hoe and move the surface among crops; give weak guano water to plants of the cabbage family. Fruit Department. Cherry and plum trees may be trained in the end of the month, removing all wild, ill-placed, and superfluous wood. Apple and pear trees are deferred till next month. The budding of wall fruit is now performed, when the bark rises freely, owing to the exudation of proper juice between the new wood and bark ; if the operation is timely and skilfully performed the fluids attract each other, solidify, and cause an union between the two secreting surfaces. The operation will succeed if done adroitly, and may be learned by watching the mode practised by some jobbing gardener or skilful workman whose services may be engaged from most country places. Flower Garden, &c. The same remark applies to roses. This art is also soon acquired by observation, provided the party recollect that both stock and scion be in a 82 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. moist condition — one in which the bark detaches freely from the wood. Success depends upon attraction between the vital organizable juicy membrane, which exudes or is deposited between the yeanhng wood and inner bark. Layer strawberries at the first joint into small pots of fresh loam ; they will root speedily in moist weather, or if watered when dry. Keep all the parterres, flower borders, shrub- beries, lawns, and walks in neat order, free from weeds, and duly regulated. Collect the materials of manure with a constant and never-ceasing attention. Tall weeds with a large assemblage of juicy leaves, cut into short lengths for the liquid pit, can be got for a trifling expense, the grassy surfaces of road-sides and of ditches, mixed with the urinary and solid feces of the water-closet, and dirty waters of the kitchen will form a manure that is very cheap and effica- cious. Fine earths, droppings of animals, mud of all kinds with mild lime will afford a dry compost of great value to the growth of vegetables. The garden of the farmer requires not any importation of manure, the materials are abundant of the very best manure in articles that decompose in the soil, and add to the vigour and quality of the soil from which decaying vegetables have no su- perior. AGRICULTUUAL REPORTS GENERAL AGRICULTURAL REPORT EOR JUNE. _ The growing wheat plant has had to endure unusual vicissitudes of wind and weather during the past month, and, at one time, the old saying, tliat " with a mild winter, fol- lowed hy a dripping May, we cannot have a good wheat crop," appeared about to be fully realized. April left the plant in a very forward and promising condition ; but the cold nights and heavy rains of May greatly retarded the growth, and con- siderably modified expectations formed of the growing crop. Outsiders are usually apt to forra the most extravagant antici- pations in regard to the harvest, should appearances but temporarily favour their views ; but, in the great majority of cases, these expectations are disappointed. The present season has so far proved no exception to the rule, notwithstanding the pertinacious attempt to force down prices at Mark Lane. June has, on the whole, proved unfavourable to the plant, and, as we write, it may be regarded as fully a month later than last year. Still we incline to the belief that the damage done is not very serious, and such as would probably be remedied by the return of genial forcing weather. At the same time, it is very evident that the harvest will I'all considerably later than last year, and, in all probability, later than the average of seasons. The plant is now passing through a very critical period. The bloom is uow fairly out in the southern part of the island, and, should the weather prove tavourable for the blossoming, we may even yet get a fair return per acre, although the weight and quality cannot be expected to come up to last year's. It is more than probable indeed, that the crop will prove very variable both as to quantity and quality, as it has been so greatly under the influence of a wet season this year. Much will, therefore, depend upon the condition of the land. No reasonable man can doubt that the great i.-nprovements which have been effected in land during the last thirty years, have modified the influence of a joet season upon the crops to a very considerable • extent, and the great characteristic of modern farming is that, however inauspicioi:s the season maj have been, the crops never turn out total failures, as they frequently did under the old system. Crops on well-drained lands are mucli less likely to be affected by the abundance of moisture than under more un- favourable conditions of the soil, and, in the present season, this fact has been of no little importance. We believe that on well-drained and high-lyiug soils the wheat plant has not been seriously damaged by the untoward character of the spring ; but on low-lying and water-logged lauds, considerable damage must have been done. Trade at the opening of the month was dull, and prices gave way to some extent. Since then the markets throughout the country have been controlled by the course of the weather, vyhich will probably be the case viutil some positive informa- tion with regard to the out-turn of the crop is obtainable. At present this is very uncertain, and wholly depends upon the weather. Towards the middle of the month a succession of neav^ rains caused consider? Me activity in the trade, aiid raised serious apprehensions in regard to the ultimate safety of the crops. MiUers showed great anxiety to obtain more of the splendid quality of 1868, and operated freely. Prices, accordingly, underwent a reaction, and red parcels advanced 2s. to 3s. per qr., while fine white samples brought 3s. to is. more money. Since then, however, the return of warm weather has caused the trade to become depressed, and the quotations have had a drooping tendency. The prospect of a late harvest wiU give rise to a calf" for additional supplies, which fact should not be without influence upon the quota- tions, especially as it would almost appear that we cannot look for any large imports from the continent, except Ironi tlie Mediterranean. Our principal source of supply will probably be the United States, where a large quantity of pro- duce was held over from last season, and considerable ship- ments may be expected from that quarter. The spring corn crops are looking well, but oats have the advantage over barley, as requiring more moisture and best enduring the cold nights. Beans and peas are spoken of as luxuriant crops, and promise a large return ; nevertheless, owing to present scarcity, trade has ruled firm, and prices show a slight advance on the month. The cut of grass has been completed, and was a good average yield ; but the hay laid for some while in the fields, in many cases in consequence of bad weather for carrying. New hay has sold, in the metropolitan markets, at £1 16s. to £4 4s. per load, according to quality. The accounts from the hop plantations have not been en- couraging. The bine is very backward for the time of year, and there is a large quantity of vermin. The return of hot weather is uow a matter of absolute necessity, to obtain any- thing like a yield. One grand result from the moist character of the past sea- son is the favourable prospect of the root crops, which are very highly spoken of. All kinds of roots have grown rapidly, although the advent of sunshine would be welcomed. The progress made is such as to justify the belief that the crop will have a considerable influence upon the value of live-stock. REVIEW OE THE CATTLE TRADE DURING THE PAST MONTH. No feature of importance has presented itself in the cattle trade during the past mouth. The arrivals of stock have been on a moderate scale, and al- though prime beasts have been scarce, some good serviceable animals have been brought forward. The abundance of grass in the pastures has greatly assisted in improving the quality of the stock exhibited, and as the hay crop will doubtless turn out well, and the root crops look promising, prospects as regards food for winter consumption are certainly satisfactory. A want of animation has charac- terised the demand for all kinds of beasts ; nevertheless, the fluctuations in prices have not been important. At the commencement of the month the best Scots and crosses sold at 5s, 8d, to 5s, lOd, per 81bs., subsequently the THE FABMEK'S MAGAZINE. 83 quotations fell at 5s. 6d. to 5.'i. 8d. ; but eventually recovered at 5s. 8d. to 5s. lOd. per Slbs. With sheep the market has been well supplied, English kinds having come more freely to hand. The trade has not been ac- tive, still a fair amount of firmness has been apparent ; and, with the exception of a temporary reduction at 5s. 6d. to 5s. 8d., the best downs and half-breds have realised 5s. 8d. to 5s. lOd. per Slbs. In consequence of the unfavourable weather, the demand for lambs has been very dull, and the top quotation has fallen to 6s. per Slbs. The supply of calves has been tolerably good, and with a fair inquiry prices have been maintained. Prime small pigs have commanded a fair amount of atten- tion, and for such full prices have been realised, but large hogs have been neglected. The following figures show the total supplies of stock ex- hibited in the Metropolitan cattle market during the month : — Head. Beasts 20,209 Sheep and Lambs 1 67,770 Calves 3,780 Pigs 680 Comparison of Supplies. Sheep June. Beasts. Cows. and Lambs. Calves. Pigs. 186J- ... 35,890 550 138,450 3,786 3,280 1865 ... 34,050 646 165,730 4,378 3,310 1866 ... 18,820 130 139,880 1,864 1,782 1867 ... 16,370 120 146,650 3.600 3,048 1868 ... 19,650 130 177,690 3,875 1,480 The annexed table shows the receipts of stock from our own grazing districts : — June, June, June, June, From— 1866. 1867. 1868. 1869. Norfolk, Suffolk, &c. . 9,000 5,570 9,000 4,500 Lincolnshire — 400 370 — Other parts of England 1,930 3,240 1,930 3,420 Scotland 59 737 97 479 Ireland 30 30 330 161 The imports of foreign stock into London Jiave been as under : Head. Beasts ... ... ... ... 13 393 Sheep and Lambs .".' '.'.'. 40^003 Calves 3,641 Pigs 3,377 Total 57,313 Total in June 1868 34,655 „ 1867 48,508 1866 47,435 „ 1865 61,935 „ 1864 38,039 „ 1863 30,059 „ 1863 33,841 1861 33,751 The great increase in the total arrivals compared with last year, is owing to the restrictions as regards the removal of sheep from the waterside then in force, having since been rescinded. In June, 1868, only 16,849 sheep and lambs came to hand ; but during the past month they reached a total of 40,000. Beef has sold at from 3s. to 5s. lOd., mutton 3s. to 5s. lOd., lamb 5s. to 6s., veal 4s. 6d. to 5s. 6d., and pork 3s. 8d. to 5s. 2d. per 81bs., to sink the offal. Comparison or Prices. June, 1864. June, 1865. s. d. 8. d. s. d. s. d. Beef from 3 4 to 50 36 to 53 Mutton 36 53 4464 Lamb 60 70 6078 Veal 4050 4054 Pork 3640 364 10 June, 1866. June, 1867. June, 1868. s. d. 8. d. s. d 8. d. s. d. s. d. Beef from... 3 10 to G 0 34 to 56 30 to 50 Mutton 4060 3854 30 50 Lamb 6 8 8 0 6 0 7 0 5 6 6 0 Veal 5 464 4056 38 43 Pork ,„ 4053 3446 '4 i 4i » At the Metropolitan dead Meat Market the supplies have been moderate. The demand has not been active, and prices have ruled as follows : — Beef from 3s. to 5s. 3d., mutton 3s. to 5s., lamb 5s. to 5s. 8d., veal 4s. 6d. to 5s. 6d., and pork 3s. 8d. to 5s, 6d. per Slbs. by the carcase. TUE ISLE OP ELY. The longest day is past, Imt summer weather is yet to come. Except for two or three days the weather has been severely cold, with nominally low night temper.atures. We have also had a great excess of moisture which has not been favourable to the grain crops. The first fortnight in tlie present month was generally fiue ; with that exception May and June h.ave been exceedingly wet months. Those who had their hay about during those two fine weeks were very fortunate, and secured it in excellent condition. The case has been far other- wise since, and the patience of the farmer has been severely taxed. Hay and corn alike need sunshine and a higher tempe- rature. Is it too much to hope that we may now, having en- tered upon a new quarter, be favoured with these P The wheats on the forward lands are breaking into ear, but only slowly, and when harvest will be here we cannot yet predict ; with seasonable weather we might expect it in 7 weeks, but with a continuance of cold it may easily be 8 or 9. Some of the bulkiest crops of wheat have been knocked down by the rain, but not so much as was feared they would be. On some soils where the crop is not bulky they arc dropping down, which is ail unfavourable sign, and such crops must produce a poor return. Oats bear the weather well, and where a full plant generally promise a good crop. Barley has suffered from too much moisture and too little warmth. Beans too, in some instances are weak and sickly. Mangels have planted very ir- regularly, and in many instances have been resown. Where they are a good plant they grow slowly. Wireworms have been very destructive, and their ravages are still complained of. Grass has been plentiful, but cattle have not done so well as they generally do. During May they made but little progress, and complaints were almost universal. Wool is a dull trade. Several lots have been sold at 40s. per todd and under. The corn trade is like the barometer, except as the one falls the other rises, and vice versa. If wc need dry and hot weather to produce quality and quantity, there is the prospect of a serious deficiency of both. — Your Pen Reporter. — June 33. SOUTH LINCOLNSHIRE. " The rain, it raineth every day," and sorry we are to see it. The fall is now becoming serious, farm operations are all but suspended. The fallows have become so saturated as to pre- vent any further working for the present. We have this morn- ing, June 31st, another heavy fall of rain, which has again sent our poor labourers home, for truly it is as bad for them as their masters. Hoeing is very backward, and never more needed, as every weed and seeds of weed are in full progress. The potatoes and mangolds in many fields are almost lost sight of through abundance of weeds. Those cut up don't decay and die, and ridge hoeing and ridge harrowing are quite useless, and almost impracticable. Ml, however, continue to grow, and if a few fine days intervene, what with hand hoes, ridge hoes, and ridge harrows, we shall soon be able to clean them, and possibly mould up the potatoes. It has been a very trying time, and when the latter turnip sowing is to take place is wholly in the future. As to haymaking we know not what to do. If we shake it over, it gets drenched. If we allow it to remain in swathe, the successive heavy rains give it very con- siderable damage, beating it so close to the ground as to turn yellow beneath. Scarcely any has yet been stacked, andmauy are awaiting fiue weather before mowing. The crops of grass are heavy and so far good ; |but of the crops of clover the drought of last summer so injured them, that many were ploughed up, and of those that remain few present the appear- ance of more than half a crop, and these full of the grain crop upon which they were sown, wheat, barley, or oats now coming into ear. The whole mown together may make fodder but it will be very coarse in quality. The grain crops have also sustained injury. The wheat crops, particularly large breadths have been beaten down never to rise till cut, and the thin crops are very much storm-broken as if beaten down by hail storms. The crop must be a variable one, and to all ap- pearance at thi^ time oi' i»fei'ior quality j as the laid, the ^av? 84 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. tially laid, aud the storm-brokeu eau uever recover so far as to yield graiu of good quality. The land too, is so wet aud sod- den, and the weather so cold, that the crops progress very slowly, and give no tokens of harvest taking place within two months from this time. Oats are a full plant, aud growing luxuriantly, but backward, they Ijid fair to yield a good return. Barley is forwarder, and looks prospering better than wheat, but the cold rainy weather prevents satisfactory improvement, otherwise it would be a superior crop. Beans and peas have received the least injury so far, but the continuous rains prevent the favourable setting of the flower, which up to this time has been abundant. Our grass pastures have " gone off" exceed- ingly, and the stock have not done well lately. Sheep clipping is forward, and the sheep in consequence of wet and cold have " gone back" in condition, but losses have not been great from clipping. The mutton market will tlierefore be less loaded than was anticipated. It is the same with cattle, they do not progress fast enough, the grass being so cold and succulent. The prevailing anxiety with llockmasters just now is to ascer- tain and judge of tlie position and prospects of the wool trade. Great sales have taken place during tlie past few weeks, but much of the colonial wool is bought for foreign account, aud the latter sales have been good. The imports are large, and it has caused down and half-bred wool to recede a little in price. The best lustre wool fully retains its value. The quality of the wool this season appears to be of a full average value, strong, but rather short in staple, and colour satisfactory. The corn markets are quite under the control of the weather ; buyers hitherto liave acted with extreme caution and with good reason personally, as the corn trade during the year has been an unusually bad one for merchants, aud many •' losses have been made." Our best quality wheat must advance in price. Our stock markets are nearly over for store stock ; store pigs keep up at an extraordinary price ; pork is a little cheaper. SALE or THE LATE MR. a. W. ROBERTS' SHORTHORNS. AT HITCHIN, BY MR. JOHN THORNTON. Tliese animals were bred at Kings Walden, between Welwyn and Hitchin, Herts, for several years, Mr. Roberts having been an admirer of good blood all his life. One of his earliest purchases was a cow, Primrose, daughter of Bates' Nonsuch ; sjie was rafHed at Cambridge for one liundred guineas in 1841, and was purchased by Mr. Roberts from tlie winner for £'50 after she had produced a calf, but she never bred afterwards, and finally went to the butcher at 130 stones weight. The present herd dated back to purchases made within the last thirteen years from Mr. Burton, Mr. Longbourne, Mr. Majo- ribanks, and Mr. AV. Smith's herds. His neighbour, Mr. Joseph Robinson always had heavy-fleshed stock after his own heart, and he got King Tom (20071) from him, and others at the Clifton Pastures sale in 1864.. British Baronet (17453)— Booth upon Knightley — an excellent sire, came from Mr. Torr, and then he purchased what is considered by some a pure Booth bull, Claxton (21433), descended in four generations from a cow bought as a common animal in DarUngton market ; the subsequent crosses being Bootli sires and what is computed as thirty-one parts out of thirty-two pure Booth blood ; but the effect of this injurious and doubtfully bred animal was apparent in nearly all the produce therefrom. Mr. Roberts latterly used one of his own bulls, Baron Torr (23380), a fine masculine animal by British Baronet from a cow descended from an Althorpe cow. The herd suffered much last summer, and the older animals were sold off ; so that these lots were mostly young cows and heifers. The stock, as a whole, might be likened unto certain Shorthorns of the present day — two good ends and a bad middle ; for the cows were good, aud sold well. Grizza, the first lot of Fawkes blood and newly calved made34gs. (Mr.Blundell), and Duchess 13th, an old Yorkshire tribe from Greta Bridge, made the same money, from Capt. Robinson, a Yorkshire gentleman living near Southampton. Highland Princess and her calf were bought by her breeder, Mr. Fawcet, of Childvvich, for 44 gs. ; and Miss Hopewell, a fine cow by Mr. Booth's General Hopewell, from the Wiseton Zellurid, but v«ry poor, went for 45 gs, She was bought with Medora (50 gs.), the best cow in the sale, aud a good animal; and Medora 2nd (31 gs.), both of the same blood as Miss Hope- well, for Mr. Chaloner, of King's Fort, Ireland. Then came the Claxton get, eleven out of tlie seventeen being wliite, and light of flesh with upright shoulders. T'he best of them, an in-calf two-year-old heifer of the Zelluria family, made 42 gs. (Mr. Sisiiian) ; Carnation, a good four-year-old, in-calf, 39 gs. (to Mr. Blundell), wlio, with Mr. Chaloner and Mr. Collard of Kent were the principal buyers. A nice heifer, Bertha, went for 41 gs. to Mr. S. Ashton, Cheshire. Tlie young things by Baron Torr sold at fair prices. Maggie, 10 months old, was bought for 37 gs., by Mr. Edwards ; who also took Grizza's calf, three months old, for 17 gs. Baron Torr ex- cited a little more competition, age and weight considered ; and he sold for 56 gs., to Mr. Frudd, from Sleaford, while his only son in the sale, Baron Hope, three months old, out of Miss Hopewell, made 34 gs., from Mr. Grime, who bought some of the heifers, aud bid for the old bull. The stock was removed to Hitchin on the market-day, in consequence of the distance of King's Walden from the railway ; but the animals were not brought out in condition for sale, having had rather rough treatment through the winter ; and this, with their journey, was against a high average. A very large company attended, and the lots were quickly and effectively disposed of by Mr. Tliornton at what was considered by the company a good sale, the 37 averaging £29 7s., or a sum total of £1,085 14s. SALE OE MR. W. A. WOOLER'S SHORT- HORNS AT SADBERGE, DARLINGTON, By Mr, J. WETHERELL, on TUESDAY, JUNE 8. COWS AND HEIFERS. Duchess of Richmond, bred by Mr. A. L. Maynard; J. R. Singleton, Queeudale, 30 guineas. Abergeldie, calved Nov. 20, 1863 ; Hon. P. Dawnay, Be- ningbrougli Hall, York, 50 gs. Abergeldie 2nd, calved July 10, 1866 ; G. Pollard, 31 gs. Abergeldie 6th, calved March 3, 1869 ; D. Nesham, 16 gs. Abergeldie 4th, calved Nov. 3, 1868 ; Hon. P. Dawnay, 44 gs. Creole, bred by Mr. Nesham, Haughton-le-Skerue, calved June 18, 1864 ; T. Barber, 26 gs. Creole 2nd, calved Dec. 7, 1867 ; D. Nesham, 15 gs. Creole 3rd, calved April 6, 1869 ; T. Barber, C gs. Portia 2nd, calved April 19, 1866 ; J. R. Singleton, 18 gs. Abergeldie 5th, calved Nov. 16, 1868 ; G. Pollard, 20 gs. BULLS. McEwen, calved Nov. 10, 1866 ; Mr. Stamper, 21 gs. Abyssinia 1st, calved July, 1867 ; Mr. Liddle, 21 gs. Abyssinia 2nd, calved Sept. 3, 1867 ; Mr. Kilvington, 17i gs. Garthorne Hardy, calved March 14, 1869; R. Meade, G gs. SALE OF MR. CHARLES LENEY'S SHORTHORNS, AT YOTES COURT, KENT.— Some fair prices were realised at this sale on Wednesday, Juue 23 ; but the two most at- tractive lots. Red Rose, a 330-gs. purchase at Mr. Betts' sale, and Cambridge Duke 3rd (23503), a 210-gs. purchase, were bought in at 150 gs. each. Mr. Frederick Leney bouglit Lady Louisa and her yearling heifer — the former at 48 gs., the latter at 53 gs ; but her two-year-old heifer by Grand Duke 4th was not put up. Naomi, a cow by Fourth Duke of Thorndale, was knocked down at 100 gs. to Mr. Goodwin, Mr. Cheuey bidding for her up to 95 gs., and afterwards buying her heifer-calf of twenty-two days old for 21 gs. Mr. Love bought tlie first and third cows at 34 gs. and 42 gs. Mr. Welfare also bought two ; and, with the exception of Mr. Cheney's most of the other well-bred animals remain in tlie county. Some animals with two or three crosses of blood were sold at good prices. The business arrangements under Mr. George Langridge, as auctioneer, were very well carried out. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 85 SALE OF ]\IR. MIL WARD'S PONIES AT TATTERSALL'S ON MONDAY, MAY 24rii. Violet by Sliarston, 14. -2 hands (uot sold) Rose by Wiugeiiuiul, 14.2 hands (Mr. Durant) Mousy by Pompcy, 14.3 liands (Lord Long-ford) Dacia, li.H hands (Mr. Spicer) ... Regatta, 14.2 hands (not sold) Lady i\lice, 14.3 hand.s (Mr. Oswald) Rasselas, 14.3 hands (Mr. Rice) ... Rannoch by Ben-y-Ghlo, 13.3 hands (Mr. Paine) Loveret, by Orleans, 1-4.1 hands ... Harmattau, 14 hands, winner of the tirst prizes at Leicester, Gloucester, and Sutton Coldlield in 18C7, and at Thorne iu 1868 (Mr. Paine) Hcrwald by Tom Tullock 14 hands The Oddfellow, 13.3 hands Maud, 13.3 hands, winner of second prizes at Wakefield and Manchester in 18G7 (Lord Stamford) Moonstone, 13.3 hands (Mr. Thrale) The Editor, 13.3 hands (Mr. Arkwright) Cornet, by Sharpshooter, 13.3 hands, winner of first prize (and of second prize for jumping) at Blackpool in 1868 Gs. 59 105 70 70 24 50 61 65 50 135 50 46 90 35 45 28 The following is a summary of the seventeen sales since Mr. Milward has had his bespeak on the Monday before the Derby : 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1863 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 All sent up have 1865, one in 1866, Gs. Gs. 9 made 377, at an average of 43 7 „ 371, „ 53 455, „ 45^ 496, ,. 55 731, 735, 758, 641, 403, 563, 607, 598, 858, 908, 1005, 1065, 900, 60 521 47i 37i 45 63 60^ 60 71i 60i 72 66^ 64 been sold, excepting one in 1863, two in two iu J 867, one in 1868, and two in 1869. REVIEW OE THE CORN TRADE DURING THE PAST MONTH. The month of June has been altogether a remarkable period of extremes. At its commence- ment there was a continuance of the severe cold of May, from the 5th to the 8th came a few days of perfectly tropical heat, after that there were fre- quent night frosts with snow in the north, and hail storms in the south, with very rough and boisterous winds ; there were then alternations of north-east and north-west winds, with occasional sunshine, and towards the close there was a touch of genial weather. It was hoped that June would repair the mischief done in March and May, but the slow progress of tlie crops led to their more careful examination, and those best prepared to judge have pronounced that there is but little chance for an average gathering with a set in of the finest weather. Nor has the country fared worse than France and parts of Germany, where the rye has suffered most. Hungary and some parts of Russia were injured in the early spring by a severe drought, which diminishes the prospect of European abundance this year ; so that we may yet have to set in contrast the splendid harvest of 186s v/ith that of 1869. America will doubtless do something considerable in the way of ship- ments, and arrivals on a moderate scale have been coming in from that country, but prices there have not declined as anticipated, and our last reports are very likely to send them up materially, as both France and England may yet have large necessities. The gain for the month has been about 3s. perqr. ; but with oui averages still 20s. under those of last year at this time, there is evidently a possibility that the whole decline which has been noted since last harvest may be recovered, and even some- thing more. We have reached the period of bloom, and only a portion has yet entered that state in very bad weather. It is possible that farther on in the season we may have a beneficial change ; but a recurrence to the low rates that have lately ruled seems altogether out of the question. It is very evident that our position has become critical, but let us hope, as a nation, that Providence will secure to us the appointed weeks of harvest, and that whatever may be our deficiencies, they will be fully made up by foreign imports, so that there may be no complain- ing in our streets. The following prices have been recently paid at the several places named ; but at such a time, when a day may make a differ- ence, they are little to be depended on. White wheat at Paris was quoted 54s. 6d., red 52s. 6d. ; white Zealand at Rotterdam 55s. ; Holstein and Mecklenburg red at Hambro 54s. ; red at Stettin has gone up to 54s., cost, freight, and insurance. Orders have been sent to Petersburg for soft red at 47s. f.o.b. ; high mixed at Danzic was held at 55s. f.o.b., red at Cologne 49s., at Porrentruy, in Switzerland, 50s., at Romanshorn 54s. At Pesth the best Banat was quoted 40s., Bahara wheat at Alexandria 40s. c. f. and i., white at Valparaiso 46s. freight included, soft in Algeria 41s. No. 1 spring wheat 39s. per 480 lbs , No. 2 36s. per do. The first day of this review of four weeks com- menced on Monday, May 31st, the necessities of the Press then requiring its omission. The wheat trade then opened with moderate arrivals, both English and foreign. The show of samples from Kent and Essex was limited, and as the weather all through the previous week had been cold and showery, with an apparent renewal, and the country 86 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. clearer, factors had no difficulty in securing an advance of Is. to 2s. per qr. The foreign trade was equally affected by the state of things, and a good business was done on all sorts at Is. advance. For floating cargoes the improvement realized was Is. to '2s. per qr,, with some activity in the demand, A further upward movement of Is. was noted in the country, more especially in the early part of the week, and in some instances Is. to 2s. per qr. more was paid, as at Hull, Leeds, Rochester, St. Ives, Lynn, &c. ; but later markets became dull, especially those of Saturday, when there was a sudden outburst of sultry weather ; Liverpool therefore, after being firm on Tuesday, noted a backward movement of id. to 2d. on Friday. Both Glasgow and Edinburgh advanced Is. on wheat. Dublin also noted an improvement of 6d. to Is. per brl.,the largest advance being on foreign qualities. The improvement at Belfast was 5s. per tan. The second Monday again opened on moderate arrivals, both English and foreign, and the morn- ing's show of samples from the near counties was very short. The heat of the sun, however, con- tinuing, after reaching 10.5 degrees Fahr. at mid- day, put a check upon the upward movement, and buyers were so staggered at the unexpected change that the gain of the previous week was completely lost, and the sales made were only slow at the rates of a fortnight back. The same calm came over the foreign trade with like effects. Floating cargoes being held on higher terras, there was nothing passing. Though the extraordinary heat only lasted four or five days, its influence with the London reports pervaded every country market, and a like decline of Is. to 2s. was noted at Rochester, Newark, St. Ives, Gainsborough, &c., though Manchester and the following places made the reduction only Is., viz., Boston, Uppingham, Melton Mowbray, Worksop, Stockton, Hull, Leeds, Gloucester, and Sheffield. The weather afterwards becoming cold again, Saturday's markets generally resisted any reduction, but a few rather gave way. Glasgow and Edinburgh were only dull, without positive decline. The changed reports brought Dublin into a state of suspense, and literally nothing was done. At Belfast wheat was slightly in buyers' favour. On the third Monday there was about an average quantity of English wheat, but a better supply from abroad. The show of fresh samples from Kent and Essex was very limited, and, with a change to ungenial weather, factors were again demanding higher rates ; but these were resisted by millers, and eventually sales were made at unaltered prices, the weather taking up as the day wore on. Holders of foreign not being anxious to sell with such a doubtful aspect of things, scarcely any business was transacted. Floating cargoes arrived having been cleared off during the spurt, with no further arrivals, cargoes for shipment were held at previous prices. The markets, still affected by every fluctua- tion in the weather, mostly presented an upward bearing this week. Birmingham, Uppingham, Bourn, Newark, Melton Mowbray, Manchester, Stockton, Bristol, Leeds, &c. were Is, dearer. Boston, Wakefield, and Bury St. Edmund's were Is. to 2s. per qr. higher. Liverpool was up 2d. per cental on Tuesday and Id. more on Friday. Edinburgh was 1 s. to 2s. per qr. dearer. Glasgow found fair business at fully former rates. Dublin was dull, and nothing passed in the way of business. The fourth Monday had the smallest English receipts, but those from abroad were larger, includ- ing a good quantity from California. There were again very few samples sent up from the near counties during the morning, and with more rough weather the market became in an excited state. At the opening, an advance of 5s. was demanded, but this stopped business altogether. Eventually 4s. was made on a few prime samples by one house, but generally the advance was quoted 2s. on red and 3s. on white qualities, with a fair clearance. There was an animated demand for foreign, and an advance of fully 2s. was generally paid for all qualities. Floating cargoes were unal- tered. Influenced by the London reports of Mon- day, the country generally exhibited an advance. Ipswich, Stockton, and some few places were 3s. to 4s. higher; at many places there was a rise of 2s. to 3s., as at Sleaford, Market Harbro', Newark, Rochester, Gainsborough, Sheffield, &c. ; while Spalding, Boston, and some made the advance 2s., and Wakefield only Is. to 23. Liverpool was 4d. to 6d. dearer on Tuesday. The last Monday had moderate supplies of English wheat with plenty of foreign. The show of fresh samples on the Essex and Kentish stands was so short that holders generally asked the same money as on the previous week, notwith- standing a great improvement in the weather, but to make sales, either of English or foreign. Is. less had to be accepted. Beans, Peas, and barley all tended upwards, but oats were 6d. per qr. cheaper, there being heavy arrivals. The imports into London for the four weeks were 24,482 qrs. English wheat, 65,572 qrs, fo- reign, against 8,698 qrs. English, 1 31,747 qrs. fo- reignfortheeame periodlast year. TheLondon aver- ages commenced at 48s. id., and closed at 48s. 3d. The general averages began at 45s. 2d. and finished at 46s. 2d. The imports for four v/eeks into the United Kingdom up to 12th of June were 953,260 cwts. wheat, 113,319 cwts. flour, against 2,976,449 cwts, wheat, 164,303 cwts. flour in 1868. The trade in country flour has advanced about 2s. per sack during the four weeks, Norfolks leaving off at 33s. ; foreign sacks have also im- proved Is., and barrels 6d, to Is. Town millers made no change in the top price, which has all along stood at 43s. per sack. The imports for four weeks into London have been 95,744 sacks English and 10,288 sacks 14,382 barrels foreign, against 50,754 sacks English and 9,396 sacks 6,540 barrels foreign, for the same period last year. With a fair supply of maize, this grain has been in better demand, at an improvement of Is. per qr. The imports for four weeks were 30,830, against 8,940 qrs. in 1868. With very light supplies of barley, both British and foreign, this grain has improved also to the extent of Is. per qr. for all qualities. The arrivals THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 87 in four weeks were 1,016 qrs. British, 3,732 qrs. foreign, against 1,367 qrs. British, 34,631 qrs. foreign for the same time in 1868. The malt trade has been dull, and lost Is. in value on four weeks. While the arrivals of Oats from the United Kingdom have been small, the foreign supply has been fair, being made up lately by the fresh ship- ments from Russia; the quality and condition, however, of these latter were both very disap- pointing, some weighing 37 lbs. bringing only 22s. to 23s. per qr. on the third Monday ; but in the last week this loss was recovered, leaving prices much the same for the entire month. The arrivals for that time were 1,556 qrs. English, 1,264 qrs. Scotch, 3,300 qrs. Irish, 93,849 qrs. foreign, against 957 qrs. English, 130 qrs. Scotch, 880 qrs. Irish, 160,069 qrs, foreign in 1868. The supply of English Beans has been limited — say, about 500 qrs. per week, and the foreign were almost nothing, the crop in Egypt not being good. Prices have therefore advanced 2s. to 3s. per qr., and seem likely to remain dear for some mouths. The imports in four weeks were 2,118 qrs. English, 68 qrs. foreign, against 1,702 qrs. English, 3,280 qrs. foreign in 1868. AVith regard to peas, scarcely any of home growth have appeared,, but the foreign arrivals have been better. A moderate demand for feeding has so reduced the stock of white that prices have risen about 2s. per qr., though the lower rates of maize interfere with the consumption. The arrivals of English were only 157 qrs., of foreign, 1,855 qrs., against 79 qrs. English, 1,400 qrs, foreign for the same period last year. The supply of linseed during the month has been limited, and so has been the demand, in con- sequence of the abundance of grass and low rates of other feeding stutF; yet prices have stood firm, in consequence of small .stocks. The total quantity received in four "weeks was 11,009 qrs,, against 8,522 qrs. in 1868. The very imgenial wet and cold weather having put the seed cropsin jeopardy, which previously were unpromising, there has been a speculative demand for cloverseed and trefoil at an advance of 2s. per cwt. Brown mustardseed has materially risen from very poor prospects in Holland, and white has hardened also in value as well as rapeseed and canaryseed. CURRENT PRICES OF BRITISH GRAIN AND FLOUR IN MARK LANE. Shillings per Quarter. WHEAT, new, Essex and Kent, white 50 to 64 „ „ red 45 48 Norfolk, Lincolnshii-e, and Yorkshire 45 48 BARLEY 31 to 34 Chevalier (nominal) 40 Grinding 28 30 Distilling 35 MALT (nominal), Essex, Norfolk, and Suffolk 65 Kingston, Ware, and town-made 65 Brown 51 RYE OATS, EngUsh, feed 26 to 30 Potato. Scotch, feed 00 00 Potato, Irish, feed, white 21 Ditto, black 21 BEANS, Mazagan ...36 Harrow 40 PEAS, white, boilers..39 25 Fine 24 Potato... 39 Ticks.... 42 Pigeon , 41Maple 44 to 45 Grey, new39 FLOUR, per sack of 2801bs., Town, Households 38 Country, on shore 32 to 31 „ 36 Norfolk and Suffolk, on shore , 31 FOREIGN GRAIN. Shillings per Quarter. 53 to 56 51 53 AVHEAT, Dantzic, mixed 60 to 62 extra, Konigsberg 49 51 extra Rostock 48 50 fine 51 5i Silesian, red 46 48 white.... 49 51 Pomera., Meckberg., and Uckermrk. ...red 46 48 Russian, hard, 42 to 45. ..St. Petersburg and Riga 44 46 Danish and Holstein, red 4 1 46 American 44 46 French, none Rhino and Belgium 00 00 Chilian, white 52 ... Califomian 52 ... Australian 62 54 BARLEY, grinding 23 to 26.. ..distilling and malting 29 33 OATS, Dutch, brewing and Polands 24 to 27 feed 19 23 Danish and Swedish, feed 25 to 26.... Stralsund... 24 26 Canada21to23,Riga23to25,Arch.22to2o,P'8bg. 24 27 TARES, new Spring, per qr. ...small 45 47 ... large 65 60 BEANS, Friesland and Holstein 38 40 Konigsberg 36 to 38. ..Egyptian 36 38 PEAS, feeding and maple.. .37 40.. .fine boilers 38 40 INDIAN CORN, white 28 31. ..yellow 28 29 FLOUR, per sack, French. .34 37...Spanish, p. sack 00 00 American, per brl 22 24...extraand d'ble.25 28 IMPERIAL AVERAGES. For the week ended June 19, 1869. "Wheat 48,459i qrs. 468. 2d. Barley 378^ „ 323. 2d, Oats l,107i „ 27s. 8d. COMPARATIVE AVERAGES. "WHEAT, BARLEY. OATS. Years. Qrs. s. d. Qrs. s. d. Qrs. s. rt. 1865.. . 51,039i ... 41 3 571 ... 27 5 1,7561 ...23 3 1866.. . 51,2811 .,.48 5 5801 ... 34 4 1,677 ...26 7 1867.. . 36,3301 ... 65 8 6971 ... 35 0 1,793| ...27 7 1868.. , 23,965i ... 69 1 G33i ... 39 2 1,686 ... 29 3 1869.. . 48,459^ ... 46 2 378^ ... 32 2 l,107i ... 27 8 AVERAGES For thb last Six "Weeks ; May 15, 1869 May 22, 1869 May 29, 1869 June 5, 1869 ..,.: Jiino 12, 1869 June 19, 1869 , Aggregate of the above ... Thesameweekin 1868 Wheat. Barley. s. d. s. d. 41 6 40 1 45 2 37 7 45 2 37 3 45 5 37 6 46 0 37 1 46 2 33 2 45 6 36 11 66 1 39 2 Oats. s. d. 26 11 27 1 27 0 26 2 26 8 27 8 26 11 29 3 243. 9s. 21s. 62s, 70s. 20s. 41s. BRITISH SEEDS. MusTAKD, perbush., brown 16s. to 17s., white 16s. to 18s. Canary, per qr 61s. 68s. CLOVBESEED,red 628. 68s. CoBiANDBR, per cwt 21s. Takes, winter, new, per bushel 8s. Tbefoil 203. RvEGEAsa, perqr 263, Linseed, perqr., sowing 70s. to72s., crushing 603. Linseed Cakes, per ton £11 53. to £11 158. Rapeseed, per qr 62s, 64s. Rape Oakb, perton £6 15s. to £7 Os. FOREIGN SEEDS. CoEiANDER, per cv/t 203.to21s, Cakeawat ,, 37s, 38s. Cloveeseed, red 46s. to528., white... 62s, Trefoil 16s, Ryegeass, per qr 26s, Hempseed, small 39s. per qr Dutcii... 42s. Linseed, per qr., Baltic 58s. to 61s. ..Bombay 6l3, Linseed Cakes, per ton £10 Os. to £11 Os. Rapeseed, Dutch 62s. 64s. Rape Cake, per ten £6 10s,to£7 Os. HOP MARKET. BORO"UGH, Monday, June 28.— Reports from most of tlie principsil grounds during the past week indicate a steady increase of fly and lice in the "Weald of Kent, "Worcester, Farn- ham, aud Sussex. Mid and East Kent show a slight improve- ment. Our market continues firm for all samples, especially those possessing colour or quality, at former fpiotatious. Mid and East Kent £2 10 £3 10 £6 10 Weald of Kents 3 5 Sussex 3 0 Farnham 3 10 Country 3 10 Bavarians 3 0 Belgians 3 0 Yearlings 3 0 ALmericans 3 5 3 10 .... ..4 0 3 10 .... .. 3 15 4 5 .... ..6 0 4 0 .... .. 4 10 2 10 .... .. 3 10 3 10 .... ..3 0 3 10 ... .. 3 10 3 16 .... .. 3 10 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. POTATO MARKETS. BOROUGH AND SPITALFIELDS. LONDON, Mo>^DAY, Juue 28. — New potatoes are coming more freely to hand. The demand for them is not active, and they are selling at from 8s. to 12s. per cwt. for old produce the market is dull at our quotations. Last week's London import consisted of 20 baskets from Antwerp, 301 boxes 38 tons Barfleur, 4i2 sacks 4,538 baskets Dunkirk, 192 cases 32 boxes Cadiz, 380 boxes Ghent, 1,198 boxes 840 cases Genoa, 259 boxes Marseilles, 277 barrels 125 baskets Rouen, 8,367 baskets Rotterdam, 30 baskets Boulogne, 458 bags Trieste, 20 tons Cherbourg. Regents 50s. to 90s. „ Mukes 50s. to 80s. „ Rocks 50s. to 70s. „ COUNTRY POTATO MARKETS.— Doncaster (Satur- day last) : The supply of new potatoes was very small, but there were plenty of old ones. Regents 9s. to 9s. 6d., rocks 6s. to 7s. per load. New potatoes 2d. to 3d. per lb. — Max- ton (Saturday last) : A plentiful supply of new potatoes, but they are small in size, and fell to 2d. per lb. The old crop was rather better, flukes advancing to 9d., and rounds firm at 6d. per stone. — Manchester (Saturday last) : New potatoes, Dutch Is. 6d. to 2s. per 211bs., Ormskirk 3s. to 4s., Cornwall Is. to 3s., Cheshire 18s. to 26s. per load. Old potatoes, York- shire 6s. to 10s., Scotch 4s. to 6s., Cheshire 3s. to os. per 252 lbs. — YoKK (Saturday last) : The supply of potatoes is very large for the period of the year, and prices were lower. Round potatoes sold at 8s. per tub of 2801bs., and 7d. per peck retail, and flukes 9s. per tub and 8d. per peck. Sales seemed to progress very slowly. New potatoes fetched 4d. per quart. CHEESE, per cwt. : 8. 8. Cheshire 60 to 80 PRICES of BUTTER, CHEESE, HAMS, &c. BUTTER, per cwt. : 8. 8. Dorset H8tOl20 Friesland 96 100 Jersey 84 100 Fkesh, per doz, ... 12 14 BACON, per cwt : Wiltshire 76 80 Irish, green 71 80 Dble. Gloucester... 62 Cheddar 80 American 74 HAMS: York 104 Cumberland 100 Irish 96 GLASGOW CHEESE MARKET, (Wednesday last.) — The supply of Cheese for the season exceedingly large, 3,634 having been laid down. Buyers few, and little business doing. Sellers, to make sale, would be willing to concede 2s. to 3s. per cwt. on last week's prices. Cheddars (old) 76s. to 78s., ditto (new) 63s. to 68s. ; Dunlop (old) 75s. to 77s., ditto (new) 60s. to G6s.; Skim-milk, 26s. to 28s. GLOUCESTER CHEESE MARKET, 40 tons were pitched, aud all sold readily at from 60s. to 62s. for seconds, and 65s. to 67s. for best. CORDEROY AND CO.'S CHEESE CIRCULAR, (Thurs- day last.) — We have had a rather dull and awkward market for cheese during the week, a considerable proportion of the recent arrivals of Cheshire and other cheese, consisting of very middling quality valued at high prices. This description is taken very cautiously aud sparingly by our buyers, but there is a fair demand for really prime forward meaty cheese, sound and firm ; when these can be sent on reasonable terms we may expect a better trade. Scotch Cheddar of fine quality sell pretty readily at our last quotations. American cheese are coming in more freely, and prices are lower, both here and in New York. Prices may now be quoted at about 743. to 78s. for the finest cheese. Since our last 13,381 boxes have been received. CORK BUTTER EXCHANGE, (Friday last.)— Ordin- ary : First quality 103s. to lOOs., second do. 101s. to 98s., third do. 93s. to 90s., fourth do. 89s. to 86s., fifth do. 72s. to 69s., sixth do. 58s. to 55s. per cwt. Jlild cured : First quality 108s. to 105s., second do. 107s. to 104s., third do. 96s. to 93s. per cwt. Thirds, fourths, fifths, and sixths of kegs 4s. per cwt. less. Repacked and dairies 9s. Currency : Ordinary butter 10s. per cwt. less, mild-cured 10s, do., sponged butter 2s. do. POULTRY, &c., MARKETS.— Geese, 5s. to 7s. ; Ducks, Is. fid. to 3s. fid. ; Surrey Fowls, 3s. to fis. ; Sussex ditto, 3s. to 4s. ; Boston and Essex, 2s. 6d. to 3s. 6d. ; Irish, Is. Cd. to 3s.; tame Rabbits, Is. to Is. 6d. ; Pigeons, 7d. to lOd.; Leverets, Is. to 3s. 6d. each. Eggs, 7s. to 9s. per 100. ENGLISH WOOL MARKETS. CITY, Monday, June 28. — The demand for English wool has been of a limited character, nevertheless, holders have shown no disposition to make any further concession as to prices. Stocks on hand are somewhat considerable, and, look- ing at the large amount of colonial produce now on the way, it is diflicult to discover how present rates can be maintained. CUBBBNT PbICBS OF ENGLISH WoOL. 8. fl. 8. A. Fleeces— Southdown hogs per lb. 1 2 tol 3 Half-bred ditto 11 13 Kent fleeces „ 1 2| 1 3J Southdovra ewes and wethers ... ,, 11 12 Leicester ditto ,, 12 13 SoBTS — Clothing, picklock „ 15 16 Prime „ 13 1 3^ Choice 12 13 Super „ 11 12 Combing, wether mat 1 4^ 1 6 Picklock , 11 12 Common ,, Oil 10 Hog matching ,, 16 1 6^ Picklock matching , 1 1^ 1 2^ Super ditto , 0 11 10 BRADFORD WOOL MARKET, (Thursday last.)— There is a slightly more cheerful feeling in the market this morning, and the general tone is a little firmer ; and these qualities would probably be more distinct but for the adverse influence of a rise in tlie price of corn. The demand for English wool during the week has become rather more general, and now reaches to classes whicli have long been neglected ; but there is no great activity, and the aggregate sold is not much in excess of late week's. There is a perceptible improvement in the inquiry for Irish wool, and prices are again the turn dearer. Average Irish liogs and wethers are worth re- spectively 174d. and 15jd. per lb., and extra good lots a farthing more. Lustre wools generally have a slightly hardening tendency without being quotably dearer, and the range of prices which are being paid for the new clip has the efl'ect of making staplers generally a little worse to deal with. — Bradford Observer. LEEDS WOOL MARKET, (Friday last.)— There is no material change in the demand for English Wool, and prices are unaltered. The supply may now be said to be increasing every week. The consumption of colonial and other foreign Wool is rather below the average. No change can be reported either in price or demand It can hardly be expected that prices will be lower ; but low as they are there seems little disposition on the part of many manufacturers to buy freely. HIDE AND SKIN MARKETS. LONDON, Satubdat, June 26. d. s. d. 8. d. B. d. MARKET HIDES: 56to 611bs 0 3i4toO 3V2 64 to 721bs 0 72 to SOlbs 0 3V 80 to 881bs 0 0 88 to 961b8 0 3% 96tol041bs 0 0 lOltoHaiba 0 0 0 3VS 0 3% 0 3% Horse hides, each Calf skins, light 2 0 Fall 7 0 Polled sheep 0 0 Half-breds 0 0 Downs 0 0 Shearlings 1 0 Lambs 2 0 a 3 PRICE CURRENT OF GUANO, &o. Peruvian Quano direct from the importers' Btores,£12 168. to £13 Os per ton. Bones, £6 5s. to £6 10s. Ditto Gnashed, £6 10s. per ton. Animal Charcoal (70 per cent. Phosphate) £5 per ton. Coprollte, Cambridge, whole £3, ground £3 lOs.per ton. Suffolk, whole £3 lOs., ground £3. Gypsum, £1 lOs. Superphosphates of Lime, £5 5s. to £6 5s. per ton. Sulphuric Acid, concentrated 1845 Id. per lb., brown 1"712 0$d. Blood Manure, £6 5s. to £7 10s. Dissolved Bones, £6 15s. per ton. Linseed Cakes, best American brl. £12 lOs. to £13 Os., bag £12 to £12. 15s. English £12 to £13. Cotton Seed Cake, £8 s. to £8 lOs. per ton. E. PuBSEB, London Manure Company, 116, Fenchurch Street, E.G. Guano, Penman £12 17 6to£13 0 0} Linseed Cake, per ton- Do. Upper do. 0 00 0 00 Amer.,thln,bgs.£10 5 0to£0 0 0 BoneAsh 5 0 0 5 5 0; English 0 0 0 0 00 Nitr. of Soda, p. ct. 0 14 0 0 14 U Cotsd.Cake,decor. 7 10 0 7 15 0 Linsd.Bomby,p.qr.3 0 0 3 1 0 Niger 2 8 0 0 00 Rapeseed, Guzerat 3 0 0 3 1 OJBrimstone, 2d*3rd 7 0 0 7 16 0 Cloverseed, N.Ara. (Tallow, 1st P. Y.C. 2 5 0 0 00 red, new per cwt.l 10 0 2 0 Ol „ super. Norths 2 4 0 2 4 S SAMUEL DOWNES awd CO., General Brokers, No. 7, The Albany, Liverpool. Agricultural Chemical Works, Stowmarket, Suffolk. Prentice's Cereal Manure for Corn Crops „, per ton £8 0 0 Mangold Manure _. „ 8 0 0 Prentice's Turnip Manure „.„ „ 6 10 0 Prentice's Superphosphate of Lime „.„__.—. „ 6 0 0 Printed by Rogerson and Tuxford, 265, Strand, London, W. C- THE MARK LANE EXPRESS AND AGRICUI.TUB.AX. JOURNAI. IS THE LAEGEST AND THE LEADING FARMERS' AND GRAZIERS' NEWSPAPER. PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY EVENING IN TIME FOR POST. The object of the Proprietors of the MARK LANE EXPRESS has ever been, to render it in every way the most efficient organ of the Agricultural Class, to direct and diffuse practical and scientific infoi'mation of all kinds relating to rural affairs, to be a medium for giving circulation to the Proceedings of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, the Royal Agricultui-al Improvement Society of Ireland, and of every Agricultural Society and Farmers' Club iu the Kingdom. All pohtical and party discussions are carefully avoided, except such as are purely Agi-icultural ; since its establish- ment, thirty-seven years since, this course ha9,been steadily adhered to, and the result has been, the accession of a numerous and rapidly increasing List of Subscribers, com- prising the most influential Agriculturists in the kingdom. In times when the position of the Tenant Farmers has been one of great difficulty, the MARK LANE EXPRESS has ever been directed to the advocacy and Support" of the BIGHTS OS THE TBif Aif T Fabmbes. In Stating this, it is not intended to lose sight of that noble principle which the great Lord Leicester so successfully followed: viz., "that liberal conduct towards the Tenant wiU ever be found to be the most beneficial to the Landlord." THE MALT TAX.— This is the only Fanner's Paper in London which advocates the Repeal of the Malt Tax. In authenticity and extent of Market information, the MARK LANE EXPRESS stands imrivalled. A REVIEW OF THE CORN TRADE (British and Foreign) fully ex^Dlains the Causes which occasion the Rise or Fall in Prices, thus affording the Growers and Speculator some groimds for anticipating the stability or futm-e tendency of Prices. The Latest Reports of the Com, Cattle, Provision, Wool, Seed, Hop, Malt, and Commercial Markets, appear with the leading Country Fairs and Agricultural Meetings, Authentic AVeekly Advices are received from all the Important Markets in the kingdom, our Colonial PossessiODB, as well as all parts of Europe and America. ROGERSON & TUXFORD, 265, STRAND, LONDON. May be liad of all Booksellers and Newsmen throughout the Kingdom, price Sevenpence, or £1 lOs. 4cl, per annum. NEW WORK BY THE AUTHOR OF " MANHOOD." Post Free from the Author, 12 Stamps ; Sealed Ends, 16 Stamps. DR. CURTIS'S MEDICAL GUIDE TO MARRIAGE : a Practical Treatise on ITS Physical and Personal Obligations. With instructions to the Married and Unmarried of both Se-see, for removing the special disqualifications and impediments which destroy the hauppiness of wedded life, founded on the result of a successful practice of 30 years. — By Dr. J. L. CURTIS, M.D,, 15, Albemarle Street, Piccadilly, London, W. Also, by the same Author, a New and Revised Edition of MANHOOD: 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 iufaUible Lotion). 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. " The book under review is one calculated to warn and instruct the erring, without imparting one idea that can vitiate the mind not already tutored by the vices of which it treats." — Naval and Military Gazette, 1st February, 1856. " 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." — Smx, Evening Paper. Manhood. — " Dr. Curtis has 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, 11, Ave Maria Lane, Paternoster-row ; and Maun, 39, Cornlxill ; and sent free by Book Post from the Author or Publishers for 12 Postage Stamps, or in sealed envelopes, 20 Stamps; Consultationg daily, from 10 to 3 and 6 to 8. 15, Albemarle Street, Piccadilly, W. OEDINARY BOTTLES (White and Gold Label). IMPERIAL POCKET FLASKS, ORDINARY BOTTLES Containing Half a Bottle. (Green and Gold Label). ^OBSERVE TRADE MARK. ESTABLISHED IN 1801. Cltaoipag^ue de rimperatrice '^ Ex^ulii." Ci^rand Vin de I'Smpereur " ]¥onpareil/' ^ifriss . li¥liite €roii§ anil €rOia Cross. ttJUif^DiSi^ TO BE OBTAINED FROM WINE & SPIRir MERCHANTS* No. 2, Vol. XXXVI.] AUGUST, 1869. Thod Series. THB FARMER'S MAGAZINE, AND MONTHLY JOURNAL or TUE AGEICULTURAL INTEREST. TO THE FARMERS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. LONDON t PUBLISHED BYROGERSON AND TUXFORD,^65, STRAND. PRICK TWO SHILLINGS. BOGERSON AND TUXFORD,] [PRINTERS, 265, STRAND. IMPORTANT TO FLOCKMASTERS. rpHOMAS BIGG, Agricultural and Veteriuary Street, Borough, London; S to r^W>fi^ff^V"°^^'' Farmers and Gi^iziers t^Ms vIluablefHEEP « ,1? T^A^r^f and cleansing and pimf>inff the Skin tL^i^'^ ;,-"' Prepared only by Thomas Bigg, Chemist Ar-nt v,u nr factory as above, and sold as followraltWcrh^'^,?^^^ quantity may be had, if required:- ' "^'^^^^^S^ a^^y other 6 lb' ^°^' In ^^^^^' ^^'^°^' ^*^' included £o 61b. 8 1b. 101b. 201b. 30 lb. 40 lb. 501b. 60 lb. 80 lb. 100 lb. 30 40 50 100 160 200 250 300 400 600 (cask and measure included) 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 10 0 15 1 0 1 3 1 7 1 17 2 5 J^^o'eSyeS^t'' ""''''' '^'^'^^^ thecompo.ition, it MOST IMPORTANT CERTIFICATE rp^ HT „, WILLIAM HeEAPATH, SoU., F.C S &C A-r oi^^OTION''\Zth^''^^K''''^L'i^^^''^^'^^ ioWs SPECIFIC, uj fcueep, even ewes m lamb. Pricp TfTVif! rwtt t TMr'o .,„„ t^"heTSL^ent"*of tb"'^ r ^^^^^ is. 3d! lachf ^ '^''^^'^^ ' ^^'° '^ ''-^^ q'iai-t bottles, .<<= , IMPORTANT TESTIMONIAL. "Dear Si^ T?,''.'l^= ^^^f^^^' Norfolk, AprU 16th, 1855. wou^^lTav^by^reTir^^^^^^ ti»;r »"••■■ O'sooffl severe ioPeteni>"yVSi;tteSSS now m use. I remain, dear Sir, '< To Mr Thnrr^a. B- .',' ^°'' "^O^^ TINGET, Esq., I o Ml . Thomas Bigg." << r_ jJenney 1^ Flockmasters would do well to beware of such pre- parations as " Non-poisonoua; Compositions:" it is only necessary to appeal to theii- good common sense and judg- raen tobe thoroughly convinced that no " Non-poisonous " article can poison or destroy insect vermin, particularly such as the Tick. Lice, and Scab Parasites-creatSres so £c?o2 of life Such advertised preparations must be wholly useless, or they are not what they are represented to be DIPPING APPARATUS £14. £6. £i, & £3. HAIL STORMS. - CROPS INSURED BY THE ROYAL FARMERS' COMPANY, AGAINST I^OSS BY HAH mvOMMM, AT MODERATE RATES. OFFICE_No. 3, NORFOLK STREET, STRAND. SEEDS and GLASS are also insured. FIRE Insurances at rates as low as other well established offices. LIFE Assurance, of an, description at equitable rate. Four-fifth* of the profit, divided e.e.^ F.fth Year. lOSSES.— Prompt and liberal settlement of claims. Further particular* may be had at the Chief Oifice, or of the Agents. JOHN REDBISH, Secretary and Actuary. ^ ^ .V ^- \^ \^ i >-v X ^ V A THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. AUGT^ST, 1809. PLATE I. SIR JOHN; A French Draught-house, of the Percheroune Breed. With a view of improving the cart horses of the country this stallion has been imported, and is now located near Borobridge in Yorkshire. Sir John is a good hardy grey in colour, standing sixteen hands and an inch high. Beyond his great muscular power he possesses fine free action, and is a capital horse at work. The Percheroune horses are famed for their hardihood and strength, while they are used in France not merely for heavy draught purposes but for lighter harness- work in the omnibus and van. So far, however, they are not much known here, but we remember that a Percheroune stallion was exhibited at the Battersea great International Meet- ing, when he took a first prize. PLATE II. REX; A Prize Setter. THE property OF MR. J. H. WALSH, OF LITTLE COMBERTON, WORCESTER. Rex, a Gordon setter, bred in 1865, by Mr. Pearce, of Morden, was given by the breeder to Mr. Walsh when but a few month old, being selected by his present owner out of a kennel of fifteen whelps exhibited at Islington. Rex is by Kent, a winner of many first prizes, including the gold medal in Paris, and two or more champion medals at Birmingham. Kent was pur- chased by Mr. Pearce at Cremorne, where he won the first prize, Argyle the Second, by Lord Boling- broke's Argyle oiat of Mr. Pearce's Ruby, being a close second to him. Rex is out of Mr. Pearce's Regent, own sister to Argyle the Second, a bitch well known as a first prize winner, and deficient in one particular point only, the curl of her coat being a little too much pronounced for fastidious judges. Mr. Walsh's dog resembles Regent and the old Argyle strain far more than his sire, whilst his coat and carriage are indisputably first-rate. He is also a long way the best of any of the Kent stock in his hind-quarters, where the old dog is without question deficient, and this defect is most apparent in some of his produce. It would be hard indeed to produce a setter more truly made or more in accordance with the ideal which presents itself to the imagination of correct judges than Rex ; but the grand lines, the intelli- gent head, the straight fore-legs, the wide and strong loin, the long graceful neck, the sloping shoulders, the *' wear-and-tear" feet, muscular thighs, and strong hocks of the best-made setter in Europe — all of these are thrown away unless the animal is a workman, and can persevere, endure, find back, stand, and obey the rigid rules to which he has been disciplined. In these respects Rex has proved himself un- approachable. At Stafford, in 18G7, aftera short preparation, he won the Shrewsbury Stakes over grouse, and the first prize also over partridges, and he consequently became a hot favourite for the Bala Sweepstakes in the September of that year. The dog was put in the hands of a well-known breaker to get him ready for this event ; but being sent home terribly out of condition he was re- luctantly withdrawn by his owner at the eleventh hour, nor did he regain his pace and form until he had a fortnight's training later on ; but it was the opinion of the gentleman vviio shot over him, and who could draw a pretty fair conclusion from the dogs hunted in the company of Rex^ that even in his feverish state he would have proved a most formidable competitor in Wales. In May, 1868, he was again victorious at Staf- I [Yqi.. LXVI.— No, 3. 90 THE FABMER'S MAGAZINE. ford, beating the first and second dogs of the previous year, and to all acquainted with the dog's gallant style and form of hunting that victory was a foregone conclusion. Rex possesses a most sensitive nose, great energy, high muscular power, and grand action j while his disposition and constitution enable him to carry on during any weather and under all conditions of scent, ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. MEETING AT MANCHESTER. In our report of the Eoyal show at Leicester last year we at once declared against the experiment, as there first tested, of cutting the week in two, and driving people away on the Saturday with the idea that they would ever come back again on the Monday. As we went on to say, that if the trials of machinery were to extend over ten days or a fortnight, and the cattle show to commence on the Tuesday and finish on the Friday every proper pur- pose would be answered. The Hanover Square Council is a body by no means remarkable for the quickness of its movements, but it has gone back again with commendable alacrity. Not that the management at [Manchester is alto- gether to be approved. The great aim, as everywhere appar- ent, was to make money out of the thing, and the character of a national exposition continually compromised for the sake of certain more shillings to be had out of the public. Judged only in this Avay, with the Prince of Wales as President, and the site in so populous a district, the meeting was of course an immense success. But this is but a showman's view after all, and as regards the more essential elements of the occasion there was much to complain of. It is, for instance, simply monstrous that during the blazing weather which we generally get about this period cattle should be kept upon view for six days in succession, as is now the case, upon the grand con- sideration of the more admission fees to be taken. Some beasts were removed early'^in the week under a suspicion of disease, while many others will never forget the fearful ordeal to which they have been here subjected ; as it is more than probable that fever or something worse may be engendered by so much fatigue and continued excite- ment. A four days' exhibition of stock, v.'hich would not necessitate even one Sunday out from home would be amply sufficient, unless breeders be prepared to enter prize animals at a greater sacrifice than they hitherto have done. This nine or ten days out, to which the pre- sent arrangement approaches, is, in fact, a most unwarrantable exaction, as it will most probably in the end defeat its own purpose and tire many people of entering. But even beyond this the Council, not content with screwing every half-penny it could out of the visitors at the expense of the exhibitors, was good enough to let others take a part in the plunder. In fact, the conduct of the proceedings seemed to be mainly in the care of the Local Committee, which coolly broke through the rules of the Society, and started exhibitions within exhibitions, and overlaid the show itself with absurdities, only to get more crowns, half-crowns, and shillings out of the unfortunate pubhc. The Council of the Society was careful to announce that it had nothing to do with these fooleries beyond the chief officers gracing the performances with their presence. These distinguished personages rode or marched in pro- cession at the head of the lists hke a goodly company of Trumpeters, and incessantly testified to the great kindness and invincible energy with which the Local Com- mittee deyise^ schemes for maklBg capital out 9f the Royal Agricultural Society. A bonus of a thousand pounds or two should thus be no such bad a speculation in the end, the more especially when dealing with men who appear so ready to sell their rights for a mess of potage as the executive of these rural interests. Giving thanks where thanks are mainly due, the stock show may be recorded as mainly noticeable for its average excellence. Striking off a few curiosities rather than estab. lished breeds, and certain Irish and Scotch sections, there were not many weak places in the catalogue. With Lan- cashire, as we have already said, one of the great nurseries of the Shorthorn, this breed was known long since to ! be in at least great numerical force ; while the Here- fords would seem to be coming again, and the Devons at any rate were out of their own beat. Then the Southdowns were occasionally too much for the judges, the Leicesters and Lincolns a very useful exposition of long-wools, and the Shrop- shires so even, or so odd, that every other breeder was quite ready to reverse the decisions. The Oxford and Borderer classes also included many capital sheep, and there were some Berkshire and small white pigs of un- precedented worth. When, moreover, we remember what a Royal hoi'se show was, or was not, a few years since, this section may be set as more than creditable — provided always that the Stewards have strength of purpose suffi- cient to keep clear of Local Committees and Islington mountebanks. Great as may be the meed of merit here and there, it is very suggestive to see how the tide of pubHc feeling ' flows on for ever." Within- a few minutes of the doors being opened, the Shorthorn rings were surrounded, and crowds of connoisseurs in horseflesh were ready long before the authorities. There was some very manifest excitement, too, over the placing of the Southdowns and Shropshires ; but " private judging " was the order of the day with the Devons and White-faces, as, beyond an owner or two, scarcely a soul ever came to see fair. In obedience, then, to public opinion, we stop short at the Shorthorns, where, in an entry of over thirty aD-aged bulls, the most notice- able of the absentees is last year's winner, Commander- in-Chief. It is thought, however, that for once the class can aflord to do without Mr. Booth, the lot being con- sidered, at the first glance, a very grand one, although a closer iuspection seems to show there is a pretty strong sprinkling of overdone, used up, or really inferior animals. The forlorn hope was led oft' by Colonel Towneley's once famous Royal Butterfly, now, at twelve years old naturally but a shadow of himself, and scarcely equal to such a trying week's work. The judges did not recognize him, or they would most probably have bestowed a com- mendation on the veteran ; but, with a keener recollection of Charles-le-Beau, they did record theh approval of that delicate and efl'eminate exquisite ; though they passed over Mr. Paulett's far better Baron Killerby, whose temper should be one of his worst faults. The class took a deal Qf weeding out, and, for a tiraej at least half the entry THE FAKMER'S MAGAZINE. 91 looked to be left iu, witk Lord Fcvershani's lengthy, haudaome Orestes put away very early into a place by himself. As this was ccrtaiuly one of the beat lookiug bulls of the class, it was reasonably enough assumed that he stood iu for something; but it eventually turned out that he was lame, and so disqualified. Considering that a lame horse won the champion prize as the best hunter, this would seem to be making rather too fine a point of it. Still the most " taking " bull outside the ring was the Scotch lleir of Englishmau, a long, deep, but smallish bull of very good appearance and high quality, as made up in the primest possible condition. The Cum- berland bull, Edgar, very good to face, and also famously prepared, rather overtopped the other, and consequently found many friends ; the Cornish Frederick, a very massive beast, but short in his coat, and somewhat hai'sh in his touch, being pretty generally counted about next best. Another buU that commanded some attention from the merit he united with extraordinary size, was Mr. Tunnicliffe's Xorthern Duke ; while Sir W. Stirling Jlaxwell's very neat and level Keir Butterfly, like almost everything fi-om over the Border, was in beautiful trim. The Scotch farmers, however much or little they may excel us iu other ways, have undoubtedly got at the secret of how to make the most of a Shorthorn. The judges and the critics would so far have seemed to be going pretty much together, until at length out came the colours, and the best bull was not Englishman, nor Orestes, nor Edgar, nor the Cornishman, nor the Keir, but good old Mr. Wiley's Earl of Derby, an animal which, so far, nobody had noticed ; and when you did notice him, your admiration only grew tlie more as to how he ever got there ! He has no coat, a thin, poor touch, a long, slack body, and, if anything, is worse out of his box than in it. Still, his thighs are good, aud he has a fair head aud forehand ; but he is altogether a plain, washy- looking beast, with little or nothiug either to the hand or the eye that bespeaks much coustitutiou or quality. The Earl of Derby has possibly done some service ; but had he been in training aU his life he never could have compared with at least half-a-dozen far better bulls here placed behind him. It is said the award in his favour w^as not unanimous, as, however arrived at, this was no doubt as great a mistake as ever was made. Having committed themselves so far, the most curious thing is that Messrs. Bartholomew, Mace, aud Stephenson " never did so any more," for scarcely any fault was to be found with the remainder of their day's work. Theii' best two-year old is the Irish-bred Bolivar, at this writing about the best bull out. If not quite so bloomiug as at Lei- cester, he has goue on well in his new home ; aud, with the exception of his stUl somewhat rusty-looking coat, which tells against him at tirst, he is almost everywhere excellent, the texture of his haii- being as nice as the colour is bad. Bolivar placed himself, but it was a near thing for second between his half-brother Charlie, also bred by Mr. Meadows, and Lord Sudeley's white, which did so well at Southampton. Charlie, a red bidl, was first as a yearling last year at the Koyal Irish Show at Londonderry, and lirst at the more recent Dublin Spring meeting. He is a lengthy, stylish, capitally framed bull, with a rare back and middle, very wealthy iu his touch and free in his movements, but rather spoiled by a light weak neck ; and hence some discussion as to the relative merits of the two next best, ^laudarin, as we said when we last saw him, is long and sti'aight in his frame, square in his ends, mellow iu his touch, and with a capital coat. He was, however, so very fit at Southampton, that it was douhtful whether he would wear on so well, but he was if possible in even better condition here, and not even the Scotch animals could be shown to more advantage. These three prize bulls were three of the youngest iu the class, aud they were in reality the only tlu'ce iu it ; the two commended bulls being poor by com- parisou, and some of the others, such as Baron Roths- child's, the Honourable Noel liiU's and Mr. John B. Booth's entry, very inferior. Amongst the yearling bulls Mr. l''oljambe was still ringing the changes with his Knights ; and Knight of the Bath, which everybody said should not have been first at Leicester Royal, was first again at Manchester, with Knight of the Whistle first a few months back at the Birmingham sham sale now third ; whereas at Bingley Hall Knight of the Whistle was first and Knight of the Bath third. The Bath, as they always said he would at home, has improved immensely of late, but nevertheless he was never a favourite of ours. Prince Leopold, which separated Knight of the Crescent and Knight of the Whistle as second best at Wetherby, aud Knight of the Whistle and Knight of the Bath as second best at Birmingham, was now never noticed, though he was a particularly nice calf, aud had gone on well enough to wiu again in the Spring as a yearling. So much forjudges differing. The second best here was Mr. Fawkes' Lord Beaunxont, a smart roan, not veiy good in his back and loin, but which was bought forth- with to go to Australia. This was a very large good class, where the judges no doubt missed some promising youug bulls, some of which have been heard of before, as some will be heard of again. The lot, indeed, took "a deal of judging." There w'as another large class of calves, an innovation of recent date, that does more of harm than good, aud an abuse which, like early two-year-old racing, caunot be too soon put a stop to. Mr. Fawkes was first with another sou of Lord Cobham, a very kindly pro- mising youug one, that walked like a race-horse ; while Colonel Towneley was second with a younger still, very neat in his contour, and with a rare back and loin. Beyond coumiending a son of Commander-in-Chief the judges discreetly enont^h let the remainder of this class alone. There are people who wiU tell you that some years since Lady F'ragrant could not have contmucd to hold her lead ; and no doubt there have often been thicker, heavier animals, but we remember none that so well preserved that graceful and cow-like character which so eminently distinguishes her ladyship. The class was easily judged, for the entries were but few, and the warm weather seemed tq have served the Queen of Rosalea, who looked to havt^fined a bit ; and, what with her beauti- ful outline, woidd al!'vays be a charming creature, but for the way in which she has been overdone in her prepara- tion. gSlill bound to be forward, a great, good but rather coarse cow from Coruwall was highly commended ; while Mr. Dugdale's Kent Cherry, with her pretty looks aud nice quality was left unuoticed, aud the third prize given to Miss Farewell, a beast which always stands well on the list, but one that we never could fancy. She is possibly " fall of good flesh," but is steery, flashy, and vulgar iu her appearance, aud lacks everything of that elegance aud refiuemeut which a cow should possess. Another short class of breeding heifers included, hew- ever, some very famous stock, the placing of which alforded some further illustration of the amusing eccen- tricities of judging a Shorthorn. Thus, at Leicester last year, Mr. How's Lady Ann was first, ]\Ir. Booth's Patricia second, aud his Lady Gaiety highly commended. At Wetherby, a week or two afterwards. Lady Gaiety was first, Patricia second, and Lady Ann third. At Northampton, a week or two since, Lady Anu was first, aud Mr. Lynn's Queeu of Diamonds second ; and now the Royal reading ran iu this wise : Patricia first. Queen of Diamonds second, and Lady Ann third — a decision that may be again amended, but that sounds right enonti^h I 2 ' 92 THE FABMER'S magazine. BO far. It should be uuderstood that Lady Gaiety, au own bister to Lady Fragrant, was not sent, and Patricia, having gone on well in the interim, was quite good enough to do battle alone, being a very sweet, but, at the same time, very useful heifer. We have already spoken to Q.uecn of Diamonds, as the best of ^Nlr. Lynn's team, having great growth, heavy flesh, and fine quality, the chief complaint against her being that she has done too well ; an objection that would tell still more strongly against Lady Ann, and that, no doubt, accounts for her having lost her pride of place. She has, in truth, come to be fairly disfigured by fat ; and if she were last season the best of her class, more meat has been got on at a sad sacrifice of style, and in good company she can never rank so highly again. Amongst the yearlings Mr. Stratton's Ariel and Camilla, Mr. Foljambe's Flora, Mr. How's Windsor's Butterfly, Lord Walsiugham's Caunondale, Mr. Paulett's Charmer, and Lady Pigot's Helene have already this summer distinguished themselves ; but the Royal prizes went clean away from them, and de- servedly enough too, as the first and second had placed themselves long befoi'e the judges had come to this con- clusion, although the actual preference between the two must be a nice point. The Towneley heifer is very elegant and showy ; but Cherry Queen, by no means without style, is very square in her frame, and altogether promises to grow into the more useful cow. This is the first time that Mr. Torr's name has appeared in the lists as an exhibitor of Shorthorns since the Derby meeting in 1843, and it is very clear that he may soon make his mark in public, should he choose to do so. ilr. East- wood, who was third in this class, was not so fortunate in the next lot of heifer calves, where, according to com- mon opinion, his Red Butterfly shoidd have been hrst instead of second. She is very true in her symmetry, with good Hesh, while she carries herself very smartly, and certainly in the ring looked all over like winning. Her, superior, however, was declared to be Mr. Stratton's Flower Girl, a leggy one, whose merits were not very apparent to any but the judges, and the award was re- ceived with almost as much dissatisfaction as that over the all-aged bulls — and this is saying something, too. But they held here very closely to the Burderop line, merely commending a capital roan heifer with a beautiful coat, from Lord Sndeley's herd, which, had a poll been demanded, the people no doubt would have returned as one of the representatives of the rising generation. The labour in the cow class was comparatively light, and sotheladies' mentooktwoor threeclassesof Yorkshire dairy cows, where Mr. Robinson's entries, well named IMilkmaid and Dairytnaid, showed capital bags, as well as being great roomy good animals. Another exhibitor in some force here was Mr. Staffer, jun., who would seem to have set up a kind of Noah's ark at Whitefield, near Manchester, from which, like the conjurer and his bottle, he can apparently call at will almost any known kind of cattle. He had all the best again of the few Ayshires sent, the show of which beautiful breed, after those we have seen in Glas- gow, Edinburgh, and Loudon, was an unmistakeable failure ; nor were the Jerseys in much force. Mr. Gaudin, who was the only exhibitor from the Island, won three of the four premiums for cows and heifers, as it is becoming more and more evident that Jerseys bred in England lose much of their beauty and fine points. Here, in fact, amongst the seven cows were two upstanding fav/ns,bred by the renowned Mr. Dauncey, and purchased by Mr. Gilbey at terribly high prices, but the judges never noticed either of them, preferring to look for further honours amongst others of our own home-breds : indeed, had Mr. Daun- cey ever taken to showing his stock his sale would never have reached the average It did, and for our own part we go altogeth?r with the iraportevs In tbs largest herd of " Alderneys," as iu common parlance they arc termed, that of Mr. Dumbrell, at Ditchliug, in Sussex, they arc continually recruiting from " over the sea." In the Eastern Counties, the other day, the judges preferred the native red Polls as giving more milk, and Lord Sondes sent one or two just as specimens to Manchester ; while there were a few Kerries, and Mr. Staffer had found a Brittany in some quiet corner of his ark, that took a prize in a mixed class of other breeds which opened with Mr. Chapman's grand old Longhornbull, and finished over the infinitesimal proportions of the blue-and-whife just mentioned. The White-faces, by the Royal show-time, are gene- rally tolerably familiar faces, but there were three or four fresh exhibitors out here, such as Mr. John ^lorris, Mr. Tanner, of Frodcsley, and Mr. Feun, of Ludlow. Mr. Morris beat her Majesty's second-best yearling at Leices- ter, with a well-bred promising bull of the late Mr. Monkhouse's blood ; but the chief honours were other- wise in the old keeping. Sir Huugerford, as at Leices- ter and Southampton, is still, and for what there was shown against him long promises to be, the best Here- ford bull, and a grand one he certainly is. But his ex- cellence only makes the comparison the stronger, and the three yearlings were all so indifferent, that it was only after some considerable hesitation that any of the prizes were awarded. The best-filled class of males was that of bull- calves, and this was too much for the judges, as they left out Mr. Evans' Prince of Wales — a very admirable youngster — as indisputably the second, if not the very best of the lot. He was certainly "reserved," but not commended, which makes the slight only the more marked and inexplicable. Saving only Sir Huugerford, however, the pride and pick of all the Herefords would be found in the cow classes. There was the Queen of the Lilies to begin with, looking so fresh, and, as we have lately said of her, " the very ideal of grace and beauty" ; while she was backed by two more quite worthy to keep her company. These were Mr. Evans' Stately and Mr. Tudge's Lady Adfortou, both so full of merit, although somewhat different in slyle, that it was long be- fore the judges could come to a decision, and then only upon a division. Two declared for Lady Adforton, much the younger and the better coloured cow of the two; while the Hereford man was in a minority of one for the charming old Stately, always a favourite of our own. " There was another small, but excellent class of heifers- in-calf, where the Leicesters' awards were reversed, Mr. Tudge's Royal third being now put first, and Mr. Ark- wright's then first being here next best. And we cer- tainly prefer the second reading, as no doubt the Hereford awards at Leicester were very open to conimeut ; or at any rate Diadem must have vastly improved in the inter- val ; for she is at this showing by far the better looking of the two, being really handsome, whereas Lady Leicester begins all wrong, with a bad head." It was thus that we wrote just two months since of Southam])ton, and we can only repeat ourselves at IMauclicstci-. Diadem has also continued to im])rove, being now a very sweet straight heifer, of particularly fine quality, and the Leicester best now gets nothing, being beaten for second by a large lengthy heifer from Coxall, that was put all behind when they came together last year. No doubt, Mr. Tndge is a famous doer by his stock, for he shows in high, flattering condition ; but he would seem to have discovered the secret of knowing just when to stop, as his animals neither fade nor grow gaudy, and he took tlie other two first prizes. Nevertheless, iu the yearling class it was a near thing between the long straiglit Silver Star and jNlr. Turnfer's Minerva ; but ]\Ir. Crane's third was as hard to the hand as a board— in fact, so fat.iUy so that it is a matter of som? admiratiow ob to hew she ever came to te THE FABMEU'S MAGAZINE. 93 \)asse(l. The best lieiter cull', oil the coutraiy, weut more on her quality than her frame, which is rather narrow ; and Mv. Feun's second had the better looks of the two. But these baby classes arc at best but abuses ; and Mr. Duckhani, in moving for an alteration in the time at which the ages of the animals should be taken, would go with ns in scekinsr some reform in this way. But i\lr. Duckham is the most energetic of men : not content with liis Herd Book, his Chamber, his farm, or even the wrongs of the Shropshires, he is about to start in busi- ness as an auctioneer. So that, if his friends would only return him to Parliament, he might iind his lime tolerably well occupied. There has becu, indeed, a deal of business doing of late amongst the llerelbrds, and Queen of the Lilies with her calf Ostorious go from Manchester to Lord Southesk's seat, Kinnaird Castle, in Forfarshire, where they are replacing the black Polled with the Whitefaces. Queen of the Valley, Duchess de Bronte, and Minerva were also bought by Mr. Duckham during the week to acompany the ^Marlow purchases to Australia, and some of the young bulls were booked for Ireland; so that the trade iu Uercfords may be reported as very brisk. The Devons, on the contrary, were not only a long way from their own home, but exhibited in a district where they had never made a footing. ^loreover some of the best breeders appear to be tiring, and men like the Quartleys, the Turners, or even the Davys, are found to be in nothing like their pristine force. The natural consequence is that Mr. Farthing, from Somersetshire, has it jiretty much his own way, or that new names like those of Mr. Nixey and Mr. Burton llonrish in the lists to the detriment of the older established houses. AVith the exception of that for calves, all the first prizes for male animals went to Bridg- water— certainly something of " a facer " for the North Devons, the more so as the winners are of no very remark- able pretensions. The best yearling bull was, indeed, only second at the West of England meeting ; the best old bull, with no coat to his back, merely commended at Leicester ; and the best two-year-old, iu not the nicest of show condition, being also short of hair. Nevertheless these areall big, weighty beasts, if the thorough-bred fanciers would have goue more for Sunflower iu the one class or Mr. Buller's young bull in the next — an animal, as we take it, never quite appreciated by all-round judges, and two of these came from Sussex and the other from Shrop- shire. The first and second prize cows are both bygones, the one at nine and the other at over ten years old, get- tiug very unshapely behind, and, without a deal of eou- sideratiou for their years, the advertisement was not an attractive one. In truth, the only strong show of Devons was amongst the two-year-old and yearling heifers. Mr. Nixey 's is a very handsome specimen, long, low, and light of bone ; and Mr. Burton's chance-bred Daisy the best out for many a day. She is, as we have said of her, almost perfect; level to the eye, good to the hand, and of admirable symmetry ; and yet, alas ! she is the daughter of a nameless sire, located nobody knows where. The second place here created a deal of discussion, two or three veterinary sugeons having been called in to examine Mr. Qnartley's heifer, which was eventually disqualified from the appearance of ulcers in the throat ; and the other premium awarded to her Majesty. ]\Ir. Buller's best calf is very bloodlike, and the whole of the class received some kind of compliment from the authorities ; but, neverthe- less, the array of these red coats was by no means a formidable one. There were four entries iu three classes of Scotch Polled Angus ; there were eight entries in three classes of Polled Oalloways ; there were no entries in three classes of West Highlanders ; there were three entries in three classes of Welsh cattle ; and three entries in a special class of Kerry cows, shown iu pairs. The Scotch cattle sent were said to be not altogether the best of their kind, and criticism on the other sorts, like the money given, would be very much thrown away. The horse-rings as usuivl were nicely laid out, adjoining one another, with their telegram or prize boards, but there was scarcely sweep enough at the ends to send a hunter round in his stride, even if the turf had not been as bard and slippery going as at Leicester, though this might have been rectified with a little tan. Then the telegrams were never made use of, consequently entailing on those interested in ascertaining the awards several peregrinations round the sheds. Further, the thorough- bred and hunting judges did not commence business until between ten and eleven, instead of at eight, and wc must say that we have seen this part of the business much better managed. For a Royal gathering this was in many classes a capital show, although the rips and screws pre- dominated. The thorough-bred hunting sires, taking into consideration the many wretches and the few good ones there are in the country, were not bad ; including, as the class did, many of our show-going cracks. Araougst these were Dalesman and Augelus, the oue nearly as well knowu in the south as the other is in the north, though as unlike one another as London and .Manchester. Associated with them were King Brian, Grand-Master, Motley, Laughing Stock and Strathern, who also go the round of the shows, and whose portraits in type have frequently appeared in these columns. Of Pretty Boy, Yigiland, Monitor, the short hackuey-looking Kildare, and the stiff, ill-made Lancer we did not think much, while Clear-the-Way is a compact, well-made, stylish mover and an useful, light country horse. Then that vannint old screw Ilarcourt, with his nice top and groggy, lanky legs, looks more like landing his owner a winner, or ou his head in some hurdle-race, than ever figuring as a prize thorough-bred hunting sire. Than Lerrywhent there have been worse travelling the country, while Stam- pedo and Carltou were not in the fiesh ; and the light, slack-backed, Arabian-like Walloon did not say much for the Dutchman as a sire. The big, long-framed, EUangowan, bred at Middle Park, was one out of several cripples who had been through the mill, for improving the breed of our thoroughbred horses, by ruining their limbs and constitutions. Carbineer, the prize horse, is the property of Lord Zetland, by whom he was bred, being by Ililleman out of Comfit, by Sweetmeat, and a fair race-horse, having started fourteen times and won four; but it is not every horse that can gallop that will make a hunting sire, and if wu take Carbineer as the best of the class, then they were a lamentable lot, for no one can imagine a horse with a forehand so little like what a hunting sire's should be. And not a judge — known good men, that is to say, for we allude not to the mixed com- pany gathered round the ring, or to those "general acclamation" critics with as much idea of form or the anatomy of the horse as a pig has of flying, and who immediately they see a bit of red or blue riband attached to an animal's head sing the praises of the " magnificent creature" — We speak rather of approved good men when we say that not one could we find to back the ver- dict of the bench ; and the pretty general inquiry was. Who are the judges ? What do they mean V If short upright shoulder blades, so placed as to bring all the weight forward, and stift' forelegs back at the knee, be the grand desideratum in the forehand of a hunter, then we have it in Carbineer ; and we cannot be surprised at such people commending a horse like Tyrconuel as a hunter, or giving the special prize to a weak cripply- going one like Don .luan, in preference to the gentlemanly stylish Topstall, the very type of a modern hunter. No one can be fonder of blood than ourselves when combined with hardy enduring looks, form, good limbs, and strong u THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. actiou ; but wc are uo believers in overgrown, wasli)% run-up, shelly-middled things with weak lioflcs, and heads on ligJit neeks high up in the air, in spite of martingales al- most as long as the cable attached to the monster balloon. Only assuming that the Don's martingale snapped, his head woiQd shoot up and be invisible in no time. There was not a truer-made horse on the ground than Grand Master, and this, of course, makes him look smaller than he is; but he is a miserable mover ; while for false shape, or being unequally balanced, nothing can beat Angelas, as wc have often said before. Old Motley, nice horse as he is, and a known good sire, has not a hunter's forehand ; while Laughing Stock, who was made up as round as a tub, looked more over-topped and lighter of limb than ever, though he did step along like a coacher. Before another bench, and in such company, Dalesman must come to the fore ; and those who call him leggy, and talk-up Laughing Stock, should have seen the latter at the same age. When Laughing Stock and Carbineer were sent out of the ring to visit the veterinarian many thought they were drafted and that the judges were going right. In fair play to Mr. Young we think it right to say that he had nothing to do with the ever-memorable decisions at the Bui-y meeting, and in justice to the other two that they had ; but we can afford to overlook a multitude of sins on their now drafting unnoticed the Islington prize hnnter, the soft carty-looking St. Clare. Amongst the one or two- and-twenty liunting brood mares and foals, always an in- teresting class, were many well-known prize-takers, snch as One-eyed Sally, first at Newcastle and at Wetherby last year ; Maid of the Ilcath first at Leicester, Silver- locks first at Bury, Go-a-head third at Leicester and second at Wetherby last year ; iMr. Booth's well-known blood- like mare, Becky Sharpe, and Mr. Smith's Forest Queen ; while Captain Heygate, the owner of Mountain Dew and Denmark, had a couple of fresh importations — Blue Pill and Columbine — the latter an old mare full of hunting character, once a favourite hunter of Lord Gardner's, and sold at the hammer for nearly four hundred ; but she took not the eye of the judges, and was about the first ordered out. The second prize. Pink, quite new to the ring, is a lengthy, deep, short-legged chesnut mare with power, but neither elegant in form nor in her move- ments, and devoid of that varmint character and intelli- gent look so remarkable in mare or gelding that has been accustomed to hounds ; in fact, she looks like a petted stay-at-home. In the over four-year-old hunters ' and upwards up to not less that 14 stone, were some nice horses : the first on the list being .Julius by Orpheus, a rich chesnut, with some white markings if we recollect right, but he Avas here represented by a brown that we do not remember having seen before. Banuagah was here, a horse that we are not in love with. Indeed, Mr. Booth goes too much for quantity rather than for quality, a notion that tells in the ring sometimes we are sorry to say ; and the make-up of his horses reminds us con- tinually of his brother's Shorthorn beef. When we see horses brought out in such condition we long to have them rattled round a ring where they can go ; somewhat like the tan one in the pretty little got up jumping swindle, where one shilling was charged for admittance, and four more to see a poor fellow nearly break his neck, and half-a-dozen grooms rigged oiit with riband take two or three times a fence of bushes, an- other of post and rail, as brittle as glass, and a water- jump of about fourteen feet wide, with a blind of green- bushes in front to hide the water, so that the " brook- jumpers" should take to it kindly, after the fashion IMrs. Wackford Squeers was wont to wrap up the brimstone in treacle for the young gentlemen at Dothe- boys Hall. And a do-the-boys-all it was. " What ! did yon pay five shillings to come in here ?" said one well- known exhibitor to another. " I did," was the reply, "and I think I am getting a bigger fool everyday." Wetherby was shown at Wetherby last year, but un- noticed in such company as Iris, Mountain Dew and the Sprig of Nobility. He is a neat short-legged horse, but we fancy he would tuck up fearfully in a fast thing, and we cannot see the justice of putting him before a horse of quality like Kildare, the tliird at Islington. Mr. Murray, the dealer, had three in this class ; Warrior, a good-looking bay with big limbs ; Holyrood, a powerful made chesnut ; and Kilkenny, also a chesnut, and an old shopkeeper that we remember seeing shown here in 1867. He is a bit of a peacock to look at, but a powerful one, and would take the conceit out of many that were shown across a country j while with a better tail he would be worth a stiff price for the Emperor of the French or the King of the Belgians. Mr. Stephenson's Emperor, second to Lady Derwent at Driffield last year, and who was also at Bridlington and Wetherby, has greatly improved in appearance, and a neater topped one there was not in the class ; but from something \vi-ong in his machinery he was put on one side, for in his gallop, as we said of him at Wetherby, he does not bring his hind legs under him. The owner of Motley had a low lengthy deceiving black mare, Fanny Drape, not looking more than 15-2, but full sixteen hands, and a wonderful galloper as well as a fencer, that carried off the first jumping prize in style; the second to her in fencing being j\lr. Taylor's Princess, a lengthy old grey, who, .although with plenty before the saddle, was not good in her shoulders, while the third was IMr. Murray's Kil- kenny. Sir Edward Kerrison had Fanny Drape and Topstall in price, the former for himself and the other for the Prince, but they had not changed hands when we left on the Wednesday. The four-year-old hunting geldings were a poor class, and we should have put the Artillery horse be- fore the special prize, of whom it is only fair to say that he was first in a three-year-old class at Wetherby, and commended in a miserable one at Islington. When in Yorkshire wc spoke of him as dragging his hind legs behind him, as if he were ashamed of them — in fact, he is worthy of his sire. Tlie mares were not grand, there being only four, and Jessica a long way the best-looking. Byron, a three- year-old, is a useful deep-topped animal ; while the second is very neat, or almost too neat to grow into anything very good as a himter. There was something taking about Brian Born, but he was full of flesh, and we want to sec him on ground where he can be let out in his stride, if he has any. Terrona is a great local prize-taker, and Mr. jNInrray's third is of nice form ; while Mr. Cock- burn's The Van, Mr. Pilde's Cornet, and Mr. Wilson's Rufus, are not of a bad sort. The roadsters' j udges commenced their duties in good time with the stallions, the red riband going to the one- eyed old Fireaway, who was first last year at AVetherby, with Ids son. Sir Edwin Landseer, second. Fireaway would have been first at York a year or two back if he had not been disqualified fi-om lameness by the veterinary surgeon. Ambition, though coarse in his shoulders, is about the straightest goer of the Norfolk trotters ; but anyone would have thought that the judges wordd have been satisfied with one Norfolk nag, when there was such a horse as All Fours, even with his poor feet, in the ring. Norfolk trotters, as we have often said, are no loves of ours whilst Fireaway and All Fours are without lumber, model roadsters, full of that character for which Yorkshire is so famous, the form and action of these two old heroes of the ring are better known to many a tyke than the very Minster at Y''ork. With stallions and brood mares there should be always some .allowance made for age when judging of action, as we cannot expect .an old one to be as fresh as a three-j car-old, and must not be too ready to sacrifice form on that account. Young Ebor, in the THii FARMER'S MAGAZINE. «5 coacliiug slallious, is a fiue upstaudiug muscular horse of substance, and a mover, and he also was first at AVetherby ; but the second, Oftavian, is back at the knee, and queer- looking about the hocks, as decidedly out of his place with such a horse as The lladji behind him. Each horse, as well as man, in his time plays many pai'ts, and only fancy The Hadji, with his elegant form and stylish action, going begging for a third place amongst coachers ! He is by Faugh-a-ballagh, out of Athol Broze, by Orlando, and ran third to Beadsman in the Derby ; second to Sun- beam for the Leger ; won the Union Cup at Manches- ter; was first in thoroughbred stallions at the All Yorkshire one year, and in 'sixty-seven was the best hunter stallion at Manchester, when we gave a full description of him. Still he has fallen away very much since we last saw him, although in spite of this we should have put him before most of the hunting stallions if he had been in the class. In the stallion ponies, one was a strong one and the other a long one, to suit different tastes ; but of all the ponies there was nothing approaching Mrs. Levita'sgrey gelding Taffie forbeauty.and we photographed him in 1867, when he beat a much grander class, as the handsomest we had seen for many a day. He most de- cidedly should have been shown to the Princess of "Wales. British Queen, a roadster mare, was duly elected here as at Leicester, though after that victory she had to put up with a second place to a very ordinary-looking maid- of-all-work at Wetherby. Old Crafty, coming under fifteen one, added another first to her lengthy score, and was loolcing very fresh for her age ; Ginger is a long cob, up to weight ; and Mr. Mm*ray had two good-looking ones in Perfection and Robin Hood. A bay gelding, showing some blood, was the champion in the fom"-year- old roadsters not exceeding fifteen hands, as he had been several times previously about Leicester and Rutland, llufus, the second, was a lengthy chesnut, and could step ; while Mr. Casson was deservedly commended for a nice- looking roan hack; but Mr. BuUough's Bob, who had often been to the fore, was out of luck here. The carriage and brougham pairs were nothing to speak of; while Mr. Coulson's appropriately -named old mare, Venus, kept her customary place in a small but good class of Clevelands. There were some very good specimens of agri- cultural horses, more particularly in the stallions, there being in those foaled before 1867 an en- try of sixteen here to eleven at Leicester and the same horse. Honest Tom, though greatly improved, was again victorious ; but he had not now Lord Beau- champ's quick-moving, handsome Clydesdale to compete with. Still Lancashire was here, a noted horse in this county and Yorkshire, and we think ought to have beaten the weak-necked, light-thighed grey A. 1. Black Prince, the first in a dozen of those foaled in the year 1867, not being Clydesdale or Suffolk, is a deep, thick horse, with a very short neck that gives him a lumpy appearance, al- though he has plenty of quality ; while the second, Columbus, has length and weight, with queer forelegs ; and the thii'd. Napoleon, a light middle. Prince of Wales, a dark brown Clydesdale, was by far the handsomest and best-made of the Clydesdales foaled before the 1st of January, 1867, though Conqueror was a deep, useful-looking grey, and Xornian, with plenty of length on a short, good leg. The Clydesdales were not numerically strong in any of the classes, and the first riband in those foaled in the year 1807 was light of bone and bad in his forelegs. If we are to take the overtopped Prince as a model of the Suffolks, however handsome he may be in .parts, with such a pair of forelegs the sooner they make beef of them the better. Yet this animal beat Honest Tom at Colchester ; a very fine reading of Suffolks versus Shires ! Young Champion looked much more like moving, while Young Briton was blessed with the common Suffolk failing — a bad understanding ! Lord Hill's St. lidmuud we thought better, while Mr. Ward's, with nothing to oppose, was remarkable for his size, as he looked like keeping a man moving. The mares and foals not qualified to compete as Clydesdale and Suffolk made a fair show, while the Clydesdales only numbered three. Then, again, the three-year-old fillies, not Clydesdale or Suffolk, were good, as were the Clydesdales of the same age, but both lots did not amount to a dozen ; while a very decent specimen of a Suffolk filly, which had previously been re- warded in her own county, had two prizes to choose from. The first two-year-old Clydesdale filly was a very good one, the second being of a different stamp ; then came a Suffolk again with two prizes and nothing to oppose her. In dray horses and agricultural pairs the show was very strong, and one may travel some miles before meeting with such horses as many of them, while Mr. Brierly's old grey Prince of Wales was not to be equalled. The Hound Show was a dead failure, there being but few entries ; and the admission all on " the Extras." " Seldom or never previously have the Merton Downs shown so much style and breed. A growing coarseness, that had been observable of late, seems to have been very happily corrected ; and beginning with * taking ' orthodox heads, these rams have sufficient size with quality ; but none of these shearlings are, so far, in- tended for Manchester, the inference of course being that his lordship has still better behind. If so, and if they only keep to the same type as the sheep seen at Attle- borough, the Royal return may be easily anticipated." It was thus that we wrote a month since, on our return from Norfolk, where we had seen Lord Walsingham's sheep close home ; and the opinion then expressed has been amply verified. With the exception, indeed, of a single commendation to Lord Braybrook, there was not a ram in the shearling class beyond those representing the Merton flock that came in for any notice from the judges, notwithstanding that the Heasman's Southampton prize sheep were here, as well as Mr. Rigden's second, and that the Duke of Richmond and Sir William Throck- juorton were also in competition. But the class was not a large one, nor, beyond the winners, one of any very remarkable merit, the award being, iu fact. Eclipse (or. Lord Walsingham) first, and the rest nowhere. It should be understood that none of the sheep shown at Attle- borough were sent; whilst the first prize ram for fine character, combining breeding loith size, and u-Uhout alloy, as well as for the famous condition in which he was got up, is about the best ever reared in Norfolk. The second is almost as good, whereas the third has neither the smartness nor the spread of the others, and a better might have been selected from his Lordship's strong team. The advertisement was of course a good one ; and the Duke of Bedford's agent bought the commended sheep, Lord Zetland took another of the shearlings, and a third was booked for Sweden, while the third-prize ram in the old class was purchased for the Prince of Wales. But the Merton rams are so wonderfully prepared at an earlier age, that they rarely show so well afterwards, and another old sheep of previous repute now received no notice whatever. Then Mr. Rigden, although a member of the Council, had no know- ledge of the rule having been very proi)erly abolished, which prohibited a first-prize animal being exhibited again in the same class ; and so, instead of keeping him back for JManchester, he sent his renowned Bobtail to Colchester, where, during those two dreadful days, he "caught a cold, and died." Otherwise, had he been reserved, he would of course have again won, as he beat Sir WiUiam Throckmorton at Manchester. Still, the winner here is a great, stylish ram, long and true, and, like the second, going back to Bunker'.s Hill. The reserve ram of the 9(5 THE FAEMEE^S MAGAZINa Duke of KicLinoud's lias a deal of merit in the way of bloodlike character, aud the new exhibitor, ^Slr. Humphrey, also from Sussex, sent some sheep that promise well for his flock. The entries in all reached only to a dozen, and the Juds;;es commended the class. So far, the Southdown judges, if they did not get on very fast, appeared to do tolerably well together; but over the ewes there was some terrible dwelling and some proportionate sensatiou. It was said that they had settled the second prize by a majority before they had arrived at their first ; and, agaiust that, Mr. Ellman recorded his objection in this wise on the blue prize-card : " I jtrotesl cujitlust Thomas J^llvtuu.'" Then, some one suggested alteriijg the /to irc ; and then the Stewards very properly had ilie obnoxious placard pulled down. No- ticeably cnougli, both the first and third awards looked to liave been done well, whatever fault might have been fouud Avith the second. Lord Sondes' sheep have long been re- markable for style and a certain pretty Southdown stamp ; aud, as they had licre more size aud weight, the only ])ossible complaint agaiust them would be that they were not altogether uniform. Eut, then, the same objection might have been still more strongly urged agaiust Loi-d Walsingham's best pen, of hue qua- lity aud good constitution, but where the great merit iu four of the ewes was materially qualified by the inferiority of the fifth, and so the other Merton pen very properly took the third prize. Mr. Ellman's con- duct was much cauvassed, and no doubt his pencilling his protest ou the award-card was not in good taste ; but at the same time it is very possible that he might have been continually outvoted, aud we like to see a man who really feels that he is a judge speak up for himself, as no question there is at times a vast deal too much trimming and dovetailing the one to the other. Mr. Ellman, as it is said, will send in his own report, which, coming from so high an authority, is sure to be both iu- teresliug and useful, particularly when we bear iu mind Avhat this promises to be, aud what judges' reports gene- rally are. Indeed, his rough notes were iu circulation during the week, as according to these, " there was not a Southdown iu the show !" Writing of the sheep at Southampton we said, "Amongst the ShropshireSj Lord Chesham, with his two smart rams aud his pen of pretty ewes, won every- thing he entered for ; the main objection to any of these being that they were too ueat or, saving their heads, more Southdown thau Shropshue in their character. But we are fast coming to this, as Mr. Kigden, for one, sells quite as many rams to go down amongst the Shropshires as for use elsewhere ; and Lord Chesham's sheep, what- ever their looks or touch may imply, trace their pedigrees home to Sutton Maddock." And Lord Chesham won again with his pretty neat sheep at Manchester, and straightway the Shrojjshirc men fell foul of everybody and everything. They objected to the Latimer she«p asnot being of tlie true type of Shropshires ; they objected to the judges as not being the true judges of Siiropshires: they objected to the inspectors as not being Shropshire breed- ers ; they objected to Mr. Eigden for having sold South- downs to go into Shropshire, and they objected to the 3[ark Luiw. E.vprcus for recording as much. Nay ! they objected to each other. One of the leading Shrop- shire floekinasters told us himself, that he objected to attending the " Indignation meeting" ou Wednesday luorning, as idle, unnecessary, and likely to do more harm than good. Anotiier breeder of Shropshires caudidly confessed to having used Southdown rams, and all such intelligence shall we continue to register, despite any coarse would-be, but can'l-be contradiction to which we may be subjected, and that we shall know well enough how to answer. We care not how the best shearling Shropshire at Manchester be bred, but the deduction to be drawn from this is inevitable. If a man be ambitious of taking a Koyal first, he must go in for something smarter and neater than the great useful Shropshire, which for our own part we infinitely prefer. The award was not to our taste, as we should certainly have gone for another, and, as we believe, a better sample of the sort ; but, iu saying so much, it would be simply ludicrous to attempt to deny that some breeders do go for that " improvement" with which Lord (,'hesham has of late been so successful. The class of shearlings was extraordinary alike for the number of entries and the variety of kinds. Never was there less uniformity, and a man might have suited himself here with almost anything he pleased. There were black faces, brown faces, and white faces ; there was close wool aud open wool ; very handsome square sheep, and some of the most miser- able wretches — such as Mr. Barton's sample from Cheshire — ever seen. Despite, moreover, the long list of Commendations, many of the more famous flockmasters, like the Cranes, Evans of Ufliugton, Mr. Mansell, and others, were not up to their usual form, as about the best lot in the class were from Mrs. Beech of The Hattous. Amongst the old sheep the judges took a somewhat different line, their first-prize pick being a big, deep ram from Montford, well named Levi- athan ; and their third a great, coarse animal, bred by the late Mr. Price Bowen, and exhibited by his widow. Mr. Mansell had a nice lengthy ram, and Mr. Byrd a couple of very good sheep ; while Sir. Hamilton, who has been going into the sort with great spirit, sent one of his own breeding from County Meath of a very fine stamp, and whose appearance and quality went to show that the Shropshire may be cultivated with every advantage iu Ireland. There were ten pens of ewes, nine of which received either prizes or commenda- tions, although it would be difficult to find much to ad- mire iu Lord Wculock's mean, scratchy lot, and if the pick, it must be of a flock, as somebody said, that has "gone all to pieces." Nobody, ou the contrary, kuows how to show a pen of sheep better — either of wethers or ewes — than Mr. Nock, and his first prize five were deservedly distinguished for such point* as handsome appearance, good constitutions, and judicious management. The third prize lot from Hampshire were very neat and smart, and j\Irs. Beech's ewes worthy of her shearling rams. In fact, we can only repeat that none proved better all through than the Hattous flock, wherever the Cai'dinals may trace to. The Hampshire Downs offered but a poor front, the credit of the kind being saved by the two first prize rams, and of the best shearling we wrote thus when we saw him at Southampton : " The Eonthill sheep is, in fact, no doubt the best Hampshire ever out ; of famous quality, good size, and square frame, while his head, without losing the Hampshire character, is of itself a wonderful improvement on the coarse sour-visaged lop- eared frontispieces we have been hitherto instructed to recognise, despite our continual protest, as ' the proper sort of thing.' He is by one of Mr. Kawlence's rams." Mr. Eawlence himself took the two premiums for ewes, but against no com])etition whatever, nor were these quite up to the staudard they occasionally reach to when nearer to Bulbridge. The Oxfordshire Dowus were far better represented, aud no sort of sheep would promise to be- come more worthy of the recognition given to them as a dis- tinct class, not that uniformity of character has as yet been quite .arrived at ; as, indeed, the up-here and down-there way iu which the best sheep are occasionally placed goes to say that different judges of Oxfords have very difi^ereut views as to what au Oxford should be. 'L'hus Mr. Wallis's second best shearling here was nowhere at Oxford ; and ^Mr. Gillett's first at Southampton nowhere here, and Jlr. IHE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 57 Treadwell's second at Oxford aud Narthampton now without notice. Mr. Wallis' best sbcarlinp;, however, was, as we hear, first at Oxl'ord, aud he would threaten to be first everywhere, as for si/e aud sym- metry, a straight, true, handsome animal, he is about the cleverest sheep of the kind out. jNIr. 'Wallis, indeed, has quite recovered his lead, what with his capital peus of ewes, sorty to the eje aud good to the hand ; the Shifford flock being only beaten, aud fairly euougli, too, iu the old ram class, where the first and second shearlings at Leicester have to give way. Tlieir con(|ueror is a three-shear never exhibited before, bred by ]Mr. Charles Gillelt, aud entered by liis present owner, Mr. Tread- well, lie is a sheep of great size aud majestic appear- ance, with a wonderful top and rib, but better in that out, as he is not mncli of a mover. !Mr. A. Druce's smart shrep are closer iu their wool than the Oxfords usually come, while, noticeably euougli, the IJiddenham tlock, which did so well at Northampton, did nothing here, although Mr. Charles Howard was himself an ex- hibitor ; but his pen of ewes were not nicely matched. Highly as they may be estimated elsewhere, the Cots- wolds are going fast out of fashion on the show-ground. There was only one entry of ewes, but two exhibitors of old rams, and three of shearlings. 3Ir. Handy 's sheep seem to have gone terribly back since he last exhibited, aud Mr. Gillett's plainish shearlings are nothing very extraordinary after the Cotswolds we have seen. In the old class Mr. Brown of Marham must still have sighed for some competition, even from ^Mr. Aylmer, although he still beat a real Cotswold Hill man with the two rams which were first aud second iu Norfolk ; aud as a reward of merit the three prizes are all to be paid over for three sheep. There was what might be called "a bit of a bother" at Southamptou, in consequence of the im- promptu judge kuowing little or nothing of Lcicestcrs; but Mr. Sauday's shearling won again easily euough in a large class at Manchester, as he was, no doubt, a long ray the best of an otherwise moderate lot. This is, in fact, very much what a Leicester should be, depending on quality without delicacy, aud on size without coarseness. A little short in the quartci-, and bad about his forelegs, he is very deep, has good wool, aud would have made over 100 gs. ou the ground. It must be satisfactory to ^Ir. Borton to know that he had two or three better sheep iu the class than tliat to which the second prize was awarded — a veiy middling animal, bad about his neck, lacking substance, and with more wool than mutton to speak of. Nor was Colonel Inge's third anything re- markable, being very coarse, as the flock would seem to have gone back like that of Mr. Cresswell, who has seldom showu such indifi'erent sheep, while Mr. Turner, juu., has jumped up only to jump down, his shearlings, being poor, feeble things, of no mark whatever. The best old sheep or four-shear, second in the same class at Leicester, Las been used by Lord I'eversham aud ^Mr. Toljambe, but he wants size and depth though of fine quality ; while the second was first at Southampton, where we spoke to his well sprung rib and good touch, though he is not quite right about his head. Mr. jMarris shows one of the good old sort, commendable alike for form and quality ; and 3Ir. George Turner, sen., sends two or three fair average rams, but nothing more. There arc but few ])ens of ewes, with Colonel Inge again not so strong as he has showu, the lot being pretty but small ; while Mr. Wiley's are, of course, remarkable for their line breeding; and Mr. Bortou's pen have both size and quality in their favour. The Lincolns and "other Longwools" might he Lineolns simply but for Mr. Lynu's sheep, which promise to be fining into improved or enlarged Iy«icesters. There is a very good class of shearlings, «ith some big, handsome rams of JMessrs. Budding put first, and they once bred pure Leicesters at Pauton. Then the Hon. Robert Eden's somewhat old-fashioned sort are reared ou the same farm where the late Mr. liurgess made his name famous as a Leicester breeder, so that there is something of aflinity throughout. Mr. JNIarshall's best old sheep was second at Leicester, but though with quality enough to grow lustre wool, he is bad about his shoulder and altogether mean in his fore-quarters. The three pens of j)rize ewes all show a strong taste of the Leicester, and the second lot are not nicely sorted. Mr. Jonathan I'eel did, as usual, the honours of the Lonks ; there were only half-a-dozen entries of moderate Cheviots, a very useful breed when well shown, and some active, taking-looking llerdwicks, of a. kind as it seems which may be bred indifl'ercntly with or without horus. Then there a few Limestones aud Blackfaces, with two small but creditably tilled classes of Border Leicesters — as paying a sheep for his purpose as any invented, and oue which certainly made its nuuk at Manchester. Nothing could speak so directly to the wholesome effect of the system of she'.ring inspection as the fact of not a single sheep iu the show having been disqualified, al- though one or two entries were for a time under suspi- cion. The pig breeders, however, would seem to live in no such dread of the veterinarian, and, as usual, some of them " chanced it," and some were detected ; b\it more should surely be made of such otl'euces in the way of publi- city and record on the return list':' Hanking only after Leeds and Yorkshire, there are no keener breeders or exhibi- tors of hogs' flesh than arc to be found about Jlauchester and Liverpool, aud the show of big, little, and middle- size whites was accordingly very strong in places. Still the Duckerings, from Lincolnshire, have the best of it, as it is noticeable that all the first and second prizes for large boars at the Royal meetings for the last four years have gone to pigs bred at Northorpe. They were first again here, with a long, good-coated, active boar, that has been winning all over the country; but Mr. Peter Eden, a very formidable rival with any sort of pigs, had the best large sow, and fairly divided the honours in other ways. Nevertheless, even with these famous names included, the big white boars at under twelve mouths ran to a very small and very poor entry, there not being, according to present appearances, a prize pig amongst them. A large white, howTver, cannot under any circumstances ever hope to show against a small white, aud here, unquestionably, was the cream of the meeting, although this section was associated with some of the now customary argument as to how big a little pig may ever become. Mr. Eden's best boar is remarkably handsome, and quite within the scale ; but some of the others Vysre not so readily passed, though indisputably capital pigs of their kind — set-off here aud there by some very bad, such as Lord AVeulock's young boars, better than which, as a Liverpool breeder assm'ed us, he could buy in any market. There was a time when the 'Wenlock whites were deservedly famous ; but they would seem to have beeu miserably managed of late, aud a eommendation, scarcely merited, was here all they reached to. The judges declared the class of small white sows to be oue " of more than ordinary merit," as in it no doubt was the best pig of her time. This is Messrs. Uuckering's Little Queen, first this season at Southampton, Colchester, Attleborough, and Ipswich, although when just a year old she was nowhere at Leicester. She is very round, of wonderful quality, with a nice kindly head and collar, as, if possible, still better iu her hams and quarters. There could be uo mistake as to the Qneen's place, even in so good a class ; but a sow of Mr. Eden's, as also of a really small sort, would seem to have been overlooked, and the second THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. jirize went to a black-and-wMte ratlier thau a wliite sow, Avhich looked like a clever cross. It may certainly be a nice line to draw as to size, but there can surely be no great difficulty in ascertaining whether an animal be of a whole or a parti-colonr. Or is it permitted in a so-caUed white pig to throw back occasionally to something darker ? The small black breeds arc not in much fashion here, al- though the Sextons have some of theii- SufFolks scattered about, and Mr. Comber's first, a very good healthy- looking boar, was bred at Wherstead ; as is also the se- cond prize sow, but she is coarse in her hair, and Mr. Beever's best, with a pedigree like a race-horse, showed a deal more quality, and this no doubt won, as the other is the better formed of these two Eastern beauties. The truest Berkshires, as not improved out of their origin, are, as we take it, those bred by Mr. Humfrey at Shri- venham. They have plenty of hair and size without coarseness, but with all the useful character which a Berkshire should possess. However, they only played second fiddle, and Mr. Murray straightway defying the prize return, bought the second best boar and second best sow for His Excellency the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. The first prize boar is certainly very handsome ; but Mr. Stewart's sow looked too light in her coat and skin, as well as lacking much of that rough-and-ready style which should distinguish a Berk- shii-e. On the other hand, the Henley-in-Arden pigs looked to have more hair, size, and constitution than the pretty things that have so often done so well in Bingley Hall. Mr. Sagar's best boar of the other bi-eeds, or otherwise "a middle breed," was very bare of coat, and altogether overdone ; nor was ]Mr. Eden's second in much better trim. A very fat pig in very hot weather is not altogether an attractive exhibition, and it required some stomach to face the trios of breeding sows, where, how- ever, there was but little competition, the entries often not exceeding in number the prizes offered. PRIZE LIST. CART HORSES. STALLIONS. Judges.— J. H. Blaud, Thorpe Lodge, Newark. W. Jobson, Buteland, Hexham. J. H. Wood, Humberstone, Grimsby. Stallion, foaled before the l8t of January, 1867 (not qualified to compete as Clydesdale or Suffolk).— Fii'st prize, £25, W. Welcher, Upwell, Wisbeach (Honest Tom) ; second of £15, W. Wynn, Cranhite Leys, Alcester, Redditch (A 1) ; third of £5, M'. Strickland, Headly Hall, Tadcastor (Lincolnshii-e). Stallion, foaled in the year 1867 (not qualified to compete as Clydesdale or Suffolk).— Fh-st prize, £20, J. Flintham, So- mersham, St. Ives (Black Prince) ; second of £10, T. Shaw, Maudsley, Onnskirk (Columbus) ; third of £5, R. Leyland, Martin Hall, Ormsku'k (Napoleon). Reserve and com- mended : W. Edwards, West Bank, Biithin. CLYDESDALE. Stallion foaled before the 1st of January, 1867.— First prize, £25, J. N. Fleming, Knockdown, Maylrole, AjTshire (Pinnce of Wales) ; second of £15, R. Orange, Bedlington, Northum- berland (Conqueror) ; thu'd of £5, B. G. Davies Cooke, Colo- mendy, Mold, N. Wales (Sii- Norman). Stallion foaled in the year 1867.— First prize, £20, D. Rid- dell, Kilhowic, Duntocher, Dunbarton ; second of £10, Her Majesty the Queen, Windsor Castle (Prince Arthm-). SUFFOLK. Stallion foaled before the 1st of Januaiy, 1867.— First prize, £25, C. Boby, Alton Hall, Stuttou, Ipswich (Prince) ; second of £15, W. Bott, Priors, Broomfield, Chelmsford (Young Champion) ; third of £5, W. Wilson, Baylham Hall, Ipswich (Young Briton). Commended: Viscount Hill, Hawkstone, Shrewsbury (St. Edmund). Stallion foaled in the year 1867.— First prize, £20, J. Ward, EastMersea, Colchester. THOROUGHBREDS, HUNTERS, AND HACKS. Judges (and for Hmiters). — W. Smith, Melkington, Coldstream, N.B. H. Thnrnnll, Royston. W. Young, Noi-wood House, Beverley. Thoroughbred Stallion, suitable for getting Hunters.— First prize, £100, The Earl of Zetland, Aske, Richmond, Yorkshire (Carbineer) ; second of £25, J, Casson, BiU'gh.by-Sands (Motley) ; thii-d of £10, C. and J. Moflfat, Kirklinton Park, Carlisle (Laughing Stock). Resen'e and highly commended : F. Barlow, Hasketon, Woodbridge, Suffolk (Dalesman). Highly commended: Sir G. Cholrrjley, Bart., Howsham, Yorkfe'hire (Angelus). Judges (and for Harness Horses and Ponies). — H. Beevor, Blyth, Worksop. Hon. G. E. Lascelles, Siou Hill, Thii-sk. Robert Leeds, Wicken House, Castleacre, Brandon. Stallion, not less than 14 hands 2 inches, nor exceeding 15 hands 2 inches, suitable for getting Hackneys. — First prize, £25, P. Triffit, Hohne-on-Spaldiug Moor, York (Pireaway) ; second of £15, C. Beart, Stow, Downham Market, Norfolk (Ambition) ; third of £5, H. Bultitaft, Bedwellhay Grange, Ely (Clcar-the-way). Reserve : H. R. Hart, Dunnington Lodge, Yorksliii-e (All Fours). Stallion, suitable for getting Coach Horses. — First jDrize, £25, T. and J. Reynolds, Carlton, Selby (Young Ebor) ; se- cond of £15, R. Coward, Cabus, Garstang, Lancashire (Oc- tavion) ; thu-d of £5, R. C. Naylor, Kelmarsh Hall, North- ampton (The Hadji). Reserve: J. Rowell, Ramsey, Hunts (The Gentleman). Pony Stallion, under 14 hands 2 inches. — First prize, £20, Captain H. Piatt, Bryu-y-Nenadd, Llanfau-fechan, Carnar- vonshire (Tom Sayers) ; second of £10, J. A. Doyle, Plas Dulas, Abergele (Tramp). Reserve: W. Hayward, of Pen Bryn, Carnarvon. Mare, iu foal, or vnth foal at foot, suitable for breeding Hunters. — First prize, £25, J. Bro-svn, Wiggouby, AVigton (Sally); second of £15, T. Fox, Avenham Hall, Singleton, Lancashii-e (Pink); thii'd of £5, F. Barlow (Silverhocks). Reserve and highly commended : J.Fieldeu, Dobroyd Castle, Todmorden (Becky Sharp). Highly commended : J. T. Ro- binson, Leckby Palace, Topcliffe, Thirsk, Y'orkshu-e (Go-u- Head). Hunter, Mare or Gelding, over four years old, up to not less than fomteen stones. — First prize, £30, F. Bai-low (Top- stall) ; second of £15, Major Gunter, King's Dragoon Guards, Manchester (Wetheriiy). Reserve: J. W. T. Fyler, Heffer- tou, Wareham, Dorset (Tyrconnel) . Hunter Gelding, fom- years old. — First prize, £20, Sir G. Cholniley (Don Juan) ; second of £10, T. Heath Foden, Given - dale Grange, Ripon (Young Artillei-j') . Reserve and highly commended ; H. J. Percy, Howsem'igg, Aspatria, Cumber- land (Thunder and Turf). Hunter Mare, fom- years old.— First prize, £20, J. Peel, Knowlmere Manor, Clitheroe (Jessica); second of £10, J. Wilson, Crosthwaite, Milnthorpe, Westmoreland. Hunter, mare or gelding, three years old. — First prize, £15, T. C. Thompson, Kirkhouse, Brampton, Cumberland (By- ron) ; second of £10, E. Murray, Newby, Carlisle, Cumber- land (Tibby). Reserve: T.Newton, Oldfield, Alti-incham. Hiinter, mare or gelding, not less than fom- years old, up to not less than twelve stones. — First prize, £20, J. B. Booth, KillerlDy Hall, Oatterick (Brian Born) ; second of £10, J. Paterson, Terrona, Langhohn, Dmnfriesshire (Ten-ona). Reserve : W. Mun-ay, Broughton Mews, Manchester (Hot- spar) . The best Hunter in any of the classes.— Special prize of £30, Sir G. Cholmley (Don Juan). Resei-ve: F. Barlow (Topstall). Mare not less tlian 14 hands 1 inch, nor exceeding 15 hands 1 incli, in foal, or with foal at foot, suitable for breeding Hackneys.— First prize, £20, F. Cook, Thixendale, York (British Queen); second of £10, H. Neild, The Grange, Worsley (Stella); third of £5, J. J. Fildes, Pl.^inouth Grove, Manchester (Peggy). Reserve: T. Statter, jun.. Stand Hall, Whitefield, Manchester (Fanny) Pair of Can-inge Horses (mares or geldings). —First prize, £20, T.Mark, Durdar Hou.se, Carlisle (Jim and Dick) . No competition. Brougham Horse (mare or gelding).— Fu-st prize withheld ; second of £5, J. Peel, Knowlemere (Lady Mary). No com- petition. Colt (Gelding or Filly), likely to make a Carriage Horse, foaled in 1866.— First prize, £10,'W. and P. Coulson, Gaterley Farm., Castle Howai-d ; second of £5, L. Manfield, Thickel1)y- Barugh, Thirsk. Roadster Marc or Gelding, not exceeding 15 hand* 1 iiach, four j'cars old and upwards. — First prize, £16, H. J. Percy (Crafty) ; second of £10, C. L. Clare, Hopefield, Manchester (Ginger). Reserve: W. Murray, Manchester (Perfection). Roadster Mare or Gelding, not exceeding 15 hands, above four years.— First prize, £15, A. Tumei-, Narborough Road, Leicester; second of £10, B. Prest, Gorse Hill Farm, Stret- ford, Manchester (Rufus). Besei-ve and highly commended : J. Casson, Cumberland. Commended : J. Holyi'oyd, Rock- wood, Bm-nlcy, Lancashire (Johnny). Pony Mare, not exceeding 14 hands.— First prize, £15, W. Simpkin, Burton-Agnes, Yorkshire (Maid of All-work) ; se- cond of £10, AV. Muri-.ny, Manchester (Hill Town Lass) ; third of £5, J. Whitworth, Stancliffe Hall, Matlock (Minnie). Re- serve : W. Torr, Aylesby Manor, Grimsby, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Pouy (mai'O or gel(Une)i uol cxcecdmg 13 hands 2 iuclies.— First prize, £10. T. H. Miller, Preston (Paddy) ; second of £5, T. Howdle, Silver-street, Hull (Tommy). ' llcsicrvi! aiitl highly commended : Mrs. Levila, Tlic Homo, Whalley Hniiccc, Manchester. Commended: S. Wiito, SoTith Leverton, Ret- ford (Marquis). Cart Mare and Foal, not (lualified (o compete as Clydesdale or Suffolk.— First prize, £20, ,T. Henderson, Hossloy Hill, South Sliields (Jcssey) ; second of £5, W. N. Hodgson, M.P., Newby Grange, CarUsle, Resei"ve : T. Statter, jun. (Dia- mond) . Clydesdale Mare and Foal.— First prize, £20, Sir W. Stir- ling Maxwell, Bart., Koir, Dumhlane (Jess) ; second of £10, L. Drew, Men-5'ton, Hamilton. Suffolk Mare and Foal.— No entry. Cleveland Brood ilare. — First prize, £15, W. and F. Coul- son, Gaterley Farm, Castle Howard (Venus) ; second of £10, W. Beattie, Blennerhassett, Aspatria (Damsel). Highly commended : T. Baldwin, Earl's Wood, Hockley Heath, Bir- mingham. Commended : G. Holmes, Bar House, Beverley, Yorkshire (Polly). The class commended. Cart Filly, three years old (not qualified to compete as Clydesdale or Suffolk).— Fu-st prize, £15, H. Neild (PoUy); second of £10, J. Rigby, Little Leigh, North^vich, Cheshire (Bess). Clydesdale Filly, three years old. — Fu'st prize, £15, R. Waugh, Seathill, Irthington, Carlisle (Isabel) ; second of £10, L. Drew. Reserve and commended : Her Majesty the Queen (Meg). Suffolk Filly, three years old. — Fu-st prize, £15, A. Noble, Brazier's Hill, Greeting St. Peter, Needham Market (Duchess) . Highly commended: T. Baldwin, Karl's Wood. Cart Filly, two years old (not qualified to compete as Clydesdale or Suffolk) . — Fii-st prize, £15, C. Lister, Coleby Lodge, Lincoln ; second of £10, R. W. Bridgewater, Great Porthamel, Talgarth, Brecon (J51;ick Princess) . Connnended : T. Upton, Pallathoiije, Bolton-Porcy, Tadcaster (Pretty). Clydesdale Filly, two yeai-s old.— Fh-st prize, £15, J. Cun- ningham, "Wliite "Caini, Dalbeattie, Kirkcudbrightshire; se- cond of £10, L. Drew. Suffolk Filly, two years old.— First prize, £15, W, Wilson, Baylham. Pail- of Hea^'y Dray Horses (mares or geldings). — First prize, £25, T. Statter, jun. (Punch and Lily); second of £15, C W. Brierley, Rhodes House, Middleton, Lancashu'e (Thumper and Prince of Wales). Pair of Horses (mares or geklings), not less than 16 hands, suitable for brewers' drays. — First prize, £25, J. Crashawand J. Blakele3% the Collieries, Dewsbuiy, Yorkshire (Punch and Toby) ; second of £15, A. Stewart, Saint Bridge House, Gloucester (Blucher and Colonel). Commended: C. W. Brierley (Ploughboy and Vixen). Dray Horse (marc or gelding), of the Hea\'y Breed. — First prize, £10, C. W. Brierley (Prince of AVales) ; second, W. Carter, Marsden Square, Manchester. Connnended : Preston Farming Co. (Limited), Freckleton, Kirkham, Lancashire (CharUe). The class commended. Pair of Horses (mares or geldnigg), for agricultural pur- poses.— Fu-st prize, £20, T. Statter, jun. (Jet and Maggie) ; second of £10, Earl Grosvenor, M.P., Calveley Hall, Tarpor- ley, Cheshire (Gilpin .and Briton). The class commended. Horse (mare or gelding), for agi'icultural purposes. — First prize, £10, L. Drew (Londoii Maggie, No. 2) ; second of £5, C. W. Brierly (Sensation). Reserve and commended: L. Ascroft, Maudsley, Ormskirk (Star). Commended: W. Birch, Amtree, Lancashire (Rose). CATTLE. (.^J1 ages calculated to July 1st, 18G9.) SHORTHORNS. Judges (of Biills).— W. Bartholomew, Waddington, Lincoln. T. Mace, Sherborne, Northleach. M. Stephenson, Fourstones, Hexham. Bull above three years old. — First prize, £10, S. Wiley, Brandsby, York (Earl of Derby) ; second of £20, C. R. Saunders, Niuiwick Hall, Penrith (Edgar) ; thu-d of £10, G. R. Barclay, Keavil, Dumfermline ( Heir of Englishman) . Re- sei-ve and highly commended: W. Hoskcn and Son, Logga.u's Mill, Hayle, Cornwall (Prince Frederick II.). Commended: Emily, Lady Pigot, Brandies Park, Newmarket (Charles le Beau), and Sir W. Stirlinc;- Maxwell, Bart., Keir, Dunblane, (Keir Butterfly 1st). Bull above two and not exceeding tln'ce years old. — First prize, £25, C. W. Brierley, Rhodes House, Middleton, Lan- cashire (Bolivar) ; second of £15, J. Meadows, ThornviUe, Wexford (Charlie) ; third of £5. Lord Sudeley, Toddington, Winchcombe, Gloucestershu'e (Mandarin). Reserve and highly commended : R. Han-ett, Kirkwhelpington, New- castle-on-Tyne (LordHem-y). Commended : J. C. Bowstead, Hackthoi-pe Hall, Penrith (Flag of Great Bi-itain). Yearling Biill, above one and not exceeding two years old. — First pi-ize, £25, G. Savile Poljambe, Osberi,on Hall, Work- fiop!(Knightof the Bath) ; second of £15, P. H. Fawkes, Farnley HaU, Otiey (Lord Beaumont) ; third of £5, G. Savile Fol- jambe (Kixight of the Whistle). Reserve and highly com- mended: Colonel C. Towneley, Townoley, Burnley (Baron Uubhark). Commended: R. Syned, Keel Hall, Newcastle- undov-L^^ne (Theodore), and .1. Dickinson, Balcony Farm House, ilpholland, Wigan (Baron \Vharfedale). Bull Calf, above six and not exceeding twelve months old. —First iirizc, £10, F. H. Fawkes (Lord Is-a-Beau) ; second of £5, Colonel C. Towneley (Baron CUollingc). Reserve and commended: T. C. Booth, Warlaljy, Northallerton (Royal Broughton). Judges (of Shorthorn and Yorkshire Cows). — E. Bowly, Siddington House, Cirencester. L. C. Crisp, Ha-wkhill, Alnwick. J. Untliauk, Nctherscalcs, Penrith. Cow above three years old.— First prize, £20, T. C. Booth (Lady Fragrant) ; second of £10, I'hnily, Lndy Pigot (The Queen of Rosalea) ; third of £5, Captain R. Tennant, Scar- ci'oft Lodge, Shadwell, Leeds (Miss Farewell). Reserve and highly commended : W. Hosken and Son (Rosebud). Com- mended : R. Eastwood, Thome Holme, Clitheroo (Rosette 3rd), and Lord Skelmcrsdale, Lathorno House, Ormskirk. Heifer, in-milk or in-calf, not exceeding tlu-ee years old. — First prize, £15, T. C. Booth (Patricia) ; second of £10, J. Lynn, Cluu'ch Farm, Stroxton, Grantham (Queen of Dia- monds) ; thu-d of £5, J. How, Broughton, Huntingdon (Lady Anne). Reserve: Rev. L. C. AVood, Singleton Lodge, (Mii-anda 10th) . Yeai-ling heifer, above one and not exceeding two years old.— Fu-st prize, £15, Colonel C. Towneley (Baron Oxford's Beauty); second of £5, W. Torr, Aylesby Manor, Grimsby (Cherry Queen 4th) ; third of £5, R. Eastwood (Double Bi;t- terfly2nd). Reseive and highly conunended: R. Stratton, Bunlerop, Swindon (Ariel). Commended: T. E. Pawlett, Beest(m, Sandy, Bedfordshire (Charmer 11th), and Lord Tredegar, Tredegar Park, Newport, Momnouthshire. Heiier-calf, above six and under twelve months old, — First prize, £10, R. Stratton (Flower Girl) ; second of £5, R. East- wood (Red Butterfly). Reserve and highly commended ; R. Straiton (Gertrude). Commended: Lord Sudeley (Ceres 4th) ;_ R. Stratton (Melody) ; C. W. Brierley (Lily of the Vale) ; and J . T. Robinson, Leckby Palace, Topcliffe, Thirsk (Lady Highthorne) . HEREFORDS. Judges (and for other breeds).— J. R. Newton, Campsfleld, Woodstook. T. Pymble, Lanfrother, Ross. G. Smythies, Marlow, Leintwardine. Bull, above tlu-ee-years-old. —First prize, £25, J. H. Ai-k- Wright, Hampton Com-t, Leominster (Sir Hungerford) ; sec- ond of £15, the Hon. T. H. N. Hill, Berrington, Shi-ewsbury (Yomig Conqueror). Reserve: P. R. Jackson, Blackbrooke, Skinfrith, Monmonth.shu-e (Blackbrooke). Bull, above two and not exceeding threc-years-old. — Fu-st prize, £25, J. Morris, Town House, Hereford (Stowe) ; second of £15, Her Majesty the Queen (Prince Leopold). Reserve and commended : R. Taimer, Frodesley, Dorrington (Frodes- ley). Yearling Bull, above one and not exceeding two-years-old. —-First prize, £25, T. Edwards, Wintercott, Leominster (Leo- minster 3rd) ; second of £15, J. Harding, Bicton, Shrews- bui-y (Noble). Reserve: J. Baldwin, Luddington, Stratford- on-Avon (Victor). Bull-calf, above six and not exceeding twelve months old. — First prize, £10, W. Tndge, Adforton, Leintwardine (Osto- rious) ; second of £6, R. Tanner (Prodesly Favom-ite). Re- serve : H. Rawlins, jun., Swanstone Com-t. Dilwyn (Prince of Wales). Cow, a.bove thi-cc-years-old.— First prize, £20, J. D. Allen, Tisbuiy, Snlisbury (Queen of the Lilies) ; second of £10, W. T-adge (Lady Adforton). Reserve and highly commended : IT. R. Evans, jun. (Stately 2nd). Heifer, in-milk or in-calf, not exceeding tlu-ee-,year3-old. — First prize, £15, W. Tudge (Diadem) ; ' second' of £10, T. Rogers, Coxall, Bramton-Bryan (Queen of the Valley) ; third of £5, Her Majesty the Queen (Duchess de Bronte). Re- sci-ve and highly commended : J. H. Ai-kwright (Lady Lei- cester). Yearling Heifer, above one and not exccedingtwo-years-old. —First prize, £15, W. Tudge (Silver Star) ; second of £10, P. Turner, The Leen, Pembridge (Minerva) ; third of £5, J. Crane, Benthall Foi-d, Shi-ewslmry (Adelaide). Reserve and highly commended : T. Fenn, Stoneln-ook House, Ludlow (Miss Rose). Heifer-calf, above six and under twelve months old. — First prize, £10, W. Tudge (Lady Brandon) ; second of £5, T. Femi (Duchess Bedfoi-d Gth). Reserve: T. Rogers (Coxall JJeautv). DEVONS, JuDOFS (and for Channel Islands).— H. W. K'eary, Bridgnorth. J. Pitcher, Hailsham, Hnrst Green. R. Wooflman, Southease, Lewes. Bull, above threc-years-old.— First prize, £25, W. Farthing, loo TflE iTABMfiE^S MAGAZINE. fjtij',ve\' Cum-t,, JJriiiyowater (Master Ellic) ; second of £15, Viscount Fiilmouth, Tregothnan, Tvuro, Cormvall (Sun- lluvver). Keserve and commended: W. Smith, Higher Hoopern, Exeter (Constitntion). Bull, above two and not exceeding three-years-old. — Fii'st prize, £25, W. Farthing (Master Arthiu-) ; second of £15, J. H. BuUer, Downes, C'rediton, Devon ; third of £5, AV. G. Nixey, Upton Court Farm, Slough (Young Prince of Wales). Yearling Bull, aljove one and not exceeding two years old. — First prize, £25, W. Farthing (Sir George); second, Vis- count Falmouth (Narcissus). Reserve and commended: J. Quartly, Champson, South Molton, Devonshire. Bull Calf, aljove six and not exceeding twelve months old. — Fu'st prize, £10, J. Davey, Flitton Barton, North Molton (Duke of Fitton 5th) ; second of £5, AV. Smith (Pensylvanian 898) . Reserve and highly conuuended : G. Tm-ner, Bramford- Speke, Exeter (Prime Minister). Cow, above three years old. — First ijrize, £20, .J. Davy (Actress); second of £10, W. G. Nixey (Pink); third of £o, J. Davy (Princess Alice). Resei've and commended : J. Quartly, Molton (Lily). Commended: W. G. Nixey (Yellow Bat) ; W. Farthing (Miss Bessy) ; and W. Taylor, Gl.-^Tilcy, Westham, Hurst Green (Flower). Heifer, in-milk or in-calf, not exceeding three years old. — First prize, £15, W. G. Nixey; second of £10, G. Turner (Duchess 6th) ; third of £5, W. G. Nixey (Baroness). Re- serve: J. Quartly (Beauty). Yearling Heifer, above one and not exceeding two years old.— First prize, £15, R. Burton, Place Barton, Broaddyst (Daisy) ; second of £10, Her Majesty the Queen (Adelaide) ; Ihu-d of £5, AV. Farthing (Prettymaid). Commended and reserve ; Her Majesty (Rosa). Heifer Calf, above six and under twelve months old. — First prize, £10, J. H. Buller; second of £5, G. Turner (Duchess). Reserve and commended: AV. Smith (Young Butterfly). Commended : AV. Farthing. CHANNEL ISLAND CATTLE. Bull, above one year old. — Prize of £15, T. Statter, jun.. Stand Hall, AVhitefield, Manchester (Milo). Commended and reserve : Sir H. de Traflford, Bart., Trafford Park, Man- chester (Achievement). Coniniended: J. Talbot, Sherring- ton Bridge House, Newport-Pagnell (Sarnian). Cow, aljovc three years old. — First prize, £15, P. Gaudin, Spring Farm, St. Martin's, St. Helens (Camclia) ; second of £i0. Sir H. de Trafford. Reserve and commended : Sir H. de Trafibrd. Heifer, in-milk or in-calf, not exceeding tlnee years old. — First prize, £15, P. Gaudin (Flora) ; second of £10, P. Gaudin (Famiy Rougetj. Reserve: T. Statter, jun. (Daisy). OTHER ESTABLISHED BREEDS. Bull, above one year old.— -First Prize, £15, R. H. Chap- man, Upton, Nuneaton (Curzon — Longhorn); second of £10, The Rev. J Cumming Macdona, Hibre House, AVcst Kirby, Cheshire (Knight of Kerry— Kerry) . Cow, above three years old. — First prize, £15, J. Godfrey, AVigston-Parva, Hinckley, Leicestershire (Dai.'sy — Longhorn); second of £10, T. Statter, jmi., AVhitefield (Rose— Brittany). Heifer in-milk or in-calf, not exceeding three years old. — Firstprizc,£15, Lord Sondes, ElmhamHall, Thetford (Norfolk Polled). Reserve: Lord Sondes (Crocus 2nd — Nortolk Polled). YORKSHIRE DAIRY CROSS. Pair of Cows, above three years old, in-milk or in-caU'. — Fu-st piize, £15, J. T. Robinson, Leckljy Palace, Topcliflfe, Thirsk (Milkmaid and Danymaid) ; second of £10, J. AVood- house. Scale Hall, Skerton, Lancaster (Flora's Rose and Snowdrop). Reserve : T. Statter, jun. (Dairymaid and But- tercup). Pair of Heifers, above two and not exceeding three years old, in-milk.— First prize, £10, T. Statter, jun., (Blue Bell anil Rose Bud) ; second of £5, J. T. Robinson (Rose and Violet). Three Rearuig Calves, calved within the year 1869. — First prize, £8, H. Nield (Faith, Hope, and Charity) ; second of £1, T. Statter, jun., (Aglia, Thelia, and Euphrosien). Re- serve : J. T. Robinson. AYRSHIRES Judges (and for other Scotch, AVelsh and Kerry) : T. Gibbons, Burnfoot, Longtown, Cumberland. J. Macmillau, Halket Deaths, N.B. Bull above two years old and upwards. — First prize, £15, T. Statter, jun. (Lord of the Isles) ; second of £10, D. Twee- die, Castle Crawford, Abuigton (Clyde) . Pair of Cows, three years old and upwards, in-milk or in- calf. — First prize, £15, D. Twcedie, Castle Crawford, Abing- ton, Lanarkshire (China and Lady Mary 10th) ; second of £10, L. Drew. Pair of Heifers, two years old, and iinder three years, in- milk or in-calf.— First prize, £1.5, T. Statter, jun. (Polly and Maggie) ; .second of £10, L. Drew. POLLED ANGUS OE ABEBDEKIT. Bull, two years old and upwards,— First prize, £1.3, G. Brown, Westertowu Fochabers, N.B. (March). Reserve : T. Statter, jun. (King AVilliam). Pair of Cows, three years okl and upwards, in-milk or in- calf. — First prize, £15, T. Statter, jun. (Empress and Princess). (No entries in other class). POLLED GALLOWAYS. Bull, two years old and upwards. — First prize, £15, J. Graham, Braidlee, Newcastleton, Roxburghshire (Blue Bon- net) ; second of £10, .J. Graham, Parcelstown, AVestlinton, Cumberland (Sir John the Graham). Reserve and highly commended : \V. Clark, CoiTa Kirkgunzeon, Dumfries (Marksman). Pair of Cows, three years old and upwards, iu-mUk or m- calf. — First prize, £15, J. Graham (Modesty and Lady Ken- mure) ; second of £10, .J. Cunningham, of Tarbroch, Dal- beattie, Kirkcudbright (Louisa and Juno). I'air of Heifers, two years old and imder three years, in- milk or in-calf. — First prize, £15, J. Cunningham (2nd Bess and 2nd Jess) ; second of £10, J. Cunnmgham, (Julia and Mary). WELSH. Bull, two years old and upwards. — First prize, £15, L. Lewis, Tan-y-Fynwent, Abcr, Carnarvon (Cadno) ; second of £10, E. Humphries, Royal Hotel, Carnarvon. Pair of Cows, three years old and upwards, in-milk or in-calf. — Fu'st prize, £15, L. Lewis (Mj'nnig and Llaethog). KERKY. Pair of Cows, three years old and upwards, in-milk or in- calf. — First prize, £15, Rev. J. C. Macdona, Hilbraj House, AVest Kirby, Cheshire (Kathleen Mavournoen and Nora Creina) ; second of £10, T. Statter, jmi. (Lucy and Jenny). Highly commended : T. Statter, jun. (Shamrock and Clover). WEST HIGHLANDERS. No entries in anj' of ?he classes. SHEEP. Judges. — C. Clarke, Scopwick, Sleaford. R. Fi.sher, Leconfleld, Beverley. G. AValmsley, Rudston House, Bridlington, LEICESTERS. Shearling Ram. — First prize, £20, G. H. Sanday, Holmo Pierrepont, Notts; second of £10, J. Borton, Barton House, Malton ; third of £5, Lieut. -Col. AVm. Inge, Thorpe Constan- tino, Tamworth. Reserve and highly connnended : Col. Inge, Highly commended: E. Rilej', Kipling Cotes, Beverley. Commended : T. Stamper, Highficld, Oswaldkirk. Ram of any other age. — First prize, £20, J. Borton ; se- cond of £10, G. H. Sanday; third of £5, J. Borton. Reserve and highly commended : G. Turner, jun., Alexton, Upping- ham. Highly commended : E.Rj^ley, Coajnuendcd : (J.Tur- ner, jun. Pen of Five Shearluig Ewes. — First prize, £15, Col. Inge; second of £10, S. AViley, Brandsby, York '■ third of £5, J. Borton. Reserve and highly commended : T. H. Hutchin- son, Manor House, Catterick. COTSAVOLDS. Judges (and for Oxfordshire Downs^ : R. Lord, Stanton Harcom-t, AVitney. AV. Parsons, Hill Farm, Elsfield, Oxford. E. Ruck, Castle Hill, Cricklade. Shearling Ram. — First prize, £20, T. Gillctt, Kilkenny Farm, Farringdon ; second of £10, T. Gillett ; thu'd of £5, T. Brown, of Marham, Norfolk. Reserve and highly com- mended : T. Brown. Ram of any other age. — First prize, £20, T. Brown ; second of £10, T. Brown; third of £5, E. Handy, Sierford, Chelten- ham. Pen of Five Shearling Ewes.- First prize, £15, J. Gillett, Oaklands, Charlbury, Oxon (No other entry), LINCOLNS AND OTHER LONG AVOOLS. (Not qualified to compete as Leicester or Cot.swolds.) Judges. — J. H. Casswell, Laughton, Folkingham. H. Makinder, Merc Hall, Lincoln. j Shearling Ram. — First prize, £20, Messrs. Diulding, Pan- I ton House, Wragby ; second of £10, The Hon. R. H. Edeu, , Cotgrave Place, Nottingham ; third of £5, Messrs. Dudding. Reserve and commended : Messrs. Dudding. Ram of any other age. — First prize, £20, AV. F. Marshall, Branston A'illa, Lincoln; second of £10, Messrs. Dudding; third of £5, AV. F. Marshall. Reserve and highly commended : T. Cartwright, Dunston, Pillar, Lincoln. Pen of Five Shearling Ewes. — First prize, £15, T. Cart- >vright ; second of £10, John Pears, Mere, Branston, Lincoln; third of £o, T. Cartwright. Reserve : J. and R. Earnshaw, Grindleton, Clitheroe. OXFORDSHIRE DOV^NS. Shearling Ram.— First prize, £20, G. AVaUis, Old Shiflford, Hampton; second of £10, G. AVallis, ; third of £5, A. F. M. Druce, Burghfield, Reading. Reserve and highly commended : G. WalUs. Highly commended : J. Treadwell, Upper AVinch- endou, Aylesbury, Commejided : J, Treadwell . (The Class commended). THE IPARMER'S MAGAZINE. 101 Ram or any other aKC—Fii'st prize, £i'), J. Trcadwoll ; se- cond of i;lO, G. Wrtllis ; third of £o, G. WalHs. Reserve and Licrhly coiiuneadod : J. Tremlwcll. ilifrlil.s' coiiiiiioiided : F. Gillctl, Upton Dowiit,, Burloid. (The Class coimucuded). Pen of tive shenrlinj; ewes ol' the same flock. — First prize £15, G. Wallis ; second of tlO, F. Gillett. Reserve and highly conimendeil : ,1. Treadvs-ell. Commended : C. Howard, Bid- dcnham, and E. Freeman, Chilton Thame. SOUTH DOWNS. JvBOPs (and for Hampshire Downs) : T. Ellman, 9, Clifton Crosceut. Sutton. W. Scott Hayward, Frocester Court, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire. H. Lugar, Tughani, Bury St. Edmunds. Shearling Ram.— First prize, £20, Lord Walsingham, Mer- ton Hall ; second of £10, Lord Walsiugham ; third of £5, I,ord Walsinghana. Reserve and highly commended : Lord Wal- singham. Ccnnneuded : Lord Walsingham ; Lord Braj-- brook, Audley End, SaflVon AValdeu. Ram of any other age.— First prize, £20, Sir Wm. Throck- morton, Bart., Buckland, Farringdou; second of £10, Sir Wm. Throckmorton; third of iE5, Lord Walsingham. Re- serve and highly commended : Lord Sondes. Highly com- mended : The Duke of Richmond, K.G., of Goodwood, Chichester; and Henry Humphrey, of Ashington, Hurst- pierpoint. The class commended. Pen of five Shearling Ewes. — ^First pi'ize, £15, Lord Sondes ; second of £10, Sir Wm. Throckmorton ; third, £.5, Lord Walsingham. Reserve and commended : The Duke of Richmond. SHROPSHIRES. JuDGE.s. — ^W. H. Clare, Twycrosa, Atherstonc. H. Fookes, Whitchurch, Blandford. J. Woods, Clipstone, Mansfield. Shearling Bam. — First i>rize, £20, Lord Chesham, Liitimor, Chesham ; second of £10, J. Coxon, Freeford, Lichfield ; third of £5, Mi-s. Beach, The Hattous, Brewood. Reserve and highly commended : Lord Chesham. Highly com- mended : Mrs. Beach (for two rams) ; J. Evans, Utifington, Shrewsbury; T. Manscll, Adcot Hall, Shrewsbury; and T. Horton, Haniage Grange, Shrewsbmy. Commended : G. Allen, Knightley, Eccleshall; Lord Chesham; T. Man.soll (for two rams) ; and Viscount Falmouth. Ram of any other age. — First ]n'izc, £20, H. Matthews, Montford, Shrewsbury; second of £10, T. Horton; thuxl of £5, Mrs. P. W. Bowen, of Shrawardine Castle, Shrewsbury. Reserve and highly commended : C. B\rd, of Littywood, Stafiford. Highly ' commended : T. Mansell ; C. ' Byrd ; C. W. Hamilton, Hamwood, Clonee, Co. Meath, Ireland. Commended ; AV. Baker, Moor Barns, Atherstone ; H. Dennis, Hafod-y-Bwch, Ruabon, Denbighshue ; and J. Evans, Uffingtou. Pen of five Shearling Ewes. — First prize, £15, T. Nock, Sutton - Maddock, Shifnal ; second, £10, Loril Chesham ; thh-d, £5, H. Wood, Pucknall Farm, Romsey, Hants. Reserve and highly commended : Lord Chesham. Highly' commended: Mrs.' Beach; and C. R. Keeling, Yew Tree Fann, Penkridge, Stafford. Commended : Lord Wenlook, Escrick Park, York : H. Matthews, Montford ; R. Tanner, Frodesley ; and W. Baker, Moor Barns, HAMPSHIRE AND OTHER SHORT AVOOLS. Shearling Ram.— First iirize, £20, A. Morrison, Fonthill House, Tisbuiy; second £10, A.Morrison; thu-d, £3, J. Raw- lence, Bulbridge, AVilton, Salisbur.^'. Reser\'e and ^highly commended : R. and J. Russell, Horton Kirljy, Dartford. Highly conunended : J. Rawlence. Commended : R. and J. Russell (for two rams). Ram of any other age.— Fh-st prize, £20, R. and J. Russell ; secoiid of £10, J. Rawlence. Reserve and highly commended : J. Rawlence. Pen of five Shearling Ewes.— First prize, £15, J. Raw- lence ; second, £10, J. Rawlence. No other entries. LONKS. Judges (and Hcrdwick, Limestone, and Blackfaccd Scotch). — G. Rea, Middleton House, Alnwick. .1. Benn, Tirril House, Penrith. Shearling Ram. — First prize, £20, T. Statter ; second of £10, J. M. Green, Black Hill, Keighley ; third of £5, L. Duckworth, Sheep Hey, Ramsbottom. Reserve and highly commended: Jonathan Peel, Knowlraere Manor, Clitheroe. Ram of any other age. — Fir.st prize, £20, Jonathan Peel ; second of £io, .lonathan Peel. Resei'\'e and highly com- mended : J. M. Green. Pen .of five Ewes.- First prize, £15, Jonathan Peel ; second of £10, Jonathan Peel. Reserve, and highly commended: Jonatlian Peel. HERDWICKS. Shearling Ram. — First prize, £20, G. Bro%vne, Troutbeck, Windermere, AVestmoreland ; second of £10, G. Browne ; third of £3, G. Ii-ving, Wythop Hall, Cockermouth. Re- serve: J. Smith, Branthwaite, Caldbeck, Cumberland. BSQj Qi nx^y father age.-<=FirBt prize, £20, H , Evo\rr.e. Trout- beck, Windermere ; second of £10, G. Browne; third of £o, R. Browne. Reserve and commended : J. Smith. Pen of li\ e Ewes. First prize, £13, E. Nelson, Gatesgarth, buttormcro; secouil of £10, G. Irving. Reserve and com- mended : G. Browne. C H E V I O T S. Ji'DGEs (and Border Leicesters)— F. P. Lynn, Milldrum Mill, near Coldstream. A. Bort'hwick, Kilham, Coldstream, N.B. Shearling Ram.— First prize, £10, J. McGregor, Bell Rid- ding, Torthowald, Dumfries ; second of £5, J. Robson, Bymess, Rochester, Northumbcrlaml. Reserve and com- mended: J. Robson. Ram of any other age.— First prize, £10; J. Robson; se- cond of £5, J. Robson. Pen of five Shearling Ewes.— First prize, £10, J. McGregor. LIMESTONE. Shearling Ram.— First prize, £10, R. Parker, Moss End, Burton, AVestmorland ; second of £5, R. I'arker. No other entries. Ram of any other age.— First prize, £10, R. Parker. No other entrj'. Pen of five Shearling Ewes.— First prize, £10, R. Parker; second of £5, R. Parker. BORDER LEICESTERS. Shearling Ram.— First prize, £10, J. and G. Laing, Corn- hill; second of £5, J. and G. Laing. Reserve and com- mended : J. and AV. Dinning, Nilstone Ridge, Hoydon Bridge. Commended- J. Angus, jun., AVhitefield, Morpeth. Ram of any other age. — First prize, £10, J. and AV. Dinning; second of £5, J. Watson, Gelt Hall, Castle Carrock, Carlisle. Reserve and commended: J. AA''atson. Com- mended : J. and G. Laing and J. Angus, jun. Pen of five Shearling Ewes.— First prize, £10, J. and W. Dinning; second of £5, J, Angus, jun. Reserve and com- mended: J. Watson, BLACK-FACED SCOTCH. Ram of any age. — First prize, £10, J. L-ving, Shap Abbey ; second of £5, J. Irving. Reserve and commended: A. AV. Long, Mint Cottage, Kendal. Pen of five Shearhng Ewes.— First prize, £10, A. Bell, Gar- rigell, Alston, Cmnberland; second of £5, J. Irving. Re- serve and commended: J. Atkinson, Brackenthwaite Cumrew; Carlisle. Inspectoes of She.irisg. H. Bone, Avon, Ring wood. AV. B. Canning, Elston Hill, Devizes. Thos. Compton, Fishcrton Delamere, Heytesbnry. PIGS. Jl'DSES.— S. Druce, Eynsham, Oxon. J. B. Slater, Liammeringham, Lincoln. T. Trotter, Bywell, Stockstield-on-Tyne. Boar of a large white breed, above twelve months old. — First prize, £10, R. E. Duckering, Nortliope, Kirton Lmd- say (Wallace) ; second of £3, M. AValker, Stockby Park, Ai'islow, Burton-ou-Treut (Robin Hood). Reserve and com- mended, J. and F, Howard, Bedford (Victor 2nd). Boar of a large white breed, above six months. — First prize, £10, R. E. Duckering, (Oscar) ; second of £5, P. Eden, Cross Lane, Salford (Eclipse). Reserve: T. Bantock, Merri- dale House, AVolverhampton (Young Joe). Boar of a small white breed, above twelve months old. — First prize, £10, P. Eden (Young King) ; second of £5, J. Sagar, Lister Hills, Bradford (Pretender). Reserve and highly com- mended : Lord AVenlock (Brutus 3rd). Boar of small white breed, above six months old. — First prize, £10, J. Maxwell, Mossdale House, Aigburth, Liver- pool (Young Prince) ; second of £3, P. Eden. Reserved and highly commended : H. Neild. Boars of a small lilack breed.-First prize, £10, T. Comber, Rainhill, Prescot (Pretender) ; second of £3, T. Gankroger, Clarendon Place, Halifax. Boars of the Berk.shire breed.— First prize, £10, J. AA'hit- worth, Stancliffc Hall, Matlock (King Pippin's Grandson) ; second of £5, H. Humfre.^', Kingstone Farm, Shrivenham (Delightfid). Reserve and highl,y recommended: J. Smith Henley-in-Arden, AVarwickshire (Matchless). Boar of a lireed not eligible for the preceding classes. — First prize, £10, J. Sagar (Young Prince of Airedale) ; second of £3, P. Eden (King Lear 3rd). Reserve : J. and F. Howard (Hero 2nd). Breeding Sow of a large white breed. — First prize, £10, P. Eden (Acorn) ; second of £5, R. E. Duckering (Primi-ose). Reserve and highly commended : P. Eden, Salford (Morning Star). Breeding Sow of small white breed.— Firt prize, £10, R. E. Duckering (Little Queen) ; second of £6, J. Sagar (Beauty). Reserve and highl.y commended : AV. Hatton, Addingham, Leeds. Highlj' commended : J. Sutcliffe, Commercial Hotel, Accrington (Queen of the North). (The class commended as of more than ordinary mei-it). Breeding Sow of a si«3U Wack breed,— First prise, £\0, 102 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. Eev. W. Holt Beevei', I'eucraig Court, Ross Herefordshii-e ^Black Diamond 5th) ; second of £5, T. Comber, Rainhill. Prescot (Norma). Reserve and highly commended: T.Gauk- roger, 4, Clarendon Place, Halifax, Breeding Sow of the Berkshire breed. — First prize, £10, A. Stewart, Saint Bridge House, Gloucester (Octoroon) ; second of £5, H. Humfrey (Southend). Reserve and highly commended: A. Stewart (Quadroon). (The class commended as very good). Breeding Sow, of a breed not eligible for the preceding classes.— Fii-st prize, £10, W. Parker, Golden Lion, Leeds Road, Bradford (Rose of Yorkshiie) ; second of £5, P. Eden, (Countess). Reserve and highly commended: J. and F. Howard (Miss Kate). Pen of three breeding Sow Pigs of a large white breed of the same litter, above four and under eight months old. — First prize, £10, R. E. Duckering (White Rose, Snowdrop, and Tulip) ; second of £5, P. Eden. Reserve and highly commended : J. and F. Howard. Pen of three Breeding Sow Pigs of a small white breed of the same litter, above four and under eight months old. — First prize, £10, P. Eden; second of £5,^Sir G. O. Womb- well, Bart., Newbm-gh Park, Easingwold. Reserve and highly commended : Sii- G. O. Wombwell. Pen of three breeding Sow Pigs of a small black breed of the same litter, above fom- and under eight months old.— First prize, £10, T. Gankroger, Clarendon Place, Halifax. No competition. Pen of three breeding Sow Pigs of the Berkshire breed of the same litter, above four and under eight months old. — Fii'st prize, £10, Rev. H. G. Baily, Swindon. Pen of three breeding Sow Pigs of a breed not eligible for the preceding classes, of the same litter, above four and under eight months old. — First prize, £10, P. Eden ; second of £5, P. Eden. Reserve : M. Newton, Oldfield, Altrtncham, Cheshire. Veiehinaex Inspecioks.— Messrs. T. B. Simonds, Varnell, and Hunt. BUTTER. Judges (and for Cheese).— G. Bowles, West Smithfleld, London. R. Broady, Highfleld House, Stretford. J. Jamison, Belle Vue. J. Rigby, Wuisford. Thi-ee pounds of Fresh Butter, made up in half-pounds.— First prize, £6, and silver cup, value £5, H. Neild, The Grange, Worsley ; second of £i, G. Turner, Higher Ingers- ley, Rainow, BoUington, Macclesfield; third of £3, S. Davies, Eardswick Hall, Minshull-Vemon, by Middlewich ; fourth of £2, W. Hough, Mill Farm, Mere, Knutsford. Highly com- mended : W. Routledge, Perrier, Greystoke, Penrith. Com- mended: W. W. Hulse, the Grove, Withington, Manches- ter. Tub or Crock of Butter, not less than lilbs. weight.— First prize, £7, and a silver cup value £5, W. Harper, Bury, Lan- cashire; second of £5, W. Harper; third of £3, S. Davies, Eardswick Hall, MinshuU-Vernon, by Middlewich. Highly commended: M.Beriy, Lower Walmsly-fold, Lower Darwen, Blackburn; and J. Davies, BoUington, Altrincham. Com- mended : J. Nightingale, Callinghowe, Guisborough, York- shire. Tub or Crock of Butter, not less than 141bs. in weight, the produce of any foreign country.— Second prize, £5, N. S. and R. Crompton, Mark-lane, Manchester, CHEESE. Four uncoloured Cheeses made in 1868, above OOlljs. weight each.— First prize, £15, G. Willis, Ridley Hall, Tarporley, Cheshire. Foxu- coloured Cheeses made in 1868, above 601bs. weight each. — First prize, £15, and the special champion prize of £25, for the best four cheeses made in 1868, T. Sheen, Ferney- Lees Farm, Tiverton, Tarporley ; second of £10, B. Siddom. Broxton Hall, Chester, Commended: G. Willis, Ridley Hall, Taiijorley. Pour coloured Cheeses, made in 1868, under 601b. weight each.— Second prize, £5, J. Hart, Bulkeloy, Malpas. Four Cheeses, colom-ed or uncolom-ed, made in 1869, above 601b. weight each.— Fu-st prize, £15, and special champion prize for the best fom- cheeses of 1869, J. Vernon, WUlington, Tarporley; second of £10, 8. M. Hardmg, Nap Do^\^l, Thornbmy. Highly commended : G, Gibbons, Tunley, Bath. Pour colom-ed or uncoloiu'ed Cheeses, made in 1869, under eoibs. weight each.— First prize, £10, G. Prescott, Halgi-ave Farm, MinshuU-Vernon, Middlewich ; second of £5, G, Jack- son, Piggot Hill, Old Willington, Conglcton. Stewards of Stock. Mr. AVeUs, M.P., Holmewood, Peterborough. Mr. Davies, Mere Old Hall, Knutsford. Mr. J, Wilson, Woodhorn Manor, Moi-peth. THE ANNUAL I^IEETING of the nieuibers was held on the Wednesday, m the teat near the entrance to the show-ground. The Prince of Wales pre- sided. There was a numerous attendance of members. Lord Kesteyen proposed a vote of thanks to the Mayor and Corporation of Manchester for their very cordial recep- tion of the Society. Lord Chesham seconded the resolution which was carried unanimously. Sir Edward Kerrison, Bart., proposed a vote of thanks to the Local Committee. Mr. Brajsdretii Gibbs seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr. Thomas Wilson moved, Mr. John Clayden seconded, and it was resolved that a vote of thanks should be given to different railway companies for the facihties they had afforded to the Society at this meeting. The Duke of Richmond proposed the most cordial, respect- ful, and loyal thanks of the Society to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, The Duke of Buccleuch seconded the resolution, which was carried amidst general cheering. The Prince of Wales, in reply, said : Gentlemen — I beg to return you my warmest thanks for the kind way in which you have tliauked me for the small services that I have been able to render you during the short time T have been president of the Society. I can ouly again repeat that I regret I had it not in my power to be able to do more. At the same time I am happy that anything I may have done may be approved by you. I must thank all those gentlemen, on my right hand and on my left, who, upon all occasions, have been kind enough to support me, and to give me every assistance, which, as 1 was totally new to the office, I very much needed. 1 think we may congratulate ourselves that the show of this year has gone off most successfully (Hear, hear). The great exertions of the local committee have created a show which I think will always be remembered in this great and important city (Hear, hear). It seems that everybody has been very much satisfied with all they have witnessed. We are very fortunate in having very fine weather, and in fact everything seems to have gone off as well as it possibly could have done. Gentlemen, I will not detain you, but will thank you once more for the very kind way in which you have received me, and the kind support you have given me on all occasions when I have been present (loud cheers). M. Edouard Lecouteux, secretaire general de la Societe des Agriculteurs de France (who was accompanied by M, Herve Mangon, president de la Section de Genie Rural dela Societe des Agriculteurs des France ; M. Louis Grandeau, directeur de la Station Agronomique de I'Est, and M, A. Ronna), addressed the Prince of Wales in French, expressing the regret of His Excellency M. Drouyn De Lhuys in not being able to be present at the meeting of the Royal Society, and to assert that agriculture was amongst the bonds which united the Fieuch and EugUsh nations. In the name of the society which he represented, and in the name of the deputation which that society had sent to Manchester, he thanked the Prince of AVales for tlic liouour he had done to French agri- culture in accepting the title of honorary member of the Societo des Agriculteurs de France. The PiiiNCE of AVales, who replied in French, said he was very grateful for the honour which the French Society had done him. He regretted that M. Drouyn De Lhuys had not been able to be present at the Royal Agricultural Society's meeting, and that his regret was the greater because lie (the Prince of Wales) was this year the president of that Society, The Prince of Wales then left the meeting ; aud the chair was afterwards taken by the Duke of Richmond, who asked whether any member had any suggestion to offer which should be referred to the Council for their consideration. Mr, Thomas Duckham, of Baysham Court, Ross, said he had had that morning the honour of presiding at a meeting of breeders and exhibitors of sheep and cattle shown at that meet- ing of the Royal Agricultural Society. A few resolutions were proposed and seconded with the viewof continuing the attractive nature of the Society's meeting. They did not by any means wish to act in an antagonistic manner towards the Council ; but they wished to lay before the Council their views as prac- tical agriculturists, in order that they might be duly considered md have that attention paid to them, of which he considered THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. m them to be worthy. In the first place the selection of a jury for the inspection of the shearing of sheep was considered by many of the exhibitors to be one of a nather offeusivc nature. They had memorialised tlie Council to endeavour to induce the regulation or decision to be left with the judges, under whose care the animals were to be awarded the prizes, instead of having a distinct jury ; but the Council had resolved that there should be a jury as before. Without wishing to call into question the desirability of that resolution, the meeting held that morning had expressed their opinion in these terms : '■ That the jury appointed to inspect the sheep previous to their being judged should consist of persons conversant with the particular breeds to be submitted for their inspection, and that their duties should be discharged in public." He fMr. Duckham) was not an exhibitor ofsheep ; but exhibitors of sheep complained that they had in the short-wooUed classes to submit to the inspection of long-wooUed breeders, and vice versd. Their feeling was quite unanimous that those to whom the important duty of inspection was entrusted, those by whom animals were to be pronounced qualified or disqualified should be gentlemen who were conversant with the distinct breed wliich they had to in- spect. The second resolution was this : " That the extension of time for holding the exhibition will necessitate the servants of exhibitors in charge of the stock being from home two Sabbaths instead of one as heretofore ; and, as no provision appears to be made by the Council for the forage of the ani- mals beyond Saturday, an expense will be added to the very great inconvenience imposed upon the exhibitors by the altera- tions." The exhibitors felt that according to the former rule their animals were released from the show yard on Friday "afternoon, and in the majority of cases reached their homes on Saturday night, so that the servants in charge were not away from their homes more than one Sabbath, and their stock were not exhibited for so long a time as they would be on the present occasion. It was therefore considered desirable that that view of the exhibitors should be laid before the Council at this general meeting. They had also discussed a third resolution : " That the increased amount of prizes this year offered for aged Shorthorn bulls is calculated to act pre- judicially to the interests of the exhibitors of other established breeds, without conferring any benefit upon the Society in return for the outlay." They felt that their great national breeds should be treated alike, and that if it was desirable to add to the interest of their great national meeting, it should be by some equally distinctive mark of honour, such as that adopted by the Council of the Smithfield Club, If it was de- sirable that any distinctive mark should be given to the best male or female of any breed exhibited, it might possibly be to the advantage of the Society to incur a little ad- ditional expense ; but they did not feel that it was to the advantage of the Society to give £40 to the best old Shorthorn bull, and £25 to the best aged bull of any other breed. They also felt it to be very questionable whether the aged-bull class was the most judicious one on which to make additional expenditure. Animals that had done their duty, and were laid up ^on account of their worth- lessness, or because they were going to the butcher, or from some other cause, should not come to that meeting, and have £iO added to their value, and then be sent off. They thought those considerations were worthy of the notice of the Council, and they submitted them with all due respect. He trusted they would receive that consideration which was at all times given to any distinctive mark of feeling by the members of the Society. He could not sit down without drawing the attention of that meeting to a matter which he had several times brought before the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society, viz., that the breeders of cattle had to select the worst possible months in the year for their cows to calve in. This was a serious question, and had not been taken up by the Council in that serious manner which it merited. He had never yet been contradicted as to what he had advocated, viz., that the system adopted was calculated to materially injure the pro-creative qualities of the animals exhibited at the Royal Agricultural Society's meeting, calculated to destroy the milk- ing properties of the best cow in the world, and at variance with the Jonrual of the Royal Agricultural Society, which pointed to a very different state of things. He thought the Council should consider whether they could not make an al- teration. The Cii/vinMAiM said he would lay the resolutions before the Council, and he iiad no doubt they would receive every con- sideration. Lord Bridpokt said forage would be provided for the ani- mals. He had never yet found that the animals sent from Windsor Park got home before the Monday afternoon, so that they really were away two Sundays. A vote of thanks to the Duke of Richmond conchided the proceedings. RECEIPTS AT THE MANCHESTER STOCK SHOW: Number Receipts. admitted. £ s. d. Monday, Jidy 10 2,345 at 5s. each 586 3 G Tuesday, July 30 12,960 at 5s. each 3,242 14 3 Wednesday, July 21 ... 39,405 at 2s. 6d. each 4,953 1 1 Thursday, July 22 57,129 at Is. each 2,362 7 11 Priday, July 23 39,285 at Is. each 1,966 7 2 Saturday, July 24 36,392 at Is. each 1,819 12 0 THE FRENCH SOCIETY OF AGRICUL- TURE. RECEPTION OE THE DEPUTATION BY THE PRINCE OF WALES AT MANCHESTER. The French Society of Agriculture elected a deputation to go to the Manchester Show, and the members of this deputation were MM. J. A. Barral, Deusy, Leconteux, Herve-Mangon, Members of the Council; MM. Rouna, Couite do Diesbach, de Sielcourt, Viueflart-Oudin, de Saint-Victor, Hetzel, Graudeau, Delano, and other mem- bers. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales came accordingly on Tuesday expressly to his retiring tent on the ground of the Show, to receive the members of the deputation, and each member was presented to him, and addressing them, he said, in French : " Messrs. Je suis heureux de voii- chacuu de vous en Angleterre, je suis surtout heiu'eux qu 'une deputation de TAgricultiU'e Francais vionue examiner I'Agriculture Auglaise." M. Barral replied, in the name of the French deputa- tion: " Monseigneur, — La Societe des Agriculteurs de France nous a envoyes pour prendre des lejons aupres de la Socie'tc Royale d' Angleterre, parceque celle-ci a montro la premiere aux agriculteurs du moude entier comment I'associatiou, dans un pays libre de toutes les cours vo- lontes, de tous les devouements, pent produire de grandes choses en faveur de la prosperite agricole, nous somraes venus pour etudier a Manchester, et le be'tail, et les instru- ments agricoles perfectiounes, et aussi les institutions agricoles.^ Nous pouvons affirmer devant votre Altesse Royale que nous avons beaucoup appris et beaucoup admire. His Royal Highness the PkijvCE of Wales replied : " J'ai ete vrai touche d'etre un membre de votre societe. Je vous prie le redire a vos collegues, et d'ajouter a votre eminent president, il. Drouyn de Lhuys, que je regrette vivemeut que les circonstances s'aient empeche de venir avec vous." M. Barral said, in answer : " Nous reporterons a nos collegues et principalement a noire illustre et devoue pre- sident les sentiments que votre Altesse vent bien reprimez en elegaut par acclamation votre Altesse comme membre lionoraire du couseil de la Societe des Agriculteurs de France, :i surtout eu pour but de rendre houmage au prince qui he'ritier du trone, a voulu etre le president de la Societe Royale d' Agriculture d' Angleterre, la plus puis- sante Association agricole de I'Europe." Could Sir Robert Peel aud Mr. Cobden have lived to witness the high holiday which has been celebrated during the past week in Manchester, the triumph of their policy would surely have been complete. The lion and the lamb have kissed each other. Certainly no one could have behaved with more generosity, none cowld have 104 TfiE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. evinced a more earnest desire to let byegones be byegones, than the agriculturist, as here represented, lie delivered himself, as it were, bodily over to the keeping of his ancient antagonist, as never has the conduct of the Royal Agricultural Society been taken so much out of the hands of its own officers. There were sections of the Show with which the Council had nothing to do ; there were por- tions of the ground upon which Members of the Society had no right to enter. For instance, if it be deemed ne- cessary in judging a riding horse to ascertain his capa- bilities as a fencer, one would imagine this to be quite as an integral a part of the business as the privilege to try the quality of a Shorthorn or a Southdown. But it was Bot so. The Local Committee interfered here, and the Meeting became consequently a partnership concern be- tween the townsmen of Manchester and the farmers of England. Surely no union could be happier ! Commerce and Agricultm-e had come together at last. Their interests after all were identical, and the terrible battles of some twenty years since were grounded on a mistake. Farmers are flourishing, tradesmen are flourishing, never was there so much money taken at the gates ; and although they do contrive to introduce a few " extras" here and there, open competition, and a fine Held for every body must of course be the order of the day. We believe that the men who threw themselves and their trust headlong into the arms of the citizens were quite willing to take up such cheer ; but to their iniiuite astonishment they found but little echo in Manchester. The old war-cry, indeed, would look to have died out. The Merchant Princes of Lancashire do not seem to care quite so much about inviting all the world to come and undersell them, unless all the world be prepared to meet them on precisely the same terms. The operatives of Liverpool and Manchester do not quite come to see the immense advantage of inviting opposition from countries where labour and living are alike cheaper. Over and over again were we met with the remark, uttered ever with a kind of comical surprise, as if it were something utterly beyond comprehension, that " tliese fellows are not Free-traders after all, but as strong Protectionists as ever we were !" And further, " If we were only to begin and tight it over again, I really think they would go with us !" All this, be it borue in mind, was said under the very shadow, as it were, of Richard Cobden's statue, as people are apparently coming to think that open competition may be a very tine tiling for your neighbour, but scarcely so good for yourself. We offer no opinion upon this very remarkable revulsion of opinion; but we certainly feel it a duty to record it. For some time past men have been wont to speak of the blessings of Free-trade just as they had been taught to say their catechism or to wash their faces. It was a commendable habit that gradually grew upon them, and what everybody says must be true. The first, however, to say so, are about the first to question the soundness of their own dicta. The result of the last elections in Lanca- shire gave some key to what was coming, and the meet- ing of the Royal Agricultural Society in ^lanchester has afforded some farther insight as to what is working in the minds of men. But will Manchester, or Lancashire, or Liverpool stand alone here? Will the much benighted and more-abused farmers, who still stick to their colours, have to travel down again to those parts for sympathy and support ? By no manner of means. The feeling against open compe- tition would promise to be spreading as fast as it once upon a time gathered in the opposite direction. On the very day of our return from the Royal Society's Show we encountered this in Tli,^ Pall' Mall Gavdh'-.— "fhosg wlio xWuk the Americans extremely shovt-sierhted and foolish in clinging to the policy of Protection will do well to notice that signs of dissatisfaction with the effects of Free-trade arc becoming more frequent here than they used to be. A popular reaction against Free-trade will be one of the most unlooked-for changes of public opinion, but changes perhaps still more surprising have been wit- nessed in our own time. The American prejudices in fa- vour of Protection, as applied to the regulation of their own trade, are by no means so easily eradicated as most people who have been born and bred, as it were, in Free- trade principles are apt to imagine. At this moment Mr, Horace Greeley is intent upon proving to his countrymen the injury which Free-trade has done to the English working- classes. Someof our workmen begin to take the same sort of view. On Wednesday Mr. AyrtonaudMr. Samuda attended a public meeting at Limehouse to consider certain proposals with reference to emigration. Mr. Wilkins, a working-man, moved an amendment to one of the resolutions, referring the ])overty and distress which prevailed in the countiy to the importation of foreign manufactures duty free. There is a Society in existence for the revival of Protec- tion, and some day we may see it with bands, banners, and new and favourite orators at its head on the way to Hyde Park. The Chairman of one of our leading Chambers of Commerce thought it desirable not long ago to state the facts in favour of Free-trade, in answer to many complaints of its results which he had heard. Free- trade has not impressed the people of France very favour- ably. Altogether American opinion on the question is no doubt absurd and groundless, but English opinion is by no means so enlightened as most English Liberals make out." GOOD MEADOWS.— Mr. N. Piatt, of Bradford County, Peuu., in a letter to the American Institute Farmers' Club, gives his experience as follows : My land is adapted to all kinds of grain and to timothy grass and red clover. My practice is, wlien I sow a piece to grass, not to plough it again in Jess than ciglit years, and I frequently let it lie a much longer time. I have a meadow now which has been mowed for sixteen successive years, and it was never better than now. In fact, my meadows under tlie riglit treatment, grow better as they grow older. I do it by returning to a meadow all the manure tlie hay made that was taken from it, and sow- ing a bushel of gypsum per acre each year. In that way the yield of grass is heavier and finer and richer as the sod thickens. I use manure only for top-dressing the meadows ; in that way I get double price for it. It produces as much worth of grass as it would in grain, and also reproduces itself again in the turf. ]My turf, when ready for ploughing under, is a solid body of grass roots twelve inches deep or more, and so thick on the top tliat no soil can be seen. I consider one such turf, when turned under, equal to 160 tun's of first-class barn-yard manure per acre. Land so often ploughed for grain gives up to the grain all the bone, beef, and tallow there is in it ; consequently the grass crop is so destitute of nutriment that farm stock will not thrive well upon it, without grain a portion of tlie season. It furnishes a plenty of skin and rib, as the cattle are witnesses, but the flesh is minus. Grass grown upon land kept in the right kind of order for grass will keep stock in first-rate order at all seasons of the year. I have seen it tried in both ways, and know whereof I speak. Raising grain on a piece of ground, three seasons to two of grass en- riches it in the same ratio that paying 3 dollars for 2 dollars would enrich a man. Like produces like in grass as in breed- ing, consequently manure made of good hay is the best for meadows. It stands to reason for meadows to grow better when their own production is honestly returned to fliem. Many of our writers on agriculture have incomes from other sources besides their farm, and can follow any system of rota- tion and have plenty of time and leisure. But the man who begins at the foot of the hill, runs in debt for two-thids of his farm, all liis stock and tools, then clears his laud of stone and stmnps, walls it in, enriches it and puts on the buUdings, and raises a family of children, must sou^d all the depths of true economy : in that case he must not raise too much grain, if he does the sheriff will sell ^on^e Qf it fcr him. THE FAHMEH'S MAGAZINE. 105 WOOL. BY A PRACTICAL FARMER. The fibre of wool is of a circulai* form, varying ia diameter iu dift'erent breeds of sheep, and in different parts of the same fleece from the same sheep ; and, when well snstained on well kept sheep, it is transparent, often very bright and glittering ; bnt, if badly sustained, is of a wan, pale, light colour ; the serrations are fewer, and generally it has a withered appearance at the joint or breach, i.e. where it readily parts on being stretched. The well snstained fibre is nniform throughont, bright and strong, without a joint or h reach, i,%'\\, is called. This makes it so valuable, being strong and full of healthy serrations. These serrations along the hair or fibre amount to the almost incredible number of 2,000 to 2,700 per inch in length, and are invaluable as minute hooks to hold certain fabrics together when woven, as in alpaca fabrics and others, being, or, which are, mixtui'es of silk and cotton. A long-woolled fleece of 141bs. weight can be so drawn out and economically used in the manufacture of some of these fabrics, that it will sufiice to make twelve pieces, each forty-two yards long, and of the usual width (about a yard wide) ; hence the great gain in well sustaining the fleece. Its transparent cha- racter is also improved according to the healthiness of the fleece. These matters are of high importance to the woolstapler and manufacturer. The woolstapler generally assorts the wool, and prepares it thus for sale to the manufacturer. He divides the fleece according to its different properties or fineness. This retiuires a practised eye and good judgment. He has by him several baskets ; he generally makes six divisions from each fleece, and more, according to the quality of the fleece. Short wool fleeces are more minutely divided than others, usually into ten sorts. It is a;eueraliy divided after this order : The picklock stands first, it is the best and choicest part of the fleece; the prime comes next, and is scarcely inferior to the picklock ; the choice and the super come next, and are a shade or two inferior to the two first ; the head, a very short part, comes next ; the downright next, this is sound wool ; then come the seconds, the best wool from the throat or breast; the abb next, a still lower order of the wool, or inferior state of it ; next the livery, the skirtings and edgings of the fleece ; and lastly, the breech wool, which comes from the breech of the sheep. This may seem marvellous to ordinary wool growers, but it suffices to show how important it is to manage the flock aright, in order to secure the highest profit. Dyer, in writing upon the fleece, says of the assorters : " Nimbly, with habitual speed. They sever lock from lock, and long and short, And soft, and rigid ; pile in several heaps ; This the dark hatter asks ; another shines, Tempting the clothier ; that the hosier seeks ; The long bright lock is apt for airy stuffs." It is too much to be regretted that as a general rule the country wool buyers do not manifest any great interest in these minute distinctions. They buy much at random, and flockmasters look to make the same price as their neigh- bours almost irrespective of condition or quality. Occa- sionally a buyer is found to give an unusual price for a very superior clip, but the chances are that after having done so, and that very properly and rightly, he virtually closes the markets against him, he can buy no more wool at the true value, sellers look to receive the maximum price; hence buyers refuse to give the full value for su- perior clips. Such clips should be sold in the consuming market. It is generally believed that many breeds of sheep do not produce the quantity of /we ?/;oo<^ they for- merly did, and is mainly attributed to excessive artificial feeding. Jlild winters and abundant food tend to cause the sheep to produce more wool, but it is of a coarser hair or fibre. Cold winters and scanty keep on the contrary cause the sheep to jiroduce a fine haired fieece of lighter weight. These are important considerations for the flock master. Sheep that are partially starved in the winter produce weak wool, unprofitable iu the manufactm-e ; well fed fatted sheep produce strong wool of coarser hair, and less in value for price and manufacture than ordinary good grazing sheep. It would appear then that sheep or- dinarily grazed or kept in a constantly improving, but not fatted condition, produce the most profitable wool. Soundness is indispensable in a good fleece, be it never so fine in hair, and this can only be secured by equable feed- ing, or otherwise to quote Dyer again, " It oft deceives the artist's care. Breaking unuseful in the steely comb. For this long spongy wool no more increase Receives, while winter petrifies the fields. The growth of autumn stops ; and what though spring Succeeds witli rosy fintcer and opens on The texture ; yet in vain she strives to link The silver twine to that of autumn's hand. Be then the swain advised to shield his flocks From winter's deadening frosts, and whelming snows." It is, then, of great importance to so manage the flock throughout the year as to produce the best possible pile of wool ; and more particularly as clip day approaches, the flock should receive the most careful attention from the shepherd, with a view to the most perfect cleanliness. In many flocks ticks and red lice abound. The past fine winter and spring have tended greatly to permit or favour their increase. The irritation they cause induces the sheep to be frequently rubbing, and thus seriously to injure the fleece. Sheep-dipping in, or dressing profusely with some of the many specifics for destroying ticks should be promptly resorted to. In cases of scab or other cutaneous diseases, mercurial ointment or diluted carbolic acid is a very effectual remedy. The former is often used for healthy sheep, to improve and increase the growth of wool. It certainly does some good by its action upon the skin in destroying humour, and will also kill some ticks and red lice, but it is not so effectual as dipping, &c. Previous to, or immediately upon putting the flock upon succulent pasturage, the sheep should be carefully "clogged," to remove the dirty parts from the breech; and this department of sheep management should be closely attended to up to clip day, not only for the sake of cleanliness, but as a preventive against the attack of fly. The sheep washing is important, but I have recently alluded to this, and I shall only now say that ample time ought to be allowed for the " sheep's swim" before passing it to the washer. The wool requires a good soaking before the washei- rubs and squeezes it as he ought to do, till no soil or dirty water comes from the sheep under operation. Sheep are good swimmers, and, with care, may be properly washed without danger fi-om exhaustion. The colour of the wool mainly depends 106 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. upon this operation being cai'efuUy and properly couducted. and completed. The sheep dike should not he in cold spring water, but in some river or ford, where the water is not excessively cold, nor very dirty. The large vats now in use for sheep washing are considerable acquisitions, and the little discoloured water made in process of washing, owing to its being squeezed from the sheep, does not dis- colour the fleece. The time from washing to clip day should not be less than ten days. It gives time for the "yolk" to resume its ])hce in the fleece in some degree, and the secretions from the skin give it a softening oily tendency. Sheep-shearing is an interesting department in a farmer's business, and mostly partakes of a jovial social character. The operation of shearing I have lately described. It is differently performed in different localities, but continues to remain a manual operation often beautifully and accu- rately performed, every stroke so even and regular, as ac- tually to beautify the sheep. The fleece is taken to be wound. It is laid flat upon a board, is nicely spread out and gently drawn out to a good extent so as to make the best of its appearance, the outerside uppermost. It is then parted along the back, and the one half laid upon the other, the sides are then turned in to the requisite length of the fleece when wovmd, and is then rolled up suflacieiitly tight ; a long lock of wool is drawn from it, which is twisted into a band by which the fleece is forthwith en- circled, and the end is then securely tucked in, which completes the winding of the fleece. The piling of the wool is a matter of taste and skiU, the object being to make it look as attractive to the buyer as possible ; care should be taken that a fair portion of each kind of fleece, hogg, ewe, and wether, should appear on the outside, that the buyer may see and examine all equally. The weighing and packing is interesting, and is a day of interest with the grower. He seldom makes a sale throughout the year which brings him in so much money at so little cost of time and labour. It is mostly weighed in scales (wool scales), the grower putting in the wool. The buyer ad- justs the weights and weighs it, and a supply of small weights on the give-and-take system regulates the weight of each tod. As weighed each tod is passed to the sheet (wool sheet) already slung up to receive it, when it is closely pressed and trodden down, the sheet holding from fifteen to twenty tods, according to breed and quality. The sheets are next loaded upon the waggon by leverage and pulley, and then, so far as the'grower is concerned, he has no more to do with it than delivering it at the ap- pointed place, which for the year completes his business as a wool grower. AMENDED AMENDMENTS. " I attended a meeting of the Central Chamber last month, and was happy to have elicited from the Com- mittee a distinct repudiation of the very unwise sugges- tion, unfortunately mentioned in the printed paper signed by the Secretary and circulated among the members, for the employment of paid lecturers to go about the country lecturing on the subject of local burdens — a course which I am happy to say Lord Egerton, of Tatton, joined me in energetically protesting against as in every way most injurious. In my draft report, submitted to the Council before the first annual meeting of the Chamber, I ex- pressed my strong opinion as to the great want of judg- ment (to say the least) displayed in some of the circulars of the Central Chamber. I cannot say that what I heard and saw when I attended it inspired me with particular confidence in the probable wisdom of all recommendations emanating from its Council, or even from the Central Chamber itself, as at present habitually attended. I con- fidently expect, however, that the greatly increasing weight and influence of Local Chambers will, by degrees, be more adequately reflected in the Covmcil and meetings of the Central Chamber ; and that it will gradually come to exercise a superior, instead of, as I am assured it now does, a subordinate, influence to that enjoyed by the longer-established Farmers' Club." To prevent mistakes it may be as well to say, in the out- set, that this passage was not penned by the Editor of the 3Iark Laue Express, but by Earl Fortesque, the Presiden'} of the Devonshire Chamber of Agriculture ; as it occurs in a letter which w^as read at a meeting of that body in the last week in June. It isonlyfairto admit, however, that hislord- ship's opinions so thoroughly agree with our own that any man might readily enough confound one with the other, were he not duly advised as to the actual authority for the quotation. It is some time since we " energetically pro- tested" against "the very unwise suggestion for the employment of paid lecturers" as " unfortunately men- tioned" in one of those roundabout papers " signed by the Secretary." We have, further, often had occasion to express a strong opinion " as to the great want of judg- ment displayed in some of the circulars of the Central Chamber," as from the first we have " never been in- spired with any particular confidence in the probable wisdom of all the recommendations emanating from its Council, or even from the Central Chamber itself." Moi'eover, we have continually demonstrated that any good which may come of this movement must be traced rather to the honest straightforward discussions of some of the Local Chambers than to the shifty, trimming and confusion-worse-confounded Councils of the Central Chamber. Here, with a ludicrous assumption of im- portance that serves to remind one forcibly of the three tailors of Tooley-street, a few well-meaning men muddle their brains in attempting to frame resolutions which shall please everybody, and that of course come to please no- body ; and in drawing out circulars, " signed by the Secre- tary " that they have to disown so soon as they are des- patched. If we remember aright, our favourite phrase over these sittings has been " the miserable lack of ad- ministrative ability," and we have only to refer to Lord Fortescue's letter to show how far we were justiflcd in saying so much. Another very remarkable example of the doings, or mis- doings, of the Central Chamber that comes in curious point to Lord Fortescue's letter, has just occurred. Not content with following the lead of other Societies, and adopting other people's ideas as its own, the Central Council feels it necessary to do something on its own account over the Cattle-Plague Bill ; and, accordingly, another circular is straightway composed and started — when signed, not by the Secretary, but by the Chairman. We were about to say it is a singularly, but we should say it is the customary, confused kind of document emanat- ing from " the probable wisdom of the Council." Leading off' with the startling proposition that separate markets should be prepared for foreign stock, these " Amendments" go on to enact that " the clauses for slaughter shall in- clude sheep-pox as well as cattle-plague." In other words, the Council of the Central Chamber declares that the ap- ])earauce of sheep-pox is as fatal as the outbreak of rinder- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 107 pest, Hud that uothiug but wholesale extirpation can stay its ravages. And this precious recommendation, or Amendment, was as near as possible llinist upon the atten- tion of the Government, witli all the usual flourish of course about that great institution, the Central f'hanibcr of Agricullure ; for unfortunately, as we just intimated, these amendments bore the signature of the CHiairmau, Mr. Sewell Read — a name which so far has deservedly carried weight with agriculturists. With tlie pill thus gilded, many no doubt swallowed it forthwith ; but, just in the very nick of time, some of the Norfolk men dis- covered that their member had been putting his signature to something worse than nonsense, and advising the adop- tion of a step that would be simply ruinous. Mr. Head, as a practical fai'mer, would have the Government believe that small-pox is as bad as cattle-plague, and that it must be dealt with as rigorously ; while the other Norfolk far- mers declare that it is nothing of the kind, and no one can have read the report of the meeting at Norwich in our last number without seeing in what a painfully false posi- tion Mr. Read has placed himself. As Mr. Brown, of Marham, well put it, in one of the numerous cases he cited, " If Mr. Read's proposals had been in force, some sixteen hundred or more than two thousand sheep would have been mercilessly slaughtered instead of twenty-four" ! It is scarcely possible to imagine a sound experienced man falling into such a grievous error as this, and we can only offer to explain it in one way. As we said some time since, Mr. Read is hampered by this Central Chamber. Like the student, he is haunted by a monster of his own creation ; or, to use a more homely simile, he has car-efully tied a noisy empty tin kettle to the tail of his coat, from which he vainly endeavours to run away. As he said in his recent letter to Mr. Biddell, " These Amendments are really not mine, being founded upon the resolutions of the Central Chamber." Precisely so. This is the honourable gentleman's evil genius ; his Mepliis- tophiles ; the tin kettle, the din of which is still rattliag in his ears, even though he break away out of Salisbury Square back home again to Norfolk. At the Attle- borough show, the Protest Committee published a report of its proceedings ; but at the dinner at Attleborough, in the afternoon, Mr. Sewell Read carefully avoided all men- tion of the Government Cattle Plague Bill and his own so-called Amendments thereon. Nevertheless, Mr. Read holds on very gamely to the mistake made in his name. As the report of the Com- mittee runs: "The deputation saw tlie lion. T. l)e Grey, and they found that he thoroughly agreed with the view tiie Committee took of the question, and promised them all the assistance in his power. They have reason to believe they also convinced Mr. James Howard of the impropriety of the Amendments, but they re- gretted to find that Mr. Read and Mr. Corrance were so committed to the Central Chamber of Agri- culture that tlicy could give tliem no assistance." Let it be borne in mind that not one word has been of- fered by Mr. Sewell Read in support of this Amendment. He seems, the rather, tacitly to admit its absurdity, but ho can give the farmers of England no assistance because he is committed to the Central C'hamber of Agriculture ! Could words well say more as to the use or abuse of this body ? And so it is again with another farmers' Mem- ber, Mr. Corrance, who also can give no assistance, be- cause of the Central Chamber of Agriculture. But Mr. Cox'rance, as it appears to us, is also committed, in some measure, to another Chamber, down in Suffolk, where a resolution has just been passed in condemnation of the Amendment, and in support of the counter-movement in Norfolk. Mr. Corrance will thus come to occupy the delightful position of misrepresenting his own constituents out of deference to the Central Chamber of Agriculture 1 Mr. Sewell Read said at Norwich, the other day, that Mr. Brown, of Marham, " did not make a proper use of the Norfolk Chamber of Agriculture ;" but, had not Mr. Brown interfered, this proposition for killing all the sheep in the country would, no doubt, have been turned to great account at any debate over the Cattle Diseases Bill. So far it would, certainly, seem that Mr. Read " does not make a proper use of the Central Cham- ber," or that the Central Clxamber does not make a pro- per use of Mr. Read. It has no doubt done much to spoil a good man ; to tie his hands, and to embarrass him with the clumsy resolves of a Council in " whose probable wisdom, as at present habitually attended," the country, like Lord Fortescue, can have " no particular confidence." However, should uothiug very important occur in the interim, the Central Chamber will have no more meetings, and issue no more circulars imtil Novem- ber. This is at any rate satisfactory. "When the muddle- headed man ran away from his family, they forthwith put an advertisement in the papers, wherein he was ear- nestly requested not to come back, as they got on so much better without him, THE HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND. Tlie general meeting was held iu Ediuburgli, Mr. Camp- bell SwiXTON in the chair, in the absence of the Marquis of Tvveeddale. A number of gentlemen were balloted for and admitted as members. Tlie following were the numbers of entries for the Edin- burgh Meeting compared with those of Ihe previous show here in 1859 : 1869. 1859. Cattle 315 332 Horses 230 188 Sheep 670 583 Swine 40 80 Poultry 690 337 Implements 1,600 980 Mr. KoLOCii, of Gilmerton, said there was one ex- ception to the satisfactory character of the report he had to submit, the directors bad completely failed to make any arrangement with the railway companies. Tliey re- gretted this very much ; at the same time they felt that it was a matter upon which they could not properly be blamed by any member of the society. They had done what they could, and they had entirely failed. In January last general instructions were given to the directors to make what terms they could with these companies, and it was in compliance witli these instructions, and on the suggestion of the secreta- ries of the two leading Scotcli railway companies, that Mr. Menzies put himself iu communication with the authorities at the clearing house. He got no redress there. The fact was they did not expect it. When they were referred to the clear- ing liouse, they were quite well aware that that was a mere blind on the part of the railway companies — just an attempt to throw the onus of refusing on the shoulders of the English companies. The directors therefore thought it proper that Mr. Menzies should go up to London, although tliey did not expect to get what they wanted. They knew quite well that the Scotch railway companies were not bound by the clearing house, and they could bring plenty of precedents to prove that. Besides, they were informed by one of the leading railway directors in Scotland that that was the case. There was just the faintest hope for them yet, although perhaps very little might come of it, During the last few days one of the K 2 108 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. leading railway companies of Scotland, which had its centre in Edinburgh, and would have most of the work to do for them at the next show, and which was presided over by a gentleman who was well known to be favourable to the agri- cultural interest, had shaken itself clear of an unhealthy agreement with another company. In these circumstances, he hoped the directors would lose no time in applying to tliat board to see if they could make any arrangements for the Edinburgh show. They were quite sure of one thing, that if the application did fail it would not fail through any want of good feeling to the agriculturists of Scotland on the part of the chairman of the company. If that gentleman had been able to have his own way last year, some concession would have been made in their favour in regard to the Aberdeen show. He might mention in connection with this diiiiculty tliat they had reason for congratulation in the fact that the Aberdeen contributors had not taken fright. He believ ed that the entries from Aberdeen were not quite as numerous as they were iu 1859. They were not quite so numerous as might have been expected, but that was to be accounted for by the fact that the district had not entirely recovered from the cattle plague. When they recollected the iine show of cattle at Aberdeen last year, there was no doubt that if the society had ECot more liberal terms from the railways they would have had a better show. But it was satisfactory to notice that the Aberdeen people had not followed the questionable example of the south-western districts, to start another show and play into the hands of that company which had not up to this mo- ment shown an accommodating spirit. He would say a single word on behalf of those ^gentlemen who took au active part in the management of these sliows. They were very well aware that they could not altogether escape criticism, neither did they wish to do so ; but he would appeal to all who were friendly to the society to make any suggestions which they had to offer as to the management of the showyard before instead of after the show ; and he would undertake, on the part of the committee, that any such suggestions would be carefully weighed and considered. Even though the com- mittee might not see their way to adopt all the suggestions oifered, still they would be regarded as well meant. As he saw present a good many members of the General Committee, he would express a hope that they would do everything in their power to strengthen Mr. Meuzies' bauds in the difficult task he had to perform in regard to the arrangements of the show. The Secretary, in the absence of Dr. Anderson, read the following report of the chemical department during the past six months : The business of the chemical department has been carried on during the last six months iu the usual manner. On no previous occasion has the number of analyses sent by mem- bers of the society been so large, or so clearly proved the ne- cessity for care on the part of purchasers of manures. The re- sults of the analyses made show very distinctly that the adul- teration of manures and the sale of inferior articles has recently been laigely on the increase. This I believe to be in a great measure due to the high price the materials attained during the last autumn and winter, which has been met by the manufac- turers more frequently by a diminution in the quality than by a rise iu the price of the manures, and in too many cases the diminution iu quality has been far more than proportionate to the increased price of the raw material. Cases of adulteration of nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia have occurred, though these are substances which in ordinary seasons can generally be obtained in a tolerably pure condition. In one in- stance a sample of nitrate of soda containing nearly 50 per cent, of common salt was sent to the laboratory, and tliough in this instance the adulteration was detected, I have reason to believe that considerable quantities of the same article reached the hands of farmers in the neighbourhood, and were used without suspicion being awakened. Indeed, there can be no doubt that the amount of adulteration detected is small com- pared with that whicli passes unchallenged. As regards su- perjihosphates, numerous instances of inferior articles have occurred, which have been worth £2, £3, and even M per ton less than the guarantee, and articles described as dissolved bones, but made to a greater or less extent from mineral phos- phates, have been largely sold. In the other department of our work — namely, the field experiments — the committee has this year directed attention to the cultivation of the potato, and a series of experiments, in which the application of potash to that crop has been made a prominent question, has been successfully commenced by seven experimenters. The whole analyses connected with last year's rotation experiments have been completed, and considerable progress has been made with those of the present season. The analyses of wheat from dif- ferent localities are also in hand, and being proceeded with as rapidly as possible, and will, I hope, be shortly completed. 22nd June, 1869. Thomas Anderson. Mr. Harvey, Whittingham Mains, said he had to ask a question with regard to the chemical department. He had brought it several times under the notice of the directors, and he thought it was a very important subject. It would appear from the statements made by Professor Anderson that they were losing a large sum of money every year without getting much advantage. He took this public opportunity of asking whether the directors had had under consideration a proposal to have a chemical officer appointed in Edinburgh, as recom- mended by Mr. Milne Home about a year ago ? The Secretary said that nothing had been done in the matter. Mr. Harvey said he would take the opportunity of stating that he would bring the question before the annual meeting of the society in January, and move that a chemical officer be ap- pointed in Edinburgh. He thought that, after what they were told by Dr. Voelcker and by Dr. Anderson, in his paper, as to adulterations, it was high time that they should set their house in order, and try to break up the system. They were told every year that they were being mulcted of their money ; and it was lamentable to think that adulteration was going on more rampant than ever without any means being taken to prevent such a state of matters. No doubt they were told to go to Glasgow, but it was inconvenient to do so ; and he would move at next meeting that a chemical oflicer be appointed for Edinburgh, if not the head-quarters to be stationed there. Professor Balfour reported that the society's agricultural certificate and diploma was, in March last, conferred on Mr. John Gerrard, New Aberdour, Aberdeenshire ; and that the two prizes of £6 and £4 annually given by the society to the students in the agricultural class in the Edinburgh University who pass the best and the second best examination were this year awarded to Mr. James A. Somervail, Berwickshire, and Mr. Thomas Anderson, Eorfarshire. Mr. Walker, of Bowlaud, reported that the usual examina- tions for the society's veterinary diploma took place on the 14th and 15th of April. It would be remembered that the society voted a grant of ^£100 to the college, on condition that the patronage of the chair of cattle pathology should rest with the society. Miss Dick, on behalf of her brother's estate, contributed £50 also. It had been found that that arrange- ment was not in conformity with Professor Dick's bequest to the college ; and a question had been raised as to the status of the Professor of Cattle Pathology, which it was very desir- able should be settled. The directors having considered the subject, they proposed, with the approval of the society, that they should be satisfied that the nomination and appointment of the Professor of Cattle Pathology should rest with Pro- fessor Dick's trustees, subject to the approval of the directors of the society — that was to say, that the college authorities should intimate the nomination, and that if the society should approve they would then make the formal appointment. Mr. Irvine reported that the following premiums had been awarded for papers in competition since the general meeting in January : 1. The gold medal or £10 to John Allan, Crieff- vechter, Crieff, for a report on the comparative advantages of applying manure to the stubble in autumn, or in the drills in spring, to a potato crop, and also its effects on the following year's grain crop. 2. The medium gold medal or £5 to Gilbert Murray, Elvaston Estate Office, Derby, for a report on the cultivation of the cabbage as a field crop. 3. The silver medal to James Stevenson, Aberdour, Aberdeenshire, for a re- port of improvement on the farm of Quarry head. The Secretary read the following statement by Mr, Charles Lawson, of Borthwickhall, who was unavoidably absent, with reference to the " Adulteration of Seeds Bill" now before Parliament : " The adulteration of seeds, I believe, has been more or less in practice for a very long period, and it is clear that all attempts at fraud should be, if possible, de- tected and punished. Still, I concur fully with the views ex- pressed by Mr. Bright in his sound and practical speech on the bill being read a second time, Attempts at legislation 9tt THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 109 this subject are not new. I was engaged unsuccessfully in the same wny more than thirty years ago ; and I am afraid that dilliculties will be found in adjusting the clauses of the bill to meet the object immediately in view, and, at the same time, not hamper or aunoy the honest trader. If legislation can really meet the evil, I should have much wished that Mr. l?right, M'ho evidently understands all sides of the question, had seen his way to have brought forward a well-constructed Government measure, and in that case the expense would not have fallen upon so few. As the matter stands at present, I would recommend to the society to do all it can in favour of the bill." The Bill was remitted to the directors, with power to petition in its favour if they should see cause. The ihanks of the meeting were voted to the Chairman, and the proceed- ings then terminated. STIRLING AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. MEETING AT STIRLING. This Society embraces the counties of Stirling, Clack- mannan, Dumbarton, and the western district of Perth- shire ; and so successful a show has never been held ; the result being in a great measure due to the stimulus given to the exhibitors in the district by the offer of five silver challenge cups. The entries in all classes were 560, or about 160 more than at the previous meeting, and the animals were on the whole of much superior quality. The yard was particularly strong in Ayrshires ; but the Shorthorns were poorly represented, and those on the ground were not particularly deserving notice, with the exception of some animals shown by Lord Dunmore. His bull, Braith- waite, which took the Challenge Cup, was the bull that carried off the first prize for yearlings at the Highland Society's Show last season, and afterwards bought by his lordship from Mr. Barclay of KeavU. Among sheep, the show of blackfaced was considered to be the best ever seen in Stir- ling, the excellence in quality not being confined to the prize animals, but extending to nearly all that were exhibited. Of Leicesters there was a small show. The horses were not up to the mark when compared with those seen at various recent shows in the west. Mr. Drew's mare, which was first at Glasgow and East Kilbride, took the Challenge Cup in the open competition, and, iu the opinion of the judges, was set down as a better mare than her dam, which was generally al- lowed to be the best in Scotland. The pigs were particularly good, and the dairy |produce showed a great improvement on last year. PRIZE LIST. JUDGES. Shorthorns, Leicester Sheep, and Swine : C. Lyall, Old Montrose, Montrose. N. Milne, Faldonside, Kelso. T. Sirason, Blainslie, Lauder. Ayrshires ; J. Colquhoun, Corkerhill, Pollokshaws. R. Murdoch, Hallside, Cambuslang. R. Wilson, Forehouse, Kilbarchan. Horses : R. Fiudlay, Springhill, Baillieston. J. Steedman, Boghall, Roslin. J. Wilson, Wester Cowden, Dalkeith. Highland Cattle and Blackfaced Sheep : T. Aitken, Listonshiels, Balcrno. D. M'Intyre, Tynablair, Comrie. Wool: James Fairlie, Tanfield, Edinburgh. CATTLE. SHORTHORNS. Bull, three years old and upwards. — A. Buchanan, White- house. Boll, two years old. — First prize. Earl of Dunmore ; second, C. J . Tennant of Balwill ; third, W. Thomson, Burnbank. Bull, one year old. — First prize, Neil M'Ewen, Hill of Drip ; second, D. Greig, Muircot, Tillicoultry ; third, P. Dewar, Queen's Park. Cow, calved, or to ealve this season. — First prize, J. M'Queen, Divers Wells ; second and third, A. Buchanan. Two years old quey. — First and second prizes, Earl of Dun- more ; third, S. Turnbull, BonhiU. One year old quey. — First prize, Earl of Dunmore ; second and commended, A. Buchanan. AYRSHIRES. Bulls, three years old and upwards. — First prize, W, A. MacLaclilan of Auchentroig ; second, J. Lang, Bicld ; third, W. Buchanan, Coxithill. Bulls, two years old. — First prize, R. Sands, Greenfoot ; second, D. Keir, Buchlyvie; third, J. Kay, Gargunnock. Bulls, one year old.--l<'irst prize, D. Riddell, Kilbowie ; se- cond, J. Jardine, Kilewnan ; third, W. Buc'.ianan. Cows in milk, three years old and upwards. — First prize, W. Weir, Inches, Tain ; second, W. A. MacLachlan ; third, W. Fleming, Tillichewan. Three years old queys in milk. — First prize, W. A. Mac Lachlan ; second, W. Fleming ; third, D. Riddell. Three cows, tliree years old and upwards, in milk. — First prize, D. Keir. No competition. Cows in calf, including three years old queys. — First prize D. Riddell ; second, J. Dunn, Newton Mains ; third, W. Weir, Two years old queys in milk. — First prize, J. Graham Auchenlock ; second, W. Weir ; third, J. Paterson, Townhead Two years old yeald queys. — First prize, S. Turnbull, Ren ton ; second, G. Pender, Durabreck ; third, A. and J. Christie Bankend. First prize protested against by Mr. Pender. One year old queys. — First prize, T. Leishman, Meiklewood second, J. Graham ; third, A. M'Gregor, Culmore ; fourth, J, Kay. EXTRA PRIZES — AYRSHIRES. Silver challenge cup, for the best bull, three years old and under eight years old (given by Vice-President Sir Alexander Gibson-Maitland of Barnton and Sauchie, Bart. — R. Wilson, Forehouse, Kilbarchan. Silver challenge cup, for the best cow in milk, three years old and upwards. — A. Holm, Jaapston, Neilston. eat stock, ajmy breed or cross (shorthorn heifers excepted). Pair of fat slots or queys, any age. — First and second prizes, R. Lucas, Cornton. Pair of two years old slots, bred by the exhiliiter. — First prize, W.Thomson, Burnbank; second and commended, J. White, Meadowend. Pair of two years old queys, bred by the exiiibiter. — First prize, W. Thomson ; second, P. Dewar ; commended, J. White. Pair of one year old stots, bred by the cxhibiter. — First prize, Earl of Dunmore ; second, J. Cousin, Grassmainston ; commended, W. Thomson. Pair of one year old queys, bred by the exiiibiter. — First prize, W. Thomson ; second, J. M'Queen ; commended, J. Peat, Manor. WEST HIGHLAND BREED. Pair of fat or feeding stots, any age. — First prize, G. S. H. Drummond of Blair-Drnmmond ; second, R. Moubray, Cambus. Pair of fat or feeding queys, any age. — G. S. H. Drummond, HORSES. rOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES. Brood mares with foal at foot, or to foal this season. — First prize, R. Stark, Camelon ; second, F. Archibald, Carsiepow ; third, W. Ure, Crawfordstone. Yeald mares, three years old and upwards. — First prize, A. B. Yuille, Darleith ; second, W. Moffat, Skirva ; third, D. Riddell, Kilbowie. Highly commended, J. Forrester, Nether- sarse ; commended, R. Stark. Two-year-old fillies. — First prize, R. Sands, Greenfoot ; se- cond, T. Denholm, Lochgreen ; third, F. Archibald. 110 TSE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. One-year-old filHes.—First prize, P. Dewar, Queen's Park ; second, C. J. Tennant, Balwill; tliird, W. Moffat. Com- mended, A. M'Nab, Techmuiry. Two-year-old entire colts — First prize, J. Brown, Wester Camoquhill ; second, D. Riddell ; third, A. M'Nab. Two-year-old geldings. — Erst prize, R. Sands ; second, W. Miiirhead, Pirnhall. Commended, T. Leishman, Meiklewood. One-year-old colts, including geldings. — First prize, W. Buchanan, Coxithill ; second, W. Kay, Littlekerse. Pair of draught horses (mares included), to be shown in cart harness. — First prize, D. Riddell ; second, W. Moffat. Commended, R. Stark. ROADSTERS. Mares or geldings, three years old and upwards, for road or field. — First prize, W. Walker, Stirling ; second and third, J, C. Wakefield, Eastwood Park, Callander Lodge. EXTRA TRIZES — OPEN TO ALL COMERS. Silver challenge cup for the best Clydesdale mare, three years old and upwards (given by Mr. Forbes, of Callander). — L. Drewe, Merryton, Hamilton. Por the best harness horse or mare, to he shown in harness (given by Sir William C. B. Bruce, of Stehhouse, Bart.) — First prize, W. Walker ; second, and commended, J. C. Wake- field. For the best cart horse or marc, to be shown in cart har- ness.— First prize, R. Stark ; second, D. Riddell. EXTRA STOCK. Pony, exhibited by Mr. W. Ross, Trininallan House, Stir- ling.— First prize, W. Walker ; second, W. Ross, Trinin.illan House. SHEEP. BLACKTACED. Rams, two-year-old and upwards. — First prize, second, and silver medal, R. M'Neil, Letter, Killearn. One-year-old rams. — First prize, second, and commended, W. Bennie, Smallburn. Five ewes, two-year-old and upwards, with lamb at foot.— First prize and silver medal, R. M'Neil, second and com- mended, W. Drysdale, Craigengelt. Five one-year-old ewes. — First prize, R. M'Neil ; second, G. Stirling Home-Drnmmond, Blairdrummond. Commended, W. Drysdale. LEICT3STEES. Rams, two-year-old and upwards. — First prize. Earl of Dunmore ; second, M. Nimmo, Foot-o'-Green. Commended J. Fleming, Carmuirs. Silver medal, extra prize, open. A- Smith, Stevenson Mains, Haddington. One-year-old rams. — First prize, J. Fleming ; second, Earl of Dunmore; third, J. T. S. Paterson, Plean. Three ewes, two-year-old and upwards, with lamb at foot. — First prize and medal, M. Nimmo; second and third, J. Fleming. Three one-year-old ewes. — First and second prize, J. Flem- ing ; third, Earl of Dunmore. PIGS. Boars, large breed. — First prize and silver medal, A. M'Nab, Techmuiry ; second, A. Watt, Stirling. Boars, small breed. — First prize, second, and silver medal, R. Philp, Bridge of Allan. Brood swine, large breed. — First prize, third, and medal, W. Kay, Little Kerse ; second, A. Watt. Brood swine, small breed. — First prize, second, and medal. — R. Philp. Three pigs, not exceeding eight months old. — First and se- cond prize, R. Philp. WOOL, For the best five fleeces of Leicester wool. — First prize, L. Drysdale, King-o'-Muirs ; second, J. Fleming. For the best five fleeces of blackfaced wool (white). — First and second prize, W. Drysdale, Craigengelt. West lothian agricultural association. MEETING AT LINLITHGOW. Since the formation of this association, a more successful fehow has never taken place. Not only did the entries greatly exceed those of previous years, but the stock was of a superior quaUty. In the section for horses there were no fewer than 172 entries, or about 50 more than at the meeting in the pre- vious year ; while there were 108 competitors for the different prizes offered for cattle — being about 30 more than last year, JUDGES. Ayrshire Cattle and Cart IIorse.s. — L. Drew, Bler- ryton; J. Coubrough, Blairtummock ; J. Fleming, Castleton ; R. M'Kean, Lumloch. Shorthorns, Sheep, .mvd Pigs. — D. Denholm, Carherry Mains ; G. Gardner, Carrington Bams ; J. Deans, Dalkeith. Riding Horses. — Sir W. Baillie, Polkemmet; W. Ford, Hardengreen ; J. Stodart, Bangour, Dairy Produce. — AV. Wyse, Falkirk ; W. Dymockj Lin- lithgow. CATTLE. AYRSHIRE.S. BuUs, not under tlnee years old. — First prize, W. Waddell, Nethertoun ; second, J. Cadzow, Clarendon. Highly com- mended, W. Young, Whitelaw. Two-year-old bulls. — First prize, J. Meikle, Seafield ; second, J. Meikle, Blackburn Hall. Yearling bulls. — Pirst prize, J. Meikle, Seafield ; second W, Meikle, East Briech . Highly commended, W. Young. Cows in milk. — First prize, J. Meikle, Seafield; second, A. Morton, Bickerton Hall; third, J. Fleming, Carmuira. HiglUy commended, W. Young. Pairs of cows, in milk, bred by exhibitor. — First prize, A. Morton ; second, \V. Young. Highly commended, J. Walker, Tippethill. Cows in call'.— Pirst prize, J. Meikle, Seafield ; second, A. Morton ; tliird, W. Young. Highly commended, A. Wilson, Melons Place. Heifers calved after 1st January, 1867.— First prize, J. Meikle, Seafield ; second, J. Walker. Highly commended, J. Meikle, Blackburn Hall, Heifers calved after Ist January, 1868. — ^First prize, J. Fleming ; second and commended, J. Graham, Myothill. CROSS BREEDS. Cows for dairy purposes, in milk. — First prize, A. Lear- month, Northbank ; second, J. Cadzow. Highly commended, G. Wilson, Lochhouse. Pairs of cows for dairy purposes, bred by exhibitor. — First prize, J. Cadzow ; second, J. Manuel, Newbiggiug. Dairy cow, in milk, of any breed, kept within the parlia- mentary boundaries of the burgh of Linlithgow. Open to non-members. — First prize, J. Learmonth, Linlithgow ; second, T. Morton, LinUthgow. SHORTHORNS. Bulls calved before 1st January, 18G8. — First prize, A. Learmonth ; second, J. Graham, Baukhead. Bulls calved after 1st January, 18G8. — First prize, G. Bogie, Pardovan ; second, D. Hill, Calcoats. Cows. — First and second prizes, J. Bartholomew, Duntarvie. Heifers calved after 1st January, 1807.— D. M'Gibbon, In- veravon. Heifers calved after 1st January, 1868.— D. M'Gibbon. HORSES. TOR AGRICULTURAL PITRPOSES. M.are, in foal or milk. — First prize, J. Young, Niddry; second, W. II. llardie, BoiTOWstoun Mains; third, P. Turner, Mannerston. Highly commended, J. Fleming, Tliree-mile- town. Mares.— First and third prize, R. M. Buchanan, Livingston TES FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Ill Mill; second, J. Brownlcc, Netlier Aklerstou. Commended, W. Graham, Rosebank. Three-year-old fillies. — First prize, R. M. Buchanan, Livingston Mill; second, J. Graham, Rosebank; third, J. Gillespie, Craigie. Highly commended, J. Brownlee, Hole- honseburn. Two-year-old fiUics. — First prize, J. Brownlee, second, J. Johnson, Ballencrieff Mains. Highly commended, W. Wad- dell, Nethertoun. Yearling fillies. — First prize, J. Orr, Hill, Whitburn ; second, J. Johnson. Commended, R. Dalrymple, William - craigs. Two-vear-old colts, foaled after 1st January, 1867.— Prize, H. Meikle, Woodside. Highly Commended, J. Ford, Stankards. Yearling colts, foaled after 1st January, ] 8G8.— First prize, J. Stodart, Bangour. Highly commended, J. Johnson ; com- mended, W. Wilson, Parkley Craigs. Pairs of mares or geldings, not under three years old, bred by exhibitor. — First prize, R. M. Buchanan ; second, J. Robertson, Myrehead. Highly commended, W. H. Hardie, Borrowstoun Mains. Geldings, not under three years old. — First prize, J. Robert- son, Myrehead ; second, J. Stodart. Highly commended, W. H. Hardie. Sweepstakes : Foal. — Prize, W. H. Hardie. RIDING nOR.SES. Brood mares, for the road or field. — Prize, W. Macfie, Cler- minston. Three-year-old colts or fillies. — First prize, W. Forbes, Cal- lander. Commended, J. G. Urquhart, Vellore Castle. Three-year-old colts or fillies. — Prize, R. Gardner, Whit- burn. Two-year-old colts or fiUies. — First prize and commended. Earl of Hopetoun, Hopetoun House. Two-year-old colts or fillies. — First prize, J. Wilson, Ric- carton. Commended, Earl of Hopetoun. Yearling colts or fillies, for the field. — First prize, T. Young, Oatridge ; second, J. G. Urquhart. Yearling colts or fillies, for the road. — First prize, Earl of Hopetoun. Commended, J. G. Urquhart. Roadsters. — First prize, J, Burnet, Craigie j second, Capt, J. Pender, Middleton Hall. Roadsters, not above 14 hands high.-— First prize, A. Hen- derson, Linlithgow; second, J. G. Urquhart. Ponies, not above 12 hands high. — First prize, J. Wilson, Nicolton ; second and commended, R. Stark, Camelton House. Highly commended, T. Chalmers, Lougcroft. Sweepstakes : Half-bred foals. — First prize, W. Maefie. Henderson. Hunters. — First prize. Earl of Hopetoun ; Hope, Lufl"ness. Highly commended, J. Commended, A Sweepstakes : Second, H. W Stodart. SHEEP. LEICESTEES. Aged tups. — First prize, J. M'Kinlay, junior, Hardhill ; second, A. Reid, Haining Valley. Highly commended, F. H. Ralphs, Park ; commended, J. Morrison, West Dalmeny. Shearling tups. — First and second prizes, J. Morrison ; third, A. Reid. Pen of three ewes. — First prize, J. Gay, Pohnont Hill ; second, J . Fleming, Carmuirs. Commended, Representatives of P. Reid. Pens of three gimmers. — First prize, J . Fleming ; second. Representatives of P. Reid. Commended, J. Watson, Mum- rills. PIGS. Boars, large breed. — Prize, R. Dahymple, Burghmuir. Sows, large breed.- -First prize, J. Brash, Hallyards ; second, A. Learmouth, Northbank ; commended, A. TurnbuU, West Biuny. Boars, small breed. — No entries. Sows, small breed.— First prize, J. M'Kinlay, Hardhill ; second, J. Learmouth, Linlithgow. Boars, middle breed. — First prize, J. Brash; second, J. Wilson, Riccarton. Commended, A. Turnbull. Sows, middle breed. — First prize, J. Brash. Commended, D. Bartholomew, Greendyke. DAIRY PRODUCE. Full-cured butter. — First prize. Countess of Hopetoun, Hopetoun House ; second, Mrs. J. Walker, Tippethill ; third, Mrs. J. Webster, Muugall Mill. Highly commended, Mrs. Fairley. Fresh butter. — First prize. Countess of Hopetoun ; second, Mrs. J. Walker ; third, Mrs. H. Meikle, Woodside. Highly commended, Mrs. A. Learmouth, Northbank. THE LIMESTONE FORMATIONS OF ENGLAND. A paper on " The Limestone Formations of England," was read by Mr. H. Trumper, of Dunn Mill, at a late meeting of the Hungerford Farmers' Club, in which he said : Having been requested to read you a Paper on some Geological subject, con- sidered more especially with reference to the application of that science to agriculture, 1 have chosen that of the " Limestone Formations of England," because geology is a science which treats of objects of such magnitude and sublimity, that it is quite impossible to deal with more than a branch of it in a paper like this. In the first place, I shall attempt to give you a slight sketch of the distribution of the various limestone formations that occur in this country ; and in the second, 1 shall endeavour to treat of their importance in an agricultural point of view. The fossiliferous strata of which the crust of this globe is chiefly composed, are divided into three great classes, viz., primary, secondary, and tertiary — the primary being the most ancient, and the tertiary the most modern of the three ; and it is my intention to commence with the most modern, and to descend as it were in the series to the most ancient. The tertiary, or most modern of these three great classes, contains no limestone formations of any consequence in this country, although there are beds of limestone of this age in Sicily of from 700 to 800 feet in thickness ; here it con- sists principally of gravels, sands, and clays. The secondary, or middle-class as it were, contains several beds of limestone, the first or more recent of which is the great chalk formation. This is so familiar to you all, tliat I need not enter into a de- tailed account of it, but will merely say that it is subdivided into the upper chalk, whicli contains numerous parallel layers of siliceous nodules, termed flints, disposed in irregular dis- tances from each other ; and in some places sheets or seams of flints — the lower chalk which contains no flints, and tlie chalk marl, an argillaceous limestone which is very constantly found underlying the chalk. In this country the chalk is generally white, but in some countries it is of a deep red, and in others of a ycUow colour. Beneath the chalk we have the upper green sand, the ganlt, and the lower green sand, but these contain no limestone of any consequence, with the ex- ception of the Kentish rag, which is quarried in the neigh- bourhood of Maidstone. We come next to the Wealden formation of Kent, Surrey, and Sussex. Next in succession to the Wealden comes the oolite formation — so named because the limestones of which it principally consists are composed of small egg-like grains, resembling the roe of a fish. This formation in its various characters extends from the Yorkshire coast near Scarborough, through Rockingham forest in Northamptonshire, to the Cotteswold Hills, and terminates at the sea at Bridport, in Dorsetshire ; occupying a zone which is nearly 30 miles in average breadth. It is subdivided into the Upper, Middle, and Lower Oolite. These coralline strata extend through the calcareous hills of the N.W. of Berksliire and north of Wiltshire, and again recur in Yorkshire, near Scarborough. They rest on a thick bed of clay, called the Oxford Clay, sometimes not less than 500 feet in thickness. The third subdivision of the Oolite group, termed the Lower Oolite, consists first of what is called the Corn brash, which is composed of clays and calcareous sandstones, passing down- wards into an argillaceous limestone — abounding in marire 112 THE FABMER'S MAGAZmE. fossils — termed Porest Marble. Immediately beneath the Oolite, we have a formation of argillaceous limestone, marl, and clay, called the Lias, which is classed by many geologists as part of the Oolite group. The lower part of this formation contains thin beds of blue or grey limestone, separated by narrow argillaceous partings. It may be stated in general terms, that the Lias of England extends along the western escarpment of the Oolite, from Whitby, in Yorkshire, to Lyme Regis, in Dorsetshire. Next to the Lias, we have a group of strata called the Trias, but these contain no limestone in this country. I may mention, though, that the rock salt of Cheshire is found in the lower part of this group, which terminates the Secondary, or middle period. We now come to the Primary, or most ancient of the three great classes. This formation contains beds of Magnesian Limestone, some of which contain as much as forty-four per cent, of carbonate of magnesia, mixed with carbonate of lime ; while others consist chiefly of carbonate of lime. This magnesian lime- stone furnishes the building stone of which Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament are constructed ; and it occurs principally in Yorkshire and Durham. Next to the Permian, we have the Carboniferous formation. We come next iu the descending order to the most ancient of the primary fossiliferous rocks, the Silurian formation — so named by that eminent geologist. Sir Roderick Murchison, because it occupies that part of AVales and some con- tiguous counties of England which once constituted the kingdom of a tribe of ancient Britons, called the Silures. Having given you the above slight sketch of the distribution of the limestones of England, I shall next attempt briefly to treat of their importance in an agricultural point of view ; and this naturally brings me to the use of lime in agriculture. Now many persons have supposed that caustic lime exerts a great and peculiar action on the soil, but the late Mr. Nesbit, and nearly all chemists who have investigated the matter, have, I believe, come to the conclusion that it is in the state of car- bonate of lime that its peculiar iufluence is witnessed. The chief use of burning appears to be in the case of hard lime- stones, which when burnt into lime, absorl) moisture from the atmospliere, and become a fine powder, Tliis powder re-ab- sorbs carbonic acid from the atmosphere, and again becomes the same carbonate of lime that it was before being burnt. But its mechanical condition is now changed from a hard solid mass, to a white friable powder, in which state it acts most readily on the soil. It seems to me that pretty much the same lesult is obtained from marling, from the use of easily disintegi-ated chalk, and from the application of harder lime- stones when burnt ; the efl"ect difl'ernig only in proportion to the solubility or non-solubility of the limestone. If these be very solid, or if the marl containing limestone be- not easily acted upon by the air, the efi'ect will not be so immediately pro- duced as if the calcareous matter were more minutely divided, and, therefore, in a more soluble state. The operation of the marl or limestone will also vary in proportion to the quantity of silica, alumina, phosphate of lime, and other such substances contained in it ; for although carbonate of lime be the chief material, its action will be modified by that of others with which it is connected. I will now proceed to speak of the action of calcareous matter in the soil. Now one ol the pe- culiar actions of lime on the mineral ingredients of a soil, is, that it has the power of liberating the alkali contained in it, and which is necessary for the growth of plants. But all good soils contain a considerable amount of vegetable matter, or have the power of absorbing from the air substances adapted to the formation of vegetable matters, and lime acts materially on these organic substances. The presence of carbonate of lime augments the decomposition of roots and other vegetable matters in the soil, because in it we have a substance with which the dilTerent vegetable acids formed in the various phases of decomposition can unite at once. It is on soils which contain a large amount of vegetable matter, or that have not been under the plough for a great many years, that lime produces the most marked eifect, because it brings the stores of nitrogen, and the organic materials contained in them, into the best possible state for the plants to act upon them. The action of lime is also very eSfectual in peat soils, and in soils which contain sulpliate of iron, because it corrects what is called sourness — an evil which is felt in many districts. 1 have before mentioned that the presence of carbonate of lime in a soil augments the decomposition of vegetable matters ; and it is a well-known fact that under the influence of the slow decomposition of vegetable and animal matters, nitrogen and ammonia are absorbed from the air, and this absorption will take place iu proportion to the exposure of the soil by means of ploughing, &c., and to the porosity produced by efficient drain- age, without which lime cannot percolate through the soil and perform its proper functions, and will therefore be perfectly useless. It is absurd to fancy that by liming land which has been worked down to a low state— and from which crop after crop has been taken without much manure — you will restore it to its original fertility ; in such cases other manures ought to be used as well, but they ought not to be applied at the same time as quicklime, on account of its driving oif the ammonia contained in them. It is in the case of land which has been newly broken up, and when the soil contains only a very small proportion of lime, that its action tells best; in fact, in such cases the use of any other manure without lime, will be of no avail. There is an old proverb, which doubtless many of you remember — " The use of lime without manure, Will always make the farmer poor." And that saying is perfectly true, except in the case of soils containing a large amount of organic matter. Without the presence of carbonate of Ume in a soil, you can never have the full action of any kind of manure. Eor instance, if there be sulphate of ammonia in the soil, the plants will not take it up as sulphate of ammonia ; but it must be decomposed before the ammonia can be absorbed — there is something required to unite with the sulphuric acid, and this is furnished by the carbonate of lime, and if you have that, the sulphate of ammonia will give its ammonia freely to the growing plants. It is therefore necessary to have a certain amount of lime in any soil, if you wish to cultivate it to the greatest advantage : and there may be almost a total absence of it in soils resting upon limestone ; for it is the constant tendency of lime to descend, consequently, soils which were originally formed by the disintegration of limestone itself, sometimes require liming as much as any others. In fact, in several places lime and calcareous matters have been applied with great success upon soils resting upon chalk or limestone. In conclusion, gentlemen, allow me to call the attention of the junior mem- bers of this Club to the advantages to be derived from the study of such subjects as I have attempted to set forth in this Paper. The time is coming — nay has almost come — when those who wish to be considered practical agriculturists, must have thoroughly studied such subjects ; but independently of this, the study of chemistry, geology, and the allied sciences, affords the greatest pleasure to those who have once mastered the rudiments of those sciences : and in my opinion there is no branch of study more interesting and captivating than geology, of which it has been truly said, that " It is a phi- losophy which never rests — its law is progress : a point which yesterday was invisible, is its goal to-day, and will be its starting post to-morrow." Yes, gentlemen, we cannot con- template the vast changes that have taken place on the surface of our planet, without being struck with the infinite power and wisdom of the great Creator of the Universe, and with our own insignificance ; and viewed in this light, the study of the natural sciences will not only expand and elevate onr minds, but will help us to " look through Nature up to Nature's God." A discussion ensued, in reply to which, Mr. Trumpek ob- served that the phosphates in limestone were insoluble, which explained the reason the action was not so immediate as in superphosphate of lime. With regard to the silicates in the lower chalk, they were generally found in combination with alkalies and earths, and were consequently in a more soluble state than in the upper chalk and some other formations. The manner in which lime corrected sourness in land was by its combination with the acid of sulphate of iron, thus assisting to convert the protoxide into peroxide of iron. Respecting the age of the dill'erent formations, it could only be explained geologically. TflfJ FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 113 THE NORFOLK AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. MEETING AT ATTLEBOROUGH. The exceptional exclusiveness of Essex notwithstand- ing, there is a strong connecting link running throngh the exhibitions of the Eastern Counties. New trials are con- tinually granted, with further hearings in other Courts, if not necessarily before other judges. Indeed, a man who .has had any injustice done him here, can scarcely fail to find retribution hereafter ; as those who judge are pretty certain in turn to be judged. Thus, upon entering the show-yard, at Attleborough, in Norfolk, there stood, side by side, just as we had seen them at Colchester, Soi'cerer, Chai'Ies-le-Beau, and Hogarth the Second ; the terrible sameness ot the selection being relieved only by Grand Sultan, a young bull of Mr. Lynn's, that was highly commended as a calf at the Leicester Royal. Rosolio, in his bhukers, had been drafted as an utterly hopeless case, with two or three very moderate animals ; and Ho- garth again became the champion bull of the meeting, with the Sultan as easy a second, although he has not improved much, and is bad about his shoulders. The difficulty, however, was over Sorcei-er and the Beau, as in fact their places were left for some time in abeyance. Ul- timately, however, Mr. Catchpool was declared to possess the superior of the two ; a decision in which everybody seemed to concur, although in Essex, last week, it was all the other way. Sorcerer being soon sent out, and Charles- le-Beau left to do battle with the Second Hogarth. Lord Walsingham's best yearling bull has plenty of good beef about him, but not much style ; and Mr. Aylmer's things looked altogether out of form, although, as the list will show, they took a few inferior prizes. Lady Anne and Queen of Rosalca now came into the same class ; and, as both have been terribly overdone, the Huntingdonshire heifer, as the younger of the two, very properly had the call, with Mr. Erere's cow again third, as in Essex, and Mr. Kersey Cooper's little plaything altogether unno- ticed ; but then she was in better company, and had not the bull's society to help her out. There was a capital, if small, class, of four two-year-old heifers, all of which received some attention from the authorities, if the Queen of Diamonds were still, far away, the best of the lot. This heifer, indeed, of great growth and fine qua- lity, promises to go on and make her mark elsewhere, as she was, no doubt, the best animal in the cattle classes at Attleborough ; while she has already distinguished her- self, having taken the extra premium as " the best of all" at the Oakham show last Christmas, and previously first prizes at the North Lincoln and Peterborough meetings. Her chief fault, so far, is that, like most of Mr. Lynn's stock, she has been a little too well prepared, a complaint that could not be urged against Mr. Aylmer's second, which was exhibited in very legitimate condition. Queen of Diamonds is by Prizeman, the best bull at the Norfolk show, last year, out of a May-Duke cow. Two of the highly -commended yearlings at Southampton met again; and, although Lady Pigot's sister to Lady Anne has more length and style, she is already getting gaudy behind, and the neater Butterfly finished before her. Neverthe- less, they asked the Americans 350 gs. for La Belle Helene ; but the famous 1,000 gs. Pride of the Vale, slipped her calf almost immediately after she was shipped for the States, and this may have tended to make our best customers more cautious. Lord Walsingham, who, so handy home, was altogether in force, beat his only compe- titor, Mr. Aylmer, cleverly enough in the pairs of heifers ; and the Shorthorns had all the call of the Here- fords amongst the fat stock, where Mr. Aylmer did better; but in this section, despite the presence of Mr. Wortley, there was nothing "very particular." There were, as usual, but few Devons entered, although, amongst these, Mr. John Overman exhibited a bull of fifteen years old, which has worn wonderfully well, and is the sire of some of his most famous steers, the Smithfield Cup ox amongst them. He was beaten, however, here by his son, who scarcely promises to ever lengthen out like his sire, and both bred in the county, rather lack the true North Devon charac- ter, which was the better exemplified in Mr. Over- man's handsome old cow, from the herd of Mr. Halse, of South Molton. Still, whatever the Devons may do on their own account, there can be no question but that they have been of some service to the native red polls. The judges spoke in the highest terms of these classes, of their appearance, quality, and use, as there is little doubt but that a taste of the Devon blood has occasionally been tried. Mr. John Hammond, amongst others, had a sweet cow, and a still better yearling heifer, almost perfection in her way, and which took the cup, beating her senior out of the same herd as the best of all the polled cows or heifers. Sir Willoughby Jones' two-year-old was almost as smart a sample, and but for her slack back might have run the Bale pair a little closer. Mr. Arthur Overman, if with but little to beat, showed an admii'able red-and- white polled buU, a cross by a Shorthorn bull out of a poll cow ; and Lord Sondes deservedly won with a pen of very pretty calves. Then there was a class of Polled Cows "not Norfolk and Suffolk;" a class of Horned Cows " not Shorthorns or Devons ;" a class of Heifers "not Shorthorns, Devons, or Norfolk and Suff"olk ;" and a class of Heifers " not Shorthorn or Norfolk and Suffolk;" and there were of course rumours of objections as to uon- Shorthorns being Shorthorns, and so forth. And Captain Catling won with the " TurnhiU breed " — whatever that may happen to be ; and Mr. Henry Overman did well enough with anything that had some sort of a cross in it — an essential condition, as it would seem, at Weasenham for any kind of stock, be this cattle, sheep, or anything but cart horses, which are of course all of the pure Norfolk breed — whatever, again, that may happen to be. But the Norfolk horses made a very creditable show at Attleborough, as, in fact, it was thought the competition was too strong for the judges. One of these, Mr. Howard from Lincolnshire, could not fulfill his engagement, and a steward of the yard was put on in his place, with no very satisfactory result. These awards, in truth, were pretty generally regarded as the weak place in the proceedings, and the concl«sions come to at Downham were continually " corrected " at Attleborough. There were as usual some famous pairs of plough horses, well-grown, weighty, and active, the best of which were pronounced to be Mr. Tingey's chesnuts, something probably of a Suffolk cross, as a Norfolk horse must be a brown, bay or black. One of the second prize pair was a very middling animal, and Mr. Overman's were all too high in condition, or they should certainly have stood higher on the list. They looked a deal moi'e like having been made up for a fair than " used for agricultural purposes in the county for 11^ THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. twelve months." Mr. TIngey was first again for stallions of the Norfolk breed, and rightly enough too, for his four-year-old is a smart, high-quality horse, with a very "neat head, and lots of good points in other ways. The Norfolk Lion, the best of last year's entry, was now nowhere ; while the second prize went to a very moderate beast at most points. The Shire horse, Honest Tom, had been entered in this class, but his owner was warned that if he sent the horse it would be at his own risk, as an objection would certainly be laid against him as not being of the Norfolk breed, and his box was conse- quently empty. In an open class, the SuiTolk President was also absent from lameness, and the other SulFolk horse had little or nothing to beat. In fact, these open classes were but peorly filled, the average being but two or three in an entry, and it was not until the catalogue reached to the Norfolks proper that this section of the show came to hold any rank in the sight- seeing of the day. Both the working horses and the breeding stock were alike commendable, and there was an especially good class of mares, which, when the judges had quite done with them, the p^iblic set to work and placed all over again. Upstanding animals with lean clean heads and light but not weak necks, the Norfolks are good-bodied horses, with round powerful quarters and legs fringed rather than smothered in hair. They are active in their movements, and of commonly a bright bay in colour, a vast improvement in every way on the old Norfolk black, if we fail to recognize them any longer as a distinct breed. Indeed, take a Norfolk cart horse out of Norfolk and he might pass either in a light land plough-team or as a smart machiuer ; but not one man in a thousand would identify him as of any particular sort. The Shire horses, on the contrary, have many distin- guishing features, and whether for good or evil, there can be no mistaking a Suffolk. If Mr. Welcher had sent in Honest Tom his disqualification might have led to the publication of some highly-interesting records — not so much, perhaps, as bearing on his own family-tree as on that of his opponents. "Whilst the stylish Hogarth was stiU maintaining his supremacy as the Cup bull, the thoroughbred Dalesman with more showing was doing all we said he would last week when we saw him at Colchester, viz., "sweeping off everything in the neighbouring counties." StUl he was in better company at Attleborough, although his three opponents. Little Hastings, Camperdown, and Mr. Stiggins, have all seen their best day and never really had a chance against so young and good-looking a nag as the chesnut. But Captain, or rather Major, Barlow has now got his hand in, and Topstall was still the best hunter, as he promises to be again and again dm'ing the season. His second in Norfolk was Mischief — one of the few hunters that was de- servedly put first at Islington, and where we wrote of him as "with blood, a model of a light-weight hunter ;" but Topstall is getting only to look better and better, and the parading ofMr. Mumford Sexton's weight-carrier for the Prince of Wales' Cup, to go to the best of all the hunters, was a mere matter of form, as the judges did not take two minutes in deciding in favour of Topstall. Be- yond his good looks, what with his cheerful, airy manner, and ])leasant style of walking away with you, this should be a delightful horse to ride ; whereas Idle Boy must re- quii'e a deal of resolute handling, and he once or twice half threatened to set-up in the ring. The natives made a deal of fuss over the second-best welter nag, not without his good points certainly, but looking as much like harness as crossing a countiy ; wliile in the other class Mr. Savory was deservedly and highly commended for another Irish nag, showing much more breeding, and up to a cer- tain weight bound to be willi them, but the judges put merely a commendation to the steeple-chaser Arlescott, who for once was left in the ruck of a large field. In the small county class of hunters, Mr. Gall took both the pre- miums, the second being considered by many the better of the two ; while the first four-year-old was also found in the county, but he is a merely useful common sort of beast, and the joung Diophantus put next to him has far more style and fine character about him. Mr. Stracey's best riding horse, up to lots of weight, found in reality nothing in the class to compare with his good breeding, looks, and carriage ; but the next class of hacks took more judging, for they made up a large and level lot, chiefly the stock of trotting horses, an animal that must surely now be going fast out of fashion, or even use. Never- theless, there were a dozen or so of these stallions paraded,' including the best Islington horse, that was actually suff'ered to enter the ring with a medal in commemo- ration of this remarkable achievement hung round his neck! But this intimation had clearly not much weight, for the judges here straightway deposed Young Phenomenon, and put Clear-the-way, a horse merely commended in London, over the other's head ! They are both much of a much- ness, and a long way the best looking one of the entry, Jlr. Reed's Trotaway got nothing beyond empty praise. But, then, he lacks the fussy, flashy, dealer's action although Young Phenomenon's performance at Attle- borough, was by no means extraordinary. The well-known old Silverlocks was once more the best — and far " the best brood marc for saddle or harness," while a grey of Mr. Growcock's was selected from all that gentleman's curious collection as the best pony not above fourteen hands high. By his appearance this is a kind of half-bred Arab — a stilty, narrow, bad-shouldered brute, and at all points about the worst for make and shape in a very large class. But he could go after a fashion, if to the manifest inconvenience of the liveried menial on his back, and so Mr. Perceval not only awarded him the prize, but made him " the best of all the ponies," although as little after the type of a prize pony or a pony of any kind as any animal that ever was out. We believe that the other judge took some time before he " could quite see it," and we may say further that he now stands committed to a monstrous error of judgment. The best weight-carrying cob was more of a weight- carrying hack — not that we hold this to be an objection for any purpose— a five-year-old by Mr. Reed's Trotaway, for which a deal of money would have been paid over the on the ground. But high prices were said to rule here, and 300 gs. as it was rumoured, had been refused (!) for a hunting horse, and that one not the corner-stone of the building. The sheep show was made up rather by entries from certain special flocks than by classes creating anything like competition. Thus, Lord Walsingham sent half-a- dozen shearling Southdowns, with which he, of course, won everything, Mr. John Overman being his only opponent. Then, Mr. Brown had the Longwools yet more to himself, for Mr. Aylmer would seem to have given in, and in two classes of rams there was only one animal — a Lincoln — which did not come from Marham ; while Mr. Henry Overman had it all his own way with the Oxfordshire Downs. But these three varieties of sheep, as here represented, were generally good, and seldom or never iireviously have the Merton Downs shown so much style and breed. A growing coarseness, that had been observable of late, seems to have been very happily corrected; and beginning with "taking" ortliodox heads, these rams have sufiicient size with quality, the first prize being almost equally good to meet or to follow. Still, more might have been made of him had not the ewe died, a loss which necessitated the lamb THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 115 • being brought up by hand. The second prize ram, by ouc of Sir. Henry Webb's sheep, is still smarter in his appeai-ance, though he may never grow and spread like the other ; but neither of these, nor indeed any of the entry are, so far, intended for ^lanchcstcr, the inference of course being that his Lordship has still better behind. If so, and if they only keep to the same type as the sheep seen at Attlcborongh, the Royal return may be easily anticipated, what with the losses in his ilock Mr. Iligden has lately ex- perienced, and the coming sale at Coleshill, consequent on the decease of Lord Kadnor. Lord Sondes' sheep are neat, but too small for show, while the Prince of Wales' pen of ten ewe lambs bred from a Merton sheep were particularly good, whereas His Royal Highness' second best ewes were but moderate. The Marham rams were wonderfully well got up, and with the decreasing competition from the Cots- wolds will probably stand as high further on ; as, ou a very different order of merit, nothing could promise to be more serviceable than Mr. Henry Overman's Oxford ewes, shown over and over again in lots of fives, teus, and twenties — a very satisfactory way, certainly, of proving a flock. As brown-faces, or as of any other breed, they beat the Elham Southdowus twice or thrice ; but is it quite settled yet whether a long or a short-wool judge should act over this newly-established sort ? A Shrop- shire is now readily passed amongst the Downs ; but despite his brown face, the Oxford is often enough put in the other section, and the long-wool men, we believe, had to appraise him at Attlcborongh, The judges spoke in the highest possible terras of the pigs, and the fact of IMessrs. Duckering's hitherto in- vincible drove of swine being beaten in two or three classes would go to warrant such commendation. No- ticeably enough, however, the best pig in the show is a chance bred one ; that is to say, his present owner cannot trace him to any particular piggery. This is IMr. Everett's white boar, in almost every respect a very ex- cellent animal. He is of just the right size, not too big to be coarse nor too small to be delicate ; with a good curly coat, a kindly head, and capital collar ; as rather com- pact than of unsightly length in his frame. Moreover, he could stand and move, and if ever we quite took to a white pig big enough to win in a large class it is this East Harling boar. There was the usual ' bother" about the Northorpe so-called small sorts, although Mr. Steam was strong enough here to win outright with both blacks and whites, showing some good pens of either colour, but more par- ticularly a trio of whites. Mr. Turner called attention at the dinner to a wondrous sow, whose identity he did not fiu-ther individualize ; althuugh during the day the two judges had agreed to differ over the merits of a small white sow, the property of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales ; and it required all the bodily interference of Mr. Charles Howard, as referee, to prevent a premium going to, as everybody else thought, a very bad pig. And under the ciixumstances this was especially fortunate. There was said to be a good entry of setter dogs in an adjoining tent, and further afield the usual illustration of ploughing by steam ; whilst, amongst a number of local agents, the following firms contributed to an exhibition of machinery, that, as is now usually the case, was in itself a show : Holmes, Norwich ; liurrell, Thetford ; BentaD, Heybridge ; Marshall, Gainsborough ; Robey, Lincoln ; Garrett, Leiston ; Coleman and Morton, Chelms- ford ; Ransome, Ipswich ; Woods and Cocksedge, Stow- market; Riches and Watts, Norwich; Fowler and Co., Leeds ; Barnard, Bishop, and Baninrd, Norwich ; Hilton and Co., London; Dodge, Upper Thames-street; and Bradford, Manchester. PRIZE LIST. CATTLE. JuDGKs.— T. Dodds, Jlouut Pleasant, Wakefield. C. Howard, Biddenham, Beds. Sliorthorn bulls. — First prize, £10 and cup for best Lull, G. Kersey Cooper, Eustou (Hogarth tlie Second) ; second, .£S, J.Lynu, Stroxlon, Lincolnshire (Grand Sultau) ; third, £5, N. Catchpole, Ipswich (Sorcerer). Highly commended, Lady Pigot, Branches Park, Suffolk (Charles de Beau) ; com- mended, II. Aylmer (General Hopewell). Yearling shorthorn bulls. — First prize, £5, Lord Walsiug- ham (AVeusleydale) ; second, £3, II. Aylmer (Prince Alfred). Highly commended, II. K. Tompsou (Lord Napier) ; com- mended. Captain Cathng, Needham, Wisbeach (Alpha). Shorthorn cows. — Cup for best cow,value£15,andprize£5, J. How, Broughton, Hunts (Lady Anne) ; second, £0, Lady Pigot (Queen of llosalea) ; third, £,\', G. E. Frere (Sugar Blossom). Highly commended, J. Tingey (Blonde 2nd). Shorthorn in-ca!f heifers. — Tlie premium of £5 and silver medal, Lord Walsingham (Lady Adela). Commended, G. E. Frere (Roydon Duchess). Shorthorn heifers under three years old. — First prize, £6 and silver medal, J. Lynn (Queen of Diamonds) ; second, £4, H. Aylmer (Jessie Hopewell). Highly commended. Lord Walsingham (Daphne) ; commended, G. E. Frere (Countess Sandon). Yearling shorthorn heifers. — First prize, £5, J. How (Windsor's Butterfly) ; second, £3, Lady Pigot (La Belle Helcne). Highly commended, Lord Walsingham (Cannon- dale) ; commended, H. Aylmer (Duchess 3rd). Sliorthorn in-ealf heifers, under two-and-a-half years old. — cup, value £10 10s., and silver medal. Lord Walsingham (Ladydale) ; commended, II. Aylmer (Duchess of Orleans). Devon bulls, — Prize, £10, J. Overman (Wellington No. 4). Commended, J, Wortley (Young Napoleon). Devon cows. — Prize, i,'10, J. Overman (Violet). Com- mended, R. Wortley (Fuchsia). Devon heifers. — Prize, £5, J. Overman (Red Rose). Norfolk and Suffolk red polled bulls. — First prize, £10 and the cup, value £10 10s., B. Brown (Norfolk Duke) ; second, £8, J. F. Palmer ; third, £5, H. Birkbeck (Tommy). Com- mended, Lord Sufiield (Nero). Yearling Norfolk and Suffolk red polled iulls. — First prize, £5, Lord Sondes ; second, £3, S. Wolton, Newbourne, Suffolk (Cherry Duke). Commended, J. Playford (Red Rascal). Norfolk and Suffolk red polled cows. — First prize, £10, J. Hammond (Butler) ; second, £6, S. Wolton (Favourite) ; third, £4, J. Hammond (Lady Davy). Commended, Sir W. Jones, Bart. (Moss Rose). Norfolk and Suffolk red polled heifers. — First prize, £6 and silver medal. Sir W. Jones, Bart. (Primrose); second, £4, B. Brown (Duchess). Highly commended, Lord Sondes ; com- mended. Lord Sondes. Yearling Norfolk and Suffolk red polled heifers. — First prize, £5 and the cup, value £10, J. Hammond (Buttercup) ; second, £3, S. Wolton (Nelly Bligh). Commended, H. Birk- beck and J. Sewell. I'oUed cows or heifers. — The cup, value £10 10s., and i65 and silver medal, W. T. Mullen (Duchess) ; second, £3, H. H. B'omlield (Handsome). Highly commended, T. Matthews; commended, T. Matthews. Horned cows. — First prize, £5, and silver medal, H. Over- man (Boat's Eye) ; second, £3, Captain Catling. Highly commended, II. Overman (Alexandra) ; commended. Major Ewen (Tibby). ^ Heifers not being Shorthorn, Devon, or Norfolk and Suffolk red polled. — Prize, £5 and silver medal, Capt. Catling. Highly commended, II. Overman (Twopenny) ; commended, H. Overman (Purity). Yearling heifers. — First prize, £5, Capt. Catling ; second, £3, P. J. Sharmer. Highly commended, G. M. Nicholson. Red and white polled bulls. — The cup, value £10 10s., A. Overman (Tlic Genera!). I'air of red and while in-calf heifers. — The cup, value £10 10s., and silver medal, J. Smith. Three calves (steers or heifers). — £.'5, Lord Sondes. Com- mended, P. J. Sharman. Fat steers. — First prize of .£8, and silver medal, J. How; second, £5, R. Wortley. Highly commended, J. Tingey. 318 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Fat steers, not above three years old. — £8 and silver medal, H. Aylmer (Shorthorn) ; second, £5, R. Wortley (Hereford). Highly commended, J. Wellingham ; commended, J. How. Fat cows or heifers. — Prize £5, and silver medal, T. Matthews (Laura). Highly commended, R. Wortley. Fat heifers not above three years old. — Prize £5, and silver medal, H. Overman (Sultana). HORSES FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES. Judges, — J. Henley, Ruckland House, Louth. T. AVellingham, Quidenham, Norfolk. Cait staUions, not under four years old. No merit. Three-year-old cart stallions. — First prize, £8, C. Boby, Stutton, Suffolk (Prince). Two-year-old cart stallions. — First prize, £6 and silver medal, J. Flintham, Somersham, Suffolk (Black Prince) ; second, £4, S. Wolton, jun., Kesgrave, Suffolk. Cart mares. — Prize £10 and silver medal, J. Betts (Smart). Two-year-old cart fillies. — Prize, £6 and silver medal, A. Noble, Greeting St. Peter, Suffolk (Duchess). Three-year-old cart fillies. — Prize £5, W. Wilson, Baylham, Suffolk. Cart foals. — First prize, £5 and silver medal, R. Smith ; second, £3, G. K. Cooper. Pairs of cart horses. — First prize, £20, and silver medal, J. Tingey (Srailer, Short) ; second, £6, J . Neave (Boxer, Beauty) ; third, £4, H. Overman (Gilbert, Jolly). Norfolk cart stallions. — Cup of £20, and prize £10, J. TLngey (Young Briton) ; second, £7, Mrs. G. Cresswell (Brown George). Two-year-old Norfolk cart stallions. — Cup, value £10 10s., prize £6, and silver medal, W. Kirk (Volunteer) ; second, £i, T. Chapman (Ploughboy). Yearling Norfolk entire cart colts. — Cup, value £10 10s., and silver medal, W. Matthews (Young Bardolph). Norfolk cart mares. — Cup, value £10 10s. ; £5, and prize £5, R. Smith (Brag) ; second, £6, E. Crowe (Smart) third, £i, H. Overman (Jinnpy). Three-year-old Norfolk cart colts. — Cup, value £5 5s. and silver medal, H. Overman (Punch). Three-year-old Norfolk cart fillies. — First prize, £6 and silver medal, J. Tingey (Brag) ; second, £-3, J. Tingey (Diamond). Two-year-old ^forfolk cart fillies. — First prize, £5 silver medal, and the old Buckenham cup, value £10 10s., W. Allen (Darling) ; second, £3, T. Calver. Norfolk cart foals. — First prize £5 and silver medal, Rev. T. L. FeUowes ; second, £3, C. Cooke. Thorough-bred staUions. — Cup, value £10, and prize £10, Major Barlow (Dalesman) ; second, £6, £. Jolley (Little Hastings). Highly commended, C.Growcock (Mr. Stiggins). Mares or geldings. — First prize, £10, G. M. Sexton, Wher- stead, Suffolk (IcUeBoy) ; second, £5, C. BuUard, (Topthorn). Highly commended, E. Greene, M.P., Bury St. Edmunds (Black Cock). Mares or Geldings, adapted for hunting, not equal to carry 14 stones. — First prize £10 and cup, value £20, Major Barlow (Topstall) ; second, £5, G. S. Mott, (Mischief). Highly com- mended,E. Green, M. P. (Chester),and J. Savory, jun. (Tramp). Commended, T. Betts (Arlescott). Mares or geldings adapted for hunting, the bona fide pro- perty of a resident of Norfolk. — First prize, £10 10s., J. Gall ; second, £5 5s. J. GaU (Charlie). Highly commended, T. Goold (Safety). Commended, T. Betts (Rifleman), and C. Waters. Four-year-old colts or fillies, adapted for hunting. — First prize, £10, T. EveVitt (Rupert) ; second, £5, J. T. Mills (Diana). Highly commended, J. Tingey. Stallions for saddle or harness. — First prize, £10, H. Bulti- taft, Bedwellhay, Ely (Clear the Way) ; second, £6, J. Abel, (Young Phenomenon). Highly commended, T. L. Reed (Trotaway). Rising mares or geldings. — £10 lOa., G. Stracey (Tom); second, £5, J.^Warth, Sutton, Ely (Polly). Hackney mares or geldings, above 14 liauds and not ex- ceeding 15 hands high.— £10 and silver medal, W. Cann ; second, £5, E. Jolley (Black Bess). Highly commended, T. Everitt(Duchess), and R. Gittus. Brood mares for saddle or harness. — First prize, £8 and silver medal, Major Barlow (Silverlocks) ; second, £5, H. Gillings (Favourite). Highly commended, H. Overman (Bertha). Ponies. — First prize. Lord Stafford's premium of £5, and cup, value £10 10s., C. Groucock ; second, £3, J. Warth (Matchless). Highly commended, C. Groucock (Pretty Seusan) , and J. J. Clark (King of Hearts). Commended, N. Catch- pole, Ipswich (Tom). Ponies not under 12 or above 13 hands high. — First prize, £5, W. Rose (Lily) ; second, £3, S. T. Turner. Cobs. — Cup, value £10 10s., H. Overman (Liberalty). Higlily commended, J. Sewell (Lion). SOUTHDOWN SHEEP. Judges. — H. P. Hart, Beddingham, Sussex. J. S. Turner, Chyngton, Seaford, Susses. Shearling SouthdoNvn rams. — First prize, £8 and silver medal. Lord Walsingham ; second, £5, Lord Walsingham; third, £3, Lord Walsingham. Southdown rams of any age. — £5, first prize, £3 and silver medal, Lord Sondes ; second, £5, Lord Sondes. Shearling Southdown ewes. — Prize, £5 and silver medal, Lord Sondes. Southdown ewe lambs. — First prize, £% and silver medal, H.R.H. the Prince of Wales ; second, £3, Lord Sondes. Com- mended, Lord Sondes, and Sir W. Jones, Bart. Southdown wether lambs. — Lord Walsingham's premium of £5 and silver medal, Lord Sondes ; second, £3, Lord Sondes. LONG-WOOLLED AND HALF-BRED SHEEP. Judges. — C. Clarke, Scopwick, Lincolnshire. W. Sanday, Radcliffe-on-Trent, Notts. Shearling long-wooUed rams. — First prize, £8 and silver medal, T. Brown ; second, £5, T. Brown. Commended, T. Brown. Long-wooUed rams. — First prize, £8 and silver medal, T. Brown ; second, £5, T. Brown. Long-wooUed ram lambs. — £5 and silver medal, T. Brown ; second, £3, T. Brown. Commended, T. Brown. Lincoln ram lambs. — £10 10s., and silver medal, T. F. Salter. Ram lambs, not long-wooUed. — Prize, £4 and silver medal, J. L. Barrat. Shearling wethers. — First prize, £5, W. Rook ; second, £3, J. Overman. Highly commended, H. Overman. Commended, H.R-S. the Prince of Wales and H. Overman. Ewes. — First prize, £5 and silver medal. Captain Catling; second, £3, T. F. Salter. Commended, H.R.H. the Prince of Wales and Lord Sondes. Ewes, not being Southdown or long-woolled. — Prize, £6 and sUver medal, H. Overman. Shearling ewes, not being Southdown or long-wooUed.— Prize, £5 and silver medal, H • Overman. Shearling ewes of any breed. — £5, and prize, £2 and silver medal, H. Overman. Three-shear brown-faced ewes. — £10 10s., and silver medal, H. Overman. Three-shear black-faced ewes. — £10 10s. and silver medal, J. F. Palmer. Shearling brown or black-faced ewes. — £10 10s., and silver medal, H. Overman. PIGS. Judges.— H. P. Hart. J. S. Turner. Boars of large breed. — First prize, £4, F. H. Everett; se- cond, £3, R. E. Duckering and Sons. Highly commended, R. E. Duckering and Sons, and Rev. J. L. Brereton. Breeding sows of large breed. — First prize, £4 and silver medal, R. E. Duckering and Sons ; second, £3, F. H. Everett. Boars of smaU breed (black). — £5 5s., prize of £4, and silver medal, S. G. Steam ; second, £2, R. E. Duckering and Sons. Highly commended, Rev. J. N. Micklethwait. Breeding sows of small breed (black). — First prize, £4 and sUver medal, S. G. Steam ; second, £2, S. G. Steam. Highly commended, F. H. Everett. Boars of small breed (white). — Cup, value £5 5s., prize of £4, and silver medal, H. Aylmer ; second, £2, R. E. Duckering and Sons. Highly commended, S. G. Steam. Breeding sows of small breed (white). — First prize, £4 add silver medal, R. E. Duckering and Sons ; second, £3, R. E. Duckering and Sons. Highly commended, H.R.H. the Prince of Wales. T^ FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. 117 Breeding sows (three) of small breed (black), not exceeding nine months old. — Prize, £•!< and silver medal, S. G. Steam. Breeding sows (three) of small breed (wliite), not exceeding nine months old. — First prize, JEi and silver medal, S. G. Steam ; second, £2, H. Aylmer. Highly commended, ,S. G. Steam. Litters of pigs. — £3 3s., prize of £3, and silver medal, S. G. Steam. Highly commended, F. H. Everett and R. E. Ducker- iug and Sons, Extra Stock. — Highly commended, Mrs. G. Cresswell, of Appleton, seven store pigs. Commended, J . T. Ashley, Litcham (fat pig). IMPLEMENTS. Judges. — T. Chambers, Colkirk, Norfolk. J. Fergusson, Brettenliam, Norfolk. Collection of agricultural implements and machines. — Cup of the value of £10 10s., Holmes and Sous, Norwich. The Dinner took place on the Thursday in the Corn Hall, Attleborough, when the Hon. Thomas de Grey, M.P., presided. In the course of tlie after-dinner proceedings, Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., said : As to their agricultural pros- pects, whether he looked at them that day or whether he looked at them in the future, he was sorry to say there was nothing very cheering. He did think that they had not yet reaHsed the full extent of last year's drought. They said that the turnip crop Nvas the mainstay of Norfolk agriculture, and if they had lost that he feared they would not find the whole loss until their four-course rotation was over ; and, with re- gard to the future, he did think they had a very miserable prospect of a crop of corn, for he fancied that their Norfolk sauds were something; like the Irish boy's idea of an am- phibious animal — a thing that could not live on the land and died in the water ; and, while he believed that their Norfolk sands could not stand the drought of last year, he was quite sure they could not stand the cold and wet of this year. Last year, as tliey liad no cattle to buy, they were full of money ; but this year, as they had no cattle to sell, they were in a dif- ferent position, and he hoped they would pay their rents cheerfully. Turning to agriculture in Parliament, he was sorry he could not present them with a more glowing picture. It was only yesterday that Parliament tried to turn the farmers into bankrupts ; but, thanks to lier Majesty's Government, they avoided this. It was seldom they came to grief, but if tliey did they divided what tliey could among themselves, and did not allow the la\i7ers to eat the oysters and leave them only the shells. Then with regard to other agricultural matters that had been before Parhament, he supposed it w^ould be his duty to congratulate them on what no doubt would be called " the completion of Free Trade." There was a duty of Is. per qr., which Sir Robert Peel said was a sort of registra- tion fee on foreign corn. It produced £900,000. He was not aware that any one particularly complained of it or felt that it was an injury, but in order to complete that great revolution they had it repealed. They were told that it was a remnant of Protection, and if it were a remnant of Protection he for one should only be too glad that it had been abolished. They were told that when the navigation dues were repealed it was the pillar on which to erect the statue of free trade, and he supposed that the shilling being repealed they must regard it as a bonnet on her chignon — a thing very requisite, no doubt, but at the same time a thing so infinitesimaUy small that the fair wearer would not know whether it was off or on. Well, this shilliug duty had been repealed for the labouring man ; he only hoped he would derive the benefit that was ex- pected from it ; but rather strange to say, that when they asked for the repeal of 22s. per qr. for their barley converted into malt, it was said that they (the agriculturists) should waive the whole of that, and that the poor man would not get any benefit from it. [A Voice : " Why didn't you propose that?"] Well, he thought they must not be so very squeam- ish, especially as they had a clever Chancellor, who could turn a great deficiency into a good surplus. There was only one other matter he would touch upon, aud that was the subject of agricultural statistics. Two years ago he had the honour of addressing a similar assembly to that, aud he said that he thought it was the duty of farmers, and especially the Norfolk farmers, to fill up the returns sent to them ; and as the Governmrut asked them to furnish that inl'orraation, they would readily furnish the information ; but he did not believe it would do them or anybody else any good whatever. Now they had those statistics for three years, he would ask them whether they had produced any good ? As the Government now knew about the acreage of their crops, and the niunber of cattle and sheep they had in this country, he thought it would be just as well if they were taken at certain intervals, to be a sort of census, just as the population census, But who were they who asked for these returns ? Of course the Board of Trade, who asked them to send their acreage and the num- ber of their stock ; but when they went to the Board of Trade, and asked them to be so good as to collect the numerous agri- cultural matters, under the control of Government, into one oflice, or at least to have a department of the Board of Trade, they were politely told by the President of the Board ol Trade to regard the rain, the showers, and the sun, rather than to hope for any assistance from the Government. And if they asked for the support of the Government m favour of their Seeds Bill, which was to put down a cruel and monstrous fraud, they were treated with a little childish lecture about growing seeds in warm flannel. He happened the other day to see an old farmer at the Farmers' Club, who used to be terribly against agricultural statistics, and he said to him, "I am so pleased you have been so silent about them since we have returned them !" " Yes," he said, " they agree with me greatly well ; I get half a dozen of them every year, so that I get six stamps yearly, and that is one per cent, of the dog tax your Government imposed upon me." He (Mr. Read) did not advise them to do the same, but they would not be to blame if they did so (cheers). Lord Sondes said : When he first came to reside in Nor- folk he had a flock of Norfolk horned sheep, with long legs. This was five-and-forty years ago ; and at that time, being advised to get rid of the sheep he then had, a friend at Lewis fair bought him some excellent Southdown lambs ; aud from that moment to this, being most perfectly satisfied with it, he had never altered his flock. With regard to Norfolk cattle, he thought they were an excellent breed, and should be kept up. He liked true breeding, and not cross-breeding. Mr. Turner, one of the judges, said : Sussex men wery very generally spoken of as great flats (laughter). Now thee did not heed that or what was said about them. They had warm English hearts, and came to that show to do what was right to their fcUow-raen, regardless of whether the com- petitors were dukes or kings. They had seen in the yard some very good sheep, and they had also seen some extremely good pigs. There was one sow iu the yard which was as good as any he ever saw ; and he did not know that he ever saw a better pen of a sow and three pigs than were there shown ; and he had been at many shows, not only iu Great Britain, but also in Ireland, this being the 106th time that he had acted as a judge. Lord Walsinghaji congratulated them on the good show : but in Norfolk this was not surprising. It could not have been otherwise, when in the great national shows, particularly those of the Royal Agricultural Society and the Smithfield Club, it was not far from the truth to say that more prizes came into this county than went into any other county in England ; at all events, this county stood a very good second, if it did not stand first. He often saw iu the liorsc-shows in London that a great many prizes came to Norfolk ; and he really felt ex- ceedingly proud of his county. He had seen that day a great many animals which were quite fit to go the Royal Show at Manchester. He was quite sure they should see some of them there, and he really hoped they should see a good many of them. It was most desirable that everybody should feel that if he had a good breed his stock would be more valuable than if he had a mere mongrel breed, which latter was, he was afraid, a little too prevalent in this county. He was very proud to see his worthy sou president of the Association, although he had not as yet shown any great predilection for agriculture. Mr. H. Overman said he begged to differ very much from the President when he recommended farmers to feed their own animals. He (Mr. Overman) had never fed one of his prize animals ; he had instructed his men how to feed them, and had turned his time and talent to find out how the animals 118 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. could best be bred. Me liitd that day been told that he had deserted the steps of his foreiitthers. Well, he must acknow- ledge that he always tried to advance with the times, lie had found the Oxford Downs more proiitahle than Southdowns, and had won four or five prizes with them in competition against Lord Sondes' Southdowns. It was, however, no little pleasure to him to remember that his lordship's Downs emanated from tlie flock of his (Mr. Overman's) grandfather. He would no longer occupy their attention than to state that he liad that day heard three gentlemen discussing the merits of his animals that had taken prizes. Of course it was not intended that he should hear; but being rather (iuick, he caught what was said. One of the number I heard say, " Do you like Overman's animals P" And the reply was, " I like them pretty well, but I should like them much better had they more Conservative blood ia their veins." The Presiuent explained that in the matter to which Mr. Overman had alluded he meant that no man could tell whether a thing was well done in agriculture unless he knew how to do it himself, CONCENTRATED ROOT FOOD. Sir, — I am deeply interested in the subject of Coacentrated Hoot Pood, because I am patentee of the process ; and I wish, in common witli those who exercise their brains for the com- mon weal, to benefit personally by my exertions. 1 make this statement at the outset, because it will induce those who look into my statements to exercise not only caution, but to arm themselves with those suspicions which are ever naturally at hand, where information is made to go hand in hand with self-advancement. In the early period of root-growing, all that was thought necessary was to allow the sheep to guaw the root from the ground, then hoeing up the half-consumed root to enable the flock to finish it. This wasteful system is still in force on many of our worst conducted farms. Tlien came the plan of storing in heaps, to keep off the frost, and the turnip- cutter was invented. It was proved that manual labour, by cutting the roots in small pieces, saved labour to the sheep, and that the amount of meat consequently gained-more than eompensated for the labour of cutting. This was improve- ment No. 1. It was next discovered that, from the watery na- ture of the root, it might be advantageously pulped and mixed with chaff, so that the animal would be compelled, as it were, to consume certain portions of dry food, which, with his belly distended with roots freely given alone, he would not, could not consume. This was improvement No. 2. This im- provement has, however, as yet been almost confined to yard feeding ; although I know one hard-workiug tenant far- mer who considers tlie advantage gained so great, that he ac- tually carts all his roots to the homestead, where they are pulped and mixed with chaff, and then carted back to the fold to be consumed. It must, however, be borne in mind that, though mixing chaff with the watery raw root mitigates the evil effects of such watery food, it does not constitute a food of high feeding value. My system, which I will now describe, may, I think, be called improvement No. 3 ; and I will state the grounds upon wliich I form that conclusion. The most experienced farmers tell us that the utmost feed- ing value of a ton of raw roots is not more than 5s. or 6s. per ton ; that is, for one ton of roots they cannot produce much more than 8 lbs. of dead meat. Now, analysis told me that 1 ton of roots ought, by the quantity of dry feeding material contained in them, to produce more than 34 lbs. of meat. How was this discrepancy to be accounted for ? Was analysis at fault, or was there something in the condition of the root which prevented the full development of their feeding proper- ties ? I was inclined to believe the latter to be the true solu- tion of the question ; and 1 proceeded to put it to the test. Knowing that roots contained 89 per ceut of water and 11 per ceut. of dry feeding substance, I pulped 8 tons of mangold, and placed them on a kilu to dry, spreading the pulped roots about 4 or 5 inches thick on the kiln floor ; in 24! hours the water had evaporated, leaving me one ton of dry sul)stance, or more correctly I should say, the 11 per cent, of each ton of roots was left, giving me 88 per ceut. of dry feeeding sub- stance, and 12 per cent, of water. AVith this food I fed 5 sheep for r30 weeks, putting them on Ij acres of very poor aftermath, allowing 30s. for the IJ acres of aftermath, which was admitted by farm- ers to be above its feeding value. I made 20 stone (of S lbs.) of carcase-meat with 8 cwt. of this concentrated root food. The value of the meat, at 5s. per 81bs., was £5 ; deducting 30s. for aftermath, this gave me £3 10s. for 8 cwt. of concentrated root food, made from 3 tons 4 cwt. of raw roots, or rather more than £1 per ton as the feeding value of roots ; from this, of course, had to be deducted the cost of fuel and labour. The fuel cost 2s. 6d. for each ton of raw roots ; and the labour of carting the roots from the land to the kiln, pulping and drying, may be estimated at Is. more. Thus, 1 ton of roots gave me a clear 16s. worth of actual carcase meat, as against 5s. feeding in the ordinary manner. This was the exact amount which, according to analysis, shoi/ldhe produced from the dry feeding substance contained in 1 ton of raw roots. I may mention that the weighing of the sheep was most care- fully attended no, and was witnessed by gentlemen of position residing in the neighbourhood, interested in the experiment. It will, of course, occur to the reader that this was an iso- lated experiment ; and I confess I should not myself place the full reliance I do upon it, did it not tally so completely with the analytical value of the feeding material contained in roots. I may also mention that the tenant farmer who conducted this experiment for me tested its feeding value on all other kinds of stock, with equal satisfaction to himself. I may state that tlie feeding value of this food is fully recognized by our great agricultural analytical chemist. Dr. Voelcker. Now, if these facts are true, and to be fully relied on, what conclusion does it point to ? Why, that t/iree times the amount of meat can be manufactured from the same acreage of roots as is at present made by using raw roots ; three times the amount of meat for our daily increasing population ! Nay, that does not really meet the question ; because from root food being given in this concentrated form, the animal's stomach is not distended ; it will therefore consume large quantities of straw chaff ; and thus, in addition to the in- creased value of the root crop, we get the feeding value of straw besides, to swell the bulk of meat-producing substances. It has been suggested to me that if we pass aU our straw through the animal's stomach, the cjiiaidity of manure will be reduced. Undoubtedly. But the value of manure is to be reckoned by its quality not quantity. Guano teaches us that fact. A ton of straw contains certain elements, one part of which is food for animal life, tlie other portion food for vegetable life ; by utilizing one we do not destroy the other, or take from it, but, by separating the two, we get the full benefit of both. By mixing a ton of sugar with a ton of guano we should increase the bulk, but we should uot increase its manurial value. This is what we do when we use straw as manure without passing it through the digestive organs. I look forward confidently to the day when every root grown in this country shall be converted into a dry feeding substance, and every particle of straw not absolutely required as litter to secure the comfort of stock (and by placing cattle and pigs on boards this may be reduced to a minimum) will be deprived of its feeding value before it is returned to the land as food for vegetable life. Hugh Smith. 21, Westlioiirne Terrace Road^ W., London. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 119 W H A T D R O U G II T T E A 0 H E 8 Without exposing ourselves to the charge of trenching on matters which properly belong to ministers of religion, we can assert that, after all, " drouglit" is a great teacher. If it only taught us humility, it would answer one useful purpose. When we are over prosperous we become over sanguine, and we are apt to forget the source of aU goodness. Eor many years the squatting interest has enjoyed a large amount of prosperity ; we have had comparatively fine seasons, beef and mutton have sold high, though the producers did not get their fair share of the money paid for meat by the consumers. There are too many parties standing between the producer of meat and the consumers ; a very large proportion of tlie gross sum which the bullock or sheep realised, on the meat being retailed, was sunk in expenses. Droving expenses, losses on the road, and commission, must be taken into consideration, ere the animal is handed over to the wliolesale butcher ; he sells to the retail butcher, and the latter sells to the public. We are not esti- mating these expenses at too high a figure when we say, that if a bullock or sheep sells, when retailed, for £10, the producer on an average gets no more than £6 for him in the nett. Omitting these minutiu) as not bearing exactly on tiic ques- tion under consideration, the calling of the squatter, or stock- owner renting land from the Crown, is by no means beset by worldly pleasures. The hoiid fide squatter, who settles down in the interior to reclaim the country — to give it the first coat- ing of progress — is debarred those comforts which tend to make life agreeable. People in the cities or large towns see the bright and sunny side of the squatter's life. When he visits the metropolis, after burying himself for a long time in the bush, he is light-hearted and jovial, is free with his mouey, treats liberally ; but, as a rule, he does not go into excess. Some of the younger squatters occasionally become a little prodigal, much to the envy and admiration of those whom they in town select as their companions. Clubs, theatres, operas, concerts, all are attended, as the squatter likes to make the most of his time while in town. Ilis stay is short ; he spends liberally, and is off again. Town friends thus see the fair side of squatting, and consider the squatter is one of the spoiled children of fortune — they mistake the veneer for the true mahogany. The squatter in town, like the captain of a ship in port, is only let loose for a short time. What violent storms and shipwreck are to the mariner, drought is to the squatter ; the difference is merely this, that tlie storm is soon over, and the damage done by it is known, whereas drought, slower in its process, is more disastrous in its effects. At times the mariner can take refuge in some port from the storm, and secure liis ship ; but the squatter has no such liaven. Week after week — aye, month after mouth — with him is the brazen sky above, and the parched earth below. He watches every cloud as it passes by, and prays for rain. Threatening clouds come and go till his heart gets sick. Desiring to meet his liabilities fairly, he may have overstocked his run with sheep or cattle, and large quantities of them perish. E,uin stares him in the face, for the money-lender is inexorable, and time is a terrible opponent to run against — bills have to be met. If they should he dishonoured, the squatter, probably having carried all his eggs in one basket, is ruined. The drought has taught him many things ; regarded in a worldly point of view, the lesson in its most severe form is in connection with the overstocking of his run. Nothing can prove more destructive to the Crown tenants than over- stockiu-g — overstocking sans breeding is doubly ruinous. The mass of the sixteen millions of sheep in New Soutii Wales are of very inferior breed, and inferior animals have been used in stocking the back country, where drought is most severely felt. It is painful to a degree to read the accounts of the losses fronr Queensland southern border, down the Darling to the Murray, at Wentworth. In Southern lUverina, the country between tlie Murrumbidgeo and the Murray, where there have been so many improvements made for water supply, the losses in sheep have been comparatively small, though many of the latter runs are overstocked. The water supply being so much better than in the far-off Darling districts, the settlers between the Mur- ray and the Murrnmbidgee are contending manfully with the common enemy — drought, Now, as it takes a'? much food to kec]) an inferior bred sheep as it does to sustain one of much higher breeding, and as sheep, like all other useful animals, are valuable in proportion as they are well bred, overstocking a country is a great evil. Supposing the average value of each lleece from the sixteen millions of sheep in New South Wales to be 2s. Gd., the value of the gross quantity would he two millions of pounds sterling ; but admitting that in the room of selling eight fieeces for 20s., we sold only five at 4s. each, the value of lireeding is apparent — the country would not be over- stocked, because the highest estimate we have heard of tlie approximate losses from drought is two millions of sheep. If the quantity of sheep in the colony stood as " five" instead of " eight," we should jiroduce the same amount of wool in value as we now do, viz., if we had ten millions of sheep instead of sixteen millions. If there is this striking advantage in regard to wool, what must he the result in regard to the carcase of the sheep ? The nourishment which produces good wool will also yield superior meat. This is an acknowledged fact, as proved by experience. Some people maintain that the sheep of the Merino type do not throw good mutton, but this is a fallacy, as we here periodically show that our Australian Me- rino mutton, bred in Riverina, is equal in flavour and in ten- derness to the very best mutton of the British Isles. We are not liegging the question when we say that ten millions of sheep, well supplied with food and water, would be as valuable for food as the sixteen millions of sheep now in the colony, one-half of which at least are only half-fed, and the other por- tion kept a little above starvation point. It would be tedious to pursue the qucstiou through all its minutiie ; we have only room to exhibit it in its most striking features. The drought has also developed this fact, that the system of squatting north of the Lachlan, and in our territory south of the Darling, must be placed on a better footing. Stocking large tracts of coun- try, uufeuced, and not one quarter of which is properly supplied with water, is only a waste of means — an exhaustion of the physical qualities of some of our best men — squatters and their employes. Some of our foremost squatters — men who have devoted upwards of a quarter of a century of the best years in their lives in Kiverina — have been ruined in trying to subdue obstacles, which have iiroved insurmountable under the system of quantity and regardless of quality of stock. Drought, then, has taught us that we must pay every attention to the quality of our sheep — where we have kept eight sheep we should only have kept five. Every spot where we can secure water, there water should be accumulated, so as to support the sheep pro- perly, if we would procure prime wool, and if we would pro- perly fatten the sheep. We have been taught by the drought that the saltbush country can produce the very best wool, but we can only effect this by giving the sheep ample supplies of water and food ; our salt grasses and herbage are amongst the most healthy in the world for sheep. In this respect we are unrivalled. One sheep to four acres in the most highly favoured parts of the Riverine country would be about the proportion, taking average seasons. The water depots should be so placed as to give the sheep no more than three miles to travel to slake his thirst. To pour tens of thousands of sheep into vast tracts of country, however well grassed, and to expect them to travel great distances for water, is to exhibit unpar- donable indifference to the elementary laws of wool-growing. The sheep is an animal devoid of all vis or energy — it cannot go as do cattle, twenty or thirty miles to water, though it can combat thirst for a longer time than can the cow or the bul- lock. The secret which we have learnt at such heavy loss is thus explained, viz., ample quantities of food close at hand for our flocks. In lliverina we are tolerably well off' for grass in the proportion stated, but as for water, millions of pounds will yet have to be spent ere the water supply be as good as we must have it in the Darling and trans-Lachlan country. Until this is effected wo shall be compelled to stock the dry and arid territory last referred to with cattle. We may breed cattle there profitably. Hitlierto, sheep stations there have proved a gigantic failure. We may thank the drought for the lesson, if we would profit by it ; those who do not do so are certain in the end to regret their disobedience. — Adelaide Pastoral Times. 120 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. THE REARING OF FARM HORSES. At the usual monthly meeting of the Croydon Farmers' Club, Mr. R. W. Fuller, chairman, the following paper was read by Mr. Davison, of Reigate : — There is no one thing connected with agriculture of greater importance to the farmer than his horse power — of course excepting the ruling power of manual labour. It is true that steam is largely employed where formerly horse power was used — that is in cultivation, and thrashing out ; but horse power still is, and must always be, the principal means by which the farmer gets through his work, and steam becomes more an auxiliary than a real power to the farmer. Such being the case, is it not our interest as well as our duty to have this great power of the most improved class, and that we should do everything we can to have horses not only fit for the work, but also ornamental in the waggons and the field ? We have seen and do see daily fabulous prices given for tho- rough-breds. A Stockwell, a Newminster, a Dundee, com- mand their 100 guineas for their services for each mare, whilst the farmer, who is breeding for real earnest work, looks twice before he will pay his two guineas for a sire. Depend upon it, if you want a good thing of any class you must pay for it, and rest assured it will repay you again. Nothing struck me more when I first came into the south than the appearance of your farm horses, mixed in colour, mixed in size, and with no distinct class of breed, and very few teams of one colour. If by chance you meet a team of greys, if you inquire you gene- rally find that they had no coiuiection or relationship with each other ; but that perhaps one came from the north, and one from the south, and the other from the west. Now in the North of England you will find generally .teams of blacks, greys, or browns ; but always matched as nearly as possible in colour, height, and action, and you would also find that nearly every horse was boi n on the farm ; but many of my neigh- bours say, " Oh ! but we are not a breeding county." Some twelve years ago I read my first paper to this association, on the absolute necessity of the farmers becoming greater breeders of stock. I was met with the same cry ; but, I have lived to see teu head of cattle where there used to be one half-bred mongrel cow, and I have seen large farmers, who almost en- tirely depended on the open market for Shorthorn stock, are now compelled to become breeders of their own cattle ; be- cause nearly every breeder is also a feeder, and is certain to keep the best for his own use, and, therefore, does not sell as he formerly did at our fairs small herds of Devons, Herefords, and but seldom or ever any quantity of Shorthorns or Sussex. The baUiff to Mr. Glutton, of Hartsvvood, who is a very large breeder for the south, told me a short time back that he has been compelled to breed all his Shorthorns, as it is impossible to get first class animals in any number in the opeii market. On many farms where they used to rear perhaps half-a-dozen, they now rear 15 to 20. I now venture to predict that we must also be breeders of horses, not needy thoroughbreds, but strong powerful horses fit for our work, and adapted to field or road. I say you farmers, if you want to make money out of horses, confine yourselves to the big, the strong, the powerful, adapted to your own work, when young, and for which you will find a ready market in London when they arrive at the proper age for work. Many have said to me when discussing this subject in the market room, " Oh ! but it costs money to breed horses." Now, again, I join issue with them. Let us come to figures, and if I make a mistake I am sure you will correct me. You have a good cow, and you put her to a good sire, cost say 10s. to get a good calf; you must dry her off say eight weeks before calving, put your own figures to this ; she has a calf ; all goes on well ; the calf takes (for some time) a good share of her milk ; in twelve months your steer or heifer is worth £6 to £8, at two years old he is worth £11 to £14, and you all know what it cost to make him worth £32. If a heifer you may, by down calving, without oilcake, get £15 for her. Now let us take a mare. You put her to a good sire, say at a cost of £2 ; you work her to within a week of her foaliug, three weeks after you work her again, so that she has only had a naonth's rest ; put your own figures to this ; in twelve months your colt is worth £10 to £15, at two years he begins to earn his daily bread, and is worth £20 to £30 ; he goes on improving in strength and stature, working daily ; at four or five years old he will bring his £40 to £50. Does he, as a yearling, or two-year-old, eat more than a one or two-year- old steer or heifer ? Is this imaginary or facts ? I have never really tested this ; but I have found that 1 have kept two colts on the same piece of land that had previously carried two steers ; therefore I imagine that a yearling colt does not eat more than a yearling steer. Many years ago our then chairman, Mr. Stenning, characterised me as the leader of the theoretical party in the club. I want now to be the humble follower of the practical farmers, and will give yon my first attempt at breeding at one of our worthy chairman's periodical sales. I bought for £17 a brown mare, rather high in the rump, roomy, with a fine head, and four good legs, a good stepper, and could do her eight miles an hour. At the same time I bou^rht a three-part bred mare same colour, both of which I thought would tlirow me a good foal, if I could only get a good sire, and here came the difficulty. Mr. R. Brodrick, with his usual wish to help the farmers, brought up a rather nice compact chesnut horse out of Suffolk, but he had no pedigree. Luckily I discarded him, as all his stock turned out light below the knee and fore quarter, having, no doubt, bred back to some faulty predecessor, for the horse himself was short in the leg and compact. There I saw greys, browns, and roans. I selected a brown horse belonging to Mr. Knight, of Tandridge. The work mare had a colt, which Mr. Brand, of Hoxley, bought for £15 at twelve months old. At two years he put him to work, and at Crawley fair he was, in the autumn of last year, the best horse in the fair, and was sold to a dealer from Lewes for, I believe, 55 guineas. The other mare had a filly foal, which Mr. Brand gave the same price for at two and a half years. He sold her for £40, and I am told at five years of age, she was sold for 65 guineas. If I, a mere theoretical farmer, could select two mares to do as well as these did, what might not you experienced practical farmers do ? But there may be some theoretical members of this club ; tlierefore I may be useful, by giving them a little advice as to the means to be used to secure certain profits and good colts. They must abnegate the lame, the halt, the blind ; the unsound in wind and limb ; also from breeding from restive mares, or mares of bad temper ; take the best mare on your farm, not more than nine or ten years old for her first foal. She will, perhaps, with one or two exceptions, produce you a foal yearly for teu or twelve years. Mind, if she is a pedigree mare, or one whose mother or sire may have been in your own or your family's possession for some years, of known good qualities, so much the better ; but take care she is roomy and sound. Then select your horse ; here great care is necessary for you to have a horse with a pedigree, as any faults come out on the sire side in the second or third gene- ration. How this is we cannot tell, but such is the fact, while the bad qualities will be dormant on the mare's side for generations. I remember a friend of mine had a favourite grey mare, which he always put to a grey horse. The first two foals vvere grey ; next a chesnut. How is this ? It must be from tlie horse. No such thing. They traced him for five generations always grey, but at last the farmer's mother remembered tiiat the great granddam of the grey mare was a chesnut. As I say, select a pedigree sire, not a fancy pedigree, but one vouched for by good authority. If you see two horses, one having all that you want in a sire, but no pedigree, or only an imperfect one, and another with some faults in him but with a pedigree, take the latter, as you are certain to get an average foal, but in the other you may get a sort you did not want. Another thing is to try and get a horse that has the qualities necessary that your mare may not have. For instance, if your mare is long in the legs, have a horse with as short legs as are in keeping with his beauty as a horse. This, your own judgment will tell you how to carry out. If your mare is small, get the biggest horse yon can find ; if of a fiery temper, then one of quiet temper, and so on, trying to THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 121 eschew all the ills those horses are prone to. Now, comes a question for your consideration, that is, whether we cannot improve on the class of sires that we have coming round. Take them as a whole, I never saw a worse lot. There are two or three exceptions, but it would be invidious to name them. My opinion is, that we want fresh blood altogether. We want horses of known excellence, size, and quality. I should like to see a Clydesdale or Scotch grey brought up. I feel sure it would pay. For instance, if fifty of us put down say £2 each, and promise a mare, the thing is done ; as there are plenty of enterprising men who know what a horse is, and who would supply the want. I dare say many of you saw the Clydesdales at the Royal Sliow at Battersea, some magnificent animals, of great size and power, at the same time with fine action. A friend of mine bought one for £180, for Austi-alia. On his arrival in Melbourne, he cost him £430. Still, he tells me that lie has paid him handsomely, besides materially improving the size and stamina of the native horses, and that he has six sons, all sizes, disseminating the royal blood through the colony. Now this gentleman was wise in his generation. Besides doing a great good for the country, where he has realised a liandsome fortune, his name will be handed to posterity as the first importer of Clydesdales into Australia. I hope some members of this Association will be as patriotic as to bring them into this county, and have his name remitted to posterity in the same way. Another reason, gentlemen, why we should be breeders of iiorses is the fact that we have a never failing market within a few miles. It is said, how truly I know not, that there are 400 horses done up every week in London. The wonder is where they all come from. However, this we do know, there is no difficulty in finding a buyer for a good work horse. Besides, there is nothing on a farm that so soon comes into use and money. I hope, gentlemen, that I have only stated facts in connexion with this subject. I hope also, if I liave said anything opposed to sound practical farming, that you will attribute it to a want of knowledge, and not to any wish to mislead you in any way. I also hope that we shall in the next few years see as great an improvement in our breed of horses as we have seen the last few years in our breed of cattle, and see a blood mare on every farm, producing colts that will not only be a profit to the breeders, but a credit to the neighbourhood. I have been told by dealers, that they have to go to far-off places to supply the want of even the farmers round here, and the cost of bringing them is a very important item. In the price of the animal, therefore, it gives the home breeders an additional profit in competing wiih animals brought from a distance, at a yearly cost. My opinion is that if you select properly your dams and sires, you wiU find colt breeding a powerful help in making up the rent of your farms, as also a great source of pleasure to yourselves. Mr. Stables said, he was not fond of dealing in horses, but he liked to breed such as he wanted on his own farm. From the experience he had had in rearing them, he found it an- swered his purpose well. When he first came into Surrey, he purchased two good horses to keep up his stud, and this he had been enabled to do at about £70 a year. Before he reared themhimself, he used to get jibbers and kickers, and all sorts of animals ; but for some years past he had had nothing but what he had bred. He found his home-bred auimals worked much better than others, and gave more satisfaction in every way. Besides having good horses by home-breeding, he was also enabled to sell one now and then, which was far better than liaving to purchase, and running the risk of getting in- ferior animals. He attached very much importance to what Mr. Davison had said about hereditary peculiarities in shape, disease, and temper. He found from the horses he had on his farm that they generally inherited the temper of the mother to a great extent, and he was sure they would all agree with him that a good tempered horse was better than one with a bad temper. A good tempered horse would do more work than the other, and indeed would be more satisfactory to the farmer in every way. Mr. M. Walker must confess that when he started as a liorse breeder he went on the wrong scent, lie had been a breeder of high class horses, and had kept a thorough-bred for years. He had a splendid lot of colts, but he wanted cus- tomers for them. His horses did not command a ready sale ; but he believed those recommended by Mr. Davison would al- ways sell. He believed with Mr. Davison that a farmer could keep a horse equally as cheap as a beast ; and when any man could do this, he considered he should breed all the animals he wanted. When horses were very plentiful, then it would be another matter ; but as things were at present, he thought home-breeding very necessary. From what he had heard of the Clydesdale liorses, he certainly thought if ever he went to Scotland he would bring home with him a grey, and see what could be done witli it. With regard to the cost of keep he quite agreed with Mr. Davison, for they could keep a mare and could work her again after a fortnight, and could keep a colt on damaged maize for about 3s. 6d. per week. And with re- gard to hereditary shape and action, he knew from experience that the peculiarities of the great-great-great-graudfather often appeared in the colt. For good working-horses, 'j^he preferred those between the blood horse and the cart mare. For agri- cultural purposes generally he preferred this peculiar breed. He would not recommend a heavy-legged animal. What he liked to see was action and cleanliness in a cart-horse. Mr. Lawrance quite concurred in most of the remarks made, and especially those in reference to the Clydesdale horses. At the horse-show in London he took a fancy to one of this description, and he induced Mr. Loyd to purchase two or three. He had a horse and three mares, and the experience he had had with them was most satisfactory. He believed, if they wanted good animals, they must look to the blood as well as the temper of the horse. He had one animal of great power and good action, and he had had four good colts from it in oue year. He kept this animal for four years, until he reared another good one to take its place. He sold the old one to a dealer, who sent it to Australia, and who also exported from Scotland to Australia several of the same breed with great advantage. He thought the Clydesdale and a sliort-legged mare would give good action to a colt. There was, however, one important feature about the Clydesdale horse. It required a great deal of care and attention ; and the gentleman who purchased one of him said he did not think they did so well south as they did in Scotland. He had himself come to the conclusion that a fine-bred Clydesdale did not do so well south asin the north. Before he sold the animal of which he had spoken, he was not sure that the gentleman would purchase, as it was a little heavy in the legs and light in the middle ; but when he told him what the blood was, he said it was quite sufticient. Mr. Harvey said with regard to the colour of animals there was certainly no such uniformity to be seen in Surrey as there was in many other counties. For instance, in the county he came from, Suffolk, they saw nothing but chesnuts. Some of these, however, were what were called the red chesnut, which, like all other sorts, had their defects. They were a little too light in bone. As regarded the horses of Surrey, he certainly thought there was great room for improvement. At the same time, he would not recommend them to bring Suffolk horses into the county ; but as a cross they would be very useful. When he came to reside in Surrey he brought a good Suffolk team with him ; but he could not keep the flesh on them here as he could in Suffolk. One reason for this was, he believed, becanse they could not get good carters. The horses required more attention than they got; and the work was harder as well ; but he was of opinion that the animals did not receive sufficient attention from their carters. At any rate, it was quite necessary not to do as some would have them do — after a horse was worn out with work to breed from him. With regard to the temper of the animal, he did not so much mind the temper. Even if they had a bad-tempered horse, they could get a good deal of work out of it. He never had but one horse that beat him. Mr. Hough considered they wanted certain adaptatious, such as proper grazing grounds and farm buildings. Where he came from they had plenty of ground upon which the horses could run ; but where he was in Surrey they had no fences, and no water. Where there was plenty of grass-land he con- sidered every man should breed his own horses. He had bred a few, and he had never found others answer so well. Were he to turn a mare into the field at night he should not be able to find her in tlie morning, for the fences were so bad ; and, therefore, under such circumstances, it would not answer his purpose to breed. He was sure if he liad to fetch water in the summer his animals would not do well. Mr. D,vvisoN asked Mr. Hough if he reared cattle. Mr. Hough said he did. h 122 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, Mr. Davison — Thea, does a horse waut more water than a beast ? Mr. Hough said a mare wanted a quantity of water ; and if he had to fetch it from a distance he was sure it would uot do. Mr. AViLSON believed Mr. Hough had hit the right nail on the head when he referred to the want of fences. The fact was, iu that part of Surrey where he farmed land, there were no fences, and no water during the summer, and for liis own part he had proved that he could purchase cheaper than breed on the Surrey hills. He had bred two colts, but he had al- ways found them in the way, and he could assure them, he would never breed again, if he could help it. He knew two farmers in Suffolk v/ho purchased the best Belgian horses they could get at two years old. They then worked them until about six or seven years of age, and at the end of that time sold them at a large profit. Mr. L.vwRANCE said that they very much objected to Bel- gian horses in London. Mr. Wilson said he had a Belgian mare, and he found the animal as good as could be wished. He remembered some time ago reading an account of a meeting which took place in the north, at which one of the speakers remarked that, under any circumstances, it was an advantage to breed horses at home, because they became used to the farm, 'and were more docile ; l)ut, from the experience he had had, he could assure them he v/ould never breed another. He also found a great difficulty iu breeding stock on the Surrey hills, for, in the summer months, he often had to go a distance of three miles for water. After some remarks from Mr. Taylor, The CiiAiRMAN said, some people imagined that it was never necessary for a cart-horse to do anything but slouch along as many of them too often did ; but he would say, by all means have good action in all animals that lived and moved. There was something in the action of an animal that would recommend it almost above any other quality, for good action was the perfection of an animal. They saw the same thing iu the case of machinery, for the more perfect in form was the machine, the better and longer it would go. With regard to the breed of horses on a farm, he was of opinion that tliey would never have such a valuable stud by purchasing as they would by breeding. If they reared the animals themselves, they would see them come kindly to the hand, tliey would find them do their work better, and he knew if they wanted to sell they would get a better price for them. He knew from ex- perience that if he had a sale of good home-bred horses, there was always a good demand for them. Those two little words " liome-bred," were better than any others he could use for tho sale of horses, for they would be sure to attract purchasers. He was very much pleased that th-is paper had been brought forward, because lie believed it would, when it became known, set people thinking. It appeared to him there was no more difficulty or expense attending the rearing of a colt than the rearing of a calf ; and lie thought Mr. Davison had clearly shown that the largest amount of profit was on the side of the horse. He knew, however, there were some districts where it would never do to attempt to bring up cattle ; and in consider- ing this question, therefore, it would lie necessary for them to look at the capabilities of their farms before they attempted extensive breeding. But with regard to fences, he thought this was a difficulty that could easily be got over. He did not think a farmer should allow his cattle to get over his fences ; but he should get over the cattle by erecting higher and stronger fences. Mr. Davison in reply, said that with regard to Suffolk ani- mals, he considered they entirely degenerated on the farm. He had seen a thorough-bred Clydesdale and a Scotch grey stand the climate better than many others ; and he hoped, when Mr. Walker went to Scotland, he would bring back with him a Clydesdale, aud turn his attention to the rearing of that des- cription, instead of thorough-breds. If he did this, he would, if possible, gain a higher reputation than he had already gained as a breeder of horses. As to Belgian horses, he objected to them altogether. They v.'ere always soft, and, in his opinion, were not so good as a bad bred English horse. They had not the strength of the English horse, and he did not think they need go to any other country for animals as long as they had sucji good breeds in England. A vote of thanks was then passed to Mr, Davison, and the lueetiiig separated, ON HARVESTING GRAIN CROPS. At the Boroughbridge Agricultural Society's meeting, Mr. Smith in the chair, Mr. Harland read the following paper : It lias been suggested that I shall to-day introduce for discussion the best mode of harvesting grain crops. It is more with the hope of profiting by the discussion than with any idea of im- parting information that I venture on this important subject. It appears to me that the subject divides itself into two parts — 1st. The proper time at which grain may be cut ; Sndly, the best means of harvesting. Wheat, being most valuable for human food, demands our first consideration. It is advantageous to cut wheat a week befoie the grain is ripe. This saves time, improves the quality of the grain, and enables the crop to withstand the effects of rain for a much longer period than if left standing until fully ripe. This is no new theory, but was the practical experience of old men whom I have known ; agri- culturists who calculated the cost, and had long ago arrived at the conclusion that the plan was economical. Experiments are recorded proving that wheat cut when raw, say a week or ten days before being fully ripe, gave analytically in weight and quality of produce twenty per cent, advantage over that which was left until dead-ripe. As' this is an important question, perhaps I may venture to ipiote from Mr. J. Chalmers Mor- ton's Cyclopedia, where it is written " wheat sliond be cut as soon as it has passed from the milky to the doughy state ; if deferred later the grain is thick-skinned' and lighter to the bushel — and is very liable to become discoloured by rain, either before it is cut or in the stook ; it is, moreover, more apt to sprout. The straw, too, breaks down, the crop is more expensive to cut, and it is impossible to make so clean work as when the operation is performed at the proper time. I have no doubt that there is infinitely more loss sustained in Britain from allowing wheat to become dead-ripe, than from cutting it when too raw." With these remarks I agree, except that I do not cut quite so early as here recommended. Oats, for home nsp, are better for being cut rather early, for after the straw ripens near the root, what is lost to the grain is retained in the straw, thus providing horses with a pleasant food. Moreover, there is often great loss sustained by the shedding of oats when very ripe. It may be said that it is a long way to go for a hint, but it may be well to note that the colonists of New South Wales cut oats green so as to secure a supply of oat-hay, which is highly esteemed for horses which have to endure long journeys and hard riding. Of course this plan cannot be pur- sued wlien the outs are required for market, yet it is well to bear in mind that if sweet straw is wanted, it must not be over ripe. Barley is tlie only 'cereal which needs to be perfectly ripe when cut, so as to acquire the correct colour for malting — yet, if allowed to stand uncut until over ripe, there is great risk of the ears being broken olf by the wind. The liean crop is considered ready for cutting when the leaves begin to fall or become withered, not allowing excessive ripeness, as the grain is apt to shed out in cutting. The most hazardous crop to deal with is the pea, which will uot bear being left to ripen, else the seed quickly sheds, and in damp weather ripe haulm quickly spoils. This is the only crop which needs the sickle or hook, else this time-honoured work-tool might lie hung up in the British Museum. While using the hook the peas are drawn aside into small heaps, wliich need turning over before they are ready for the stack. When they are ready for cart- ing, no time should be lost. To-morrow will not do as well as to-day if they are in good condition. This reminds one of tlie careless feUow who reached church in the afternoon, and there- fore was too late to be married. He consoled himself with the remark " To-morrow will do just as well," but the lady thought otherwise, which he found ,out to his sorrow next morning, having missed a good wife. So, in a fickle season, I THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 12i Vemembei- liavlug peas ready for stacking, but otlier work seemed to press, aud ere the morrow came rain, and the peas were spoilt. We luive now to consider the most economical mode of reapin;j wheat, oats, barley, and beans. There used to be but two modes, viz., the sickle and tiie scythe. Work done by the sickle was neater than the scythe, but the progress was too slow, and wlieu hands were scarce, harvest work was re- tarded— lience the scythe became a neeessiiy, although neat farmers of that day declared tliat only slovens used the scythe amongst wheat. Happily the reaper or mowing machine was invented, and came to our aid, performing the operation with the neatness of the sickle, and in every way better than the scythe, and spares the best hands for other operations. La- bourers have said that they have earned more money in har- vest at piecework with the scythe than since tlie invention of the reaping machine. But at what cost ? Excessive toil. To ine it IS a great pleasure when any invention alleviates human toil — none more valuable than the reaping machine ; for har- vest work needs to be pushed on during the heat of the day. Having mentioned our friends the labourers, I may add that it behoves us always to reward, justly, the skilful and industri- ous. The question arises — which is the best description of reaping macliine? The one or two-horse manual, the self- raking sheafer, or the swathing machine ? It would ill become me in this place to endeavour to define. Suffice it, if I venture to reply, tliat machine of lightest draught, which leaves the crop in most convenient form for the succeeding operations with the least manual labour. I anr of opinion that if a ma- chine requires manual labour, beyond the driver of the horses, it is imperfect, and ueeds improvement. The manual delivery reaper is very valuable under suitable conditions. Some men are very expert with the rake in putting off the corn, but I have often seen very sad work done by careless or incompetent men. That is one reason why I prefer a machine which lays the corn in swathe. Again, if there be clover growing amongst barley it is an advantage sometimes to leave it exposed a while, it is more safely left overnight in swathe than in sheaf, drying more quickly after rain. During eleven seasons we have used Burgess and Key's machine with screw delivery, which lays a neat swathe, has worked well, aud at little cost for re- pairs. I have heard of 28 acres being cut by one of these ma- chines in a long day, but I think 18 or 20 acres, with change of horses, is a fair quantity. Of course the quantity must be further reduced if the crop be very heavy aud twisted, so that it be necessary to ruu empty on one side. It is so long since we used the scythe that I cannot now refer to calculations clearly defining the economy of cost in the subsequent operations, but this I know that there is material saving of time, and the work is better done. It is vrorthy of remark that if a labourer has ever taken up after a good mow- ing machine, that labourer is afterwards shy about following a scythe. The- design of machines to lay in sheaf without manual aid is economical, and I hope to see it brought to perfection for heavy work. When the crop has been cut and is laying in swathe or sheaf, what is next to be done ? By means of an ordinary harvest rake the sheaves about one foot in diameter are laid into bands drawn from swathe and laid ready by children, followed by biuder, who makes the sheaves tidy, and throws them aside into straight rows for convenience of stooker. The men who stook or set up the sheaves should be the most expert that can be found, quick, and careful to handle the sheaf, so that when placed in stook that part of the band where the ears are connected be out of reach of rain. Nothing can make np for bad stooking. Eight sheaves of barley or oats in a stook, so placed as to form a perfect roof, with ends east and west and in line, so that the least possible space be passed by the rake. If this be done a great deal of rain may fall without much damage, and if it be necessary after much rain to remove on to fresh ground it may be ac- complished by two men grasping firmly four sheaves each without destroying the form ; but less moved the better. If, on the contrary, tlie sheaves be carelessly placed at first, the base becomes distended, the Ijack of the sheaf is broken, and the rain runs in, instead of (lowing ofl'. One of the best sam- ples of barley we have had stood out for twenty-seven days in 1866, when there was much rain. It was well stooked, afterwards dried by fine weather, and made 50s. per qr. These remarks on stooking apply likewise to wheat, with the addition of hood sheaves, which are necessary when the formation of an ear of wheat is taken into consideration. I know that there is in many minds a prejudice against hooding wheal, formed perhaps in tiie days of the scythe, when sheaves were often untidy. Now, tliere is hardly an excuse for untidy sheaves. 1 have seen the operation so badly performed, that it was merely waste of time ; but when well finished, aud the hoods tied on, the grain will feed much better than when left exposed, and l)e preserved from the iufiuence of bad weather. Truly this adds about Is. an acre to the expense, but Is. per qr. is gained in the colour of the wheat, to say nothing of the comibrt, when rain is falling, of knowing that every care has been taken. It is almost needless to add that after raking between stooks with a horse rake, wheat rakings should be bound up ready for forking, causing less trouble than whea loose. In fine weather the corn will be ready for carting in about eight days, but that must be ascertained by observation — circumstances vary. Whether the stack be round or oblong does not appear to me of much importance, the condition of the corn is the criterion, the chief matter is the construction of the stack. I have seen damage at the base and roof wiiich might have been avoided. If a round stack is to be built on a base of straw or thorns, the first or central sheaf should be placed erect, with others resting round it, the ears of each succeeding course resting on the straw of a previous sheaf, so that not an ear of grain inay suffer from damp ; if an oblong stack, we stook down the centre for the same reason. When reaching the eaves and while roofing, the stack must be well fi.lled, so that the roof be correct in form, finished with a forkful of straw ; then if a shower falls before thatching, it will be thrown ott", not into the stack. After thatching, the eaves should be cut aud side shaven, so that loose corn be applied to its proper use, and prevent snow resting on the stack sides. Cocoa-nut fibre is useful for fixing the thatch, being more durable than common hemp twine, and less ex- pensive than tarred cord. I have said little about the cost of harvesting, because the cost of labour varies in different dis- tricts, and much depends on the weight of the crop. While discussing this subject, I suppose that we must not pass by the fact that occasional seasons have occurred when the ele- ments seemed to conspire against man's best eff'orts. In the anxiety of the moment, numerous are the expedients resorted to. Hollow stacks, with ventilators of rough timber, &c., are useful in some cases, especially with beans, but great care is needful when cereals are removed from the field before they are well dried. The latest invention I have heard of is an apparatus contrived by Mr. W. A. Gibbs, of Gilwell Park, Essex, consisting of a drying-house, made of iron or brick, with a flooring of sheet iron placed ten or twelve inches above the ground, fitted with perforated conical tubes, fifteen inches higli aud twelve inches apart, on which may be placed sheaves of corn. By means of steam or horse power driving a fan, a continuous stream of hot air is propelled into the building beneath the iron floor, and escapes through the sheaves. It is said to dry them in fifteen minutes. This invention is_ at least novel, although the process in my opinion is im- practicable to any extent ; but as it cannot be compared with sunshine, let us trust that it will please the Giver of All Good to grant fine weather during the appointed weeks of the harvest. Mr. Bainbeidce said that he agreed with Mr. Harland that it was wise A lut wheat early, as liis experieuce in the matter liad always c\ vinced him that early cutting was the best. There were two dangers to encounter in cutting late, namely, that the corn was liable to shake, and that it was also thick iu the skin. He referred to Gibb's plan of a wheat dryer con- structed for the Duke of Sutherland, and it seemed to him a very excellent invention if it could be profitably worked. It would be well if some cheap apparatus could be invented for use in bad weather in drying corn. In the West Hiding the large cloth manufacturers did not now dry their materials in the field. The cloth went in damp at one end of a room adapted for the purpose, aud by means of an apparatus it came out at the other end quite dry. Why could not some similar plan be Ciirried out with regard to the drying of corn ? In the reaping of the pea crop he recommended the use of a horse rake. Mr. Ingham said iu the reaping of that crop he had used both the Irishman and the horse rake, but he preferred a very simple thing which he had got of a wheel-wright. It was merely a wooden rail with pins iu it, and it gathered up the peas without the earth. The worst of a horse rake was that it took up clods along witJi the peas and caused them to be dirty. J. 2 124 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. The whole apparatus that he used did not cost more thau half- a-erown. Mr. BE:yxETT said he agreed it was better to cut early, as he had tried both early and late cuttingr. He remembered liaving two samples of barley at Brigg, in Lincolnshire, and he got three shillings per quarter more money for the barley which had been cut early. There was a loss in letting the barley stand too long. With respect to the apparatus by Gibbs, al- hided to by Mr. Bainbridge, he did uot think it at all applica- ble for any ordinary farm, as it was only fit in his opinion for small patches of what might be called garden farming. On a farm of two hundred or three hundred acres it would be useless. He enforced the great importance of properly and carefully stooking corn to keep off the influence of bad weather, and as regarded the leading of corn he believed that through careless- ness a great deal more corn was spoiled in the stackyard than in the field. Mr. Caldek, considered that graiu should be cut a little sharpish, particularly barley and wheat, and as to economy in reaping he should like to bear some opinions expressed. He hud used Burgess and Key's side-delivery reaper, and he was well satisfied with it, having come to the conclusion that it was the best reaping machine ; at least he liked it best. He ap- proved of " hooding," especially of barley, and was sorry that such a good old custom should have got so much out of use. The system protected the grain, especially in wet weather. He believed that the apparatus of Gibbs for the Duke of Suther- land would not answer its purpose, aud would be found not to work. He suggested as a good plan for drying sheaves the arranging of rows of hurdles or stack bars in the shape of the letter A, and then laying the damp sheaves on each side. It was the best mode of drying corn, as the wind could get between the two rows of stack bars. Mr. Bennett said that he objected to the side-delivery reapers, particularly in wet weather. Mr. Ti Scott said that Mr. Harlan d had recommended the cutting of wheat early, but from the experience he had gained he thought it was not well to cut the grain before it was nearly ripe. He was of opinion that wheat ought to be pretty ripe, although not fully ripe, when it was cut. As to the side-deli- very he differed from the view taken by Mr. Harlaud. He had for the last seventeen years used back-delivery machines, and found them answer well, believing that there was a gi'eat saving in the back-delivery as compared with the side- delivery. In wet weather sheaf-moving was a good plan, aud it could be easily done by a simple apparatus. Stooking was a very serious matter in harvesting, and he was not favo- rable to " hooding." If it was not thoroughly and well done it was worse than nothing at all, but if really carried out in a superior manner hooding was valuable to some extent. Care should be taken that all the corn in the stacks should be kept clear of the ground, but nothiug paid better than the rick stand. The roof of corn stacks was a matter of great importanoe, and if not well done injury was sustained, for instead of the rain being conducted off the stack it was conveyed into the stack itself. Mr. J.vcoB Smith considered that the cutting of wheat too early was decidedly wrong. He should not like to cut barley until it was nearly ripe, as the sample was then much better. The time once was when the only difference of opinion was as to the advantages between the sickle and the scythe, but now they had only to speakof the reaper, and the difference in opinion was between the side and back deliveries. The back delivery found the most favour, and he be- lieved it was the best, both for neatness in cutting and eco- nomy. He agreed that far more was spoiled in the stackyard than in the field. If barley was'well stooked they need not be afraid of rain, and he showed that in the wet season of 1866 his barley did not suffer any deterioration in value by being properly and carefully stooked. THE CHANGES IN AGRICULTURE. The following paper was read by Mr. John Thomas, of Pradannack, Mullion, at the last monthly meeting of the Hel- ston Agricultural Exchange : I have designedly headed this paper " Changes in Agriculture," because, if I had styled it "Improvements," I might have entered upon debateable ground, which I was wishful purposely to avoid, as every change is not an improvement, and also what one might con- sider an improvement another might look upon as quite the reverse. There are very few now amongst us that can look hack and have much personal knowledge of the state of agri- culture at the commencement of the present century ; still, there are many who can recollect at an early period of it, and from what we have heard from our fathers, we can ascertain pretty clearly what was the state of things in regard to agri- culture at that time, notwithstanding there were very few periodicals which treated on that subject in those days. The class to which we belong has been, and perhaps still is, looked on pretty much in the same light by most other classes of the community, as slow of improvement, as tenaciously, almost stubbornly, clinging to the habits and customs of our forefathers, and we have been sometimes stigmatized by the press as partaking pretty much of the nature and stupidity of a certain animal which we fatten for their consumption. AVo will endeavour to throw back the libel iu their teeth, and show that that which they cast upon us as reproach, is only a mani- festation of keen observation aud sound common sense. It must be home in mind that the agriculturist stands on a very different footing to the manufacturer. At best, agriculture is but the handmaid of Nature, and, in a great measure, has to obey her bidding, and it must also be admitted that although Nature smiles with benevolence, and her lap is full of bless- ings, yet she will not give up her sovereignty to man, but will only allow him to follow out and obey her laws. If a manu- facturer discovers an improvement in machinery by which he can make two [yards where he made one before, or if the chemist should discover for him some drug or dye by which he can add a brighter lustre to his cloth, he can calculate at once the value of such discoveries, and reap the advantages which they may give ; but the agriculturist, on the contrary, has to test every new discovery by the laws of Nature, and it is well known that Nature is exceedingly capricious in her rule ; and we have to wait several years after we adopt a change before we can lay it down as a general rule with a fair chance of success. If the farmer had rushed madly after every change which at first promised to be successful, it might have been disastrous to the common wealth of the country. But, in- stead of this, he has slowly aud steadily felt his way on, and while he has, on the one hand, avoided many a false glare of light, he has, on the other, shown a willingness to submit to practice the discoveries of the chemist or the application of machinery. At the time from which we will take our start, science had done little or nothing for agriculture ; the only assistance which the farmer had, besides his own observations, were the maxims of his forefathers. It is true that about this time some pioneers in the path of science had predicted that the time would come when the farmer would carry the manure in his pocket when he went to till his field ; of course such a prediction was looked upon as visionary. Almost the only field crops at the commencement of the century were wheat, barley, and oats ; even potatoes were far from being so extensively cultivated as tliey were a quarter of a century afterwards ; and as for turnips, which now fill such an im- portant part in our cultivation, they were scarcely then known. The only manure available was what was made on the farm, with the exception of sand, where convenient for carrying, aud lime in certain localities, and upon certaiu soils marl was also used in favourable localities. Farms near tlie towns at this time were considered of greater propor- tionate value than they would be in the present day, for the facilities they afforded to obtain town dung ; every kind of com- post that could be got was carefully cleaned up, such as road- scrapings, &c. ; this was considered then, as it is now, bene- ficial for wheat. Labour being low, many things were then carried as manure which now would not be considered to pay. There being little or no turnips, and very little house or stall feeding, of course tlie farmyard manure was little, and that of THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 121 very inferior qualit}'. Wliere straw was plentiful, it was thrown about the yards, such as they were, and a favourite way of preparing the duug was to heave it up in a high heap in the yard ; this was to prevent eattle from treading on it, as it would rot down much faster in this way. Tlie application of the duug was for wheat and barley, hut then it was always rotten dung for barley — that is, twelve months' old top-dress- ing or dressing on grass was then, I believe, scarcely ever adopted. The first thing I wish to notice in the way of crop- ping is the cultivation of the potato. As I remarked before, at the commencement of this century this plant was cul- tivated little more than as a household vegetable, yet in a few years after it came to be so extensively cultivated, especially for fattening pigs, that when it began to fail from disease it was felt to' be a national calamity, and the farmer, for a long time, looked in vain for anything approaching to a substitute It is singular that this root, said to have been introduced into Europe three centuries before, should not have come into general use before the time I speak of, and it is equally singular tliat it so soon showed symptoms of decay. I estimate about 30 or 40 years as the period the potato was under extensive cultivation. It is amusing to hear of the prejudice by vvhieh this root was received by our forefathers, who ascribed every calamity, whether natural or national, to its introduction. The next thing which should claim our attention is the root crop, and under this head, of course, the turnip is the chief or most important. This produced a very great change in the rotation of crops as well as the keeping of stock. I believe the turnip had been moderately cultivated in some counties before the date we have now under consideration ; but, in this county and this locality, it is not more than 50 or 60 years since the turnip may be said to have been cultivated for the use of stock. It felt its way in at first very slowly ; the pioneer was the pasture turnip, and then followed the Swede or rutabaga. I believe I remember the first rutabaga cultivated in the parish in which I reside, and I have seen in that time the cultivation of the turnip increase from — if I were to say 1 to 10 per cent, of the land under cultivation, I suppose would be a just ap- proximation. There is another subject so intimately connected with the root crop that we can scarcely speak of one without thinking of the other — you will anticipate that I meau, the dis- covery of new manures ; every other change sinks into nothing compared to this. Other changes have been more or less partial ; this has been organic, and it has affected the whole ; this may be regarded as a revolution, as affecting the very con- stitution of things ; and had it not been for this revolution the English farmer must have had a strong constitution indeed to have sustained some of the pressures that have been put on him. It is about 30 or 35 years since the introduction of those manures, and it is surprising in that time to what extent and how general they are become. The four principal of the manures to which I refer are bone, guano, phosphates of lime, and nitrate of soda ; these are frequently called artificial ma- nures, although art or science has had little to do with the two first, or with their discoveries as manures. It would be ■interesting to know who was the first to apply broken bones to plants ; no doubt the discovery was made by observing how tenaciously the fibres of plants clung to pieces of bone in the soil. Any reflecting mind might have suggested the idea of break- ing the food for the plant, and as to guano, which is a natural deposit, and had been used by the Peruvians for centuries, of course our traders to that part of the world would ascertain its fertilizing properties. I was talking some time since with a gentleman who was the first that ever used guano in this county. He said he had been having artificial food tor his cattle from a large house in London ; they sent down a bag (two cwt.) of this stuff, and said it produced wonderful effects iu South America, and desired him to try it, to see if there was any good in it. He applied the two cwt. to one acre of oats and the effect was wonderful — greater than he has ever seen from that time to the present. On the discovery of those new manures the root crops may be said to have claimed them for their own, and the stimulus given to the growth of green crops was surprising. If Science had not much to do with discovering new manures. Art has done a great deal by inventing the drill, horse-hoe, &c., with- out which those manures could not be economically applied, and it would be impossible for the crops to be cleaned. Before the introduction of green crops, a good summer's fallow for wheat was the only chance a fanner had to clean his land ; but, by the u?e of the drill, to be followed by the horse-hoe, two ends could be obtained at one time — cleaning the land and raising the crop. Although I may not be willing to admit that we owe so much to chemistry as some claim for tliat science, yet I conceive we are under immense obligations to the inventive genius of the mechanic. At the commencement of the present century, few and simple indeed were the imple- ments of husbandry. The plough, harrow, stone roller, and tormentor may be said to comprise all the field implements. These were of a very rude description compared with those of the present day, and when we think of the plough in use then, with its shoe-like share, put on to the wooden chip, it is sur- prising how well, in many instances, the work was accom- plished. I think it would puzzle some of our best ploughmen in the present day to manage such implements at all. Great attention has been paid to the improvement of the plough, which must be regarded as the first or chief of agricultural implements, until it has arrived to that state of perfection and does its work with such precision that we might justly give it the distinguished title of a mathematical instrument. Not only has a great change been made in those implements which affect the culture of the land,but also in those which affect the securing of crops. The change here is marvellous indeed, when we think of the stride from the sickle or old reap-hook, to the graceful reaper drawn by horses and laying down the bundles in such quick succession. The change is equally great in those things w^hich affect the preparing and returning the crops as those of cultivating and securing, within the memory of those who are past the middle age of life. The flail, or th-eshaU, as it was locally called, was the principal thing used in beating out the corn, so simple in its construction that it had not undergone any change or improvement since the days of our Saxon fore- fatiiers ; and then, again, the winnowing, which was principally done by women heaving it up against the natural current of air, subject to all the annoyances of calm, rain, and change of wind. I have heard that when the winnowing machines were first introduced, some objected to them as subverting the laws of Nature by making artificial wind. Horse thrashing machines were certainly in use at the commencement of the century ; but then they were few, and only on large farms. Cobbett speaks of the beautiful music of two flails and a cuckoo. Of course this had an under meaning : that the farmer who could keep corn till spring or summer was sup- posed to be in easy circumstances. Now, when we consider the change from the flail and sieve and keiser to the pon- derous steam machines that are now moving from farm to farm, and preparing for market its 100 or 200 Cornish bushels a day, it is almost past our comprehension, and espe- cially when we think that there had been no improvement in that branch of farming for, perhaps, a thousand years before. The next thing I would call your attention to is to keep and breed of stock. It is true, strictly speaking, this is not agri- culture ; but in common acceptation, it comes under the same meaning, and, I suppose, in a paper of this kind would be ex- pected to be treated of. Sixty years ago very little attention was paid to what is now thought and talked of so much — I mean the breed or blood of stock. Krst, we will take bullocks. The old Cornish or primitive cattle were then general ; the only admixture at all would be the North Devons. It is true that this useful breed had, at the time we refer to, found its way into many parts of the county. Although, at the com- mencement of the century, there was very little attention paid to breeding, yet there were many fine bullocks reared and fed. The reason was this : oxen were much iu use, and all the best or most promising steers were kept for that purpose. These were worked for a few years, and hence they were got to a ma- turity of growth before fattened ; great numbers of steers and oxen were brought down for tlie eastern part of the county, and it was a source of pride and emulation among the old far- mers who should turn out the best oxen. I remember oxen of a thousand weight of the old Cornish breed, but these were not general. Cattle, now-a-days, are brought to the market at a much earlier age, and I suppose we may^ put down, as a fair average, that they are two cwt. heavier when brought to the market than 50 years ago. In those days, there being little or no turnips, cattle had frequently a hard time of it to pass through the winter, and in summer, being turned away to commons or the coarsest pastures in low condition, young stock were frequently four or five years old before they came into profit. I must notice here the introduction of a new 126 THE FARMEll'S MAGAZINE. breed of cattle, the Sliortliorus, or, as they were first called, the Durhams. These were first introduced into this county (as I suppose) by the late Mr. John Peuhallow ]^eters, and I estimate the time about 40 years since. The Shorthorns have now spread themselves by mixture and otherwise over many parts of the county, and have many admirers, and, in some instances, are brought to great perfection ; but whether they will stand the climate and many of the poor soils of Corn- wall, time alone can show. More recently tlie Hereford stock has been introduced, but up to this time are not become very general. However great a change has taken place in the breed, keep, and management of bullocks, the same remarks will ap- ply equally to sheep. A small hardy sheep, without any intro- duction of new blood, was all that was to be found in this county at the commencement of the century. The first impetus given to the improvement of this stock was by the introduction of the Leicester, and, I suppose, like the Shorthorued cat- tle, the honour belongs to Mr. J. P. Peters. South Downs have also found their way into many parts, and recently the Shropshire, which is a larger and better shortwooUed sheep . 13ut, however great the cliauge has been in the breed, it is little compared to the improvement in keep and attention give nto this stock. By the introduction of two or three new breeds, both in cattle and sheep, of course the crosses have been almost in- terminable. Many of those crosses have been successful, but it requires great caution in this matter. This is, however, foreign from our present subject. Pigs must now, for a mo- ment, claim our attention ; and I must say they have come in for a fair share of attention with agriculturists generally, and although they are discontented animals, especially without meat, they have no reason to be discontented on this fground. We can remember when the large white pig was the only one to be found, with immense ears hanging over its face, and if the elephants recently exhibited here were called " umbrella elephants" in consequence of their large ears, I think, if the ladles would allow us, these pigs might claim the name of " parasol pigs ;" for their ears kept the sun out of their own eyes, at any rate. The present breeds of pigs are too well known for me to trespass any further on your time. Horses were in many instances very good fifty years ago ; and there is not the improvement in this as the other stocks we have named. Horses were worked less and fared harder than at the present day. The horses then, although not generally so large as at present, were characterised for great endurance of fatigue, and were exceedingly sure-footed on the roads. Farm horses frequently, like bullocks, had to winter it as best they could, with no other covering than nature supplied them with ; and this leads us on to consider the greater accommo- dation in farm-buildings than formerly. Supply and demand have followed each other. Green crops brought more cattle, and more cattle brouglit more houses. House accommodation is now one of the first things a farmer has his eye to when taking a farm, and one of the first stipulations with his laud- lord. I remember once talking with a friend from America, who had been absent from this country over twenty years : he said nothing struck him so much, on his return to Corn- wall, as the improvement in farm-buildings. Within the last few years there has been a great stimulus given to the im- provement of waste laud. The causes which have led to this are, I consider, in the first place, the discovery of new manures ; secondly, improved implements ; and lastly, the long continued high price of farm produce, consequent, under the blessins of Providence, on a state of national prosperity, caused, no doubt, by a long peace, and the resources of the nation being turned to agriculture, manufactures, and com- merce, instead of the destructive art of war ; and we must also admit that we are not a little indebted to tlie wise and liberal acts of the Legislature. A great deal of waste land was brought under cultivation before the close of the last Prench war, which, after the peace, in many instances was again left to run to a state of nature, owing to the depression which fell on the nation after such a long war. But I think it may be safely anticipated that those who enter upon such speculations now have far safer data to go upon, and they de- serve the encouragement and good wishes of the community at large. We might give one word to what is called thorough draining. Although wet parts of fields and cutting out of springs had been frequently attended to, yet such a thing was never known as to drain land systematically. Here, again, we are in a great measure indebted to the inventor of the drainpipe machine, as, without pipes, stone could never be got in sufficient quantities for such purpose. Perhaps few things have undergone a greater change in agriculture during the last fifty or sixty years than labour. I estimate that labour in that time has been economised near fifty per cent. This is principally owing to machinery, though other causes have operated also. During the same period the price of labour has risen thirty-five per cent. ; and it costs a great deal more in implements and machinery than formerly. The changes in our natural lives are scarcely distinguishable from year to year. As when on a journey our advancement is not sudden, yet, when we sometimes take a stand and look back, we find that we have progressed a long way, so, in the subject we have now under notice, we may not have seen great changes from one year to another, yet, in looking back half-a- century, we see a vast difference in that time. There is one thing we should ever bear in mind — that the efforts and inventions of man are puny indeed without the blessing of a gracious Pro- vidence ; and, although some seasons have been more pro- pitious than others, yet the sunshine and the shower have been given ; summer and winter, seed-time and harvest, have not failed. THE MANAGEMENT OF STRONG LAND. ^VENLOCK FARMERS' CLUB. ivir. John Shuker, of Heiglitley Hall, Ciiirbury, read the following paper : Within the last twenty years every one must acknowledge that wonderful improvements have been made in the management of land. A farmer of fifty years ago would be surprised could he see much of the ground, which in his day grew little more than gorse, briars, and underwood, now converted into good tillage land ; and the stiff clays, which w6re almost drowned out with water, now producing fair wheat and oat crops, with occasionally a sprinkling of turnips and barley. Our meadow and pasture lands have also received a fair share of attention. The formation of agricultural societies must be regarded as the great head centre in this march of im- provement. The useful subjects brought forward for discussion at their meetings, and the prices offered for excellence in the different branches of husbandry, must have gone far to pro- mote an enterprising spirit among men of all shades and opinions. But with all the improvements that have been made, much stiU remains to be done, and some of us may yet live to see production nearly doubled. The subject of my paper for this evening's discussion is "The improvement in the management of strong land," and this I intend to treat under two heads, the first referring more particularly to permanent or landlords' improvements ; the second to the after-manage- ment or tenants' improvements. The first thing that stiikes me as requiring attention, and indeed a stepping-stone to drain- ing and all future improvements, is a good arrangemeut of fields and fences. In travelling through the country one can- not help feeling annoyed to find, even in these days, so many of the. old style of zig-zag unsightly-looking fences. These are often three or four yards wide, enclosing fields, perhaps, of four or five acres. Many hundred acres of valuable laud arc thus taken up in growing this brushwood, or worse than use- less hedges, only productive in maintaining a supply of rabbits, birds, and vermin ; and this class of stock we can conveniently dispense with. The manual labour on these old tortuous fences is nearly twice as much as it would be under a better arrange- ment. For besides tlie additional distance, the nooks and cor- ners, whicli the plough cannot reacli (in case of arable land) get overgrown witli hushes, &c., and the ditches, instead of carrying the water away, are filled with stagnant wafer in their hollow crooked parts, which leak into the adjoining field, thereby doing much damage. The difference in horse labour THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 127 on tliosp shapeless fields is still more apjiarcut. A team can as easily plough and work one acre in one field, as three- quarters in another ; but say the difference is only one-sixtJi, and this alone would give about five shillings an acre annually. In this I must be understood as speaking- of tlie most neglected fences ; in many parts they Iiave born much improved ; and every one will be guided by his own judgment what alterations it is advisable to make. But generally speaking, a good finish will be fonud most satisfactory afterwards, and seven or eight shillings an acre, taking the average of a farm, will do wonders in i(s appearance and convenience. In making alterations, the first consideration is the size or acreage of fields, and their po- sition ; and, after giving this part of my subject careful con- sideration, I have decided to give a certain number of fields to each farm, varying in size according to the extent of arable laud. Thus, under sixty acres arable, eight fields ; one hun- dred and twenty acres, ten fields ; and over this quantity twelve fields. In making a new arrangement care should be taken to get the fields as far as practicable with a slope all one way, falling gradually into the hollow where the water will most readily clear itself away with least damage. Care should also be taken to make each field easy of access from the homestead, so as not to pass through one field to another if it can be avoided. If the soil is variable it would be advisable to get the fields as much of a class as possible, as this would be found much more convenient for working and cropping. The next thing to be done would be good and thorough drainage. If it is intended to employ many hands, it is most advisable to have a man to superintend the work. He should thoroughly under- stand the most approved system, and wiU see that the different parts of work are properly done. When several fields have a fall one way, and intended to be carried clear away by the same pipes, care should be taken to get them of sufficient size, and the long mains supplied with wells, airpipcs, and all modern improvements for maintaining their efiieieucy. A twelve-inch fall should be allowed at the mouth. Before corauienciug to drain a field two or three trial holes should be cut in different parts of it from four to five feet deep. The nature of the un- der soils (which I presume wiU be principally clay) must then be closely observed, in order to ascertain the proper depth of cutting. If at four feet deep, or even a little more, you get thiough the bed of clay into soils of a more porous or brashy nature ; or if the clay appears jointy and like to draw fairly, then I should say four feet deep and ten yards apart. But if the clay runs deep and of a very stiff tenacious kind, I should recommend three feet deep and seven yards apart ; although in giving this opinion I am aware I am treading on delicate ground, as few persons believe in anything but a four feet drain. But I think it just as rational for a surgeon to supply the same medicine for aU diseases, as to drain all soils, arable and pasture, one uniform depth. The expense of both systems is very much alike, viz., when seven yards apart there will be about 106 rods to the acre, and this at 6d. per rod amounts to £2 13s., cost of the pipes, including a share to mains, £3 12s. 6d., making £5 5s. 6d. The four feet cutting ten yards apart wouldbeabont87rodsat 9d., £3 5s. 3d., pipes £2 4s. 2d., making £5 Os. 5d. In the former case the extra cost of pipes is more than counterbalanced by the greater amount of labour in the latter. This does not include the hauling of the pipes, and to this or almost any other class of draining, shoirld be added superintendance 7s. 6d., pipe laying Gs., emps, &c., say 33. Od., making an average total of something like £6 is. an acre. In the case of meadow and pasture laud, many of you I think will agree with me, that the drainage, as a whole, has not been attended with such beneficial results that had been anticipated. No doubt a deal of tlus has been owing to a want of proper mamues to encourage the growth of the fine grasses ; but some has probably been overdraincd. With the exception of some extreme cases, eleven or twelve yards wide, and four feet deep,WLll be found suflicient fortlie stiffest soils. The drains should be laid out in a slanting direction, as much as the fall will allow, as they have thus a much better chance of taking the water. Main drains should always be run as straight as pos- sible, and when going tliroughor near to fences, I sliould strongly recommend the use of socket pipes, jointed together witli Ro- man cement, to prevent roots, &c., getting through into the pipes. All ash, willow, alder, and wych elm should be grubbed up within several yards of the drains. There should be as few mouths or emps as possible, and these at a point (as far as the field will admit) where the water will most readily clear itself away. The last pipe should be a cast-iron one, fitted with a swing grate. Instead of the plain fronts usually made I should suggest the following plan, which I think a great iniprove- meut. Say a flagstone under the mouth of the jiipe to prevent the ground wearing away ; form a recess in the masonry for the ))ipe, arched over so that it cannot get damaged. In the back part of the work common bricks may be used, but the front should be done with second quality fire bricks, and cement instead of mortar. This is said to stand 100 years, and the whole system, if properly done, will repay the few shillings an aero additional expense for superintendence, &c., an hundred fold. And now, gentlemen, we come to the second part of my subject — the cultivation or general management of strong land. In this part I am afraid I shall fall short in supplying any sys- tem of working the land that will compare at all favourably with the free easy-going process of the light land farmer. Prom the hard stuljborn nature of the stiff clays of which I am speaking, they certainly require a great amount of horse labour to sufficiently pulverise the soil, and secure a proper tilth for the reception of seed, &c. And I am strongly of opinion that the proper working of strong land, when the soil is dry, is really of more advantage tl^an manure. As a rule, four days a week is as much as a strong land farmer can successfully work his land ; and for this reason it is necessary he should keep a good strength of horses, so as to make the best possible use of all favourable weather. The all-powerful steam engine is the power required to assist the strong land farmer in smashing up and pulverising with heavy implements our stiff clays when the weather is favourable, thus reducing the number of horses, and leaving them only the lighter kinds of work. But I re- gret to see, from the Royal Society's report of last year, and other reliable sources, that, on the whole, steam applied to the cultivation of land has not produced so good results as could be wished for. Still, when in good hands, it is spoken of very satisfactorily ; and I feel sure in a few years it will he so far improved and simplified as to come within our reach. A few months ago I saw an account of a new, and, certainly to me, a novel application for steam just patented hy a Mr. Gibbs, of Essex. He professes, in addition to cultivating his laud with his tackle, to use the engine in harvest time for making hay and seasoning grain independent of the weather, and hoisting it up on the stack. One would think after this there was little more to desire ; but some will probably prefer waiting to see it a little more in practice before purchasing. Before going through the yearly horse-work, I may mention that a good collection of implements is a great advantage in working clayey land. The rolls, harrows, cultivators, &c., should be of the most improved make, strong;, and likely to deal successfully with rough work. The plouglis in particular should he those which cut a high-crested or pointed furrow, heing far better for working than a flat swampy one. I shall now assume that a team can at ouce take the fuU length of the field, instead of being kept the whole of the first day ploughing a corner or two of short ground, which should properly be done in two or three hours. The land has been drained, too, and the pipes are carrying away some thousand gallons of water, which was formerly floating about the surface, saturating still worse the already stiff land. By this means, after heavy rains the land vvill bear working a day sooner than otherwise ; besides, the water now works through the soil into the drains, thus leaving all mannrial sediment in the land, instead of as hefore running down the open furrows, carrying away not only much of the natural soil, but also manure lately applied to the land. For the improvement in fences and draining the rent will probably be increased 7s. or 8s. an acre. Tliis certainly looks a good deal, but if the drains act fairly it ought to pay in workman- ship alone after the first year or two. I confess, however, through the blending up of the soil and the carting of pipes, which is often done in winter time when the land is wet, causes more injury than benefit the first season or two. Land- lords, I think, would do well to consider this ; and if they would allow a season to blow over before charging per-centage, it would be a means of bringing draining more in favour with tenants, who often cry it down before it has had a fair chance of showing itself. Of the improved fences there can he but one opinion : no sensible man would object to pay an extra six- pence an acre for the well-arranged fields and straight fences in place of the old ones, which, although an ornament to parks and pleasure grounds, arc much out of place on cultivated farms. I will now just notice the course of working a strong 28 THE FARMEE'S MAGAZINE. att3 ixm for twelve months, Ijnt, in the space left, ray remarks must necessarily be short and imperfect. In the iirst place, allow me to mention the difference I have observed in the management of labour. Some farmers will do as much work with seven iiorses and eight men as others with nine horses and ten men, and in this way greatly economise labour. The course of cropping I should suggest for the poorest soils, which are considered too stitf and cold for growing any root crops, will be the following — eight, ten, or twelve rotations — which I shall suppose are the number of fields. Rotation for eight years : first, fallow, dunged ; 2, wheat ; 3, peas or tares ; i, oats ; 5, beans, dunged; 6, wheat; 7, clover, limed ; 8, pasture. Rotation for ten years : First, fallow, dunged ; 3, wheat ; 3, peas or tares ; 4, oats; 5, seeds, limed; 6, pasture; 7, pasture; 8, oats; 0, beans, dunged ; 10, wheat. Rotation for twelve years : First, fallow, dunged ; 3, wheat ; 3, peas or tares ; 4, oats; 5, seeds, limed; G, pasture, to be ploughed up about July or August and well worked: for 7, wheat; 8, beans; 9, wheat; 10, oats; 11, seeds, limed ; 13, pasture. In each of these cases we should get more than half the land in grain crops. The courses, however, are well varied, and the land derives the advantage of rest in pasturage, which refreshes it more effectually and durably than any course of manuring. In these rotations I have kept in view the convenience of working, of which I shall speak more fully hereafter. Starting, then, with the yearly horse labour, I will first take the field intended for fallow. This would be better if ploughed in September, but 1 am afraid time will not allow till after wheat sowing is completed. It should then be ploughed six or seven inches deep by nine inches wide, in broad planks or lands, iu order to have it all stirred over. This work, with thrashing, carrying away the grain, and carting prepared manure to meadow and pasture laud if the weather suits, with other incidentals, wiU probably occupy the time up to Christmas. After Christmas, if the land is suflicieutly dry, proceed with tlie ploughing for spring crops. This also, as far as horse labour is concerned, is the most convenient season to draw lime for the seeds, which should be spread about April or the first week in May. A fresh supply of manure for the meadows should now be prepared by collecting road scrapings, mud from pools and ditclies, and any other marly substances at hand, to be mixed up with barn-door and stackyard cleanings, as far as it goes, then lime direct from the kilns thrown over all the heaps at the rate of a ton to eight or ten loads of marl. This should be at once turned and mixed together; and this turning should be repeated two or three times, at intervals, in order to get a well-made compost. Peas should be sowu the last week in March, and oats directly afterwards. For both crops the land should he cultivated and well worked, and if seeded down with oats, a good fine soil must be made. After the oats are properly harrowed in, the land should be heavily rolled to get a firm seed bed. The seeds, after being well mixed, should be sown with a broadcast machine, and the land lightly harrowed, and again rolled. The following will be found a proper mixture of seeds for two or three years' pasture — One bushel rye grass, 6 lbs. red clover, 4 lbs. white clover, 3 lbs. catstail, 2 lbs. crested dogtail. The horse work is now drawing within a narrow compass, the one fallow field being all there is to attend to. First cross plough, then harrow, roll and cultivate repeatedly to bring all twitch and weeds to the surface. This field should be thoroughly cleansed, as there will not be an equal chance again for several years. It is seldom necessary to gather twitch or weeds off a summer fallow, as the long days and hot sun are pretty sure to prevent anything growing again, and they are probably some benefit to the land. When well worked, cast on the manure, and cross-plough it in, to stand till time to plough it for wheat. If there is a ley to be broken up and worked for wheat, this should be done in August, and the horses should be kept regularly in work during harvest, so as to be ready for getting out the manure for beans shortly after the ground is cleared. Tliese should be put in during the last week of September drilled 13 inches apart, with five or six quarts of tares per acre. These should be well cleaned, by hoeing, in spring. The wheat land will probably require to be ploughed in nine feet ridges or butts, and driUed with a seventeen spout drill, or else sown broad- cast, according to the state of the land, and worked up with harrows ten feet wide four to the set. The middle of October is time enough to begin wheat sowing, but most of the land should be ploughed ready. If the drains work fairly, the reans will not require opening with the plough ; but urrows should be drawn round the lower headland and any hollow places of the field, and these must be at once cleaned out with the spade to take away all surplus water. On the better class of strong land, likely to pay for ploughing, I should suggest the following courses : Rotation of eight years. 1st, wheat; 2nd, turnips ; 3rd, barley ; 4th, seeds ; 5th, oats ; 6th, beans ; 7th, wheat ; 8th, seeds. Rotation of ten years: 1st, wheat; 3nd, peas or tares; 3rd, oats; 4th, seeds ; 5th, wheat ; 6th, turnips ; 7t]i, barley ; 8th, seeds ; 0th, oat?; 10th, beans. Rotation of twelve years: 1st, wheat; 3ud, peas or tares ; 3rd, oats; 4th, seeds: 5th, wheat; 6th, turnips ; 7th, barley ; 8th, seeds ; 9th, oats ; 10th, beans ; lltii, wheat; 13th, seeds. The crops iu these rotations are yaried, and the horse work conveniently divided between spring and autumn ; with proper manure, these courses should be successful. For one year's seeds the following mixture will be generally found sufficient. One bushel rye grass, lOlbs. red clover, 41bs. white clover, 31bs. alsykes. In this rotation the turnip crop will require much attention so as to get the soil well worked. The better plan, on this land, is to finish work- ing and sow a little at a time, in preference to getting the whole field ready first. The crop should be cleared off in No- vember, if the weather is at all favourable, or afterwards when the land is tolerably dry. It will greatly injure the field for coming crops if they are carted on very wet weather. It should be ploughed as soon as circumstances will permit, in order to get the benefit of spring frosts ; this being a wonderful assis- tance iu procuring a fine tilth for the barley crop and seeds. The meadow and pasture land, after draining, will be found more sound and much better and safer for carrying- sheep. But to bring about much real improvement in quantity, or even quality of grass, it will require further assistance in the shape of manure. Farm-yard dung, carted about December, and well worked iu spring, will be found most beneficial ; but this probably could not be spared in large quantities from the rest of the farm. Raw or boiled half-inch bones have pro- duced most satisfactory effects in improving the herbage after draining on this class of land. The boiled bones act quicker, and for this reason would probably be preferred. About six or seven cwt. per acre put on about April, chain harrowed and rolled, would be a fair dressing, and produce good and lasting results. Three or four cwt. of boiled bones and one and a half cwt. of nitrate of soda will produce good and early keep. I have mentioned before a mixture of marl and lime, or marl and dung, as making up a good compost for pasture land. This should be chain harrowed in spring with a few of the finer grass seeds. I again recommend everything likely to form manure, when properly mixed, to be carted to the heap. This can be done iu frosty weather and odd times, when neither men nor horses are very valuable. In this way alone several acres can be manured annually without any great expeuse ; suiiicieut, in fact, to keep the meadow land in fair condition. It will be seen, that in my rotation of crops, there is. in aU cases, more than half the arable land in grain crops, in some cases two-thirds. I thin'k you will shortly have a paper read on farm-yard manure, and I have no wish , to trespass on the subject; but I thiak it quite within my province to remind you that good manure is essentially necessary to strong land farming. With so much of the land under grain, and so little under turnips and green crops, it is impossible to make good manure from the straw alone. The produce from the extra acreage should be converted into food for the stock ou the farm — part in its natural state, and part exchanged for cake, bran, and other feeding stuffs — to be mixed with cut straw, bean, haulm, &c. This will be found to improve the stock, as well as manure, and ultimately lead to more successful farming. The Chairman having invited discussion upon the paper, Mr. Mekeditii said the turnip crop was a very beneficial crop, and he had tried many ways and means of growing them. This year he was going to adopt a new plan. He had ploughed the land very deep in the autumn, and had it cultivated. He would dress it with farm-yard dung, ten loads to the acre, and then he meant to apply some boiled bones at the rate of 3 cwt. to the acre, and then 3 cwt. of Peruvian guano. He had hopes that this system would be the best he had yet adopted. A great deal had been said about bones. He had tried them at tiie rate of 9 cwt. to the acre, and the result of his four years' experience with them was most satisfactory. He could assure them he had received very great benefit from their use. His THE f'ARMER'S MAGAZINE. 129 daughter had told him that she got one-third more curd from the milk wheu the cows had heen grazing on the " boned" land than wheu not. Mr. EvAX Davies said he was not a strong land farmer, but he had four fields which came under that denomination ; and he had had more difficulty in farming theiu to his own satisfaction than all the rest of his farm. lie could bear his testimony to the excellency of the paper Mr. Shuker had read. It gave evidence of a great deal of research, and it contained a good many practical and very useful hints to the strong land farmer. The rotation of cropping he liad given was so very elaborate that it was impossible almost to follow him through it. He (the speaker) was opposed to deep drainage — it did no good, and took a great deal of money out of the tenants' pockets. On the subject of draining he differed with Mr. Shuker in toio. If they drained too deep they got nothing but the finer grains, whereas they required quantity more than quality. He (the speaker) had come to the conclusion that the very best means of cultivating strong land was to grow two white straw crops together. He pursued that system last year, and it had proved successful beyond measure. Instead of growing from 18 to 20 bushels to the acre, he grew last year 45 bushels. Mr. T. IiVSTONE made a few remarks, stating that he agreed with almost everythine Mr. Shuker had said, and he considered the paper a most excellent one. Mr. Acton said he always applied raw bones for the turnip crop. Wheu they were so applied he believed they did not do so much for the turnips as they did for the barley wliich followed. He thought beans ought to be sown wider than at present, Mr. RiiODEN agreed with Mr. Davies that two white straw crops were best for strong land. Mr. Preece asked if they could grow clovers after having taken two white straw crops. Mr. Ev,VN Davies : Wliy not ? It would grow well. They often grow the best crop of clover upon the poorest land. Several gentlemen said high farming did not encourage the red clover crop. The Chairman, after having complimented Mr. Shuker upon the excellence of his paper, said he had one or two remarks to make upon what had been said in it. He was much pleased with Mr. Shuker's views as to drainage ; and he could assure him that they coincided exactly with his own experience in different parts of tlie country. He could not agree with Mr. Davies, and he hoped that gentleman would go over some of his (the speaker's) strong land, and have a little quiet conversation upon the subject of drainage. As to the rotation of crops he quite agreed that in aU strong land agree- ments tenants must be allowed to grow two white straw crops, and they should not be tied to the old four-course system. The more he saw of strong land farming the more he was convinced of this fact. Mr. Acton had hit upon a most important point when he suggested the cultivation of Ijeans at wide distances. It enabled them to give the land a thorough cleansing. The more crops they took before they touclied the clover crop, the better. Mr. Shuker had adverted to one point which of late years had been almost lost sight of. He meant the use of marl. There was no doubt that it was a valuable dressing for their strong lands. There was only one point in which he could not agree with Mr. Shuker. In his (Mr. Shuker's) list of crops for strong land, turnips were not included. They must, however, grow turnips. They could not do without them (Hear, hear). He did not see why turnips should not take their place in a course of six years, on a strong land farm. Mr. SiruKER briefly replied. He could not agree with Mr. Davies ; but what had been said by Mr. Acton about wide drills he quite agreed with. It was thought that the applica- tion of marl would be expensive ; but he meant that work to be done when there was but little or nothing else for the men and horaes to do. The turnip crop was a good and useful crop to grow ; but of course most useful where a large amount of stock was kept. He believed that turnips of a much better quality could be grown on strong, than on light land. Mr. Evan Davies said as he understood the paper, by marl Mr. Shuker did not mean clay, but road scrapings, &c. Mr. Shukek said that was so, and also remarked that all the facts and opinions contained in the paper he had read were obtained entirely from his own experience— not a line was copied (Hear, hear). The usual votes of thanks terminated the meeting. NOETH-EAST AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND. MEETING AT BELFAST. This show, held on Thursday, June 17, if on the whole of an average quality, was not superior to those of previous years, for, though the entries are somewhat more numerous than in 1868, they are fewer than in 1867. In many of the principal sections there is not one competing farmer, so called, page after page of the entries being taken up, in Shorthorns espe- cially, with the stock of noblemen and gentlemen, who can possess prime stock with as little trouble as middling quality, and to whom it is no great credit to possess prize animals.. These remarks do not apply to the same extent to Ayrshires' and Devons ; but, take away two or three rich well-to-do men, and there are reaUy no farmers in the 33 sections for Shorthorns, Ayrshires, Devons, Kerrys, and Polled animals " open for universal competition by both amateurs and far- mers." Again, in the classes specially given up to farmers, and in which none but farmers can compete, the extent of the competition is so limited, and the tenantry apparently take so little interest in them, that there are not a dozen exhibitors from the four counties, and far fewer than are to be seen at a small district show. There must be some reason for this want of interest by the farming class of the population ; but there is no doubt it exists. There were two or tiiree very fine horses shown, but the show of horses generally was inferior, and un- worthy of the principal meeting in the north of Ireland. The display of sheep was not an average, though one or two of the sections could hardly be surpassed. The pig department was also below an average. The show of flax, which one would think should be a most important department here, was miserable, there being only two specimens of mill-scutched flax and six of green flax shown. The entry of poultry was, as usual, one of the principal departments of the exhibition. There were many excellent lots of implements and valuable articles of improved agricultural machinery. The Ulster Challenge Cup, £25, for the best stallion in the classes of horses suitable for agricultural purposes. — T. Lindsay, Derryboy House, Killyleagh (Clydesdale stallion. Earl of Both well). The Ulster Challenge Cup, £25, for the best animal in the Shorthorn classes (age of bulls not to exceed four years). — Rev. W. Moutray, Favour Royal, Aughnacloy (Knight of the Grand Cross, 555). The Ulster Challenge Cup, £20, for the best animal in the Ayrshire, polled, and Devon classes (age of buUs not to ex- ceed four years). — D. Patton, Trynanny, Glasslough (heifer, Maggie. The Ulster Challenge Cup, £10, for the best pure-bred ram in the sheep classes. — L. H. Bland, Blandford Abbey (Border Leicester). The Ulster Challenge Cup, £10, for the best pen of five pure-bred ewes of same breed in the sheep classes. — J . Richard- son, Glenmore, Lisburn. The Ulster Challenge Cup, £10, for the best boar in tlie swine classes. — J. Richardson. The Ulster Challenge Cup, £10, for the best sow in the swine classes. — The Marquis of Downsliire. The Ulster Challenge Cup, £10, for the winner of the greatest number of points in the poultry class. — G. Martin, Glenview. 130 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. MEETING AT NORTHAMPTON. A very good if by uo iiieaus au extraordinary show was materially damaged by the antediluvian cliaracter of the arrangements. The stock were virtually brought out without any distinguishing numbers at their heads, as the absurd crumpled-up pieces of paper or parchment were, so far as any guide went, altogether invisible. The con- sequence was that tlie spectators from very necessity gradually broke into the rings, as, unless they went right up to the heads of the animals, the catalogues became absolutely useless ; for if a man knew not a beast nor a hol'se by sight, he could gather nothing further, without he went bodily up to a judge or steward, than that a red bull or a grey filly had taken the first prize. Under such circumstances any close criticism so far as the horses be concerned was rendered almost impossible ; but as the judges and the lookers-on kindly shared the Shorthorn ring amongst them, we may speak with more certainty of the proceedings heie. All this is of course very absurd and verjr wrong. Were only good, plain, recognizable numbers, black on white, or white on black ground, attached to each side or the outer side of au animal's head there could be no reason for the public ever encroaching, nor is it likely that people would ever attempt to do so. As it was, the numbers, such as they were, with curious care were placed aivaif from you, and the pursuit of knowledge under ditflcultics rendered as diflicult as it is possible to imagine. The very judges, moreover, were summoned for ten, although it was never intended that the business should commence until twelve ! and thus many a man came on over-night who might easily enough have left home in the morning — at only increased inconvenience to himself and additional expense to the Society. The di- rection of the Northamptonshire Agricultural Society is still clearly in a very primitive condition. The fat and breeding cattle of "any kind" it may be as well to state in the outset were all ' Short- horns, with many names already familiar dm-ing the season, aud many good pubKc performers so far, in the entry. Thus, Mr. How's Lady Ann, that had been the best of all at Oxford on the previous day, beat Mr. Lynn's Queen of Diamonds, about the best of all at Attleborough ; while Mr. George Game's two com- mended heifers. Lady Lavinia and Duchess of Towneley were also distinguished at Southampton. The Queen of Rosalea was first once more in a capital class of cows, Sir W. de Capcl Brooke taking second with a broad but very sweet cow, with plenty of commendations, as the prize-list will show, all honestly merited'; Mr. Adcock'« cow being especially neat and taking in her appearanc*. Amongst the younger heifers Windsor's Butterfly, and La Belle Helcne were placed, so far as the two were in- terested, just as they were in Norfolk last week, but a nice, clean, straight heifer of JMr. Pawlett's here separated the rival beauties ; whilst Mr. Roberts had little or nothing to beat in the heifer calf class. Amongst the male animals there was agaiu much of the old story ; but Charles Le Beau being withdrawn, the point of preference rested between Grand Sultan, second best in Norfolk, and Mr. Pawlett's Baron Killerby, a long straight red bull, of good quality, but bad temper, in whose favour the award ultimately went. The two other judges, however, were not agreed, and Mr. Beauford had to act as referee. There was nothing very particular beyond these two in the class, into which ]\Ir. Charles Howard sent Lord Claret, a four-year-old bull, bi'cd by his brothers, out of the famous cow Claret ; but remarkable for little beyond the general coarseness of his character. The best of the bulls "used in the county," was the venerable Lord Chancellor, bred by the late Jonas Webb, and once sold for 400 gs., and now, at eight years old, wearing wonderfully well ; but, then, Mr, Rowland Wood is proverbially a good doer. Of the yearlings, many considered Captain Oliver's young Grand Duke the best instead of the second-best ; but the public will have the opportunity of appraising Lord of the Forest yet more directly, as a sale at Sholcbrooke has been arranged for in the autumn, under the conduct of Mr. Thornton. The Stroxton best calf, of good quality and colour, is out of Anna, the dam of the second-prize bull, as well as of the first-prize fat heifer; but here the strength centred upon the oxen and steers, where JMr. Rowland Woods was bringing on a capital red beast, which he picked up at Oakham last Christmas, and that for hand- some looks and level feeding was surely the best of all the fat animals. But, not being bred by the exhibitor, we be- lieve Little Wonder, as he is called, was ineligible to show for the piece of plate, which went accordingly to the best of the other class — a steer of Lord Exeter's, of some style, but soft in his touch, aud very fiat and bad behind his shoulder. There were two or three more classes of cattle confined to the county wherein neither for entries nor merits was there much to speak of. The excellence of the sheep show depended upon a few Lincolns and some capital Oxford Downs. Mr. Lynn's sheep — such as his shearling and two-year-old rams — have never shown so much style and quality ; and with Mr. Druce continually out-voted, Mr. Gillett's good Cots- wolds made no mark here. Of the Oxfords, Mr. Tread- well sent in a number of big, useful, but rather coars? sheep ; the placing of which oftcu dift'ered materially from the decisions arrived at on the previous day. But the great show of Oxfords traced back rather to Bedford- slrire than Oxfordshire ; for Mr. Street's, Mr. Alfred Rogers', and Mr. Longland's winning entries are all bred directly from Mr. Charles Howard's flock at Bid- denfaam. Aud certainly we have rarely seen this breed shown to more advantage, as these sheep have style and size, with a certain uniformity that proclaimed them to be of the same family. They were particularly good about their heads, and there was altogether veiy satis- factory evidence a standard type having been established. Lord Exeter's longwools were far away from the Leicester fame of his forefathers ; and Mr. Norman's whitefaces and lop-ears were, by comparisou, even worse. There Avere somewhere about twenty entries in all of pigs, of which the Duckerings made the show ; the class of three boars for use in the county being all so bad that, so far as Northamptonshire is interested in the award, it might have been all the better if the conditions had stipulated that they should " not be used in the county." A Northamptonshire horse show is almost altogether a show of riding horses, and this one was more of a repetition than we would care to see. Jt would seem, indeed, that farmers breed prize horses more to show than to sell, so continually do these come out in the same districts in the same names. Mr. Drage, Mr. Gale, Mr. Clode, and others had many of this year's winning horses out last THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 131 season at Oundlc, and had there been anything like a guide to go by, other " stay-makers" might have been re- cognized. As it is there was a deal oi' guess work ; one groom readily giving you his number as he went by, another turning a deaf ear, and a third in liappy igno- rance alike as to his either possessing a number, or as to what tliat might happen to be. 'I'herc was a large class of brood mares, of which it struck us a brown bay mare, with plenty of length and power, backed by capital legs and feet, was about the best, as she was eventually so pro- nounced to be. Some further inquiry elicited the addi- tional iuforniation that she was the property of iNIr. Stokes, who generally runs so forward for the Farmer's Plate, at Croxton Park. Every allowance must have been made for the age of the old Melbourne marc, over twenty, which took second, as there certainly appeared to be better in the class, Mr. Topham's amongst them, which, as it is, said has never previously been exhibited without taking something. Mr. Gale's Monarch, now the best all-aged hunter, was the best four-year-old at Ouudle, while the same stable was also second with another useful nag. Toper, unnoticed at Islington ; al- though the most bloodlike and stylish horse of the class was a bay of ]\Ir. Hewitt's, that was merely commended ; a weight-carrying chesnut also from Draughton being drafted early, from being fatally upright in his shoulders, or otherwise worth money. Mr. Hitchcock's four-year-old, by Saxon, was a long way the best of a small class, being a very nice smart horse, up to a certain weight ; and Mr. Topham won as cleverly with a grey filly out of his Irish prize mare. The Idler two-year-old, the best yearling at Oundle, threatens to get coarse ; but he was put first again, notwithstanding there were two or three ranch better looking ehesnuts in the lot against him. We cannot identify these with any certainty, but we fancy that a ehesnut colt and a chesnut filly — and we fancied them ranch — were the property respectively of Mr. Hitchcock and Jlr. Ilowkins, of Birmingham. Of the yearlings, under the circumstances, we must decline to speak ; but we were enabled to identify the best hackney brood mare in Mr. lieasley's old Burgundy mare, which has been figuring so long and so successfully in the ring. There was a particularly neat chesuut mare amongst the hackneys in work that we believe won, and which, some further investigation tends to assure us, was also the property of Jlr, Beasley ; and beyond this, we care not to commit ourselves, leaving the prize-list to speak for itself. With a good ring, good entries, and a set of judges who evidently knew what they were about, we never remember to have enjoyed the horse section of a show less than we did this last at Northampton. For want, in fact, of a little attention or common acquaint- ance with such proceedings, the public was left altogether in the dark as to what was going on ; or if any one en- deavoured to enlighten himself, he could only do so by intruding where, properly speaking, he had no right to be. Do the stewards of a Northampton meeting never cross their boundaries to learn a little more elsewhere ? If not, it is high time that they should do so. PRIZE LIST. CATTLE. Judges.— W. H. Beanford, Bedford. W. Sandy, Radclyffe-on-Trent, J. Topham, Welford. rAT STOCK. Oxen exceeding three years and three months old. — First prize, £10, and £5 as best ox or steer. Marquis of Exeter ; second, £5, R. Wood, Clapton, Thrapston. Highly com- mended: Colonel Loyd Lindsay. Steers not exceeding three years and three months old. — First prize, £10, B. Wood ; second, £5, T. Palver, Broughton, Ket- tering. Cow of any breed or age.— First prize, £10, W. Stopford, Drayton ; second, £5, W. Edmunds, I'hunpton. Heifer of any breed, not exceeding four years old. — First pri/.c, £10, and £5 as best cow or heifer, J. Lynn, Church Farm, Stroxton (Aurora) ; second. £5, J, Golby, jun., The Laurels, Riidway, Kiucton. KREEDINfl STOCK. Bull of any age.— First prize, £15, T. E.Pawlett, Beeston (Baron Killerby) ; second, £.5, J. Lynn (Grand Sultan). Com- mended, Ijord I'enrliyn (Clierry Duke). Bull above (wo yeurs (dd.— First prize, £L5,R, Wood (Lord Chancellor) ; second, £5, W. II, S. Adcock, Farudish, Wel- lingborough. Bull al)ove our and under two years of age. — First prize, £15, Manpiis of Exeter, Burgliley, Stamford ; second, £5, R, E. OHver, Sholebrook, Towcester (Lord of the Forest). Bull-calf, above six and uuder twelve months old. — First prize, £10, J. Lynn (Grandee) ; second, £5, the Hon. C. Went- worth Fitzwilliam, M.P., Alwaltou, I'cterborough, and F. U. Sartoris, Rushden Hall, llighara Ferrers. Cow, of any breed, in milk or in calf. — First prize, £10, Lady Pigot, Branches Park, Newmarket (Queen of Rosa- lea) ; second, £5, Sir W. de Capel Brooke, Geddington Grange, Kettering. Highly commended, W. H. S. Adcock ; com- mended, Lord Penrhyu (Red Rosette), F. Lylhall, T. D, Bland (Gazelle), and J. A. Muraford (Amy Robsart). Heifer, of any breed, in milk or in calf, above three and under four years old. — First prize, £10, G. Game, Churchill Heath (Pride of the Heath) ; second, £5, Lord Penrhyn, Wicken Park (Seliua). Heifer, of any breed, in milk or in calf, above two and un- der three years old. — First prize, £10, J. How, Broughton, Hunts (Lady Anne) ; second, £5, J. Lynn (Queen of Dia- monds). Highly commended, G. Game (for two, Duchess of Towneley and Lady Lavinia) ; commended. Sir W. de Capel Brooke, and T, E. Pawlett. Heifer of any breed, above one and under two years old.— First prize, £10, J. How (Windsor's Butterfly) ; second, £5, T. E. Pawlett. Highly commended. Lady Pigot (La Belle Helene) ; commended, J. A, Mumford (Camilla), Heifer calf, of any breed, under twelve mouths old, — Prize, £5, A. J, Robarts, Lillingstoue Dayrell, Bucks (Barmaid). Sliorthorn steer, nnder two years old. — Prize, £5, Marquis of Exeter. Shortliorn heifer, above one and under two years old (to all members of the [Society resident in the county). — First Prize, £15, J. N. Beasley, Pitsford-liall, Northampton ; se- cond, £5, Sir W. de Capel Brooke. RIDING HORSES. Judges. — S. Hunt, Ketton, Stamford. J. A. Thomson, Brixworth. J. E, Welby, Grantham. Mare and foal for hunting purposes, the foal to have been got by a thoroughbred staUiou. — First prize, £15, T. Stokes, Caldecote, Rockingham ; second, £5, Col. Loyd Lindsay, M.P., V.C, Lockingp, Wantage. Highly commended : J. Drage, Moulton Lodge, Mare or gelding, five years old and upwards, adapted for hunting purposes. — First prize, £15, S, Gale, Kelmarsli (Monarch) ; second, £5, aud cup as best fencer, S. Gale (Toper). Highly commended : C, Hewitt, Draughton. Mare or gelding, above four and under five years old, adapted for hunting purposes, bred within the county of Northampton.— First prize, £15, G. Hitchcock, Hinton House, Daventry ; second, £5, J. Drage (Patchwork). Highly com- mended : J, Drage (Bertha). Gelding or filly above three and under four years old, adapted for riding purposes. — First prize, £7, J. Topham, The Hemplow, Welford ; second, £3, J. Drage (OakbaU). Highly commended : H. Hunt, Caldecote, Rockingham. Gelding or filly above two and nnder three years old, adapted for riding purposes. — First prize, £7, J. Clode, Great Linford, Newport Pagnel ; second, £H, G. Hitchcock. Highly commended: J. Drage (Confederate). Colt or filly above one and under tvvo years old, adapted for riding purposes. — First prize, £7, W. D. Manning, Rothers- thorpe ; second, £3, J, E, Parsons, Charwelton. Highly com- mended : W. L. Hill, Finedon, Welhngborougli. Mare not exceeding 15 hands 1 incli high, with foal at foot, 182 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. for breeding hackneys.— First prize, £7, J. N. Beasley, Pits- ford; second, £3, S. Deacon, Polebroke (Jessie). Hackney, mare or Gelding, not exceeding 15 hands 1 inch higli. — First prize, £10, J. N, Beasley; second, £5, J. B. Howes, Northampton. Higlily commended : AV. H. Harrison, Oxendon (Lady Jane). Coh, mare or gelding, not exceeding 14 hands. — Prize, £5, S Dunkley, Creaton, Pony not exceeding 13 liands. — Prize, £5, J. Tew, West Haddon. CART HORSES. Judges. — W. Daniel, Miserton, Rugby. J. Dix, Chatteris. J. Langham, Oundle. Cart mare, with foal at foot. — Pirst prize, £10, C. E. Teb- butt, Lilford Lodge, Oundle ; second, £5, C. Richards, Bun- ker's Hill, Glendon. Cart gelding or filly, above three and under four years old. — First prize, £7, J. H. Goodman, Bradden ; second, £3, W. Shaw, Far Cotton, Northampton. Highly commended : T. Baker, Harpole. Cart gelding or filly, above two and under three years old. — First prize, £7, R. Timms, Braunston, Rugby ; second, £3, R. Timms. Highly commended : J. Cooper, Irchester. SHEEP. Judges. — S. Druce, Eynsham. R. C. F. Howard, Temple Bruer, Lincoln. L. AVillmore, The Newark, Leicester. Ten long-woolled ewes. — First prize, £10 10s., J. T. Smith, Quinton ; second, £5 5s., T. G, West, Dallington. Highly commended, Sir W. de Capel Brooke. Commended, G. Norman. Five long-woolled theaves. — First prize, £5, T. W. D. Harris, Wootton ; second, £2, J. Gillett, Oaklands, Charlbury, Oxon. Highly commended, J. N. Beasley. Commended, Sir W. de Capel Brooke. Five short-woolled or cross-bred ewes. — First prize, £5, J. Treadwell, Upper Winchenden, Bucks ; second, £3 10s., J. Tread well. Commended, J. Longland. Five short-wooUed or cross-bred theaves. — First prize, £5, A. Rogers, Bromham, Bedford ; second, £2 10s., J. Treadwell Three short-woolled or cross-bred shear-hoggs. — First prize, £5, F. Street, llarrowden, Bedford; second, £2 10s., A. Rogers. Highly commended, F. Street. Three long-woolled shear-hoggs. — First prize, £5, T. W. D. Harris ; second, £3 10s., T. W. D. Harris. Highly com- mended, F. Street. Shearling long-wooUed tup. — First prize, £7, J. Lynn ; second, £3, W. F. Marshall, Brauston, Lincoln. Highly com- mended, J. Godwin. Commended, J. Godwin. Long-woolled tup, of any breed, two-shear and upwards. — First prize, £7, J. Lynn ; second, £3, W. F. Marshall. Highly commended, J. Godwin. Shearling down tup, of any distinct breed. — First prize, £7, J. Treadwell; second, £3, J. Longland, Grendon. Com- mended, J. Longland. Down tup, of any distinct breed, two-shear and upwards. — First prize, £7, J. Longland ; second, £3, J. Treadwell. Five long-woolled wether lambs. — First prize, £3, T. W. D. Harris ; second, £1 10s., T. W. D. Harris. Five long-woolled ewe lambs. — First prize, £3, T, W. D. Harris ; second, £1 10s,, T. G. West. Five short-woolled or cross-bred wether lambs. — First prize, £3, R. Pell, Orlingbury ; second, £1 10s., J. J. Sharp, Ket- tering. Five short-woolled or cross-bred ewe lambs. — First prize, £3, J. Treadwell ; second, £1 10s., J. J. Sharp, Kettering. PIGS. Judges. — As for Sheep. Boar of any breed, used in the county, 1st prize of £5, G. A. Ashby, Naseby '\A'oolleys, Rugby ; 2nd, £2, S. Deacon, Polebrook Hall, Oundle. Breeding or suckling sow, of any breed, 1st prize of £5, R. E. Duckering and Son, Northorpe ; 2nd, £3, J. Wheeler, Long Compton. Highly commended, W. G. Phillips, The Elms, Northampton. Commended, J. M. Lovell, (for pigs only). Fat pig, of any breed or age, £3, R. E. Duckering and Son. BUTTER. Judge. — J. Hudson, Islington. Twelve pouuds of butter, made up in two-pound lumps, whoUy or partially the produce of Alderney cows, 1st prize of £3 to General Bouverie, Delapre Abbey, Northampton ; 2ud, £1 to Major Richard Trevor Clarke, Wclton-place, Daventry. Twelve pounds of butter, made up in two-pound lumps, 1st prize of £3 to W. N. Bradden, Towcester ; 3nd, £1 to W. A. Linnell, Quinton, Northampton. Highly commended: J. M. LoveU, Harpole, Weedon. Six pounds of butter, made up in one-pound rolls, 1st prize of £3 to W. Goodliffe, Stowe, Weedon ; 2nd, £1 to J. Craig, Fotheringay, Oundle. Highly commended ; J. Moore, Bug- brooke, Weedon. IMPLEMENTS. Judges. — E. Judkins, Stowe, Weedon. G. Murray, Elvaston, Derby. J. Rooke, Weldon, Wansford. Silver medals were awarded as follows : Howard's reaping machine, exhibited by Mobbs, Snow, and Wood, North- ampton ; P. Love, St. Gilges'-street, Northampton, for im- proved rotary sheep trough ; to Marshall and Son, Gains- borough, for combined thrashing machine ; to Amies and Barford, Peterborough, for combined straw elevator for horse and steam power ; to Amies and Barford, for folding shaft for a reaping and mowing machines; to J. Cooch, llarlestone, Northampton, for corn dressing machine ; to Richmond and Chandler, Salford, Manchester, for improved chaff cutting machine ; to Hayes and Son, Scotgate, Stamford, for improved waggon with break blocks, and for carts ; to Ball and Son, Rothwell and Northampton, for general purpose waggon and cart ; to Ashby and Jetfery, Stamford, for haymaking machine. THE SUFFOLK AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. MEETING AT IPSWICH. The annual exhibition of the Suflblk Society was held in Ipswich. The show of Suffolk Punches was good, many home breeders being in full force. Although he had for his competitors winners at most of the recent meetings of " the Royal," Monarch, shown by Mr. Wolton, sen., took the cart stallion prize. This horse has an enlargement on the fore fetlock, which attracted the notice of the veterinary inspector, but he was nevertheless passed. The cart luare prize went to a fine Can- terbury Pilgrim mare, which appeared with great dis- tinction last year at Leicester. The triumphs of Dales- man this year in the Eastern Counties received another addition in the award to him of the £25 prize for the best thorough-bred stallion for hunting purposes. The winner of the second prize, Beauvale, came to grief last year at Framlingham on the score of varicufar disease, but he has tided over this difficulty. The prize for hunt- ing brood mares fell to Capt. Barlow's well-known Silverlocks, but the dam old Gipsy was not equally for- tunate in the class of hunting mares with foals. In the hunter class the contest again lay between Topstall and Mr. Sexton's Idle Boy, black ; but it was of course all one way. The Shortliorn classes were well filled. Hogarth the Second secured another victory in the old bull class, and the other Shorthorn honours of the day went for the most THBIFAEMEE'S MAGAZINE. 133 part into Essex, Mr. Christy's " taking " heifers and rich red bulls being especially admired. The Suffolk bulls were well represented by entries from the Thorsford, Brome, Newbourn, and Playford herds ; and the prize list shows that as good Suffolk can be produced in Norfolk as in Suffolk, or rather better. The Southdown sheep classes were larger than usual, competition being apparently stimulated by additional prizes. Norfolk and Egsex were represented in the pens; and Lord Sondes' ewes more than held their own against Lord Braybrooke's. The black- faced Suffolks rang the changes, as usual, between j\Ir. Green and Mr. Dobito, who probably find the Suffolks profitable if they do not prove them to be pretty. The pig classes were very good, Suffolk being a strong pig county. At the same time a special prize for the best sow went to that great pig stronghold, Northorpe, in Lin- colnshire. Indeed, in almost every section of cattle, horses, sheep, and pigs, the best animals have been "run through" at previous meetings. The show of implements spoke well for the persevering efforts made by the great Suffolk and other firms to keep pace with the times, and to maintain their reputation for ability and workmanship. Annexed is a list of the chief exhibitors : Bradford, London ; Bridges, Stow- market and Bury St. Edmunds ; Hitchcock, Bury St. Edmunds ; Packard, Ipswich ; Boby, Bury St. Edmunds ; Burrell, Thetford ; Eddiugton, Chelmsford ; Garrett, Leiston ; Garrard, Bishops Stortford ; Horusby, Gran- tham; Page and Girling, Woodbridge; Rands, Ipswich; Ransomes, Ipswich ; Smyth, Peasenhall ; Turner, Ipswich; Woods, Cocksedge, and Warner, Stowmarket. The receipts at the gates on the two days amounted altogether to £676 ; while at Attleborough, in Norfolk, in the week previous, the two days' receipts were £818, PRIZE LIST. HORSES von AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES. Judges. — S. Goodwin, Covehilhe, Suffolk. T. King, Preston. Stallions. — First prize, £25, S. Walton, Newbourn (Mon- arch) ; second, £10, M. Biddell (Punch). Three-year-old entire colts. — First prize, £15 and silver cup, value £10 10s., J . Lewis, Foxliall, Ipswich (Duke) ; second, £5, W. Wilson, Baylliam (Young Briton). Highly com- mended, W. Bott (Champion). Two-year-old entire colts. — First prize, £15, G. Tomliue, M.P. (The Earl) ; second, £5, J. Ward, East Mersea. Higlily commended, J. T. Robinson, Hadleigh ; commended, S. Wol- ton, jun., Kesgrave. One-year-old entire colts. — First prize, £10, Executors of the late T. Capon, Bennington ; second, £5, S. Wolton, New- bourn. Mares with foals at foot.— First prize, £15, S. Wolton, jun., Kesgrave (Violet) ; second, £5, S. AVolton, Newbourn (Pride). Commended, P. Steam, Elmseth (Diamond). Foals, foaled in 1869.— First prize, £8, S. Wolton, jun., Kesgrave ; second, £4, J. Gentry, Washbrook. Gast Mares.— First prize, £10 and cup, value £10 10s., Executors of T. Capon (Matchet) ; second, £5, S. Wol- ton, Newbourn (Diamond). Commended, the Earl of Strad- broke, Henham-hall (Brag) ; C. Frost, Wherstead (Duchess). Three-year-old fillies.— First prize, £10, A. Noble, Greet- ing St. Peter (Duchess) ; second, £5, C. Barnes, Kettleburgh (Brag). Two-year-old fillies.— First prize, £10, S. Wolton, New- bourn (Ruby) ; second, £5, S. Wolton, Newbourn. Highly commended, W. Wilson, Baylham. One-year-old iilly. — First prize, £8, S. Wolton, jun., Kes- grave ; second, M, S. Wolton, juu. Pairs of geldings.— Prize, £10, C. Frost, Wherstead (Cap- tain and Poctor). Pairs of agricultural horses of Die Suffolk breed. — Special prize, cup value £10 10s., Executors of T. Capon (Darby, Matchet). Foals by either of Mr. W, Wilson's horses,— Cup, value £5 5s., J. Spurling, Shotley, RIDING AND COACHING HORSES. Judges. — E. Greene, M.P., Bury St. Edmunds. Capt. Skipworth, Ilowsham, Brigg. Thoroughbred stallions for hunting purposes. — First prize, £25, Capt. Barlow Hasketon (Dalesman) ; second, £10, the Earl of Stradbroke (Beauvale). Stallions for coaching purposes. — Prize, £10, Capt. Barlow (King of the Dale). Highly commended, J. Grout, Wood- bridge (Harkaway). Roadster stallions. — First prize, £10, J. Grout (Sportsman) ; second, £5, Henry Bultitaft, Bedwellhay Grange, Ely (Clear the Way). Hunting mares, with foals at foot. — Prize, £10, Captain Barlow (Silverlocks). Highly commended, T. Easterton, Bawdsey (Argosy). Hackney mares, with foals at foot. — Prize, £10, the Duke of Ilamiltou, Easton Park (Sewell). Hunting foals. — Prize, £5, Captain Barlow. Roadster foals. — Prize, £5, the Duke of HamOton. Weight-carrying hunting mares or geldings, not less than five years old. — First prize, £10, and cup value £10, Captain Barlow (Topstall) ; second, £5, G. M. Sexton, Wherstead Hall (Idle Boy). Weight-carrying hunting mares or geldings, not less than four years old. — First prize, £10, J. Grout (Peter) ; second, J. Grout (Gone Away). Weight-carrying liuuting mares or geldings, not less than three years old. — Prize, £7, and cup value £10 10s., M. Mumford, Greeting. Weight-carrying hunting mares or geldings, not less than two years old. — Prize, £5, M. Mumford. Highly commended, C. Boby, Alton Hall, Stutton (Queen of Clubs). Riding mares or geldings, not under 15 and not exceeding 15f hands high.— -First prize, £10, and cup value £10, G. D. Badham, Bulmer Tye (Eclipse) ; second, £5, J. Warth, Sut- ton, Ely (Polly). Hackney mares or geldings, not under 14 and not exceeding 15 hands high.— First prize, £10, G. D. Badham (Major) ; second, £5, G.Bond, Cretingham. Three-year-old hackney mares or geldings. — Prize, £5, Joseph Hare, Shotley (Magnet). Commended, C. CuUing- ham, Ipswich (Kate). Two-year-old hackney mares or geldings. — Prize, £5, Captain Barlow. Commended, J. Hare (Gipsey Girl). Hunters of any age, hunted in Suffolk. — Cup value £10 10s., G.M. Sexton (Idle Boy). Ponies not under 13 and not exceeding li hands high. — Prize, £5, J. Warth (Matchless). Highly commended, J. Grout (Jacob). Ponies not under 12 and not exceeding 13 hands high. — -Prize, £5, N. Catchpole, Ipswich (Confidence). Ponies not exceeding 13 hands high. — Prize, £5, G. M. Sexton (Tiny). Foals by Oberon or King of the Dale. — Cup value £8, T. Easterson, Bawdsey, CATTLE. Judges. — N. G. Barthropp, Haeheston. B. Frost, West Wratting. Suffolk bulls not under two years old. — First prize, ;£10, and cup, value £10, B. Brown, Thursford, Thetford (Norfolk Duke) ; second, £5, Sir E. C. Kerrison, Bart, Brome Hall, Scole. Suftblk Bulls under two years old. — First prize, £10, S. Wolton, Newbourn (Cherry Duke) ; second, ^5, B. Collins, Hunston, Ixworth. Suftblk Cows.— First prize, £10, G. Tomliue, M.P., Orwell Park (Pretty) ; second, £5, G. Tomliue, M.P. (Beauty). Highly commended, B. Brown (Duchess) ; Lord Rendlesham, Reudlesham Hall (Sprightly). Suffolk heifers under three years old. — Prize, £10, G. Tomline, M.P. (Cowslip). Suffolk heifers under two years old. — Prize £10, J. Ham- mond, Bale, Thetford. Bulls of any other breed (not Suffolk), not under two years old. — First prize £10, and cup, value £10 10s., G. Kersey Cooper, Euston, Thetford (Hogarth 2nd) ; second, £5, N. Catchpole (Sorcerer). Bulls of any other breed (not Suffolk) under two years old. —First priae £19, J.Christy, jun., Boynton Hall (Duke of 13i THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Babraham) ; second, £5, J. R. Chaplin, Ridgewell, Halstead (Raveusworth) . Cows of any other breed (not Suffolk). — First prize, £10, J. Upson, Rivenhall (Lady Lucy) ; second, £5, N, Catchpole (Buttercup). Three-year-old heifers of any other breed (not Suffolk). — First prize £10, J. Christy (Potentilla) ; second £5, N. Catch- pole (Daisy). Highly commended, J. Christy (Myrtle Blos- som). Two-year-old heifers of any other breed (not Suffolk)— Prize £10, N. Catchpole (Buttercup). SHEEP. Judges.— H. Fooks, Blandford. W. Torr, Aylesby Manor, Great Grimsby. Southdown tups of any age.— Prize £10, G. Tomline, M.P., Orwell Park. Highly commended, Lord Braybrooke, Audley End ; commended. Lord Braybrooke. Shearling Southdown tups. — Prize, £10, J. Overman, Bumham. Highly commended, ' J. Overman ; commended, J. Overman ; C. Boby, Alton Hall, Stutton ; Lord Sondes, Ebnhara Hall. Pens of five Southdown shearling ewes. — Prize £10, Lord Sondes, Elmham. Tups of any age of the black-faced breed (now named " The Suffolk").— Prize £10, J. M. Green, Manor House, Stradis- hall ; commended, G. Dobito, Lidgatc. Shearling tups of the hlack-faced breed (now named " The Suffolk").— Prize £10, G. Dobito. Pens of five shearling ewes of the black-faced breed (now now named " The Suffolk"). — Prize, G. Dobito. Shearling long-wooUed tups. — Prize, £10, A. F. Nicholson, Ipswich. PIGS. Judges. — J. Turner, Chyngton Farm, Seaford. S. Wolton, Kesgrave. Boars of the black breed. — First prize, £8, J. Pettit, Alde- burgh; second, £4, H. Biddell, Playford (Black Cloud). Sows and pigs (black). — Prize, £8, J. Sawyer, Tunstall. Breeding sows (black). — First prize, £8, J. Pettit ; second, £4, S. G. Steam, Brandeston (Bell). Pens of three young sows (black). — Prize, £8, S. G. Stern (Three Niggers). Boars of the white breed. — First prize, £8, and cup, value £10 10s., G. D. Badhara, Bulmer Tye (Alfred); second, £4-, G. D. Badham. Sows and pigs of the white breed. — Prize £8, R. E. Duck- ering and Sons, Northorpe, Lincolnshire. Breeding sows (white). — First prize, £8, and cup, value £5 5s., R. E. Duckeriug and Sons (Little Queen) ; second, £4, J, Pettit. Pens of three young sows (white). — Prize £8, G. S. Stern, Brandeston (Three Lilies). Pairs of boar pigs. — Prize, £8, S. G. Stearn (Tin Twins). The Dinner took place on Thursday at the new Public Hall; the President, Colonel Tomline, M,P., in the chair. In the course of the proceedings, Mr. W. ToRR, one of the judges, said that he had been judge 103 times, and whether he had always .succeeded in giving satisfaction had best be left to the unsuccessful candidates. He never knew them to be pleased, and he never should, but he had always endeavoured to perform the work honestly. He had great pleasure in attending tliat meeting, because he believed that meetings of that sort tended more to benefit society than could be measured by the mere adjudication of the prizes. The best influence of such meetings was to be sought in tlie fact that they brought together minds of the same calibre, and caused inter-communion of thought, so that those who attended could each take home something for the benefit of himself. If science was power, it must be the science of their own art that made them powerful. He could remember the days when agriculture was somewhat in tlie dark, and when farmers were thought to be as unintelligent as the clods they cultivated — that was, he believed, one of the expressions of Earl Russell, but he doubted if tliat nobleman would say so now. It was pleasant to attend such a meeting, and the pleasure was added to in his case, because tlie president was his own landlord. On Tuesday next, he should pay to his steward about the three hundredth half-yearly rental of his farm, which had been paid by his family. It was a pleasant feeling which was produced on seeing a tenant-farmer's family 150 years on one farm, and that too without a lease. That was a feeling which was due to themselves, and he hoped would be felt by every one pre- sent, and he trusted that he had got a good landlord and that he himielf was a good tenant. The duty of a good landlord and a fair tenant was to look after the labourers. He denied in toto that the labourers were, as was often asserted, tlie lowest in the scale of the working community. Where there was a relation between the landlord and the tenant, such as existed between Mr. Tomline and himself, the labourers were well cared for. They had heard a great deal about labourers' cottages and larger rooms, which he thouglit was a great mis- take— it was wages that made the cottage. If they gave a man too little wages, what was the use of a big cottage for him ? With regard to the show of that day, he regretted he could not flatter them as regarded some of the classes. He said that the Suflblk Punches retained their primitive virtues ; but why were not the small breed of cattle, which resembled the best cattle in Sc6tland, more cultivated in the county ? The county did not excel in Shorthorns ; and why not breed more of the red cattle in which the county did excel ? They were excellent also in pigs — they were perfectly wonderful. He begged however to say that he should take a little wrinkle home with him that the very best sow that won the prize came from Lincolnshire. Mr. E. Greene, M.P., as judge of the riding horses, said that on coming into a neighbourhood where there were so many entire horses he had hoped to see more hunters and hacks. If however he judged by the animals he had seen that day, he should say that he hardly knew where to find a horse for Imnting purposes in future years. Now horses had got to such a price it would answer the farmers' purpose to turn their attention to breeding thoroughly good animals. They did not do so now because they were so often tempted to seU thoroughly good mares, and without a good dam of course they could not have a thoroughly good colt. They should breed horses with good hocks, good deep shoulders, good forelegs, and good action. They were much indebted to tliose who had exhibited horses that day, but he hoped to see the show of such horses as he spoke of improved. THE OXFORD AND BANBURY MEETING AT This show was a very partial success. The entries were not by any means numerous, and the occasion appeared to create but little interest either amongst the town or country folks. There were, however, a few good animals, such as Mr. Howe's Lady Anne, "the best of all;" Southampton ; and a few others exhibited by Mr. George Game. There were also some very good types of the Oxford Down sheep, from the flocks of the Duke of Marlborough, Mr. WaUis, and Mr. Treadwell ; with a few Cotswolds, and some smart Berkshire pigs. AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. OXFORD. PRIZES. Judges of Stock. A. Edmonds, Lougworth, Fariugdon ; W. J. Edmonds, Southrope, Lechlade ; R. Game, Aldsworth, Northleach ; E. Little, Lanhill, Chippenham. CATTLE. Champion Prize. — Best horned animal in the yard, exhibited in any of the classes, a silver cup, value £5 5s., James How, of Bronghton. THU FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 135 Champion Prize. — Best horned animal in the yard, exhibited by a tenant-farmer, a silver cup, value £5 5s., James How, Broughton Best bull, above three years old, £5, Garnn and Sou, ]5road- nioor, Northleach ; second best, £3, Game and Sou. Best bull, above two and under three years old, £5, George Game, Churchill fleath ; second best, £3, G. Game. Best bull, above one and under two years old, £5, Edwin Freeman, Chilton. Best cow, iu-milk or in-calf, above three years old, £5, Game and Son ; second best, £3, George Game. Best heifer, in-milk or in-calf, under three years old, £5 James How ; second best, £3, George Game. Best heifer for breeding purposes, £5, James How ; second best, £3, Game and Son. Not pure bred animals (Alderney* excepted), but specially adapted for dairy purposes. The best pair of cows in milk, above four years old, £5, and second, £3, John Hutt, Water-Eaton. Best pair of cows '^- heifers, under four years old, in milk, £5, Henry Middleton, Cuttleslowe ; second best, £3, John Hutt. EXTRA PRIZE. For the best milker, a silver cup or plate, value £5, John Hutt. EXTRA. STOCK. Prize of £5, George Game, for three pairs of Shorthorn heifers. Prize of £2, Fred. Lytliall, for a Shorthorn cow, in milk. Prizt! of £3, Heuiy Jliddletou, for two weaning Alderney heifers. HOBSES. For the best brood mare for breeding hunters, a silver cur> value £5 5s., James E. Parsons, Walton Grounds. To the member (being a tenant-farmer) who shall exhibit the best hnnter, under six years old,a silver cup, value £5 5s., J. Godwin, Somerton. The best cart mare, with colt, £5, II. Warland, Oxford ; second best, £3, H. G. Coldicot, Lower Heyford. EXTRA. STOCK. Prize of £3, Jonas Paxton, Bicester, for a piebald mare pony, seven years old. SHEEP. Best Oxfordshire Down shearling ram. — First prize, £5, George Wallis, Old ShifTord ; second,£3, J.Treadwell, Upper Winchendon. Best Oxfordshire Down ram, above two years old, £5, George Wallis ; second best, £3, J. Tread well. £xTR.\ Prize. — Best Oxfordshire Down ram, plate value £4 4s., George Wallis. Best pen of five breeding Oxfordshire Down ewes, £4, J. IVeadwell ; second best, £3, J. Treadwell. Best pen of five Oxfordshire Down shearling wethers, plate value £3, James Mason, Eynsham Hall. Best long-woolled shearling ram, £5, Thomas Gillett, Kil- kenny, Faringdon ; second best, £3, Thomas GiUett. Best long-woolled ram, above two years old, £5, J. Godwin, Somerton ; second best, £3, J. Wheeler, Long Compton. Best pen of ftve breeding long-woolled ewes, £4, Thomas Gillett. EXTRA STOCK. A pen of Oxfordshire Down shearling ewes, £4, George Wallis. PIGS. Best boar, not exceeding 18 months old, £4, H. Humfrey, Kiiigstone Farm ; second best, £3, J. Wheeler, Long Compton. Extra Prize. — Beat boar, plate value £3 3s., H. Humfrey. Best sow, in fallow or with pigs, not exceeding 18 months old, £4, J. Wheeler ; second best, £3, IL Humfrey. EXTRA STOCK. A Berkshire boar, £2, H. Humfrey. A pen of three large white Lincolnshire pigs, £2, J. Wheeler. THE DINNER Took place in the Corn E.xehange, Mr. Hugh Hammersley, tlie president, in the chair, who said : He did not know what might have been their experience in their several localities, but certainly his own experience as a farmer had shown him that the labourers were now induced, by the higher wages they received in the police force, on tiie railways, and in otiier employments, to leave the district in which they were brought up ; and he would have been unable, without the use of ma- chinery to carry on the work of his farm. As an instance, ho might mention the case of mowers, many o£ whom had passed away from their districts ; and the use of machinery was necessary to supjdy the want of labourers. In this respect, the Itoyal Agricultural Society had been pre-eminently useful. But he thought their local societies were of great value to the agriculturists in the improvement of stock. Sometimes he he had heard it said (it might have been said to-day) that three or four gentlemen carried off all the prizes. For his own part, lie was very glad they had carried off the prizes ; and he should be glad to see a larger number of persons com- peting with them, because they had an opportunity in these local societies of seeing what enterprise and skiU could pro- duce in the breeding of stock ; they had an opportunity of comparing the stock of their neighbours with their own, and seeing what could be done l)y crossing, and in this way im- prove the breed of cattle and sheep in their own districts. On these grounds, he thought it was the greatest possible mistake on the part of .'^.^riculturists not to encourage local associations of this kind in every way they were able. In con- sequence of the cattle-plague, no show had been held in Oxford smce the year 1805 — four years ago ; but, notwith- standing that lull, he was happy to say that the public interest in the association did not seem to have diminished. He was informed that about £30 had been received at the doors for admission ; so that six hundred persons had been admitted to the show-ground at a shilling a-head, besides the members of the two associations, who were admitted free. Mr. He^jley, M.P., said they could not expect in these local societies to have anything but a small show. People who were accustomed to go to the great shows in the country were apt to compare them with these small local shows, but he believed they were calculated to do a great deal of good, and so loug as that was the case he hoped they would not be allovi'ed to droj). He had always been friendly to associations of this kind, and he had no doubt he should continue to be so. There was no matter of public interest that he might venture to touch upon, except one which they could not agree upon and which was still hanging over their heads — he alluded to the Bill re- specting the importation of foreign cattle, which he hoped would be satisfactorily settled. He could not say that he was very sanguine, because so many conflicting interests were all pulling different ways that it was impossible to say what might be done. If the cattle-plague were to break out in Belgiiun or Holland there would be some chance of making a more satisfactory arrangement than at present, because after a lire was put out people did not think so much about it as they did while their neighbour's house was on fire. Nevertheless, he was not without hope that they might be able to get a satis- factory settlement of the question. There was not much dif- ference of opinion amongst agriculturists, and he was, there- fore, not without hope that the matter would be satisfactorily settled. Mr. Cartwrigiit, M.P., said the last time he attended this meeting, about five years ago, he aecidently met an American gentleman in the yard, and he afterwards sat next to him at dinner. He (Mr. Cartwrigiit) asked him how he happened to come there, and he told him that ever since he had been in this country he had felt an intense interest in agriculture, and that he took every opportunity of meeting those who formed the living life of the agriculture of England, because he con- sidered that he could learn more from them than from any other agriculturists in the whole world. Mr. H. Middleton, as a successful competitor, regretted that more successful exhibitors were not present, and hoped a rule would be made disqualifying them from taking a prize unless they attended to receive it ! It was not respectful to tlie Society for the successful exhibitors to absent themselves under such circumstances. Mr. Treadwell did not think the show of stock was so large as it ought to be, because it was for the advantage of the farmers to compete at these shows, and he hoped the meet- ing of the Royal Agricultural Society would stimulate them to do more. 136 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. THE PETERBOROUGH AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. MEETING AT PETERBOROUGH. Under the old management this Society held its meetings in the Cattle Market, limiting its offerings to exhibitors residing within ten miles of the town ; but the new committee keeping pace with the times, has extended tlie radius to tliirty miles, and even to several All-England open prizes. For the third year they have pitched their tents on as pretty a site as could be well selected. It was not a large gathering, but little and good ; whilst the stock was nicely arranged, and a good horse- ring formed in a field just adapted to the strength of the show. And adding to this, "business punctually attended to," everything went off very well. The judging commenced at ten, and by four o'clock some of the animals were on the road home again. By another year the catalogues should contain the addresses as well as the names of the exhibitors, as there may be a few " great unknowns" even within thirty miles of the Cathedral town, to say nothing of all England ; while the numbers on the liorses should be a trifle larger, and the shedding for the nags better put together. Several times during the day, as people were watching the judging, there was a crash behind, and five or six horses plunging and kick- ing about with the beams they were tied to, and the bales that separated them, bounding and banging against their legs. As well as being dangerous to horses and spectators this sort of thing does not please the owners of valuable animals, although the confusion caused some amusement to the crowd, which was scattered in all directions, with the old ladies squeaking and skipping away like girls in their teens. Peterborough, like Driffield, is noted for its hunting class, in fact for its strength, in horses ; and it was here at the last meeting that that cruel rake. Iris, who eventually proved the prize hunter of the year, first upset the high pretensions of the Drifiield maid of low degree, the soft, good-looking pitchy- going Lady Derwent. Sixteen, out of an entry of twenty-two, entered tlie lists for the All-England hunting class for mares or geldings of five years old and upwards. To contend for the thirty pounds given money the entrance fee was ten shillings, an exhibitor being allowed for that sum to start one or, like William the Fourth, his whole squadron ; thanks to Mr. Perceval for taking advantage of this and sending a good half dozen, that went a great way in making a class. Mr. D. Mcintosh, of Essex, sent his bay with the enlarged fetlock joint, Baronet, a horse that we consider a long way better than his Islington prize-taker St. Clare, although there was a pal- pable softness to be seen in him when brought alongside the nags of more breed from Wansford. Mr. S. Stapleton, " re- siding witliin thirty miles of the Cathedral," had a very neat blood-like little bay. Cautious, that looked like going, witji well- placed limbs, and capital quarters beautifully let down in the stifle ; a horse, that for form, we should like to see more big ones made after. Mr. Hill, of Oundle, favoured the Society with three from his string — a very neat corky bay, and a lengthy short-legged old-fashioned black, full of hunting cha- racter ; while Mr. Gale, with his two. Topper and the Monarch, made up a very good class. The Topper is a short compact little horse, bringing hishindlegswell under him, that escaped us in the many sliifting squadronsat Islington ; while the Monarch, a lathy-looking horse, and who took the first prize at Oundle last year in the four-year-olds, and first in the aU-aged at Northampton this, was not improved by a large washy-looking grass belly, nor did he bring his hind legs under him in the style we like to see a hunter. Of the Wansford lot the prize horse by Wild Huntsman is very blood-hke with power, being full muscle, good limbed, with nicely-drooped baggy quarters, and of great thighs, as well as blessed with a wear-and-tear look ; while a dark chesnut by Hereford was all over a hunter to look at, as well as in manners, and although he did not walk away as well as some of the others we are much deceived, when it came to something more than a walk, if he would not leave many of them in the rear. Then Sir Harry is an old-fashioned, very lengthy, short-limbed horse of power, gomewhat smacking of the John Jolly cob type, and looking vastly like seeing a run over Leicestershire with a top-weight up — provided he took his standing at Tilton on the hill or some other eminence. Another chesnut with white lieels of the hunter stamp, and in strong favour with the judges, was rather thick in the shoulders ; whilst another of the same colour and from the same stable, though avaluable horse of breed with very showy action, was not in his place in a hunter class, as by the elevation of his head he was far above that sort of thing, and reminded us more of " Charge, Chester, charge" or my Lord Tom Noddy and his cabriolet. Mr. Jonathan Sewin had a light-thighed one of some form, and Mr. Warwick a short-shouldered chesnut. A rather common-looking but strong, useful gelding by Lovett was first in the four-year-olds, beating a lengthy, short-legged one by the same horse of Mr. Gale's ; and a very neat, good-topped, blood-like mare by Richmond, of Mr. Bonser's by far tlie best goer in the class, as well as being very quick on her legs ; but her hocks were a trifle out of the line. Mr. Brawn exhibited a good-looking one by Forester in this class. The Hackneys mustered in strong force, which is often the case when a show is held close to a large town, but there were only six or eight good ones, includ- ing Mr. Hornsby's two well-known prize-takers. Sambo and Beda, the first at Islington this year. To Sambo, the prize eventually went here, the fashionable flourishing high goer, though as this was a riding and not a harness class Beda surely ought to have beaten him, as being either for form or action better adapted for the saddle. Of the others that took our eye were Mr. Brawn's Trifler, ]Mr. Halt's powerful stylish mare Black Gem, a chesnut of fashion of Mr. Warth's, another of the same colour from Mr. Hurry, and a bay by Rapparee, dam by Lucas' Belzoui : the latter, both man and horse, at one time so well known in the Shires of Northampton and Leicester — the one as the veterinarian from Lutterworth, a true lover of a horse, a game-cock, and a terrier ; and the other as the best Imnting sire about. But they appear to have been forgotten or never heard of by the compiler of the catalogue as the old horse is put down as Belsona. The ponies were not grand as a riding class though they included Mr. Whitehead's cream-coloured toy, second at Islington and first here last year, but which was fairly beaten for form and stylish riding action by a thorough-bred racing- like chesnut. Mr. Core's brown filly by Wild Tom was by far the finest in the yearling hunting colts and fillies whicli were not otherwise a very imposing entry. In the hunting brood mares with foal at foot by a thorough- bred stallion, Mr. Hornsby's old mare by Politician President though roomy and short on the leg has a carty Biacklock- looking head, and large feet which she lifts up and down in a calculating manner like an over-shod clod with the heaviest of hob-nail boots, and we must say that our hopes went with the bloodlike old grey by Chanticleer, though with the enlarged hock, shown by Mr. A Goodman. The best foal by Colossus, we should say was not for hunting purposes, judging by his shoulders. The cart-horses were not strong in quantity or quality ; the colts and fillies being a fair sample of Shire horses, but no- thing extraordinary; whilstamongst themaresand foalshere and there was something of more than ordinary merit, and a few that looked like quick movers, such as Mr. Moore's black filly and Mr. Southam's brown mare. The prizes for stallions, as at Northampton, were awarded in the spring. The cattle classes were well represented with many grand animals among them, but it will be seen by the prize list that tliis was in many classes but an encore of Northampton, of which we gave a full report in our last number ; and to the line of which the judge here held very closely in his soliloquies. In the cows " being still in milk" the prizes went to feeding animals, as by far the best dairy cow was Mr. Barker's red and white, who looked like filling the milking-pail. The best bull above two- years-old was a aeat, lengthy, straight-backed, level animal. THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. 137 on a short leg, aud the " Countess of Yarboro' " in the heifers was very handsome. There were some nice pens of sheep, mostly long-wools, and where of course Mr. Lynn was in the ascendant witli his hand- some Liucolns ; while Mr. Middleton had the best of the local business. There were a few good specimens of the large and small wliile breed of pigs, but one blue-spotted gentleman with cropped ears would not make a bad carriage-dog. PRIZE LIST. RIDING HORSES. Judges.— H. Bolton, Bedford, and T. Colton, Newark. Hunters, geldings or mares, five-years-old and upwards. — First prize of £20 to T. Perciv.al (bay gelding by Wild Hunts- man); second of £10 to S. Gales (Toper). Highly commended: J. Hills (bay gelding). Mares or geldings, four- years-old. — Prizeof £10 to B. Prior (Coloutl). Yearling colts or fillies. — Prize of £10 to W. Core (brown filly by Wild Tom). Brood mares and foals. — Prize of £10 to J. Horn.sby (brown mare) . The best foal by Colossus. — Prize of £5 5s. to R. Spencer (bay). Hackney mares or geldings, not exceeding 15^ hands. — Prize of £7 to J. Hornsby (Sambo). Pony mare or gelding, not exceeding 13 hands. — Prize of £5 to J. Burnham (chesnut). Pony mare or gelding, not exceeding 12 hands. — Prize of £5 to J. Eox (Gipsey). CART HORSES. Judge. — C. Clarke, Sleaford. Colts rising three-years-old. — Prize of £3 to E. Vawser (brown). EiUy, rising three-years-old. — Prize of £3 to W. Fullard (chesnut). Colt, rising two-years-old. — Prize of £3 to J. Cooke (brown). Pilly, rising two-years-old.— Prize of £3 to J. Moore (black). Mares and foals. — First prize of £5 to W. Fullard (brown) ; second of £3 to J. Moore (brown) . CATTLE. Judge. — E. Wortley, Uppingham. Fat ox (open to all England). — First prize of £10 to the Marquis of Exeter (Shorthorn ox) ; second of £5 to R. Wood (Shorthorn steer). Fat cow or jieifer (open to all England). — First prize of £5 to J. Ijynu (Aurora) ; second of £2> 10s. to H. Duddiug (Princess Beatrice). Bulls above two-years-old (open to all England). — Prize of £10 to W. Griffin. Bulls under two-years-old (open to all England). — First prize of £5 to J. Lynn (Grand Sultan) ; second of £2 10s. to the Marquis of Exeter (Telemachus). Cows, '' still iu milk or a breeding state" (open to all Eng- land).— First prize of £5 to D. Webster (^white cow) ; second of £2 10s. to II. Lamb. Heifers in-calf, under three-years-old (open to all England). — First prize of fi-i to J. Lynn (Queen of Diamonds); second of £2 to J. Bird. Heifer, under two-years-old (open to all Eugland). — First prize of £2 to il. Duddiug (Countess of Yarboro') ; second of £1 to II. Lamb. SHEEP AND PIGS. Judge. — C. Clarke. Long-woolled rams, of any age (open to all England). — Prize of £10 to J. Lynn. Ten long-woolled ewes, bred by exhibitor, and having suckled a lamb up to 21st June, — First prize of £3 to S. Middleton ; second of £1 10s. to D. Webster. Ten long-woolled shearling ewes, bred iri tlie district. — First prize of £3 to S. Middleton; second of £1 10s. to D. Web- ster. Ten long-woolled ewe lambs. — Prize of £3 to S. Mid- dleton. Five wether lambs. — Prize of £3 to S. Middleton. Three shearling wethers, of any breed (open to all England). — Prize of £3 to J. Cooke (short-wool). Best boar, of the large breed (open to all England). — First prize of £3 to J. Turner ; second to G. Harris. Boar of small breed (open to all England). — First prize of £3 to S. Deacon ; second of £1 to C. W. Griffin. Breeding sow of the large breed. — Prize of £2 to S. Deacon (Leonse). Breeding sow of the small breed, — Prize of £0 to S. Dea- con (Duchess). RIPON AND CLARO AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. MEETING AT RIPON. In all the classes, with the exception of pigs and imple- ments, there was a slight falling off. The entries of cattle this year were 59, against 71 at the last exhibition ; horses, 173, against 196 last year; sheep,38,against 43; pigs, 41, against 33; poultry, 137, against 185, a reduction of 48 ; and implements, 189, against 187. The 1st prize of £5 for the best bull, of two years old or upwards, being awarded to Major Stapyltou, the 2nd to Mr. Linton, of Sheriff Hutton, and the 3rd to Mr. Green- wood, of Ripley. Mr. Linton was also successful in the classes for the best bull calf, and the best cow or heifer, in each of which he took the first prize. The competition in sheep was ■not good, the animals especially worthy of mention being those of Mr. T. H. Hutcliiuson, of Manor House, Catteriek, who took many prizes. The great feature of the show, however, was the horses, and many of the classes were well contested. Hunters were well represented, and if we may form an opinion of tJie quality from the lengthened time it took the judges to complete their task, we should say the whole of the animals were of a high class. The Society's silver cup, for the best hunting gelding or mare of any age, was awarded to Mr. J. B. Booth, of Killerby Hall, Catteriek, for his chesnut Brian Boru. The prize of £5 for the best jumper was gained by Mr. B. Nicholson, of Sturton Grange, Leeds, lor his chesnut Bacchus ; and, through the kindness of Major Stapylton, the celebrated trotting horse Shepherd F. Knapp was exhibited in his paces. The judges were for horses, Mr. Smith Whiting, Ripliag- ham, Beverley ; Mr. T. H. Hutchinson, Manor House, Catte- riek ; Mr. R. Batty, Tollerton ; Mr. John Thomas, Ottering- ton. Cattle : Mr. T. Dodds, Mount Pleasant, Wakefield ; Mr. T. Smurtliwaite, Holme House, Darlington. Sheep and pigs : Mr. G. Smart, Woodhouse Grange, Aberford ; Mr. W. Walker, Goldsbro' ; and Mr. Witheron, Braham Hall, Spofforth. Im- plements : Mr. H. T. Peacock, Mount Vale, York. 138 THE FABMER'S MAGAZINE. SELBY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, The inaugural sliow of the new society was lield at Selby. Tlie entries of stock were numerous, and the sum of £350 was distributed amongst the successful candidates. The display of horses was in every respect first-rate. The several classes were well represented, especially those for huntersof any age and four years old hunters, the competition in each case being exceedingly close. The hunting brood mares, too, formed a good class, (he ten animals shown being all of merit. The coaching brood mares likewise deserve ho- nourable mention. A class which attracted much interest was the breeding agricultural horses, every animal shown being commended by the judges. Better brood mares of their kind have been seldom seen at any show. The other classes of horses were fully up to the mark, and, as a whole, this depart- ment of the show was highly creditable to the Society. Amongst the cattle there was sufficient to give satisfaction. The bulls of any age were well spoken of, especially tliat which obtained Lord Londesborough's cup. The bulls under three years old mustered in strong force. They numbered thirteen, all being of good breed. The cows of any age, twelve in number, the cows in calf or milk, the heifers under three and two years old, and the cows for dairy purposes, were all commendable, whether as regarded breed, health, symmetry, or condition. The sheep and pigs constituted two interestmg sections of the exhibition,'^ the;; animals in the several classes being equal in point of merit to those, seen at similar meetmgs. JUDGES. Short-horns, Sheep, and Pigs. — R. Fisher, Leconfield, Beverley ; G. Leighton, Osgodby, Scarborough ; R. Walker, EUingwortli, Boroughbride. Horses. — Jacob Smith, Humburton, Boroughbridge ; T. EUerby, Whitwell, Malton; J. Johnson, Brigham, Driffield. PRIZE LIST. SHORT-HORNS. Bull of any age, a silver cup of the value of £10, — Wiley, Brandsby. Bull under three years of age, £10, Wm. Linton, Sheriff Hutton ; second, £3, Messrs. Crawshaw and Blackley, Dews- bury. Cow of any age, in calf or milk, £5, William Linton ; second, £3, Lord Londesborougli, Grimston Park. Cow, in calf or milk, under four years of age, £3, J. R. Middlebrough, South Milford ; second, £1, — Hutchinson, Selby. f Heifer, under three years of age, £2, Lord Loudesborough ; second, £1, Joseph Ringrose, HiUam. Heifer imder two years of age, £2, Jno. Hutchinson, Selby ; second, £1, William Hutchinson, Gunby. Covi' for dairy purposes, £3, Lord Londesborougli ; second, £2, Geo. Milner, Selby. LONG-WOOLLED SHEEP. Pen of five shearling wethers, £5, John S. Jordan, Driffield j second, £2, Wra. Brown, Holme-on-Spalding Moor. Pen of five shearling gimmers, £5, Edmond Riley, Kipling Cotes ; second, £2, Wm. Brown. Shearling ram, £5, Edmond Riley ; second, £2, Chas. T. Leake, Brough. Aged ram, £3, Lord Loudesborough; second, £1, Edmond Riley. Pen of five breeding ewes, £3, Wm. Brown; second, £1, J. F. Tnrner, Doncaster. Pen of wether lambs, £2, John Smith, Selby ; second, £1, Lord Loudesborough. Pen of gimmer lambs, £2, Wm. Hutchinson, Guuby ; second, £1, John Smith. PIGS. Sow in pig or milk of the middle breed, £2, Joseph Bunting, Selby ; second, £1, Robert Smith, The Nursery, Selby. Boar, large breed, £2, G. Chapman, Seamer : second, £1, John Carr, Selby. Sow, large breed, £2, G. Chapman, Seamer. Boar, small breed, £2, George Earle, Streusall. Sow, small breed, £2, G. Chapman, Seamer. Three store pigs, £2, Wm. Calvert, Skipwith; second, £1, Robert Kirby, Hesslesken. Cottager's pig, £2, Thomas Parvin, Selby; second, £1, Charles Horsfteld, Selby. HORSES. Huuter of any age, a silver cup value £10, Wm. Stephenson, Bushy Hill, Brough ; second, B. Nicholson, Stourton Grange, Leeds. Four years old hunter, £10, Joseph P.obson, Old Malton ; second, £3, C. T. Tennant, Thorganby Hall. Roadster nag or mare of any age, £10, J. Robson, Old Malton ; second, £3, W. Major, Sledmere Grange. Pair of agricultural horses, £5, Samuel Thompson, Skip- with ; second, £2, B. Crosland, South Milford. Brood mare for hunters, £3, J. Richardsou, Selby; second, £2, Wm. Appleyard, Ryther. I3rood mare for coachers, £3, T. and J. Reynolds, Carlton ; second, £1, T. Richardson, Loltsorae. Brood mare for roadsters, £3, 11. R. W. Hart, Dunniugton Lodge ; second, £1, B. Lister, HUlam. Brood mare for agricultural horses, £3, J. Appleyard, Wistow; second, £1, Thomas Makin, Fairburn. Three years old hunting gelding, £3, Jos. Thompson, Anlaby ; second, £1, J. Palframau, West Haddlesey. Three years old hunting filly, £2, George Palframan, Bray- ton ; second, £1, H. Cook, Carlton. Two years old hunting gelding, £3, George Robinson, Wheldrake ; second, £1, B. Nicholson, Stourton Grange. Three years old coachiug gelding, £3, William Pettinger, Thorganby; second, £1, Thomas Robinson, Wingate Hill, Tadcaster. Three years old coaching filly, £2, John Stead, Riccall; second, £1, J. and J. Reynolds, Carlton, Selby. Two years old coaching gelding, £3, J. and J. Reynolds, Carlton, Selby ; second, £1, H. W. Godfrey, Levels, Thorne. Three years old roadster, gelding or fiUy, £3, W. H. Gil- bertson, Ryther ; second, R. Stephenson, Goodmanham. Pony, uuder fourteen hands, of any age, £3, W. .Simpson, Burton Agnes ; second, £1, J. M. Backhouse, Wistow. Three years old agricultural gelding, £3, W. Roberts, Fair- burn ; second, £1, J. H. Clark, Swiueflcet. Three years old agricultural filly, £3, W. Tennant, White House, Barlow ; second, £1, David Goundrell, Howden. Two years old agricultural gelding or fiUy, £2, Thos. Upton, Pallathorpe ; second, £1, J. Wood, Beeston Royds, Leeds. Prize for Leaping. — Horse or mare, £5, B. Nicholson, Stourton Grange ; second, £2, W. M. Darley, Thorne. Pony, not exceeding 14^^ hands, £3, C. W. Darley, Thorne; second, £1, T. Wnght, Selby. The best donkey within ten miles- of Selby, £2, Thomas Chatterton, Selljy; second, £1, W. P. and C. Hutchinson, junrs., Selby. DRESSED FLAX. Eight stones of vat-rated mill-scutched flax, £3, R. Fleeman and Son, RawclilTe ; second, £1, J. Foster, Selby. Eight stones of ponded (not vat-rated) mill-scuthed flax, £3, Proctor and Co., Selby ; second, £1, ditto. Eight stones of ponded flax, hand-scutched flax, £3, J, Firth, Thorne ; second, £1, R. Fleeman and Son. Eight stones of dew-rated, hand-scutched flax, £3, R, Staniforth, Reedness ; second, £1, J. Gibson, Crowle. UNDRESSED FLAX. Half-dozen beats of line, £3, J. H. H. Burton, Newton-on- Ouse ; second, £1, J. Foster, Selby. BUTTER AND EGGS. Pound of butter, a silver butter-knife, value £1, Mrs. Coward, Burn ; second, 5s., W. Hawdon, Selby. Twelve eggs, 5s., Mrs. Pearson, Cleek ; second, 2s. 6d., W, Hutchinson, Gunby, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. laa MANGOLD CULTURE ON HEAVY SOILS. By Lieutenant-Colonel Luttrell. (From the Journal of the Bath and West of England Society.) Wliilst the experience of the last few years has shown us the great advantage of being able to produce roots for winter feeding, it has often surprised me that our heavy-land farmers should be so careless in the cultivation of tlieir mangold crop ; aU are ready to admit its value, though few take the trouble, or incur the expense, of ensuring a good crop. The swede, no doubt, is a more popular root, but so uncertain in heavy soils that I may fairly say I have never seen anything like a good crop grown in Somersetshire. I know this assertion is open to criticism, but I am fully persuaded that no such crops are produced in this county as those we see on the Cotswold Hills, the Wiltshire Downs, or in the Midland Counties. Now, most heavy land, if properly managed, will grow mangolds. 'U'Jien I first came into this neighbourhood few ever attempted to grow them, having so frequently failed from an improper management of the soil before seed time. I knew the soil, a clay loam, was well adapted to their growth, and have been so far successful that for tlie last nine years I have never had a failure, my crop having varied from 40 to 60 tons per acre. Although much has been already written on the cultivation of the mangold, so many prejudices exist as to the time of sowing and after-management, that I think my past experience may perhaps be of some use to my neighbours. I invariably adopt the following system : — As soon as the wheat crop is off, I cart out the farm-yard manure, about 20 loads per acre ; plough and subsoil as deep as possible, generally from li to 15 inches, leaving the frost and winter rainfall to complete the cultivation ; early in spring — the earlier the better — tlie laud is crossed with the cultivator, a top-dressing of 2 cwts, of guano and ■!• cwts. of salt, sown broadcast and dragged in, and the light harrows and clodcrushers complete the operation ; the seed, 61bs. per acre, is then drilled in on the flat in rows 28 inches apart. I have commenced sowing as early as the 28th of March, and never later than the 15th of April. This year, in spite of the dry season, I have 40 tons per acre, put in on the 3rd of April. To insure a crop in heavy soil I consider the following operations essential : — 1st. Autumn cultivation as deep as possible ; 3nd. Early sowing on the flat ; 3rd. Continual horse-hoeing during the summer ; for if you attempt to turn up a heavy soil in the spring the chances are against your ever getting a good seed-bed, a most important element for a regular plant ; in the first place, you bring to the surface the moisture, which, if left undisturbed, in germinating the seed, would prove to be your best friend ; and then you plough down the fine pulverised soil and lose the opportunity of early sowing, the advantages of which cannot be overrated. By early sowing you get your plant up ready to thin out before haymaking, at a time when you can best spare your hands. Many a crop lias been spoilt by neglecting to thin out in proper time ; and this stands to reason, for you are ex- hausting your land by asking it to maintain ten times the numljer of plants you require. Early sowing not only ensures a good plant, but early maturity, thereby enabling yott to store the crop before the early frosts, The objections to ridging are these : — You do not sufficiently retain the moisture ; in a dry time the ridges are apt to cake, or what we call " clit" together, which prevents the effective use of the hoe. I look upon the continual use of the horse-hoe as conducing greatly to size and preventing the bulbs from running to seed. Do not be afraid of spoiling a few roots, but put the hoe in as deep as possible, in order to divide the mass of small fibres which are perpetually accumulating between the ranks, and to cause them to go down and look for the moisture and manure which have been washed into the subsoil. I do mine over six or seven times during the summer, and am amply repaid for the labour ; Carson's is a simple and good implement. Perhaps an experiment I tried on a piece of peat-land some time since may not be out of place here. Six years ago I took in liand 6 acres of pasture (3^ acres of peat, the rest clay- loam). Weeds and coarse herbage so predominated that I determined to turn it into arable. I therefore had it dug over by spade labour, and the first year put it into swedes, a very indifferent crop ; next year I tried potatoes, carrots, and parsnips, without a better result. It was evident there was something wrong underground, which from analysis proved to be the case, there being a total deficiency of carbonate of lime. There was an old bank of earth on the top of the field, which the tenant told me was nothing but clay, and no good. This useless mass, however, turned out to be clay-loam, which, after having been mixed with lime at the rate of 150 bushels per acre, proved a first-rate dressing. On the 1st of April, 1864, I drilled in, 28 inches apart, some Long Reds ; a splendid plant came up, and in spite of the dry summer, if possible worse than this year, there being a total absence of thunder- storms, a very good crop was the result, averaging 57 tons per acre. The following year I repeated the dose of lime, 100 bushels per acre, and again put in mangolds. Long Reds, and Suttons' Intermediate ; this crop proved better than the last, averaging 60 tons per acre. Being unable to get more than 41bs. of Intermediate seed, it was drilled in as thin as possible over 1| acre. On this light soil nearly every seed struck, and produced 90 tons. In 1866 a good crop of Kohl Rabi and cabbage was taken off the same field without any manuring ; and in 1867, after another dose of lime, 40 tons of mangold per acre. Some of the roots grown on this land were of great size, many being 281bs. weight and upwards. Badgioorth Court, Weston-sitper-ilare, Nov. IWi, 1868. AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENT.— We hear that a gentleman in this county, who takes an active part in political matters as a leader of the Agricultural party, has forbidden the use of mowing-machines by his tenants, on the ground that they destroy a considerable quantity of game ! Some of the tenants of this gentleman who had purchased reaping-machines to get their hay crops mown more quickly than heretofore, have been obliged to sell them, and employ hand labour. The inference from this line of conduct is that the gentleman in question considers the preservation of rabbits of more importance than the interest of the farmers — unfortunately a not uncommon sentiment among game- preserving squires,— ifWfi'er CJironkle. m 2 uo THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. HINTS ON HORSE BREEDING. At tiie usual monthly meeting of the Kilkenny Farmers' Club, Sir Joliu Blunden, Bart., in the chair, Mr. PallLn read the following paper : The subject which I bring before you — namely, " Hints on Horse Breeding," is one of considerable importance to every fanning community, and I fear beyond the reach of my feeble pen ; but my object is to give the result of some years' practical experience amongst horse-breeding, and give you a few liints whicli have come under my notice during the time. I do not intend, under the circumstances, to introduce to you the breeding of race-horses, but merely to confine my- self to those breeds which, as a farming society, we are inter- ested in the cousideratiou of. The first object of every horse- breeder should be profit, with the view of producing a sale- able, marketable article, exactly the same as you do your crops. To do sore.juires a fair knowledge of the subject, and a suffi- cient amount of care, patience, and intelligence. We have two kinds of breeders — namely, those who breed by chance and those who go systematically about it Of the former we have the most frequent instances. A gentleman or farmer happens to Imve a mare which has carried him safely and comfortably for years on the road or in the hunting field, or has been bis trusty slave in harness ; and for either a kindness for past services, or some other cause, he wishes to have a foal from his favourite, feeling quite happy to have so good an animal to breed from. No further consideration is bestowed ; lier shape, temper, constitution, and action may all be good for a liunter or roadster, still she may not be suited at all for a brood mare. Again, a person may have a mare which he intends to make a brood mare, which has not any of the qualities possessed by the other. She may be old, badly shaped, bad tempered, broken down, or of a washy constitution blind, spavined, or curdy hocked ; still she is used as a brood mare simply because she is on the farm. Now, can anything be more foolish than to expect success in breeding in such a way P And as it is by far the most common practice, can it be wondered at that so many farmers complain that horse- breeding is unprofitable ? Disappointment and pecuniary loss much accrue to the breeder, and a great injury is done to the country at large. I am willing to allow that a good foal may be produced from such a mare as described, but in ninety-nine cases out of every hundred a useless brute is the result. Again, how does the chance breeder proceed in the choice of his sire ? Does lie look for one which has all the points and parts of perfection in which his mare is defective ? — one which resembles her in size and form, but superior in breed- ing? If he did, half the evils might be avoided ; but chance is again trusted to, and all the anxiety he evinces in the matter is the cost of the horse's services ; while, in other cases, it is the one which passes the gate, or is close at hand, or perhaps the property of a neighbour or a friend, who is glad to give the service for otlier compliments. He may have every defect to which horse flesh is liable ; but this is uo matter to the chance breeder : a foal is all he seems to desire. He never pictures to himself the cost of rearing it up to three or four years old, and bringing it to a fair, when, if he is sold and comes under the eye of a veterinary surgeon, he has the un- pleasant task of informing him that his animal is a roarer or has a pair of diseased hocks ; he is taken home, sold for a trifle, or put to work on his master's farm, which in a short time reduces him by more fully developing the diseases to a cripple, and he drags out his weary existence in misery. The systematic breeder never allows any chance work to creep into his concerns. Whether he breeds racers, hunters, carriage, saddle, or cart horses, he selects with deep anxiety his breed- icg mares, and those which he can trace back to blood of un- questionalile family in their class. They select the best sires, and scrutinise their performance, pedigree, and shapes ; and, in all probability, breed from tliose which have been already tried and found to produce animals of the right stamp. Any defects iu his mares he endeavours to correct in his foals, by having the sire superexcellent in those points, so that, by close attention to those matters, he can almost calculate with cer- tainty what sort of animal he will have to dispose of at a cer- tain age, the market for him, and whst in all probability he will be worth. Breeders of this description are yet not nume- rous in those counties. There is, however, nothing to pre- vent them becoming so ; and they will generally succeed best by confining themselves to breeding the one class of horses. I will boldly assert that horse-breeding wUl pay the Irish tenant farmer who breeds systematically, and knows its management. We know how difficult it is to succeed in any undertaking when we do not understand it, and the same difficulty exists in horse-breeding. The de- mand for some years has rapidly increased, from the fact of foreign dealers purchasing a large number of our best colts and fillies. The fame of our Irish horses has extended far and wide ; and the more distant we go away from home, the more are prized our " Irish nags." I can only account for it in the fact that they must have that great recommendation, which is au inheritance, not alone of Irishmen, but Irish horses— namely, pluck, stamina, and hardihood. The French and Austrian soldiers are now carried by Irish horses ; and if it were not that some striking peculiarity existed, they would certainly find remounts in their own country. In selecting the second part of my subject, I take the mare, as on her, I consider, depends three-fourths of the importance in, I may say, any breediug, but especially in liorses. I have scarcely ever seen a bad horse of any class out of a good mare ; and there is scarcely au instance of extraordinary horses but the prevailing point of excellence could be traced in some way to the dam. At tlie same time, we must not overthrow the con- sideration of the stallion's properties. In racing, I could give you several instances where the same mare, with different sires, produced almost every year a horse of character, such as the dam of StockweU, which lias been justly styled the Em- peror of Stallions, from the number of winners he has pro- duced. Pocahontas, his dam, almost to her last foal, inhe- rited to each that peculiar gilt of speed which makes a race- horse ; and at present there are no less than six of her sons at the stud, and each of these has, to a greater or less extent, the same peculiar power. Eataplan, although an own brother to StockweU, and said to have been a gamer race-horse, has not been so successful, but still was above the average, with several sons at the stud — good horses, from their power and stoutness — one, I may add, in this county, which will, I am confident, be of service to the country in getting good half- bred stock. Amongst our home-blood we have the great Birdcatcher, whose dam, old Guiccioli, with almost any sire, produced running horses, she being also the dam of Faugli-a- ballagh, which went to France, and whose progeny are now the cream of the French studs. I only bring forward these few instances to illustrate the fact I have found must be first looked to— namely, the dams. In breeding hunters, carriage, or farm-horses, you will find it equally marked, aud at present I know of a farmer who has a mare up to last year which produced nine or ten foals, and he never got less than from £70 to £10U for them at four years old ; while every year she got different horses. Temper, power, endurance, spirit I think generally follow the dam ; form, action, &c. the sire. In selecting your mares, the following particulars should be inquired into — true blood, soundness, shape, action, age, height, and temper. As I do not intend to particularize any class of horse, the remarks I offer are applicable to all. Of course, each has its peculiarities. For instance, a thorough- bred shoulder is a bad one to put to a collar ; and thorough- bred action would not answer in a four-horse plough. General rules I cau only give you, and you can apply them to all classes of horses. It is not my intention to enter into the due observance of the crossing of different and peculiar strains of blood to produce a first-class racer ; nor shall I dwell on the breeding of thorough-bred stock. The horses bred by us are of a lower class, and to those I will direct your attention. The pedigree of a hunter does not require that nicety of selection as in blood stock ; still, I consider it almost indis- pensable to have at least a couple of crosses of the thorough- bred. There are certain breeds which are peculiar for the I^HS i^ARMER'S MAGA2lNli3. 141 natural qualities of jurapinp:, aud mares from such strains should have a preference. AVesford has long been famous for its hunters, and 1 tliink it has been due principally to that famous sire Elvas, who I may say stocked the country with his progeny for many years. They were all peculiarly made, long, low, strong horses, with shapes eminently suited for the hunting field, besides being natural fencers. Some of the sous and daughters of the famous Irish Birdcatcher have given us splendid natural hunters. In Carlow we had two of his sons — The Trapper and The Bird, which have produced nice stock ; while in Kilkenny, Doctor O'Toole has not disgraced his sire's name. In Kilkenny and Tipperary the Welcomes and Greathearts were well- known hunting blood, and some of the mares from them in the country still are breeding weU. The more breed- ing, without losing sight of size and power, a hunter can have the better ; for they are often called on to perform extraor- dinary acts of gameness, and from the thoroughbred blood comes all the pluck and courage to stay a distance, and by their blood-like action to give their riders a comfortable seat in tJieir saddles. In a hunting-field the blood will always tell, and although I have sometimes seen true-made hunters to look at got by a cart-horse, I have scarcely ever seen one of them reacli the end of a run with a moderate pack of fox- hounds. It is not necessary for a brood mare to produce hunters to have been a performer herself; but there are a few points indispensable — namely, a fine, well-laid shoulder, depth of girth, short cannon bones, wdth size, a good back, plenty of rib, big quarters, thighs, and hocks, with her hind-legs in the proper position imder her. In the breeding of carriage horses pedigree is not of great importance ; but without a dash of thoroughbred blood in their veins, it is impossible to have them step well. Mares to breed a carriage-horse may be of a plainer kind than hunting brood mares, but they must bend the knee, and have plenty of quality about their head, neck, and shoulders. Some years ago there was a class of clean-legged Irish draught horses in the country that could pull their 30 cwt. in a cart, or trot their master to market ten miles an hour. They were bays, blacks, or chesnuts, of no particular breed. They stood on short, sinewy legs, wdth long bodies, flat of their ribs, and generally high-hipped ; long, tliin heads, with hairy, rough muzzles, but with a good, pro- minent eye, wJiich denoted determination. Such a class of horses has now nearly vanished from our country, and those which are still left are producing the best carriage and harness horses I meet. At present I know of a mare of the kind, 25 years of age, which has produced fffteen or sixteen live foals, with a small farmer in the county Carlow. She has been al- most his principal support, and, with different sires, her colts almost all brought a uniform price of from £50 to ^£60 at four years old in the halte'r, and, as tlie old man told me, a veterinary surgeon has never had the fortune to pass his hand over one of her progeny. Fortunate for the profession to which I belong, such a breed has died out, for disease was almost unknown amongst them in any form, but unfortunate to the tenant-farmers and the country at large, for we shall never see their like again ; for, besides being a class of animals well suited to their wants, they were easily kept in condition, and came to maturity at an early age. Some of the best hacks I have seen have been the produce of our Connemara pony and a good thorough-bred horse, vrhen they can be had large enough ; besides they generally have wonderful durability, and a share of quality. The shoulders and legs should be the principal parts to look to in the mare for the purpose, as without they are well forward the animal cannot be a good hack. Thick weighted shoulders are almost worse in this class of horse than any other, as they seldom can exist in any horse without his having a tendency to tumble and trip more or less. Good legs and feet are indispensable to stand the road, and to produce which the dams should always have them well shaped, and in the proper position. There are, perhaps, no class of the equine species which will bear so much hardship as the Con- nemara pony, and they were well suited to the wants of the small tenant farmer of half a century ago. There is no part of my subject which will interest you, as a body of advanced practical farmers, as a few remarks on what we want to con- stitute a good draught brood mare — a breed which I have come to the conclusion, even with the number of horses and mares of the kind which have been imported into the country of late years, has not improved proportionately. Clydesdales have, for years past, been looked on as a most desirable breed to in- troduce into the country ; but I must say, in my short experi- ence, I failed to think so, as I do not consider them, in general, suited to the wants of our ordinary tenant farmers. There is no doubt that they are fine, powerful animals, and can draw enormous burthens ; but in our land, as we have here in this county such an amount of power is seldom required ; be- sides, where is the farmer, holding twenty or thirty acres of laud, could feed a pair of those for a year, to keep them in proper condition (which must amount to fat) ? Tlieir action is slow, and, until they are aged, they are generally what may be termed " soft-horses." At the same time, there are some Clydesdale mares with clean legs, compact make, that can bend their knee, and dont dish in their trotting action, breed weU with a thorough-bred horse ; but for such a cross the breeder should always select a sire with thin and well laid back shoulders, and light head and neck, as it is in those points that Clydesdale mares are generally at fiiult. For draught purposes, the thick, straight-shouldered, wide-chested horses are best ; but with such a conformation they must have a cor- responding want of pace, which invariably, if not counteracted in the opposite sex, will come out in the progeny. A good draught mare should stand from fifteen hands to sixteen hands high, and need only excel in walking, which she should do light and freely, placing her foot firmly and flat on the ground. Her head should be light, but well-shaped, with round, plump, and full shoulders, strong, muscular, and fully developed, as I have said, standing upright more than oblique ; neck strong and thick, as from this formation a greater weight is thrown into the collar than if the head and neck were light, with oblique sho'ilder ; legs should not be too short for the weight of the body, which should be lengthy ; pasterns strong and short ; firm, round, well-formed feet, which should be rather large, wdth dark-coloured hoofs ; loins and haunches povierful, with plenty of breadth, which assist also in throwing weight into the collar. Anyone who has watched a steady puller under a heavy load must have observed how the animal lowers the head, bends the knee, and digs the hind toe into the ground. Some of the Sufi'olks and Cleveland bays which have been imported into this country, and crossed with our Irish mares, have produced the most useful class of draught horses to be met ; they have all the spirit and quickness of action of our Irish horse, and, at the same time, the power and weight of the Suffolk. Some of the half Clydesdales bred in the same way are good farm horses, and when not too taU suit our wants admirably. I have met some animals got by a Norfolk horse, which stood in this county some time since, which were particularly serviceable animals. I would strongly recommend such a class of horses to you ; but it is somewhat diflicult to get a sire of the actual stamp, as they are much looked for both for this country and for exportation. The all-important point of soundness is now to be considered. It is the essential one in the brood mare for all purposes. It is a notorious fact that there are certain diseases of which the parents are the subjects, and which will descend to the progeny. To prevent such results, which I tliink cause most disappointment, we should be particular in the examina- tion of our mares required for the stud. In many cases a mare is never put to the stud until she is fit for nothing else ; but let me impress on you that when you have a mare fit for nothing else, consign her to the kennels rather than encumber yourself with her useless progeny, for such they must be. It is often difficult to draw a line between hereditary diseases and those the result of accident. In general those which de- pend on defective conformation, such as spavin, spleuts, curbs, ringbones, sand-crack ; all diseases affecting the wind. Blindness and navicular disease come under the former class, although they may be the result at any time of the latter also. Spavin and curbs, although distinct diseases, and depending on different causes, are found in the produce of horses which have badly-formed hocks, although both diseases may be the result of accident. With curbs, if I found a mare witli what is termed round or bent hocks, with a small oscalcis or point, I would not breed from her, as it is almost certain to come out in her progeny. On the contrary, if you had a straight, well-formed hock, and only a curb on one leg, I would not consider it of any consequence. A sire I knew a few years ago in Carlow, who had perfectly sound hocks himself, and stood racing on them, conveyed almost to everyone of his foals 142 THE FAKMER'S MAGAZINE. curbs and ringbones, so much so that at least forty of his pro- duce, more or less affected with those adornments, passed under my hands for treatment. The horse himself had small, narrow-shaped hocks ; he transmitted that peculiar formation, and the least work brought out the disease in liis unfortunate progeny. Spasm, ringbones, and sidebones I consider are hereditary in almost any form. Indeed, ringbones will come out in generations, and I consider these hereditary dispositions depend on peculiar weak formation of the large and small pastern bones ; or at other times, where the legs are so shaped as the centre of gravity comes over the top of the hoof, nature throws out an ossification as a strengthener to the parts. Another hereditary disease I consider of much importance is blindness dependant on disease of the eyes — specific opththalmia, a special disease of horses, which is certain to follow breeds, and on no account would I recommend breeding from either sex affected with it. A mare may lose an eye or become blind of both from an accident ; but in any case it renders them more or less unfit as a brood mare to fill that office which nature has destined her to pro- tect and shield from injury her offspring. Diseases of the respiratory organs, as roaring, whistHng, broken wind, thick wind, &c., I consider hereditary diseases. Roaring, de- pendant on imperfect formation of the throat, horses with thick, hairy jaws, thick at their angles, and badly set on, large heads, all have a tendency to this disease, while I have some- times found it in horses with long, thin necks. There are certain breeds which are handed down as most successful at the stud, which have unfortunately carried with them those conformations, and consequently spread the disease. The produce of Melbourne, a most successful sire, and one whose breed represents some of our most fashionable racing stock, all inherited this, and I have found i no less marked on many of his sons, which were at the stud. And again, half-bred stock their produce invariably become musical on the slightest ex- citing cause. I may remark, at the same time, that most of our covering stallions " make a noise" after they are a few years at the stud, from the artificial condition in which they are kept, as well as the fact that few, if any, get sufficient exercise to keep their respiratory organs in health. In such cases roaring or thick wind is not hereditary; but I find, practically, in many instances, it is the chief cause of unfruit- iulness in stallions. Diseases in the feet in most cases are hereditary, navicular disease particularly so. Mares with narrow, mulish-looking hoofs, contracted at their heels, are invariably bad to breed roadsters, especially if it is accompa- nied by short pasterns, which make them more liable to the result of concussion. Sandcracks I have ^seen follow in fami- lies, and as it depends on a certain want of the connecting materials between the fibres of the hoof, and will often render a horse useless, it is certainly imprudent to use animals so affected for breeding, particularly if it is accompanied by flat feet, which is generally the case. In concluding my remarks on soundness, I may add that it is most important to have both horse and mare in a healthy condition, as the progeny of sickly or emaciated parents must inherit some of the delicacies, beside having a tendency in any case to materially retard and interfere with the healthy development of the foal during gestation. Perfect conformation and soundness in both male and female is of the greatest importance, and he who breeds from either in an unhealthy or diseased state must feel assured that he cannot expect their progeny to be otherwise, as the old adage says — " like produces like." In importance after the mare, the selection of the sire should be our next consideration ; but having already said so much generally on conformation, &c., which will really apply to this part of the subject, that it would be only occupying your time (so much of which I have already) to again go over it, but I will confine myself to a few particular hints which may, I trust, be of use in assisting you in your selection of a sire. It would be unnecessary for me to go through the various breeds, but merely allude to two classes, namely, the thorough-bred sires suited to get hunters, marketable stock, and harness horses, and the draught sires for labour. We will suppose we already have a good half-bred mare, and our object should be, first, to consider over her points, what is deficient or wants improvement, and endeavour to remedy them in the cross. Six years old is the proper age to put a horse to the stud, and few thorough-breds that are good (unless by accident) appear much sooner. From that age to abotit thurteen or fourteen liorses are said to be good ; but many stallions have, with care and judicious management, been found good up to twenty -two or twenty-three. Touchstone, one of the most famous sires England ever saw, covered mares up to twenty-eight years of age, and some of his latest produce have been most success- ful racehorses. I alluded before to certainjbreeds having pecu- liarities, some temper, others gifts, otliers diseases. To breed hunters, I would always select what is termed '■jumping hlood^ Such were all the Birdcatcher's family ; all the pro- duce were easUy taught ; and I have seen some young colts perfect to hounds with scarcely a day's schooUng. Such, I maintain, is a gift, and depends on a clearness of good intel- lect, which, no doubt, exists in some horses, and is almost ab- sent in otliers. I am not an advocate for large thoroughbred stallions : rather have plenty of quality, which is, in most instances, the wanting link in our mares. Quality is, at the same time, seldom found in large horses. Long, low, and thick should be our motto, with compactness, perfect forma- tion, and good action. On the latter depends almost all ; for a horse, no matter for what purpose, without action for his class, is almost useless. On the other hand, a smaU or large horse that can bend his knee, and has the proper method, can always command a purchaser in some sphere of life. To breed for the market, colour should be always considered, browns or bays bringing a higher price than greys, blacks, or chesnut. Colour takes, 1 think, in many cases after the sire, and espe- cially on that account sliould be considered the more. The less white the better, vi'hile black points are most desirable in any staUiou. Some of the best colts I met are after small horses, many of which I know were for a time disapproved of at first, until some of their stock came forward to raise their claims to a premier position at the harem. But I have inva- riably found that, on examining the sires of these colts, that they had compactness and symmetry so often absent in horses of larger frames. To breed draught horses, size is certainly necessary, but that should be on the shortest possible legs, with well-made bodies. Clydesdales are often of this kind ; but they are scarcely suited, as I said before, for our soU. Half-bred stallions, with size and action, put to a good Clydes- dale mare (or Norfolk), breed a most useful farm-horse, and one which, with selection and care, is certain to pay, as they wiU invariably have action, with a fair amount of strength and stamina to carry them over a day's work. The mistake I generally find is that both owners of such sires and dams an- ticipate and expect too much from the cross ; but, if you make up your mind to breed a good, useful farm-horse, I can recommend to your notice, as I have seen it very successful. I often see some good-selling colts after half-bred sires ; but I find tliat they are best sold as three-year-olds, as they do not, as a rule, improve or refine in training, and consequently do not increase in value correspondingly. I would urge on the landlords to assist the tenant-farmers in their breeding ; by their advice and judgment to prevail on their tenants to keep our thorough good fillies for breeding, and where they liave no mares already, to assist in their pro- curing them ; while by their influence to encourage the pur- chase of good stallions in their districts by those persons who keep them, and prevent imposture of unsound, useless animals, covered with condition and gaudy horse-clothing to hide their imperfections and faults, on the public, and with which, I am sorry to say, the country is in some parts deluged. I would recommend you to breed from no horse whose owner could not produce a certificate of at least " useful soundness" from some respectable veterinary surgeon at the time of going to the stud, which will be a guard to a certain extent against breeding from diseased animals. I have long been of the opinion that it is the good mares we want, with judgment on the part of their owners to select good stallions for them. The number of sires in the country is legion ; but those of even a respectable class are few and far between. As a body of tenant-farmers of which any country ought to feel proud, I would again impress on you the selecting of your materials, which, if properly worked, with an ordinary amount of energy and capital, are certain to pay as fair a share of profit as any other stock on your farm. "lis in the tenant-farmers' hands to win back the lost laurels of our Irish horse-breeding, and to foster the reproduction of that race of animals, the noblest of God's creations, after man. THE i'ARMER'S MAGAZINE. 143 -SHEEP FARMING IN SOUTH AMERICA. While we occasionally take stock of our own resources, there can be no great harm in taking a peep at our energetic rivals, who are wool-growing in other parts of the world. We have referred in these columns to the rise and progress of sheep farming in South America because for the present the sheep farmers there are our greatest rivals in the home mar- kets. We reprint, on our fourth page, an article from the Mark-Lane E.rpress, of the 25th January last, on this subject ; it will be found full of valuable information of the advantages held forth in the South American States to settlers. The in- formation conveyed in the article fully confirms previous re- ports on this subject, which we have given. A carefully com- piled table made by Mr. John Greenaway, of Buenos Ayres, shows that £8,000 can be realised in five years from 5,260 sheep including the necessary rams — added to this the increase in the time mentioned, which would be 16,240, making a total of 21,500. If this be correct (and we see no reason to doubt the information) the States alluded to are pretty sure to be our most formidable competitors iu wool-growiug, as they are not one-half the distance from the European markets, as are we at the Antipodes. In 1863, 900,0001bs. of wool were ex- ported from Cordova alone, and that quantity is now doubled. In Buenos Ayres the public lands vary in price from 3s. to 10s. the acre — they are sold generally by the league of nine square miles, or about 6,000 acres — the league wiU carry from 20,000 to 30,000 sheep— water is to be had by sinking at depths of from twenty-five to fifty feet, and the average price of sheep is Cs. each. With a capital of £15,600 a net profit of 53 per cent, could be realised in eight years, and 9 per cent, would be returned iu the intermediate years. The £15,600 would buy 20,000 sheep, 32,000 acres of land, and the necessary buildings, carts, utensils, cattle, horses, " and shepherds." It is difficult to understand the purchase of the shepherds, unless they are " given in," a term we often use in Australia iu regard to the working bullocks when a station is sold. The shepherds in the provinces referred to, are doubt- less the aboriginals, the poor Indians, who are delighted to get employment on any terms that -ndU sustain life. The whole article to which we specially refer is most suggestive, and, no doubt, when carefuUy read by our wool-growers will cause them to reflect on their position iu this country of ours where a large proportion of the many-headed public consider that the squatter, as a colonist, ought to be remorselessly swept away. We have, as stated, many times called attention to tne competition in other lands with which our wool-growers are threatened, and if, instead of squabbling over the ridiciihis mus, as do our legislators, night after night, iu the Legislative Assembly, honourable members would make themselves ac- quainted with such facts as those now alluded to, there would be more wisdom in our land laws. In the room of requiring three or four acres to keep one sheep, as we do in Riverina, the matter is reversed in the South American States — where an acre will keep three or more sheep. Settlers there will soon find out the secret of fencing in their leaseholds or free- holds, and when they have put wool-growing on the same footing as our most energetic settlers have in the bush of Australia it would seem doubtful whether we shall not be beaten in the European wool markets in the race for pre- eminence. Should this be the ease what is to become of one liundred and fifty millions of acres in New Soutli Wales, most of which are only fit lor grazing purposes ? If they beat us in growing wool and mutton, would we have any chance of competing with them in beef and hides. In a large sheep walk on the River Plate the number of sheep was 52,5S5, on the 1st of January, 1867. The sales since the commencement weie 62,502 sheep, giving a total of 115,087 sheep. The original stock in 1854 was 7,868, showing an increase of 107,219 sheep in about eleven years. The gross quantity of wool taken off from the commencement was l,038,8541bs. The clip of 1866 was 207,5001bs., and was delivered on board an American vessel at lOjd. per lb., " including locks and bellies." The sheep averaged all round 5jlbs. each fleece ; the ewes gave from 4lbs. to 71bs., ram fleeces went up to 201bs., the growth of one year ; the ewes weighed alive about 1901bs., and the rams 2201bs. It seems to be in our favour that in Uruguay and the Argentine Confederation wax has desolated the fair and rich lands. Now, however, the war is over for a time. Though nature has been so bountiful to the South American provinces, the hand of man has carried desolation into the pastoral Edens of that fine country. There is, how- ever, a bright future for it, because it is attracting a large share of public attention in the British Isles, where it is sup- posed to offer better prospects to those who desire to engage in wool growing than do the Australias. There are in the South American States large quantities of sheep of excellent quality, both for wool and for meat purposes, and a tolerably correct notion can be formed of the quality of some of the wool when, as stated, large quantities were shipped uncleansed to America at lOjd. per pound, equal to some of the very best prices obtained for our premier fleeces in Southern River- ina. The province of Entre Rios is occupied chiefly by Eng- lish gentlemen, some of whom have bought land there at the rate of 4s. 3d. per acre, while others have leased land at from £30 to £80 per annum for every 6,000 acres, equal to keeping ing from 20,000 to 25,000 sheep. There is there no restriction on capital, either as to leaseholds or freeholds — men can lease or buy as much as they can pay for. One gentleman — Don Mateo Garcia — has secured for himself and his heirs as much as 600 square miles of country, or 384,000 acres, equal to carrying a million of sheep. He is something like a Don ! We cannot withhold from our readers our serious misgivings as to the evils that are likely to result from impeding the action of capital in Riverina, by foolish laws that do no good to any men, or set of men, in the Australias, If we restrict capital by refusing to sell our lands on fair terms, or to lease them at an equitable rate, we shall reap the consequences by- and-bye, in encouraging emigration from the British Isles on a large scale to the South American States named, where such splendid prospects await enterprise. The emigrants thereto must, as stated, be our most formidable competitors in the home wool markets — indeed, they are so to some extent at present. Seeing how rapidly sheep farming in new countries taKes root and springs into vigorous action, our legislators would do w^l to consider seriously whether they are not doing a manifest injustice to our settlers in possession of the public lands, and whether, in regard to the tenure under which they hold their lands, we are not grasping at a shadow and per- mitting the substance to elude us. The advantages to settlers, comparijig the States to which we specially direct attention with the advantages which we in Riverina offer, are apparently in favour of South America. — Pastoral Times, NEW MODE OF DESTROYING WASPS.— " Wieu T find a nest, I select the noon of a hot, sunny day for my ope- rations. I procure a very strong solution of cyanide of potas- sium, and I saturate a piece of lint, about three or four inches square, with the solution. This lint I quietly place at the outlet of the hole leading to tlie nest ou the ground, iu a bank, or elsewhere. Nothing more is requisite. Every wasp that arrives at the hole, on its desceut alights on the lint, and, after one or two gyrations, drops over the edge of the lint, into the hole, dead, or else dies upon the lint ; not one escapes. AVheu the nest is in a tree, I generally go in the eveniug. and hold the hnt soaked in the cyanide, under the bottom hole. The wasps soon begin to drop out, first one by one, then in a regu- lar shower. Of course, caution must be used to avoid the in- halation of the cyanide ; but as so httle is required, it is not very probable any accident will result from, the proceeding."— London Journal of Horticulture. 1-14, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. REVIEWS. THE PARKS, PROMENADES, AND GARDENS OF PARIS.— By W. Robinson, E.L.S. John Hurray, ■ Albe- marle Street. lu this work Mr. Robinson has given a most clear and exhaus- tive account of the present state of horticulture as practised in Paris for both external and internal decoration, in conjunction with the general great improvemeuts in that city ; and for all interested in such subjects a better guide-book could not be found. In the first five chapters a full description of the parks, promenades, and larger gardens, such as the Champs Elysees and Bois de Boulogne, is given, and the management explained; special attention being drawn to the most con-- plete and excellent system of watering, so far superior to any plan practised here. The nest chapter enters into almost tedi- ous details of tlie minor squares and places ; wliile the seventh describes the Boulevards, those great arteries as well as lungs with whicli Pans is so fortunately provided ; and many good suggestions are made for providing similar advantages in our constantly-increasing metropolis. River baths are also very hecomingly referred to in a work having in view the improve- ment of our sanitary arrangements. Chapter 8, one of the most interesting in the book, treats of the large public nur- series, in which the immense quantities of plants and trees re- quired for public purposes are raised ; 9, 10, and 11 fuUy de- scribe— detailed lists and illustrations on nearly every page being given — the trees, shrubs, herbaceous and subtropical plants best suited for use in our climate. These chapters would in themselves alone form a most acceptable and useful volume. The outlying parks and gardens are next mentioned — Versailles, St. Cloud, Meudon, and Fontainbleau — and with the latter, the celebrated Gladiolus Grounds of M. Souchet, from whence all the great houses in this and other countries derive their supplies, about twenty acres of land being devoted to the cultivation of this bulb alone. A subject which conies particularly home to all dwellers in towns is written of in chap. 15 — "Plant Decoration of Apartments, and Reform in the Conservatory ;" and if it were for this chapter alone, Mr. Robinson would deserve our best thanks ; the infinitely supe- rior result, with much greater elfect, which may be obtained by the use of foliage plants, in place of the almost stereotyped arrangements of cinerarias, geraniums, and calceolarias, &c., being clearly shown. A list of palms, both those suited for a cool house and those requiring a stove, is given ; and the great use made of ivy in LVench garden and house decoration is dwelt upon with mucli force. This may be considered to conclude the first portion of the book, and most certainly contains suffi- cient matter for a single volume. In thus placing before the public the management of " these thiiiffs in Paris" Mr. Robin- sou's object has been to show the shortcomings in London, and although much remains to be done with us, scarcely suffi- cient credit is given for what has been done during the last few years. The improvements that have been made in our parks and gardens must be apparent to every one, and it is to be hoped Mr. Robinson's book will give a fresh impetus to the good work, and that some of his many valuable suggestions may he put into practice. The remaining three hundred pages are devoted entirely to fruit culture, as to how we are to im- prove it, and a description of the French market gardens, and the mode of cultivation followed in order to supply the immense quantities of salads and other fresh vegetables wliich enter so largely into the " cuisine" of our neighbours. All this of course is more especially useful to those who reside in the country, and who can thus put in practice the immensely valuable information here so clearly given. The second portion of the book is most interesting to all ; and the description of the peach gardens at Montreuil, and the grapes at Thomery, must make every reader fervently hope that the instructions which Mr. Robin- son so clearly sets forth may be followed with advantage by all who have the opportunity. The book abounds in admirably- executed wood engravings, of which we subjoin a specimen. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. lit HE FENS OF SOUTH LINCOLNSHIRE. By W. H. WiiBELER, C.E. London : Simpkiii, and Marshall. Tho fens of Liacolnshirc have been an object of engineer- ing enterprise ever since the time of the llomans in England, and at various periods millions of money in the aggregate have been expended in attempting their reclamation, frustrated in many instances by the obstinate and lawless opposition of tlie miserable inhabitants residing on them, who wore unable to comprehend that tlieir own interests would be promoted by being able to obtain a better living by continuous labour, than by a precarious dependance on the taking of wild-fowl and lish, to which their time was exclusively devoted. The book before us is a concise history of the various attempts — more especially in modern times — and of the success attending them. 15y the help of modern machinery and skill, the nine districts into which the fens are divided, and containing iJuO.OOO acres, once submerged by the sea, have been con- verted into the richest and most productive land in the United Kingdom. The history of the reclamation of these is given separately, with the means employed in the operation. There yet remain 150,000 acres to be reclaimed, viz., " the Wash," at Lynn. The undertaking of this work has been for some time in contemplation, and, if wo do not mistake, it is pro- posed to form it into a new county, under the name ot the Queen, a standing memorial of her long and peaceful reign. A HEADY RECKONER. By W. Rice, Corn Merchant. London : Simphin and Marshall. This work, which begins with fifteen shillings, advances one penny in each calculation, giving one hundred and four mul- tiplications of each advance, until it reaches the maximum of four pounds. By referring to the head of each column fur the price of an article, and examining the number, intending to sell or purchase, the exact sum it will require is at once found. Tluis supposing the price of any kind of goods is 15s., and the number purchased 30, by finding the sura 15s. at the head of the column, and No. 30 with its corresponding result in the column, you at once get the sura of £32 10s. We cannot, however, help remarking that the work would have been more generally useful if it had begun at a lower figure, so as to assist in the calculation of smaller transac- tions, of which the overwhelming majority of sales and purchases consists. THE CATTLE PLAGUE BILL'. A.fter all the capital which has been made out of this matter for some time past, the actual debate over the Cattle Plague Bill went off with curious lameness, If not positive indifference. The Chamber of Agriculture, insti- tuted to watch over parliamentary business, had agreed to a long adjournment some month or two previously, and Mr. Sewell Read fairly ran away from one of his own Amendments. As a natural consequence the Government has had the fashioning; of the measure pretty much in its own hands ; as any increased consideration evinced for the farmer must be attributable rather to a volunteer movement on the part of Mr. Forster than to the effect of any particular pressure from without. la fact, any agi- tation amongst agriculturists themselves broke down miserably just at the very crisis ; for within a week or so of the Bill coming on, a small party of Norfolk men had, in their own expressive phrase, " sought and obtained an interview with Mr. Forster," at which they " effectually stamped out" the amendments of their own county Member ! In so many words, the representatives of certain class-interests contrived to get to loggerheads with each other, and the Minister, thus relieved of anything like organized opposition, was left to act at disci'etiou. And it may be as well to see how he has acted, and the " points " of the case are easily com- pressed. If not perhaps the chief feature of the discussion, unquestionably the defined battle-ground would be over the establishment of a metropolitan market for the sale of foreign stock. Lord Robert Montagu had maintained long since that we must have such a separate market, and everybody went with his Lordship, save Mr. W. E. Forster, who went a step further. This right honourable gentleman not merely admitted the force of the argument, but he made it his business to carry it out at the least possible cost to the country. And this, no doubt, took the sting out of the debate. When a man on the other side of the House does a deal more for you than one of your own very particular friends ever yet has done, it is diflicult, indeed, to indulge in invective, or to countenance attack. On clause 28 coming on in Committee, Colonel Barttelot styled this the most important part of the Bill — -an opinion in which we quite concur — while he went on very properly to ask for some explanation as to what this really meant. Mr. Forster said at once, iu answer, that " it was jnerely intended to carry into effect the agreement that had been entered into between the Government and the Corporation, under which the latter had undertaken to make the market. No- thing could have been more candid, more straightforward, or more business-like than the proceedings of the gen- tlemen who represented the Corporation in this matter. In the event of the Corporation not ir.cKing the market by the 1st of January, 1873, they would cease to have power as the local authorities, they would lose their mo- nopoly, and they would lose the additional tolls which under the Bill they would be allowed to levy. Under these circumstances, there could be no doubt that the Corporation would make the market, and would carry out the intention of the clause in a substantial manner." It seems to us that nothing could have been more satisfac- tory than this explanation ; but, then, we feel that we are ourselves in some measure committed to Mr. Forster and his doings. In the face of some spurious agitation we have ever maintained that, if fair-play were allowed the Vice-President of the Council, he would find some far more reasonable way of establishing a market than any which had ever entered into the heads of a few certain persons who had, after all, only their own interests to serve. And we believe that Mr. Forster has found such a way : we believe that his scheme will go far to answer all that was asked, as that this is statesmanlike, feasible, and politic. But we shall not rest here with any expression of our own ap- proval. Mr. Corrance, a Farmers' Friend from the other side of the House, " was quite content to accept on this subject the assurances of the right honourable gentleman, whose conduct with reference to this Bill had been most straight- forward, direct, and courteous. The Corporation of Lon- don appeared to have learnt wisdom upon this question, and had discovered before it was too late that unless they were content to co-operate with the Government and the House upon this matter they wovdd lose their trade." This is very honestly and very handsomely put, and here we may leave the very back-bone of the Bill, as Mr. Cor- rance and the country will say, " quite content." Then, again, on Friday Mr. Forster volunteered another important alteration as to the carriage of cattle in this country, and by which the well-doing of animals is made to depend altogether on the responsibility of the owner or consignee. If a man will only give instructions that his 146 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. beasts shall be jvatered and fed at certain stations in their journey the railway companies will be compelled to observe these orders, as, in fact, the managers have already con- sented to make such provision. Still, this principle should be carried fui'ther, and be made as generally applicable to steam-boats, where equal or greater suffering amongst the stock is of as common occurrence. Mr. Porster, indeed, half-promised a separate Bill for Ireland, and no one who has seen beasts landed at Holyhead from Dublin or in Lancashire from the North, as we ourselves have, but will feel how strongly this abuse needs correction, as how pro- vocative of disease such privation must become. It certainly sounds wholesome enough that any mea- sure affecting so directly the interests of agriculture should be subjected to the criticism and emendation of such a man as Mr. Sewell Read. But the honourable member for East Norfolk for once appeared to a disadvantage ; as it was difficult to see how far the opinions he was advancing and the proposals he was making were in reality his own, or if he merely spoke as the mouthpiece of other people. Indeed, although one of the most regular men in the House, he was not in his place on Friday to move the now famous Amendment, that a case of sheep-pox should be followed by as general slaughter as one of cattle plague ; and this of course was negatived, after a few words from Mr. Forster, without a division. On the Tuesday the only discussion of the occasion arose upon another Amendment from Mr. Read, when he spoke with his usual force. The point of this went to maintain that no country should be declared disinfected under three years from the occurrence of a case ; and that " we ought to draw a line right up from Italy to the North of Poland, and all countries lying to the east of that line ought to be considered permanently dangerous." This would virtu- ally give the Government very little discretionary power, while any such arbitrary action rested chiefly for support upon the evidence of the veterinarians. Here, however, is clearly the weak place in the reliable history and useful deduction which we should draw from the late visitation of the rinderpest. " The Profession" manifestly knows so little of the disease, and is as a consequence so little in- clined to trust itself, that it is ever ready to create a panic. When Mr. Sewell Read went for slaughtering whole flocks on the appearance of a case of sheep-pox, he most pro- bably did so, if his authority could be traced home through the mystic wanderings of his Chamber, to the prompting of some veterinary surgeon. These men in their ignorance evince a timidity which is no doubt " catching." They have but one rule and one remedy — where disease has been there it ever will be, and utter extermination is your only safety. It is hard to legislate upon the opinions of people whose words, after all, carry so little weight ; and if it be reduced to a ques- tion of responsibility, we would at least prefer to see this shared by the Government rather than handed over to a Profession that has so far shown so little power to deal with the subject. Indeed, as Mr. Read himself says, " So long as Mr. Forster continues to occupy his present position we shall be safe ;" and this is something to go on. No one, in truth, who reads the debate but will allow how much Mr. Forster merits the confidence placed in him. As we said some time since, he has never attempted to ride rough-shod over the country with this measure, but has ever paid at- tention to the claims of those who have consulted him, while he has dealt with a great difficulty, neither rashly nor timidly, but in a spirit eminently practical and com- prehensive. Had he in any particular direction attempted more, he might, ilke Lord Robert IMontagu, have accom- plished less. THE SMALL-POX IN SHEEP. MR. SEWELL READ'S AMENDMENTS. As we stated in our last number, a Committee of the Norfolk flockmasters came to Lonc'on on Monday, June 21st, with a view of more thoroughly organizing their opposition to the so-called "amendments" for the whole- sale slaughter of sheep, as proposed by Mr. Sewell Read, or rather by the Central Chamber of Agriculture. On reaching Attleborough on Thursday morning we heard that a Report was about to be read on the ground, of which the following is a copy : After the adjourned meeting of the committee on Saturday, the 19th instant, the members of the deputation saw Mr. Read, and were uuable to obtain any definite reply from liira as to the withdrawal of the amendments to the above Bill \vith respect to sraall-pos in sheep. Tliey then saw several members of the committee, and it was determined that the best course open to them was to go to London on Monday, the 21st, and consult one of the county members, taking also such other steps as they miglit think necessary to prevent the amendments being carried. On tlieir way to Loudon they saw Mr. Read, and discussed the matter with him, and being still unable to get a clear and distinct answer from him during the journey, and being de- sirous of avoiding any appearance of acting in opposition to the Central Chamber of Agriculture, they suggested meeting him again at the Salisbury Hotel. At the second interview with Mr. Read, he explained that as Chairman of the Central Chamber of Agriculture he could not interfere with the resolutions which had been unanimously agreed to by the members of that Chamber, but that he would meet the deputation at the House of Commons at four o'clock, and endeavour to get as many members of Parhament, who are also members of the Central Chamber of Agriculture, as pos- sible to meet them. The deputation saw the Hon. T. De Grey, and they found that he thoroughly agreed with the view the committee took of the question, and promised them all the assistance in his power. The deputation met the following members of the House of Commons at four o'clock, Mr. De Grey, Mr. James Howard, Mr. Corrauce, and Mr. C. S. Read, in one of the committee- rooms, and they have reason to believe they convinced Mr. James Howard of the impropriety of the amendments, but re- gretted to find that Mr. Read and Mr. Corrauce were so com- mitted to the Central Chamber of Agriculture that they could give them no assistance. Tlie deputation then determined to ask an interview with l\Tr. Forster, who has charge of the bill, and Mr. De Grey very kindly obtained one for them. The members of the deputation met Mr. Forster in the pre- sence of Mr. De Grey, Sir W. Bagge, and Mr. James Howard, and after giving their reasons for opposing Mr. Read's amend- ments, and stating their grounds for doing so, Mr. Forster said that he was glad to hear the opinions of men who had experience in the disease of small-pox in sheep, and he as- sured them that their views on the matter entirely agreed with his own. The deputation thought it desirable to impress upon Mr. Forster that they thoroughly agreed with Mr. Read's amend- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 147 ment with respect to separate markets for foreign cattle and sheep. The deputation cannot close this report without offering their best thanks to Mr. De Grey for the very able and hearty assistance he gave them, (Signed) T. Brown, Marhaji. Robert Overman, Egmere, Robert C. Winearls, Marham. Henry Woods, Merton. The committee, in laying this report hefore the public, have great pleasure in stating that they have been in- formed, and have every reason to believe, that it meets with the approbation and concurrence of the leading noblemen and gentlemen of the county interested iu the breeding and rearing of sheep. (Signed) Richard England, Chairman of Committee. CHEMICAL MANURES Ten or twelve experimental fields will next year be dissemi- nated over the whole extent of our territory. Regional schools, farm schools, agricultural societies, comUiu and elementary schools are invited to taKe part in that peaceful assembly de- signed to teacli agriculturists of all classes the laws which regulate tlie production of vegetables. At the last meeting of scieutific societies, tlie Minister of Public Instruction deliued the character of this movement admirably : " Science," said he, " feels that it should be democratic in practice, whilst it reserved its theories for the elite minds." Yes, science is ambitious of extending to the lower classes the benefits of instruction, thank God ! Tweuty-three millions of our fellow-creatures cultivate laud witliout the slightest knowledge of the conditions which render theii- labour suc- cessful, and double or trel)le the fruits of it. It is this fact which induced the Ministers of Public Instruction and Agri- culture to unite iu forming some plan for obviating the diffi- culty. They therefore resolved to have trial fields for cultiva- tion by means of chemical manures. • The Minister of Agriculture thus addressed the directors of farm schools in Prauce : " You are aware that for several years experiments have been made iu order to discover exactly the nature of the agents of fertility which we may have recourse to for supplying the notorious iusulficiency of our resources in farm dung ; it therefore seems advisable to make you acc[naiuted with a movement which is now on foot, the consequences of which are likely to be considerable if the trials that will be made in all parts are devoted to the purpose for which they are intended." In a circular to the Prefect, the Minister of Public Instruc- tion laughs at the opinion of his eminent colleague, adding in his turn : " The founders of the district of Thionville, setting in that respect an excellent example, have made forty experi- ments upon chemical manures, which occupied the attention of the comitia of that district. A document recently puhlislied under care of the comitia states the 1,300 kilos, of chemical manure, costing 360 fr., produced on an average 51,232 kilos. of beet per hectare ; wliilst 73,000 kilos, of ordinary farm dung, also costing 360 fr., ouly produced 48,888. This fact," adds the Minister, " led the founders of the district of Thionville and others to try the experiment, and accordingly a small trial field was annexed to all the elementary schools iu the empire. Since the impulse is now given, all that remains is to patiently await the result. But it is not necessary that the governmental action — pre-eminent as it may be over the private initiation— should paralyze or discourage it. On the contrary, they are two great currents, v/hich, hke the triljuta- ries of a river, must unite in order to raise the level of our common knowledge." ^ The agricultural world should not forget that the Journal d'Afjriculti, Major Garrett, 28 gs. Seraphine 3rd, roau, calved iu ISGi, Mr. Sturgeon, 23 gs. Agatha 3rd, red-aud-whitc, calved in 18G4, Major Garrett, 20 gs. Dalilia 5th, roan, calved in 186-i, Mr. Westhorp, 20 gs. Seraphine -ith, roan, calved in 1865. Mr. Patmore, 30 gs. Silence 5tli, red-and-white, calved in 1SG5, Mr. K. Cooper, 23 gs. Dahlia Ctli, roan, calved in 1865, Mr. Westhorp, 20 gs. Violet 6th, red-and-white, calved in 1865, Mr. Ncsling, 9^ gs. Harmless 5tb, red-and-white', calved in 1805, Mr. llarvey, 18 gs. DaMia 7th, light roan, calved in 1866, Mr. K. Cooper, 38 gs. Vio!et 8th, red-and-wliite, calved iu 1866, Mr. K. Cooper, 26 gs. Nelly Ith, light roau, calved in 1866, Mr. J. A. Hempson, 17 gs. Slapup 2nd, red-and-white, calved in 1866, Major Garrett, 19 gs. Violet 9th, red-aud-white, calved. iu 1866, Mr. Young, 20 gs. Seraphine 5th, white, calved in 1866, Mr. G. M. Sexton, 37 gs. Nelly tiiird, roan, calved in 1866, Mr. K. Cooper, 86 gs. Music 9th, red-and-white, calved in 1866, Mr. T. 15aker, 23 gs. Agnes, 6th, roan, calved in 1866, Major Garrett, 19 gs. Harmless 6th, roau, calved in 1866, Mr. W. Wolton, 21 gs. Dahlia 8th, roau, calved iu 1866, Mr. Patmore, 32 gs. Agnes 7th, light roan, calved iu 1866, Mr. Patmore, 27 gs. Seraphine 6th, roan, calved in ] 806, Mr. Sturgeon, 20 gs. Fun 5th, white, calved in 1866, Mr. Westhorp, 17^ gs. Agnes 8th, roan, calved in 1866, Mr. Harvey, 16^ gs. Agatha 8th, red-and-white, calved in 1867, Mr. T. Baker, 19 gs, Dahlia, 9th, roan, calved in 1867, Mr. Youug, 33 gs. Agnes 9th, white, calved in 1867, Mr. Westhorp, 15jgs. Dahlia 10th, roan, calved in 1867, Mr. Harvey, 13^ gs. Infanta 5th, roan, calved iu 1867, Mr. Sturgeon, 17 gs. Silence, 7th, red-and-wliite, calved in 1867, Mr. Westhorp, Seraphine 7th, roan, calved in 1867, Mr. Gilbert, 18 gs. Violet 10th, red-and-white, calved iu 1867, Mr. Westhorp, 15 gs. Music 10th, roan, calved in 1867, Major Garrett, 28 gs. Violet 11th, roan, calved in 1867, Mr. Patmore, 13|^gs. Dahlia 11th, white calved in 1868, Mr. Baker, 13^ gs. Seraphine 8th, roan, cahed in 1868, Mr. Parmore, 26 gs. Violet 13th, red-and-white, calved in 1868, Mr. Westhorp, Violet 13th, red-and-white, calved in 1868, Mr. Young, 13 gs. Agnes 10th, red roan, calved in 1868, Mr. Gilbert, 13^ gs. Harmless 8th, red-and-white, calved in January, 1869, Mr. Patmore, 5 gs. Dahlia 12th, red-and-white, calved in March, 1869, Mr. Gil- bert, 9 gs. Agnes 12th, white, calved in April, 1869, Mr. Patmore, 5 gs. Seraphine 9th, red-and-white, calved ;_in 1869, Mr. Walter Capon, 9 gs. Slapup 3rd, roan, calved in 1869, Mr. W. Capon, 12^ gs. BULLS. Loyalty, red and little white, calved in 1866, Mr. W. Wolton, 21 gs. Liberty, roan, calved in 1867, Mr. Nesling, 18^ gs. Wolsey, red, calved in 1867, Mr. Gilbert, 20 gs. Yarmouth, roan, calved in 1867, Mr. W. Wolton, 26 gs. Cleasby, light roan, calved iu 1867, Mr. llarvey, 17 gs. Cleveland, roan, calved iu 1867, Mr. Sturgeon, 23 gs. Cobham,red and white, calved in 1868, Mr. Wilson, 22 gs. Colchester, roan, calved in 1868, Mr. W. Cant, of Colchester, 131 gs. Greeting Lad, light roan, calved in 18G8, Mr. G. Mason, Brightlingsea, 15 gs. Student, red and white, calved in 1868, Mr. Rope, 12^ gs. Nestor, red roan, calved in 1868, Mr. Robinson, of Cransford, 13i gs. Vampire, roan, calved September, 1868, Mr. Bates, of Diss, 8^gs. Nero, white, calved October, 1868, Mr. W. Capon, 13 gs. Vortex, roan, calved in January, 1869, Mr. Gilbert, 11 gs. Senator 3rd, red-and-white, calved in January, 1869, Mr. Jno. Thorndon, 17 gs. Senator 4lh, roan, calved iu January, 1869, Mr. Sturgeon, 14 gs. Fenian, light roan, calved in March, 1869, Mr. Harvey, 10^ gs. Vauban, red, calved in 1869, Mr. Walker, 9^ gs. Nelson, wiiite, calved in May, 1869, Mr. Pcttitt, Friston, 4.igs_ Dianthus, red-and-white, calved in 1869, Mr. Spurling, 9|- gs.* EXTRA, cows AND HEIFERS. Harp, white, calved iu 1858, Mr. Wilson, Essex, 15^ gs. lladassah, white, calved in 1803, Mr. Sturgeon, 16 gs. Harp 2ud, light roan, calved in 18G8, Mr. Patmore, 27 gs. Clematis, roan, calved in 1863, Mr. Sturgeon, 16.j gs. Clematis 2nd, red roau, calved in 1805, Mr. Gobbett, 11|- gs. Clematis 3rd, roan, calved in 1866, Mr. Robins, Milden-hall, 15 gs. Clematis 4th, roan, calved iu April, 1868, BIr. Bates, 8| gs. Love, red-aud-white, calved in 1864, Mr. W. Wolton, Frani., 20 gs. Broadbaek, roan, calved in 1865, Mr. Sturgeon, 17 gs. Broadback 3nd, red-and-white, calved in 1867, Mr. Groom, 33 gs. Broadback 3rd, white with a few spots, calved in 1869, for Lord Rendlesham, 9 gs. EXTRA BT.II.L CALVES. Harper, white, calved in 1869, Mr. W. Wolton, 6 gs. Hectof, red roan, calved in April, 1809, Mr. Sturgeon, 13 gs. Bull, red-and-white, calved in 1867, Mr. Turner, I62 gs. Bull, light roan, calved in 1867, Mr. Pratt, Melton, 31 gs. Bull, light roau, calved in 1868, Mr. N. Catchpole, Ipswich, 13^ gs. Bull, roan, calved in 1868, Mr. R. Garrett, 19 gs. If there were any want of excitement on Wed- nesday, the sale of pigs and Suffolk horses on the morrow must have convinced a stranger that it only wanted some- thing to their fancy to bring it out ; and although nothing like excitement ever comes to a Suffolk man over a Shorthorn, it needs but a good show of pigs and a fa- vourite cart-horse to bring it out to perfection. The large breed of pigs went off slowly, the best prices for sows being 15|^, 11^, 10^ guineas, the highest-priced lots being bought by Messrs. Everett, Cater, and Gardener. Other buyers were Mr. Corder (Chelmsford), Mr. M'Cul- lock (Dumfries), Sir Thomas Lennard, &c. Mr. King (Asliley, Cambridgeshire) bought one of the boars at 14 guineas, and Mr. Corder a pig at 7 guineas ; the rest were sold at something like pork price. Of the middle breed the highest prices were 12i and 10 guineas, both for sows Mr. Fulcher giving the former and Mr. Wilsou the latter price. For the small-breed whites there was a better com- petition. Mr. Badham bought Cup Winner, a two-year- old sow, and 9 pigs for 26 guineas, the pigs not being of much promise, but the sow a very good one indeed. Sir Thomas Lennard gave 20gs. for Lady Sufi'olk, Mr. Badham and Mr. Easterson of Bawdscy being bidders also. Lot ICO, a 15 months sow, was bought by Mr. Robins, a very nice one, but looked like a doubtful breeder. The other purchasers were Mr. Capon, Mr. Easterson, Lord Derby, and Mr. Bates, &c., the prices ranging from lOgs. to 4gs. The highest priced small breed boar was bought by a Mr. Stanford for 13gs., but the best, or, at least, the best bred one to look at, was bought by Mr. Badham for 12gs., other buyers were Mr. Wilson (Baylham), Mr. Robins (Camb.), &c. The black jrigs were a very extraordinary show. They were nearly all descended from the far-famed Black Diamond, a sow which astonished the Frenchmen at the Paris show, and which would have astonished them still more had they followed her back across the Channel, as. though apparently too fat to breed, she landed a family of 11 on her arrival on the British shores, and, what was more, brought them all up. As a whole there was a great family likeness, the worst features of which were too, great a length in the neck, lack of width betweeu the ears, 150 THE FARMER'S MAaAZINE. and, in some cases, too little hair — the latter a defect most apparent in two of the highest-priced sows. Mr. King, of Ashley Hall, in Cambridgeshire, bought the highest-priced sow with pigs (lot 212) for 23gs., a very good one, and not too much money considering the sire of the family. Lot 210, a very good sow and pigs, were bought for Mr. Eastwood ("Butterfly" Eastwood, we believe), and one of the best was bought by Mr. Herman Biddell at ISggs. One sow and 6 pigs made 30gs., bought by a Mr. Standford, who also made another 30g3. purchase in lot 225, a not very level sow, with nice long hair, but not quite enough of it ; other buyers were Mr. Thornton, Mr. Druce, Major Wilson, Mr. Pettitt, &c. The first boar made 35gs., all the Suffolk breeders wanting him at less or more, according to their fancies, Mr. Steam, IMr. H. Biddell, and Mr. Beevor, we believe, going on to 30gs., but Mr. Sexton left at 34, and the hammar falling to Mr. Stanford at 35. The other prices were from 16 to 5 gs., and a small pig of great promise, better perhaps than the old boar made, 27 gs., Mr. Sexton being the buyer. One or two were bought for Mr. Thorn, another for Mr. H. Biddell, &c. ; but" Mr. Stearn did not take to anything strong enoiigh to secure it. The great " sensation " of the day was reserved for the sale of Cupbearer, the well-known Suffolk stallion. Indeed, the press round the ring, and the clamour for seats in the waggons, called forth a remonstrance from the auctioneer (Mr. Bond, to-day) to make way for the buyers ; but, as we suppose no one seemed to despair of becoming one, the best seats and places of sight were still held by the corduroy division. The riding horses comprised a nice-moving grey, Avhich made 91 gs; a good moving brown, four years old mare, without much leg, which made 55 gs. ; a very nice bay thorough-bred two- year- old filly, by Fandanguero, out of "Whirlpool, with a tremendous pedigree, ending in " a horse imported about the year 1670 or 1680," price 30 gs., and one or two more. Besides these, were the stallions Tom and Fandanguero, and two half-bred ones ; the former made 25 gs., and the Nor- folk prize winner, 105gs. There is something very catching in this horse : he is small, but not needy, and, what is not often seen, a wide, thick, thorough-bred one ; he is, how- ever, small in the bone, but has rare shape and action. He was bought by Mr. Westhorpe, the Essex gentleman, who was also very useful among the Shorthorns the day before. Mr. Crisp gave 140 gs. for him at the Sledmere sale as a yearling ; and as he has covered several seasons, there has been no great loss so far.' Mr. Cooper, of Barton, bought a fine moving half-bred two-year-old ; but the other, a brown, by Tom, sadly lacked action. The sale of riders being concluded, the far-famed Cupbearer was issued into the ring. Few horses have worn so well as this big sou of Conqueror. Fatted, travelled, and shown almost incessantly for three years, it is no little credit to himself and feeder that he is now a sound one. He looked somewhat straight in his uuder-line, and is still a bit calf-kneed ; but the Suffolk breeders would care nought for these things if they could but make them a good bright chesnut. He gets rather too dark a shade at this time of year, but as that especial shade of colour never seems to upset the prize chance in a ring, and as the foreigners seldom ob- ject, the determination must be an ideal mischief after all. He has remarkably fine action. The first bid (from an impromptu company of four farmers at the back of the auctioneer) was 150 gs. Many round the ring would have had him at 200, but a Canadian and "the four" drove him on to 260 gs. Then there was a pause, but a consultation behind the auctioneer resulted in another bid, and the American put in " 280." Then Mr. Bond gave time by a run out, and one of the Messrs, Biddell, on behalf of the aforesaid " four," gave " 290" gs. Of course this elicited the even 300 gs. Faces who wished for another batch of Cup Bearer foals now began to look blank ; and at last a well known voice (in the hunting- field, too) across the ring asked the question, " Is it a bid in the county ?" Whereupon Mr. Bond politely in- timated he could not divulge the bidder's name, but " it was not in the county." " Then, I'll give 310 gs. to keep him in Suffolk." And ont came a burst of cheers, which might have been heard to Woodbridge. The Cana- dian now tried a 5 gs. bid, but to which the company de- murred; however, on reference to conditions of sale it was found to be all right. When, said the gentleman across the ring, " TU have 5 gs. more then." When the uproar ceased Mr. Bond was repeating " 340 gs. by Major Garrett," but the Canadian would not be beat, so there was another 10 gs. added. Cries of " Go on Ma- jor," but the popular maker of thrashing-engines and horse-hoes jjarried the call by shouting "Why don't you go on — there behind the auctioneer ?" " I'U send six mares to him next year if you'll buy him," says one of the " company." " I'U send ten" says somebody in the ring. Then there was another 5 gs., and another round of cheers; at last the foreigner gave 360, and without wait- ing long 870 gs. from Mr. Garrett silenced all opposition, and to the immense delight of the company it was settled that Cup Bearer shouldremain in thecounty. Itwasthonght that Mr. Garrett might have bought him for some one from whom he held a commission ; but we believe we are right in saying that if any one else had bid for him to re- tain him for the Suffolk mares, he would not have tried to buy him. The hearty rounds of cheers which followed his bids must be no smaU evidence of the appreciation of the Suffolk breeders of his efforts to keep the breed going. In justice to those behind the auctioneer, who did their best to keep him in the county np to the 300 gs., we should state they were Messrs. Sexton, Biddell, Bond, and Easterson ; and we only hope that next year the horse won't be overdone with custom to the detriment of those who use him. The Canadian gentleman bought Lot 204 at 100 gs. — a very cheap horse ; and the old " Captain," who was second at the Royal Show at Bury in 1867, was bought by Mr. Catchpole, of Whitton, RIDING HORSES. Grey Gelding, 5 years old, 15 hands 2 inches high, Mr. Beadel, SG^ gs. Grey Gelding, 5 years old, IG hands high, by Tom, dam by Royal, Mr. Pratt, 91 gs. Brown Mare, 4 years old, 16 hands high, by Waterer, Mr. J. Grout, 55 gs. Chesnut Gelding, 4 years old, by Fandanguero, out of Whirl- pool, Mr. J. G. Slieppard, 45 gs. Bay Filly, 2 years old, by Fandanguero, descended from a black barb, imported [about 1670-1680, Mr. Gobbett, 30 gs, Cliesnut Gelding, 3 years old, by Fandanguero, Mr. WUliam Wliitraore, 27i gs. Chesnut FUly, 2 years old, sire Fandanguero, dam by Young Emelius, Mr. Richard Garrett, 33 gs. Chesnut FiUy, 1 year old, sire Fandanguero, Mr, J , Spurling, 18 gs. Bay mare, with foal at foot, by Fandanguero, Mr, T, Grim- wood, 43 gs. Grey mare, with foal at foot, by Fandanguero, Mr. Largent, 16 gs, THOROUGHBRED STALLIONS, Tom, by Barntou, Mr. Grimwade, 25 gs. Fandanguero, by Fandango, Mr. Westhorp, 105 gs. Brown entire colt, 2 years old, by Torn, Mr. Thornton, 40 gs. Brown entire colt, 2 years old, by Aracan, Mr. Cooper, 45 gs. AGRICULTURAL STALLIONS. Cup Bearer, a chesnut stallion, 5 years old, stands 16 hands 3 inches high. His sire, Mr. T. Crisp's horse Conqueror, sold to the King of Prussia for 300 guineas, and a winner of 9 THE i^'ARMER'S MAGAZINE. 151 prizes ; liis dam by Mr. T. Crisp's Prince, tlie wiuuer of 3 first prizes, Mr. Rd. Garrett, 370 gs. Prince, a chesuut stallion, 8 years old, bred from the Butley Abbey stock, Mr. N. Catchpole, 43 gs. Captain, a chesnut stallion, rising 8 years old, standing 16^ hands high, Mr. 0. Buck, 43 gs. Duke, a red chesnut stallion, 4 years old, stands 16 hands 1 inch high, Mr. Thornton, 100 gs. Young Conqueror, a chesnut stallion, 6 years old, half- brother to Cup Bearer, Mr. Stanford, 46 gs. Young May Duke, a chesnut stallion, 4 years old. His sire May Duke, Mr. G. Eiske, 37 gs. Two years old entire chesnut colt, Mr. 0. Back, 37 gs. Two years old entire chesnut colt. Sire May Duke, the winner of 5 All-England and other prizes, dam Plowman's mare, Mr. Howlett, 37 gs. ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. Monthly Council: Wednesday, July 7, 1869. — Present : The Duke of Richmond, K.G., in the chair ; the Duke of Devonshire, K.G., Visconut Bridport, Lord Chesham, Lord Kesteveu, Lord Tredcjjar, Lord Vernon, Lord Walsiiigham, the Hon. H. G. Liddell, M.P., Sir T. Hesketh, Bart., M.P., Sir Harcourt Johnstone, Bart., M.P., Sir Massey Lopes, Bart., M.P., Sir A. K. Mac- donald, Bart., Sir Watkin W. Wynu, Bart., M.P., Mr. Acland, M.P., Mr. Baruett, Mr. Bramston, Mr. Davies, Mr. Dent, M.P., Mr. Edmonds, Mr. Wren Koskyns, M.P., Mr. Jonas, Colonel Kingscote, M.P., Mr. Milward, Mr. Pain, Mr. Randell, Mr. Statter, Mr. Stone, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Torr, Mr. Wallis, Mr. Webb, Mr. WeUs, M.P., Mr. Jacob Wilson, Professor Simonds, and Dr. Voelcker. The Earl of Ellesmere was elected a governor. The following new members were elected : Baker, John AVilliam, Little RoUeright, Chipping Norton. Bayley, John, Silstock, Whitchurcii, Salop. Beardwood, Thomas, jun., 16, Lime-street, Preston. Becker, John Leigh, Posdenton Hall, Chadderton, Manches- ter. Boulton, Wm. Baker, The Liziard, Sliifual. Bowman, John, High House, Siindwith, Cumberland. Brown, Edward, Worsley Grange, Worsley, near Manchester. Carew-Gibson, George Carew, Sandgate Lodge, Steyning, Sussex. Cotton, Robert W. S., Bourlton Park, Shrewsbury. Cragg, Wm. Smith, Arkholme, Lancaster. Craven, James, WhaUey Range, Manchester. Cripwell, John, Epperstone, Southwell, Notts. Czarnechi, Arthur, 57, Redcliffe Road, West Brompton. Day, John, 39, High-street, Whitchurch, Salop. Davies, James, BoUington, jVltrincham. Dill, John, M.D., Gordon Villa, Chorlton Road, Manchester. Edwards, R., Adlington, Shrewsbury. ]<"oulkes, Charles, Whitchurch, Salop. Greaves, John, Elsfield, Oxford. Hodgson, Wm. Nicholson, Newby Grange, Carlisle. Holland, Wm., Pemberton, Wigan. Irlam, Wm., Ridgefield, Manchester. Jemmett, Alexander, Murrell Hill Farm, Binfield, Bracknell, Berks. Jenks, Wm., Upper Penn, Wolverhampton. Jones, James, The Oaklands, Spurston, Tarporley. Kearne, J. H., Holleth, near Lancaster. Ker, Hugh, St. John's Place, Annan, Dumfries. Lloyds, H., Croesnewydd, Wrexham. Lord Richard, Stanton Harcourt, Witney. Luckman, G. O., Bowdon, Altrincham. Luttrell, Henry A. P., Badgeworth Court, Weston-super- Mare. Milburn, Robert, 76, Church Lane, Whitechapel. Morrison, Wm. H., Haigh Hall, Bamsley, \ork. Mowbray, Seymour, Killeany, Mouutrath, Queen's Co. Musgrave, John, Wasdale Hall, Holm Brook, Cumberland. Parker, James S., Iffley, Oxford. Parmeter, Francis, jun., Booton Hall, Norwich, Parr, Wm. Fillinghara, 3, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W. Paxton, Jonas, Bicester. Rawstone, Lawrence, Huttou Hall, Preston. Rook, John, Egremont, Cumberland. Ross, John, The Grove, Ravenglass, Cumberland. Sanderson, S. L. W., Eden Lacey, Penrith. Scott, Wm., Towyn, Merioneth. Sharpley, Ileury, Acthovpe, Louth, Lincolnshire. Shuker, William, Calveley, Tarporley. Shuttleworth, Robert, Prestwich, Manchester. Stoney, Bowes, Portland Park, Roscrea, Tipperary. Thompson, John, Baldon, Oxford. Thompson, Robert, luglewood Bank, Penrith. Thompson, Tliomas Charles, Milton Hall, Brampton, Cumber- land. Walker, William Thomas, Clapham, Lancaster. Wliitfield, George, Christwardine Park, Market Drayton. Wilkinson, Robert, Little Chilton, Ferry Hill, Durham. Winter, Richard, Goodcop, Levels, Thorne, Yorkshire. Wood, John, Welford, Rugby. Yates, Henry, North Parade, Grantham. On the motion of Mr. Thompson, it was resolved : " That the candidates for election as members of the Society whose names have been just read shall be entitled to the pri- vileges of membership at the Manchester meeting on paying their subscriptions for 1869, and signing the usual conditions: Mr. Dendy, Mr. Russell, Mr. Brierley, Captain Stevens, Mr. Raynbird, Mr. Murray, Mr. Midwood, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Wise, Mr. Booth, Mr. Barnes, Mr. J. Newman, Mr. Scholi- field, Mr. Biyth, Mr. Aitkin." Finances. — Major-General Lord Bridport (chaimian) presented the report, from which it appeared that the Secretary's receipts during the past month had been duly- examined by the committee, and by Messrs. Quilter, Ball, and Co., the Society's accountants, and found correct. The balance in the hands of the bankers on the 30th June was £2,862 5s. 8d., and £3,000 remains on deposit. The quarterly statement of subscriptions and arrears to the 30th June, and the quarterly cash account, were laid on the table. The attention of the Council was recalled to the case of Mr. Richard Hodgson, of Chingford, Es- sex, who at the County Court hearing, on June 3, de- manded the production of the original Charter of the Society, and other documents, which the Council gave the Secretary authority to produce ; and the Committee now reported that, previous to the case coming before the Court, Mr. Hodgson paid the arrears due to the So- ciety, together with all the costs, includiug those of the previous hearing. The committee also reported that the Messrs. Heywoods have accepted the office of bankers to the Society during the Manchester meeting, and that they will provide the requisite number of clerks at the usual remuneration. This report was adopted. Journal. — Mr. Thompson (chairman) presented the report, and, at the same time, moved the resolution of which he had given notice, namely, " That the sum of £100 be placed at the disposal of the committee, to ob- tain reports on Scotch, Irish, and foreign agriculture, for the purpose of procuring a report on the agriculture of Belgium," A discussion thereon ensued, Mr. Randell proposing, and Mr, Jonas secoading, an ainendment to 152 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. substitute Scotland for Belgium. The original motion was supported by Lord Cheshara, Mr. Dent, M.P., Mr. Wells, M.P., Mr. Wren Hoskyns, M.P. ; while the amendment was preferred by Lord Walsingham, Mr. Torr, Mr. Liddell, M.P., and Mr. Acland, M.P. Mr. Thompson having then stated that Belgium had been selected in consequence of its presenting the most suc- cessful examples of small farms, and on account of its systems of farm culture, cattle feeding, and sugar distil- ling, the amendment was put from the chair and lost, on a division, by 16 noes against 11 ayes. The recommen- dation of the committee as to the writer of the report was then read, and, after some discussion, it was unani- mously resolved : " That the Secretary and Dr. Voelcker be requested to un- dertake to write a report on Belgian agriculture for publica- tion in the Journal, and that an additional sum of £100 be placed in the hands of the Journal Committee for this pur- pose." Essay Prizes. — It was reported that the judges have recommended that the prize be withheld from Class VI. of 1868, " On Arable and Grass Laud." Selection. — A specimen draft of a diploma for honoraiy members was submitted and approved. The committee reported that in the course of the inquiry into the question referred to them, respecting the trustees of the Society, they considered it desirable to ascertain in whose names the funded and other property of the So- ciety is invested. They lind that the funded property stands in the names of Lord Portman, Colonel Challoner, and the Earl of Powis — three of the trustees of the So- ciety. The lease of the house. No. 13, Hanover-square, was granted by the late Sir George Talbot for 99 years, from August, 1842, to the Society in its corporate capa- city ; it is, therefore, evident that the trustees, as a class, are not, and have not been for many years past, trustees of the Society's property. — This report was adopted. General, Manchester. — The Duke of Richmond (chairman) reported that the committee recommend the painting of the temporary offices at the showyard en- trance, at a cost not exceeding 10 guineas; that the pro- vision of boards for the showyard in case of wet weather be left in the hands of the local committee ; that 60 free pass-tickets be given to the local committtee for distribu- tion as they think fit ; that power be given to the finance committee to issue free pass-tickets during the week, a list of those given to be entered into a book and reported to the Council. It was also announced that the Rev. Mr. Hart, rector of the parish in which the showyard is situated, had intimated his willingness to hold divine service in the showyard on Sundays. A report from the honorary director was also read, communicating the satis- factory nature and forward condition of the preparations for the Manchester meeting. — This report was adopted. Implements. — Sir Archibald Macdonald presented the report, which contained the list of implement prizes proposed to be given at Oxford, and the following recommendations: (1). That a first edition of the prize-list be issued without the conditions, notice being given that the conditions will be issued sub- sequently; (2). That the arrangement of the conditions, with any addition to the prize-list that may be deemed necessary, be left to the Implement Committee in con- junction with the consulting engineer, and that a com- plete prize-list be submitted to the meeting of Council in August; (3). That the prize-sheet be issued in an octavo form instead of folio as heretofore. This report was adopted. The Secretary was authorized to sign and seal an agreement with the Mayor of Oxford. The following noblemen and gentlemen were appointed as a general Oxford Committee : Duke of Marl- borough, Earl of Lichfield, Earl of Powis, Viscount Bridport, Lord Chesham, Lord Vernon, Lord Wal- singham, Lord Kesteven, Hon. G. Liddell, M.P., Sir Massey Lopes, Bart., M.P., Sir A. K. Macdonald, Bart., Sir Watkin W. Wynn, Bart., M P., Mr. Amos, Mr. Booth, Mr. Bowly, Mr. CantreU, Mr. Clayden, Mr. Davies, Mr. Druce, Mr. Edmonds, Mr. Brandreth Gibbs, Mr. Hornsby, Mr. Hoskyns, Colonel Kingscote, M.P., Mr. Randell, Mr. Milward, Mr. Ransome, Mr. Sanday, Mr. Shuttleworth, Mr. Statter, Mr. Torr, Mr. Webb, Mr. Wells, M.P., Major Wilson, IMr. Jacob Wilson, and the Mayor and Town Clerk of Oxford. The Earl of Lichfield being detained on a Committee of the House of Lords, the motion of which he had given notice was moved on his behalf by Lord Vernon, and seconded by Lord Kesteven. A discussion then ensued in reference to the legal question involved, and the difficulty of proving that a particular sample was sold by any individual maker. These points having been fully stated by Lord Walsing- ham, Lord Chesham, ]\Ir. Randell, Mr. INIilward, Mr. Torr, Mr. Pain, i\Ir. Statter, Mr. Webb, Lord Bridport, and Dr. Voelcker, and summed up by the Duke of Rich- mond, the feeling of the Council was that the interests of farmers required vigorous action on the part of the leading Agricultural Society in England, at whatever risk, due precautions being taken to prevent fraud. The following motion, slightly altered from its original form, was therefore put from the chair, and carried unani- mously ^ " That the attention of the Council having been drawn to tlie increasing adulteration of manures and feeding cakes, especially guano, nitrate of soda, ground bones, and linseed- cakes, Dr. Voelcker be requested to submit to the Council monthly a report on the various samples forwarded to him by members of the Society ; and that such report, together with the names of the dealers who supplied the substances analysed, shall, if the Council thmk fit, be published in the agricultural journals." On the motion of Mr. Randell it was resolved — " That the tent erected in the showyard for the general meeting of members be placed at the disposal of the Man- chester local committee on any days which shall not interfere with such general meeting." A letter was read from the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, announcing the holding of an agricultural show at Copenhagen from the 6th to the lOth iust. The following letter, forwarded by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, was also read : " British Legation, Lima, May 13, 1869. " My Lord, — The loading of guano at the Guanape Is- lands continues, and another vessel has arrived from thence to proceed on her voyage to lier destination. " As for the Chincha Islands, I perceive that tlie commis- sion which has gone there fo explore Senor Toiado and the Government engineer, Mr. Prentice, have recently returned hither. " Mr. Prentice is reported to have made minute investiga- tions in different parts of those islands by opening deep excavations. Tlie result is stated to have been satisfactory, as those deep holes contained the gnano grain in great abund- ance, sufficient for the exportation of several years. " More of this will be known when Mr. Prentice's report comes out. I have, &c., (Signed), " W. S. Jerningham. " The Right Hon, the Earl of Clarendon, K.G., &c." THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE- 1:53 THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. MEETING AT MANCHETER. THE IMPLEMENT TRIALS. MOWING AND HAViMAKING MACIHNES. Judges. — .T. Ilemsloy, Skelton, Newark. J. W. Kimber, Tubney "Warren, Abingdon. .T. Savidge, Garden Lodge, Chipping Norton. HEAPINfl, SHEAF^BINDING, and CORN-DRYING MACHINES. Judges. — J. Hicken, Dnnchurch, Rugbv. W. Sadler, Ferry Gate, Drew', N.B. W. Sandy, RadclifFe-on-Trent. MANURE DISTRIBUTORS, POTATO-GETTERS, WAGGONS, AND CARTS. Judges. — H. Cantrell, Bayless Court, Sloiigh. J. Gibson, Woolmet-by-Dalkeith."" N.B. J. Wheatley, Neswick, Driffield. MISCELLANEOUS AND DAIRY UTENSILS. Judges. — J. B. Caldwell, Monkton Farleigh, Brad- ford-ou-Avon. J. K. Fowler, Aylesbury. F. Sherborn, Bedfont. PLANS AND MODELS. Judges. — J. Bailey Denton, Whitehall-place, London. J. Coleman, Escrick, York. J. E. Watson, Nevvcastle-on-Tyne. CONSULTING ENGINEER'. J. F. Bramwell, Great George -street, Westminster. STEWARDS. Sir E. Kerrison, Bart. Sir A. K. Macdonald, Bart. Major Wilson. Mr. C. Wren Iloskyus, M.P. (Steward Elect). Subjoined is a list of the entries made by the manu- fa(?turers of mowers and reapers. From this it will be gathered that fifty-four mowers are entered, viz., forty two-horse machines, and fourteen one-horse machines. There are also thirty-two combined mowers and reapers, which will have to be tested for both purposes, so that if all entered were worked, the judges would have enough to do. Further, there are sixty-six reapers, under the several classifications of oue-horse and two-horse, manual back- delivery, self-acting, sheaf and swathe reapers ; and cer- tainly one half of these will be put to work, so that we may take the number of trials at forty-three for mowers and combined engines, thirty-three for reapers, and six- teen for combined machines, to be tested as reapers. There will consequently be, at the lowest calculation, up- wards of ninety trials. Walter A. Wood, Upper Thames-street, London — C mowers> 1 one-horse and 5 two-horse ; 2 combined mowers and reapers ; 1 one-horse manual delivery reaper. Hornsby, Grantham — i mowers, 1 one-horse and 3 two- horse ; i combined mowers and reapers ; 1 one-horse reaper, back delivery ; 1 two-horse reaper, -t self-raking reapers ; 2 swathe-delivery reapers. Cluues and Davis, Worcester — 2 mowers, 1 one-horse and 1 two-horse ; 1 reaper, slieaf delivery. Beverley Waggon Company, Beverley — 1 mower, two-horse ; 2 manual delivery reapers ; 2 self-delivery swathe reapers. Rudbam, of Shap, Westmoreland — 2 mowers, 1 one-horse and 1 two-horse. Reay, Abbey Town, Carlisle — 1 mower, two-horse ; 1 com- bined mower and reaper, Rollins and Co., Swan Wharf, London Bridge, T,ondon — • 1 mower, two-hor.e ; 1 comliinod mower and reaper ; 1 self- delivery reaper in sboaf. Reading Iron Works — 2 mowers, 1 ono-horse and I two- horse ; 2 combined mowers and reapers. Young, Ayr, N.B. — 2 mowers, two-horse ; 1 combined reaper and mower. Nicholson, Nortii Bridge, Ripon — 2 mowers, 1 one-liorse, 1 two-liorse; 1 one-horse manual delivery reaper. Henwood, St. Germans, Cornwall — 1 mower, one-liorse, not only to cut but to distribute. Wray and Son, Leeming; Bedale — 1 mower, two-horse ; I combined reaper and mower ; 1 two-horse reaper, and 1 one- horse reaper. Gillis, Haydon Bridge, Northumberland — 1 mower, two- horse ; 1 combined reapei and mower ; 1 oue-horse reaper. Brenton, Polbathie, St. Germans, Cornwall — 1 mower, two- horse ; 1 combined mower and reaper ; 1 two-horse reaper 1 one-horse reaper. Brigham and Bickerton, Berwick-on-Tweed — 2 mowers, 1 one-horse, 1 two-horse ; 2 combined mowers and reapers ; 4 two-horse self-delivery reapers. Burgess and Key, 90, Newgate Street, London — 3 mowers, 1 one-horse, 2 two-horse ; 1 combined mower and reaper ; 2 two-horse reapers, 1 self-delivery in sheaf, 1 in swathe. Kearsley, Ripon, Yorkshire — 3 mowers, 1 one-horse, 2 two- horse ; 2 combined mowers and reapers ; 1 one-horse manual delivery reaper, 1 two-horse reaper. Lewis, Shrewsbury — 1 mower, two-horse ; 1 combined mower and reaper ; 1 one-horse reaper, manual delivery. Samuelson, Banbury — 4< mowers, 2 two-horse, 2 one-horse ; 3 combined mowers and reapers ; 1 manual back-delivery reaper for two horses, 1 reaper for one horse, 2 two-horse self- raking reapers. Bamlett, Thirsk — 7 mowers ; 1 one-horse, 6 two-horse ; 4 two-liorse self swathe delivery reapers. Wilber, Stevens, and Co., Poughkeepsie, New York, U.S.A. — 2 two-horse mowers, 4- two-horse manual back-delivery reapers. Hunt and Pickering, Leicester— 1 two-horse mower, 2 com- bined mowers and reapers, 1 one-horse manual back-delivery reaper. Picksley and Sims — 2 mowers, 1 one-horse, 1 two-horse ; 4 combined mowers and reapers, 1 one-horse manual back- delivery reaper, 1 two-horse reaper. Howard, Bedford — 2 two-horse mowejs, 3 combined mowers and reapers, 1 one-horse manual back- delivery reaper, 1 two- horse manual back-delivery reaper, 1 two-horse self-delivery swathe reaper, 1 two-horse self-delivery sheaf reaper. Cuthbert, Bedale, York— 2 two-horse, and 2 one-horse manual delivery reapers. R«ad, New Malton, Y^orks— 1 two-horse semi-manual reaper, with self-delivery swathe reaper. Harkes, Grantham — 2 two-horse combined reapers and mowers. Garrett and Son, Leiston, Saxmundham — 1 two-horse self- rake reaper. Murray, 181, Albany-road, Camberwell — 1 two-horse reaper self-dehvery in swathe. Crosskill and Sons, Beverley — Three-horse reaping machine, known as *' Bell's." Mattersou, Bedale, Yorks — 2 one-horse reapers, manual delivery. Underbill, Newport, Salop — 1 two-horse manual delivery reaper. EUiot and Alston, Manchester-^l one-horse reaper ; I two- horse combined reaper and mower. According to the catalogue, there are 7,724 entries, and nearly 400 stands of implements — upwards of 1,000 euti-ies in excess of Leicester, the largest show of ma- 154 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. chineiy so far ever got together. It is not probable that much actual business will be got through to-day, as the judges will be mainly engaged in making their arrange- ments and selections, always a work of some time. The report so far was written on the opening day, and as we then said, not much actual business was got through, and we proceed accordingly, dating our story from the next morning, when the trials really commenced. They took place on about 120 acres of land situated close to the show-yard, and the local committee were allowed to make a small charge for admission. It had been an- nounced that the trials would commence at noon ou Mon- day, by which time many persons had assembled. At that hour, however, the judges were making a toiu" of the implement stands, and when it came to their know- ledge that people were waiting in the adjoining fields they asked several of the exhibitors to send out mowing ma- chines so that the day should not be entirely wasted. Three or four machines were accordingly sent into the field, but their work was not regarded as being done either in competition or for trial. The Moaving jNIachines. — On Monday the judges of mowing machines selected 25 two-horse imple- ments, which were sent on Tuesday morning, to be tried on some thick old seed grass on Mr. Cookson's farm. Half an acre of ground was staked out to be cut by each implement. The following is a list of the competitors : R. Hornsby and Sons (two machines); W. Wray and Son; Walter A. Wood (two machines) ; A. C. Bamlett (three machines) ; Samuelson and Co. (two machines ;) Hunt and Pickering ; Brighara and Bickerton ; J. and T. Young ; J. Higson ; W. and J. Rudham , H. and G. Kearsley ; Wilber, Stevens, and Co., The Reading Iron Works ; The Beverley Waggon Com- pany ; Burgess and Key ; Wm, Brenton ; Wm. Lewis ; J. and F. Howard ; and Picksley, Sims, and Co. Hornsby and Sous competed with a new implement, called the jManchester jNIower, which is described as being especially adapted for cutting difficult crops ou uneven as well as on leva! land. Walter A. Wood com])eted with a mower to which the judges of the Royal Agricultural Society have awarded a first prize at every show held during the last ten years. The " Imperial" mower consists of an iron frame with a pole bolted fast to it. The cutters are driven by bevil gearing. The bar is placed opposite the centre of the di-iving wheel and on a line with the axle. The cutters can be raised or lowered by a lever worked by the foot for raising the inner end, an iron lever to raise the outer end, and a lever to throw in or out of gear. In another mower, with which Mr. Wood competed, the cutters are fastened on the under side of the knife bar, in order to bring them very close to the ground. Samuelson's mowing machine has several novel features. In their new patent mower the method of draught is quite new, and has been invented with a view to remove that pressure which old machines brought on the necks of the horses. In this new mower the draught-chain is attached to the pole-bracket at a point below the attachment of the pole to the body of the ma- chine, whence it passes away to the swingletrees : the effect of this is that a portion of the puU exerted by the horses in drawing the machine is utilised to lift the point of the pole ; and the point fi'om which the draught is taken is so adjusted as to neutralize the downward strain on the pole. In the cutting apparatus there is a new feature : the knife is not allowed to bed throughout its whole length on the finger beam, but is supported at dis- tances by hard steel slips of a wedge-shaped section. By these means the inventors claim to have secured a very low cut, the sections or cutting blades being inclined down- wards at a considerable angle, Another novelty in this mower consists in the means for raising the cutter-bar i the lifting tackle will pick up the bar quite stifif at any angle, while at the same time it allows the cutter-bar complete freedom to play around the hinge when it is ou the ground. In other arrangements for stiffening and lifting the cutter-bar there is a stop which only allows a limited play to the bar on its hinge and lifts the heel before the point of the knife. Samuelson's claim that in this mower there is no appreciable weight on the horses' crests, and no appreciable side draught ; that the cutting is much lower than is commonly the case ; and that the draught is much less in consequence of the com- plete fi-eedom from accumulation of cut stuff under the knife-bar. Burgess and Key exhibit eight new mowing and reap- ing implements, in which they adopt the new system of having the driving apparatus very short and level with the knife. The gearing which in other machines is placed between the wheels is placed by Burgess and Key outside ; it is narrow and runs in the track that is cleared by the track-board. The gears do not have to pass under the crank, but the crank is brought down to a level with the knife, so as to give a direct thrust to it, the throw being only 2 1 inches in length. This firm has also introduced a new system of oiling the machine, which affords a con- stant and proper supply of oil to the working parts. In- verted iron bottles are screwed into the machinery, and there is a means by which the quantity of oil remaining in the reservoir can be gauged. Burgess and Key still use the same cutter which they have manufactured for several years past. Their combined reapers and mowers are constructed on the same principle. In addition to Wood's machines there are several American mowers in the competition. One of these, the mower of Messrs. Wilber, Stevens, and Co., of Pough- keepsie, is entirely different in principle from any other mowing machine in the show, and only resembles other mowers in the use of an ordinary cutting apparatus. The cutter bar, which in the competing machine is sis feet long, is placed immediately in front of a pair of very large wheels, extends from one wheel to the other, and does not project beyond them. The driver can set it to any required height or can raise it when meeting an ob- struction. The apparatus for driving the knife is placed at right angles, by which means the makers' claim to have removed the jar consequent on side-driving. Through- out the machine spur gearing is used. The machine is drawn by a pair of horses placed far apart ; one walks in the standing grass entirely beyond the cut. This would be an objection in all side mowers, which only work in one direction, but Messrs. Wilber's machine works in both, so that as soon as it has made one cut it is turned round and makes another. The grass which the horse has trampled down is then inclined towards the machine. Tested by the dynamometer the draught of this machine is heavy, but the makers claim that it has general advan- tages which compensate for increased weight, especially that the draught is direct and not sideways. This ma- chine backs out of gear, and the levers are so arranged that the driver has everything under his hand, and can even oil the machine without leaving his seat. Another American machine is a new implement, in- vented by Aultraan and Miller, and exhibited by Brigham and Bickerton, of Berwick. This is adjustable to any quality of land ; the finger-bar can be raised or lowered, or altered if one wheel goes into a furrow, and can be thrown over the machine without being put out of gear. This mower is provided with seat capable of being re- gulated, and the seat forms a cover for the machine. A similar implement is also constructed as a combined rea- per and mower. The new implement exhibited by Rudham^ of Shap, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 155 Westmoreland, has a short connecting-rod so that the jnachine can work at any angle. The draught is taken from beneath. The " Star" two-horse machine, manufactured under Whitaker's patent by Lewis, of Shrewsbury, is arranged as a grass-mower, or as a combined reaper and mower. Those parts which are commonly made of cast-iron are in this machine made of malleable iron. Of that and of steel the machine is wholly constructed. It is mounted on two strong wheels, both of which combine in driving the knife, with firnmess and strength. The stud at the wheel end of the connecting-rod is cast on the wheel, which increases the smoothness of the work. The finger-bar is of steel, quite Hesible, and so constructed that the driver can, without leaving his seat, move a lever and raise the bar to allow it to pass obstructions. When raised it can be lowered again with the foot. The chief improvement in this mower is a new patent steel bottom- knife, which is fixed within each finger, without the aid of screws or extra bars. This knife projects beyond the fingers at the bottom and forms a sharp -cutting resistance to the top knife, resembling in action a pair of shears with one blade fixed. Just in front of the cutting apparatus runs a smaU pilot wheel, which guides the machine over ridge and fun'ow, and takes the weight from off the horse's necks. Under the driver's seat is provided a new mode of throwing the machine out of gear. It is claimed that this mower vrill cut grass so cleanly and without any raggeduess that the gi'owth of the aftermath is improved. This machine can also be arranged as a combined mower and reaper. Kearsleys of Ripon, have a new patent mower, all the working parts of which are encased in iron. At Berlin last year this machine was awarded a first prize. Their Manchester agent, Higson, also competed with one of Kearsleys' machines. In these machines the knife works on plates of steel, and the points of the fingers can be raised or lowered by a lever. There are catches on the wheels, so arranged that when the catches are removed the wheels run separately and thus economise the wear and tear of the machine. A lever is provided by which the driver can raise the finger-bar to any de- sired extent. There is also a front wheel to keep weight off the necks of the horses. Bamlett's machine, from Thirsk, which has also taken several prizes at shows in the northern counties, has a large swivel wheel, and cuts very closely. The Beverley Iron and Waggon Company's machine has a very low cut, the knife being placed lower than in other machines. The Reaping Trials commenced on Tuesday morn- ing, in a field of rye, on Mr. Taylor's farm at Stretford — a crop which had been grown especially for the Socie- ty's trials. The judges visited the stands on Monday and made the following selection of implements to be put to a preliminary trial on the following day : — Class 1 . — Self-delivery in swathe, Brigham and Bickerton (2 machines). Burgess & Key (2), H. & G. Kearsley, R. Hornsby & Sons (5), J. G. Rollins, J. & F. Howard (2), Samuelson (2), W. S. Underhill, and Garrett & Sons. Class 2. — Self-acting delivft-y in swathe : T. Read, W. Brenton, A. J. Murray, Burgess & Key, Hornsby & Sons (3), Crosskill & Sons, the Beverly Waggon Com- pany (2), J. & F. Howard (2), and Bamlett. Class 3. — Machines without self-delivery: Wray and Son, Brigham and Bickerton, J. F. Young, Hornsby and Sons, Picksley and Sims, Samuelson, Bamlett (2), and J. and F. Howard. Class 4. — Combined reapers and mowers : Brenton, Brigham and Bickerton (2), Bm-gess aiid Key, H. and G. Kearsley (2), Rollins, Harkes (2), J. and F. Young (2), Walter Wood (3), Hornsby (2), Picksley and Sims (2), J, and F. Howard (2), Bamlett (2), and Samuelson <3). Class 5. — One-horse reapers: R. Cuthbert and Co. (2), Wray and Son, Brenton, Briugham and Bickerton, 11. and G. Kearsley, Foster and Sons, Walter Wood, Hornsby and Sons (2), the Beverley Waggon Company (2), Hunt and Pickering, Picksley and Sims, J. and F. Howard, Samuelson and Co., and W. Mattison. Of the 84 machines thus selected for trial, only 33 are catalogued as new implement, and many of them have already been described as mowers. In Samuelsou's self-raking reaper certain of the parts are interchangeable with the mower already described, a matter which eftects a considerable saving in price. In this new self-raker a man sits to drive as in the mower, and from his seat he has complete coutol over every portion of the machine, whether gearing or rakes, and once seated he need not be disturbed by the working of the machine. The " Eclipse" reaper has undergone no change of any importance, and is practically the same implement that it was when first brought out six years ago. Howard's " Bedford" machine has a double cam, by which means the gatherers can be set to either of two heights, an improvement intended especially to apply to the cutting of laid crops. In this machine, too, the pressure and the draught are made to counteract each other, so that the reaper runs steadily and does not cause pi'essure against the sides of the horses. Should one of the wheels run into a furrow, the delivery platform will accommodate itself. A trifling alteration makes this machine a combined reaper and mower. Harkes, of Knutsford, sent a new patent reversible combined reaping and mowing machine, invented and manufactured by the exhibitor. This machine will cut either to the right or the left, according as the crop lies. It has a doubly-toothed knife. The Beverley Waggon Company has a two-horse double self-acting swathe- delivery machine, by which a crop can be cut in any de- sired direction. The Haymaking Machines. — On Thursday a num- ber of haymaking machines were set to work on the grass which had been cut by the mowing machines during the previous two days. By the afternoon the judges had selected five for the final competition, two being by J. and F. Howard. Two others were new implements, by W. N. Nicholson, of Newark, one of which has three and the other four motions. The fifth was a new implement by Ransomes, Sims, and Head, whose machine has a fast backward motion, instead of the usual overhead one, and a slow backward motion for tm-ning. There have not been any trials of potato -diggers ; for when the judges arrived on the field it was found that the roots were not large enough to be operated upon. Up to Saturday evening no awards had been an- nounced for either mowers or reapers. The Howards however, promise, from the excellence of their perform- ance to maintain their supremacy for horserakes and hay- makers. The reaper trials have not been altogether satisfactory, and public opinion does not so far point to any award in favour of any particular exhibitor. la fact, more espe- cially during the earlier part of the week, the arrange- ments have been by no means well carried out. The implement stewards appeared to be utterly helpless, and the crowd did just as it pleased — went where it liked and when it liked, A Manchester journal thus graphi- cally describes the reign of the Lord of Misrule ; " The greater part of the crowd, which pressed up to the stand- ing corn and grass, had a thoroughly unsophisticated look as regards their idea of agricultural operations. Indeed, liad they been aware of the interruptions they were causing, 356 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. we are quite sure they would have had too much respect, both for themselves and the competitors, to have rushed to places where they could not do anything else but mischief. In the grass or mowing field, ISIessrs. Hornsby, who drew lot 1 were delayed by several minutes, through one of their horses, a clever but young and spirited animal, swerving towards the end, and refusing to face the crowd, who fell back to the brow of the ditch, but refused to move further. Towards the afternoon, this interruption became worse and worse. These ma- chines are made with great nicety of construction, so that the swathe board or clearing board may place the cut grass to correspond with the track of the wheels during the next drag. To trample this out of its position would therefore make all the difference during the next turn. But what was worse than this, over-curious persons fre- quently kicked an opening to look at the cut bottom length- wise of the swathe, and thereby made a heap for the wheel or connected rod to jerk over or drive ; or the swathe was frequently kicked back to the exact place which the swatheboard was designed to clear. Thus the crank-end knives had frequently to cut through a ' wad' of loose grass, as well as through its share of the standing crop. This made all the difference in the world. Grass, or any similar thing, is difficult to cut through, or clear away from a scythe or knife, when it has been loosened from its hold and tossed in all directions. We saw several ma- chines stopped from this cause alone. Among these were Messrs. Hornsby's, Mr. Kearsley, Mr. Walter Wood's and others. As a matter of course, the judges will make due allowance for these interruptions ; but it is rather hard upon anxious competitors, who have put themselves to great expense to do their best in this national course of trials, to have their success endangered by an excess of visitors, half or more of whom evidently look on from the most vacant curiosity. If the local committee, who appear to have taken this invitation of sixpenny visitors in hand, continue to induce all they can to go, they should be prepared, when the final trials come on, with ten times the number of policemen there were on the ground yes- terday, or the work must be roped oft" in the same way as a race-course is prepared. If one of these alterna- tives be not adopted, great — not to say cruel — injustice will, in all probability, be done to men who deserved a better fate, after the time and trouble they have spent in doing their part towards bringing together this great meeting in Manchester." In truth, the weak part of the business would seem to be delivering the Society over almost bodily to this local committee, which is suffered to make shillings and sixpences anywhere it can, and to offer some unwarrantable interference — of course at an extra charge— in both the implement and stock sections of the show. But it will be necessary to call some fur- ther attention hereafter to this matter. The final trials for reapers took place on the second Monday — that is of the swathe and sheaf self-delivery reapers. It is at least a noticeable fact that the machine of Burgess and Key here on trial is the same which took the first prize at Altenburg, in Germany, on only the 9th instant — a trial that lasted for a week, as the subjoined letter from a correspondent will show : " There were in all 27 machines ; they were put into rye and barley, and Burgess and Key's made such good work that when they ran out, the people, including the 27 judges, actually cheered. Fancy 27 judges ! Howard's machine did very good work ; but, when ordered to ad- just his machine for clover, there was none to cut, and he was merely aaked to show on the barley what he could do on clover. Burgess and Key's representative then offered to do as well, and, permission being granted, he at once took off the platform and placed on a track-board, and in half an hour he had eclipsed the Bradford bouse. From this time there was no further doubt, and the prizes were awarded in this way : Burgess and Key first, Hornsby , second, and Howard third." There appears to be a very general feeling both on the part of the exhibitors and also the public that the judges in this section were competent men, and (that so far as it were possible) they arrived at correct conclusions as to the relative merits of the implements. It must, however, be borne in mind that these machines, when distributed over the country, are used under an immense variety of cir- cumstances. It is, therefore, doubtful whether any one trial, such as that just over, can embrace such a number of conditions as to render it sufficient to be an absolute guide to farmers in the choice of a machine. This obser- vation applies to the reaper more than to the mower, where, with the latter the conditions vary less, for, be the crops heavy or light, the ground level or uneven , the lay of the grass seldom presents an insurmountable difficulty. Whereas reapers must cut wheat, barley, oats, and beans, the crops may be light or heavy, standing or laid, on level, hilly, or ridge-and-furrow land. The crop may have much undergrowth, or it may be entirely clear. It may be wet or dry. The delivery may be required to be in swathe or sheaf, at the side, or in sheaf behind, and the stubble either one inch or any length, from a foot to eighteen inches. Thus it will be seen that, as the circumstances to be met by reapers are more numerous, so the labour to develope them must be greater. Hence, we think, the reason why the mower, which is of comparatively recent date, is so much more perfect, and its merits easier to determine. It happened also that the season for grass- mowing was nearly over, and very suitable crops were provided ; whereas, the corn-harvest not having com- menced, the only thing ready for the trial of reaping was a piece of unripe rye, and this a very moderate crop, quite upstanding, on level laud, a small piece being rolled. On this each of the prize-machines cut about one acre. We have entered thus far into de- tails, because wc think that the farmers of England, with a knowledge of these facts, can form their own estimate of the value of these trials ; while our opinion is, that the matter is now more in their own hands than of the Society. The Royal Agricultural Society has by its sys- tem developed these important machines up to their pre- sent state ; and nearly all the reapers or mowers exhibited at Manchester might be used with advantage. We heard a system of trial discussed which we think very highly of, and commend to the consideration of practical agricul- turists. It is, that in each district, and before harvest, a public trial of mowing and reaping machines should be ad- vertised to take place after harvest, the entries to be by the drivers who have worked machines during the harvest, and the prizes to be given to such men ; the advantages would be that those would have a direct interest in keeping the masters' machines in order during harvest, and would also practice the doing the work in the best possible way, so as to compete successfully in the trial. There would also be the advantage that each machine would be a genuine ai'ticle, and not a racer made expressly for trial, as was the case with several of the machines at Manchester. The Engineer's report is not yet out, but will be pub- lished in the next number of the Royal Agricultural Society's Journal, and as Mr. Bramwell has carefully examined the construction of each machine, we doubt not it will give some valuable information. We may, however, mention that of the three mowers to which the prizes were awarded, two of them are made on the " direct thrust" principle, about which there has for the last three years been so much discussion pro. and con. The " sensation " of the implement trials is embodied in the following letters, which were jjublished during tbp I week : THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. i5r Royal Show, Stiiud oS, Manchester, July ~1. Gentleiueu, — From the very general dissatisfaction mani- fested, not only by mauul'acturers, but by the public, at the recent decision of judges on mowing niacliines, I feel com- pelled most respectfully to appeal from that decision, and ask from you a reconsideration of the awards. This would necessitate a new trial, for which I am quite prepared, and I am ready to meet Messrs. llornshy and Sou in competion, cutting from live to fifty acres of meadow grass, new and disinterested judges being selected, and the decision to be based upon the merits of the respective machines. Sliould you not feel at liberty to concede this, there will be left no alternative but for me to challenge Messrs. Hornsby and Sou to a trial, upon terms as enclosed, leaving the public to judge of the result. As time is now important, your kind reply within the day will favour yours, &c., Walter A. Wood. To the Officers and Committee of the Royal Agricultural Society. A verbal answer, which is to be confinned oflicially, has been received by ^Ir. Wood, the effect of which is that the Society could not reopen the trials nor revoke the de- cisions of their judges. This reply left only the other al- ternative, and a challenge has accordingly been sent to Messrs. Hornsby and Sous, in the following terms '■ — £500 Cliallenge. Messrs. Hornsby. Geutlemen, — The public interest, I am satisfied, either de- mands a reversion of the awards on the trials of our mowing machines, or a further test by ourselves. AVith a view to ac- complisli this end and set at rest the general excitement, I beg very respectfully to challenge you to a fair and well regulated trial in the cut of 50 acres of meadow grass, under the fol- lowing regulations : — 1. Twenty-five acres to be selected by party drawing lot number one ; twenty-five acres to be selected by party drawing lot number two. 2. The machines to be used in this contest must be the same ones awarded the first and second prizes by the Bx)yal Society. 3. Each party to use but two sets of knives during the trial, and to be kept in order by the respective drivers. 4. The same teams to be used by the respective drivers during the trial. 5. The grass to be cut to be divided by the judges, when ap- pointed, and assigned by lot to contestants ; each team to start at the same time, as near as can be, and the contest to com- mence on Tuesday next, July 27tii, at niue a.m. ; tlic money, £500 sterling each, at stake to be deposited in bank as soon as you accept this challenge, subject only to the order of judges. 6. The quality of work, the time occupied in doing it, the condition of team when the work is done, and such other general views as the judges may agree shall be the governing principles upon which they shall decide the contest. 7. The judges to be selected as follows — one by you, one by me, and the third by two gentlemen uamed by us in the same manner as above. This challenge to he accepted by you within twenty-four hours after the receipt of this, or to be considered by me as re- jected.— Yours very respectfully, Walter A. Woou. Manchester, July 21, 1869. ^lessrs. Hornsby have of course declined this challenge, being quite satisfied with the Judges' award. IMPLEMENT PRIZE LIST. Xew Patent Paragon Mower, R. Hornsby & Sons, Grantham, £20. Grass IMowing Machine, W. A. Wood, Thames-street, Lon- don, £17. Two-horse Grass Mower, Burgess & Key, Newgate -street, London, £13, Combined Self-Raking, Reaping, and Mowing Machine, Sa- muelson & Co., Banbury, £20. New Patent Paragon Combined Mower and Reaper, R. Hornsby & Sons, £10. [The judges are of opinion that all the macliiues exhibited under the title of " One-horse Mowers" arc far too heavy in draught to be worked by one-horse, and therefore (under clause 3 of their instructious) they withhold the prizes iu this class.] Reapers : Sheaf-delivering Machines— Hornsby & Sous, £25 Hornsby S: Sons, £20 ; Sauiuelson & Sons, £15. Swathe- delivering Machines— A. Bamlett, Thirsk, £25 ; Burgess & Key, £20; Hornsby & Sons, £15. Two-horse Manual Reapers— llonisby & Sons, £12 ; Bamlett, £10 ; Samuel- son & Co., £8. One-horse Manual Reapers— Bamlett, £12- Hornsby & Sons, £10 ; Cuthbert & Co., Bedale,£8. Haymakers, W. N. Nicholson, Newark, £16 ; J. & ¥. Ho- ward, 15edford, £14. Horse Rakes, Ransomes, Sims, & Head, Ipswich, £20; J. & F. Howard, £10. Hay Collector (The prize withheld: no merit). Market Carts on Springs, Beverley Iron & Waggon Co., £6 ; T. Corbctt, Shrewsbury, £4. Liquid Manure Carts, Isaac James, Cheltenham, £6 ; T. Baker, Wisbeach, £4. Carriages for Removing Stock, Implements, T. Corhett, £15 ; Beverley Iron & Waggon Co., £5. Broad-cast Distributor of Manure, R. & J. Reeves, Wcstbury, £10. Pair-horse Waggons, VV. Crosskill & Son, Beverley, £15 ; H. Hayes & Son, Stamford, £10 ; T. Milford J*: Sons, Cul- lompton, £5. Other Waggons, H. Hayes & Son, £10; Beverley Iron & Waggon Co., £o ; Beverley Iron & Waggon Co., £5. Single-horse Carts, H. Hayes & Son, £8 ; T. Corhett, £7 ; W. Crosskill & Son, £5. Two-horse Carts, H. Hayes & Son, £8 ; W. BaU & Son, £7 j Beverley Iron & AVaggon (^o., £5. Harvest Carts, H. Hayes S: Son, £10 ; F. Milford, Exeter, £5. Collection of Dairy Utensils, D. Harkes, Knutsford, £3. Patent Counter-current Churn, T. Bradford & Co., Manches- ter. £2. Butter Churn, P. W. Johnston, London, £1. Revolving-l)arrel Churn, W. Waide, Leeds, £1. Patent Churn, E. Taylor, Manchester, £1. Plans of Labourer's Cottages in Pairs with Three Sleeping Rooms in each, Central Cottage Improvement Society, Loudon, £10 ; E. Clarke, Lincoln, £10 : J. Martin, Bos- ton, £10. Model of Hay and Corn Sheds, G. Jackson, Tattenhall, Ches- ter, £10. Model of Felt Roofing, M'Tear & Co., Belfast, £5. Shoeing, W. Haycock, Moreton Strangeways, Manchester, £10 ; P. Andrew, Swinton, Manchester, £5 ; J. Womers- ley, Warleston Grange, Nantwich, £3. Harness : Set of Brass-mounted Shaft and Load Cart Harness W. H. Nicholson, Market-street, Manchester, £10 ; Pair of Harness for Waggon or Cart for agricultural purposes, W. Clark & Sons, Bishopsgate-street, Leeds, £5. SILVER MEDALS For One-horse Gear, Richmond & Cliandler, Salford ; Machine for Net Folding of Sheep, R. Winder, Farningham ; Pa- tent Two-row i'urnip and Mangold Sower, T. Sl'Kenzie & Sons, Dublin ; Improved Steam Road-roller, Aveling & Porter, Rochester: M''eighiug Machine, Pooley & Sou, Liverpool ; Smut and Separating Machine, " Eureka," Nell, Harrison, & Co., London ; Machine for Boring in the Earth, Mather it Piatt, Manchester ; Machine for Drying Corn by Steam-heater Cylinders, Davey, Paxman, & Davey, Colchester ; Galvanized Iron Thatch Substitute, F. Morton & Co. HIGHLY COMMENDED For Patent Grass-mowing Machine, Samuelson & Co. ; Horse Pitchfork, Coleman k Morton, Chelmsford ; Portable Knife Sharpener, Hornsby & Son ; Feeding Troughs, Peter Love, Northampton ; Collection of Cheese Dairy Utensils, Carson & Toone, Warminster ; New Patent Knife Bar, Hunt & Pickering, Leicester ; Milk-can for Preserving Milk, Hunt & Pickering ; Patent Automatic Grain-weigliing and Measuring Machine, H. Pooley & Son ; Patent Pulley Block, J. Pickering, Stockton ; Pa- tent Sack Hoist, J. Pickering ; Pair-horse Waggon, Beverley Iron & Waggon Co. ; Other Waggons, G. Ball Kilworth, H, Bracewell, Burnley ; Single-horse Carts 158 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. W. Chapman, Peterborougli, Beverley Iron & Waggon Co. ; Two-horse Carts, T. Corbett, F. P. Milford ; Liquid- manure Carts, R. & J. Reeves, Coleman & Morton ; Broadcast Distributor of Manure, J. Coultas, Grantham ; Hay or Corn Shed with Iron Covering, F. Morton & Co. COMMENDED For Two-horse Mower, A. C. Bamlett ; Patent Water Filter Slack & Brownlow, Manchester ; Milk Cooler, AUway & Son, London ; Ten-gallon Railway Milk Tankard, W. & F. Richmond, Colne ; Patent Cattle Feeder, R. Willacey, Preston ; Patent Riding Gate Latch, Bayliss, Jones, & Bayliss, Wolverhampton ; Patent Machine for Sharpen- ing Reaping and Mowing Knives, Mitchell & Burgess, Manchester; Thatch Sewing Machine, G. 0. Gooday, Chelmsford ; Pair-horse Waggons, W. Chapman, W. Ball & Son ; Other Waggons, T. Corbett, H. Hayes k Son ; Single-horse Carts, T. Milford & Sons, W. Ball & Son ; Two-horse Carts, Woods, Cocksedge, & Warner, Stow- market, S. Harrison, Lincoln ; Harvest Cart, Beverley L-on & Waggon Co. ; Carriage for Removing Stock, Im- plements, &c., Beverley Iron and Waggon Co. THE IMPLEMENTS ON THE GROUND. It is not easy, or more correctly to put it, it is very difficult, amidst the crush and the crowd of a great gathering of machines and implements such as this is, to set down and tell of what there is to be seen, and what is worthy to be seen — an important distinction truly, where there are, if not many, at least some things which have scarcely a right to be admitted to a purely agricultural show. But it is a fortunate thing for ourselves, if it is not for our readers, that our practice this year wUl be, what it lias been for many years, merely to give in the first week of the show a general and superficial view of ■what the implement yard contains, leaving a more de- tailed and critical account to succeeding days, when quiet- ness will at least prevail, if not accurate judgment and matured thought. Reserving, and we are free to confess amidst such a confusion as that in wliich we write re- serving gladly, for those quieter times our more detailed notices, we proceed to present our scattered notes in con- nection with a general survey of the features of the show ground. And this show is so wonderfully extensive that all calculation is at fault. Figures are never aught than dry reading, and we shall indulge in them to the least possible extent; but we may for the accuracy of the point, state that, as compared with the great show at Leicester, the entries of this come up to what the Yankees call a "grand totell" of 7,724, as against the number of 6,369 at Leicester, and 5,488 in 1861 at Leeds, the whole printed in a bulky volume of more than 500 pages. It is not easy, at all events it is a little invidious to say which section is the best where all are good, but all pre- sented such striking featui-es that it was impossible even to the most apathetic and unobservant of visitors to wit- ness it vnthout surprise — we refer to the array of " ma- chines in motion." Looking down from the end of that splendid avenue to the other, a perfect forest of steam- engine chimneys and hundi-eds of whirling wheels greeted the eye. This was truly a wonderful sight, not the less but all the more increased by that closer inspection which revealed the adaptation of mechanical contrivances to such wide and varied purposes. Here the " Manchester men" were fairly met upon their own ground, and high, de- servedly high as they stand as mechanicians, and tho- roughly and perfectly as they do their work, we know that they met with examples of work done by those "agricultural engineers," those "farming fellars," which might be equalled but could not be excelled. Nor is this small praise, nor is it undeserved ; truly time was, or rather has been, when this could not be said, when the machinery of farming was characterized by all that was crude in conception of design, and rude and faulty in workmanship and detail. But more of this at a future period ; so let us proceed to our general survey. It is perhaps needless to say that all our " leading men" are well represented. We have the stands of our Ransomes and Richmonds and Chandlers, our Howards and our Hornsbys, our Garretts, Tuxfords, Fowlers, and a host of others, and large as have been the number of their " exhibits" in for- mer years, many of them have exceeded these at the present meeting. Taking the chief stands as they come in order, we find stand No. 1 occupied by Barrows and Stewart, of Cherwell Works, Banbury, who have twenty-two entries, amongst which we find one for a portable steam-cultivating engine. The next few stands seem to have had the luck to be appropriated almost exclusively to the makers of reaping machines, amongst whom we find the names of Mr. R. Nicholson, of Ripon ; Mr. Harkes, of Knutsford, Cheshire ; Messrs. Cuthbert and Co., of Bedale ; Messrs. Wray and Son, of the same place ; iMr. Read, of New Malton, Yorkshire ; Mr. Gillis, of Haydon Bridge ; and Mr. Brenton, of St. Germain, Cornwall. The stand of Messrs. Garrett and Sons, of Saxmund- ham, comes next in order, who have twenty-eight entries, comprising examples of their steam engines, corn drills, and one or two novelties, which we may duly notice hereafter. A very large display next in order is that of Woods, Cocksedge, and Warner, of Stowmarket, who have no fewer than seventy entries, comprising steam engines, grinding mills, and root pulpers. Messrs. Brigham and Bickerton, of Berwick-upon-Tweed, exhibit several specimens of their reaping and mowing machines, which have established a high reputation in several districts. The same class of machines is exemplified in the well-known and thoroughly-appreciated appliances of Burgess and Key, as also at the stand of Messrs. Kearsley, of Ripon. Messrs. Amies, Barford, and Co., of Peter- borough, have entered sixty-one articles, comprising, amongst other articles for which they have made a specialty, rollers and clod crushers, and portable steaming apparatus. Mr. Boby, of Bury St. Edmund's, exhibits several specimens of his corn screens, for which he has obtained so high a reputation, as well as specimens of horse rakes, ploughs, &c. Mr. Isaac James, of Chelten- ham, exhibits his well-known water carts. A large number of interesting objects is exhibited at the stand of J. G. Rollins, Old Swan Wharf, London Bridge, com- prising chiefly articles of American invention and manu- facture. The collection here of pumps, as made by Douglas, is very interesting. The Reading Iron Works Company have an exceedingly fine display — not that it is made up of a very numerous list — but that the articles show the careful attention which they pay to design and execution. We would draw special attention to the steam engines which they exhibit in motion. Mr. W. A. Wood — who, by the way, enters a protest against the decision of the judges — exhibits a large collection of mowing and reaping machines. R. and T. Reeves, of Bratton Iron Works, Westbury, Wilts, exhibit specimens of their well-known liquid and solid manure distributing machines. Mr. Higson, of 30, Thomas-street, Manchester, has in a large stand reaping and mowing and other machines and implements, chiefly the productions of other makers. Messrs. Coleman and Morton, of Chelmsford, Essex, have a large collection, in which they exhibit their well-known cultivators. Mr. Coultas, of Grantham, shows drills, manure distributors, &c., and the Messrs. E. R. and F. Turner, of Ipswich, have a fine show of the crushing mills for which they have obtained so wide a celebrity. The Messrs. Hornsby, of Grantham, in a fine stand do full justice by the nature of its contents to the high re- putation they have as agricultural mechanicians. The THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 159 same remark applies, aud with as much, if not greater, force to the stand of Messrs. Ransomes, Sims, and Head, of Ipswich, who have no fewer than sixty-seven entries. Nor need we exclude, much rather ought we to include, in the above the stand of Messrs. Richmond and Chandler, of ilanchester, who enter one hundred and twenty-three articles. Messrs. William Ball and Son, of Kettering, and Mr. Wm. Smith, of the same place, exhibit waggons, carts, ploughs, harrows, hoes, &c., the latter named exhibitor showing specimens of the horse hoes for which he has long been well known. The Bristol Waggon W^orks exhibit specimens of horse rakes and drills, &c., and Messrs. E. Cambridge and Co., of the same place, specimens of their rollers and harrows, for which they have enjoyed a high reputation for several years. A capital collection of ploughs is to be met with at the stands of E. L. Larkworthy and Co., of Worcester, and of Messrs. dickers, Saowden,and Morris, of Doncaster. Mr. W. Fisken, of Stamfordham, Newcastle-on-Tyne, exhibits a weU-made model of his steam cultivating appa- ratus, which we believe, on a large scale, has been doing some good work in a field outside the showyard. Messrs. J. Comes and [Co., of Nantwich," exhibit speci- mens of theii' well-known chaff cutters, curd breakers, &c. Several specimens of corn drills are exibited at the stand of Messrs. Priest and Woolnough, of Kingston-on-Thames. The collection of Messrs. W. Crosskill aud Sons, of Bever ley, is a line one, and comprises the specimens of their carts and waggons. IMr. C. Clay, of Wakefield, exhibits specimens of his well-known cultivators, and Messrs. Warner and Sons, of Crescent, Cripplegate, London a very large collection of pumps and hydraulic apparatus. A. very large stand is taken up by the specimens of stable fittings, exhibited by the St. Paucras Iron Works, London, and, as usual, an attractive stand is that of Mr. E. H. Bentall, of Maldon; the same remark being ap- plicable to the stand of the Beverley lion Company, which has no fewer than ninety-seven entries. Messrs. Carson and Toone, of Warminster, exhibit a large number of their specialties such as chaff cutters, while the extensive stand of Messrs. Hunt and Pickering, of Leicester, is taken up with a wide variety of articles. The stand of Messrs. Picksley, Sims, and Co., of Leigh, near Manchester, is, as usual, large and well filled with capitally made specimens of agricultm'al implements and machines. JNIessrs, Owens, of Whiteiriars-street, London, sliotv centrifugal pumps. Mr. R. Tinkler, of Penrith, exhibits a number of his well- known churns ; and at the stand of Messrs. Page, of Bedford, a number of the implements for which they are weU known are to be seen. Messrs. S. E. Ransome and Co., of Essex-street, Strand, London, have an exceedingly interesting collection of miscellaneous articles. We need scarcely say that the stand of the Messrs. Howard, of Bedford, is fully up to the high standard they place before themselves, whether as regards the number, variety, or excellence of the objects they exhibit, and many of which are specialties of their own. The collection of farm building fittings of the Messrs. Musgrave, of Belfast, is an interesting one. Messrs. Samuelson aud Co., of Banbury, have a large collection of the machines and implements for which they have made a deservedly high reputation. The stand of Messrs. Fowler and Co., of Leeds, and of steam plough celebrity, shows what can be done in this direction. The machinery here exhibited is very fine. Messrs. Bryan Corcoran and Co., of Mark Lane, ex- hibit an interesting collection of milling appliances and apparatus. And at the stand of Messrs. Hill and Smith, of Brierley Hill, Stafford, will be found a large collection of implements, fencing, cattle hurdles, &c. Messrs, Aveling and Porter, of Rochester, exhibit their traction engines ; and Messrs. Holmes and Son, of Nor- wich, exhibit specimens of their manure distributor, &c. Messrs. Ashby and Jefi'ery, of Stamford, have a large col- lection of the machines for which they ai-e well known, as horse rakes, haymakers, &c. Messrs. Cottani and Co., Oxford Street, London, ex- hibit a fine collection of their stable fittings ; and Messrs. Robinson and Cottam, of Battersea, Surrey, exhibit an interesting collection of horse-shoes on the " Good- enough" system. Mr. Underbill, of Newport, exhibits steam engines, drills, &c. ; and Messrs. Barnard, Bishop, and Barnards, Norwich, show a large collection of lawn mowers and garden appliances. The Patent Earth Closet Company, Bedford Stre Strand, London, exhibit a large number of their uld et, closets. A very large stand is that of Messrs. Elliott and Elston, of St. Ann's Street, Manchester, comprising no fewer than two hundred and eighty-three entries, chiefly articles made by various houses. The stand of Mr. W. N. Nicholson, of Newark-upon- Trent, is, as usual, well occupied by specimens of his haymaking machines, horse-rakes, and other machines, for which he has so wide a reputation. Messrs. Mitchell and Bm-gess, of Hunt Street, Man- chester, exhibit specimens of their machines for sharpen- ing mowing and reaping machine knives. We have already alluded to the great feature of the show, namely the department of the machines in motion. Time and space do not permit us to give a detail of what is here to be seen ; suffice it to say that all our well- known makers are remarkably well represented, not only as regards the number of machines they exhibit, but as regards the excellence of theii' design and the care taken in their construction. Por the present we leave the department of the imple- ments and machines of the Manchester show, hoping to be able to take up, in a series of succeeding papers, a quiet review of its leading features. RAILWAY MEAT VANS, AND MILK VANS, AND MILK CANS. — The following is from the report read at the recent General Annual Meeting of the Society of Arts : At the suggestion of the food committee, as having a material bearing on the supply of food to the people, the Council last year offered prizes for the most improved railway vans adapted for the conveyance of meat, the conveyance of milk, and for the cans, or churns as they are termed, in which milk is brought to London. A considerable number of models have been sent in for competition, and the Council have sought the assistance of well-qualified judges to decide on their merits. The judges on the meat vans were : Mr. Rudkin, the chairman of the City Markets Committee ; Mr. Tyrrell, Superintendent of TraiRc on the Great Western Railway ; Mr. M'Lagan, M.P., nominated by tlie Royal Agricultural Society of England and the Highland Society of Scotland. The judges of the milk vans and cans were Dr. Voelcker, nominated by the Royal Agricultural Society of England, Mr. Tyrrell, and Mr. J. C. Morton. As regards the railway meat vans, the judges are of opinion that although there is considerable ingenuity displayed in some of the models sent in, and a careful consideration shown of principles which it is desirable should be borne in mind in the construction of meat carriages, yet that there is no one which they can recommend as deserving of the Society's prize. As regards the vans for conveying milk, the judges are of opinion that no model sent in is deserving of the prize. As regards the cans for the conveyance of milk, the judges are of opinion that the can No. 4, sent in by the Aylesbury Dairy Company, is the best, and they recommend that the Society's silver medal and £10, as offered, be awarded to it. [The managing director of the Aylesbury Dairy Company (Limited) is Mr. G. M. Allender, a gentleman well known in the agri- cultural world, to whom we believe the credit of this iraprove- ment is due.] 160 THE FARMER'S MAGAZlKD. THE MANGOLD PLANT. BY CUTHBEKT W. JOHNSON, F.R.S. The cultivation of the maugold, its origin, and its history, are Avell worthy of our careful study. It is another of those roots so invaluable to the agriculturist, for whose introduction we are indebted to the gardener. The beet, of which the mangold is a variety, was culti- vated in the gardens of Rome in the days of the Repub- lic, and in our English gardens in 1548. It was first (a coarse variety of it) grown as a field crop in Belgium and in Germany, where it was called the mangold, or the mangel. It is there most commonly sown in seed-beds, and afterwards planted out into lines. It was first intro- duced to the notice of the English farmers about the year 1786, by the celebrated Dr. Lettsom, who I believe had noticed it growing on his West Indian estates. Its pro- gress at first was very slow, its feeding qualities being but little understood. It was called the "root of scarcity;" but the early-published reports of it were far from favour- able. One large farmer, Mr. .J. Trotter of Newton, tried it in the years 1790-91 and '92 ; but he probably used it before storing it, for he found it scoured his cows, and did not possess fattening properties, so he concludes his report by telling us that he " of course gave up raising of beet as an unprofitable concern, and was indeed firmly of opi- nion that where a farmer can command manures to raise potatoes, carrots, cabbages, and turnips in all their diffe- rent varieties, he should never spend his time in raising the beetroot {Scotch Fanners' Mag., vol. ivi., p. 32). In 1789 the farmers were warned to be careful in its culti- vation {Yoitm/s Annah, vol. iv., p. 452), In 1790 and 1792, however, the mangold was increasing in favour in the west of England {ihuL, vol. xiv., p. 301, vol. xvii., p. 41). It was soon indeed ascertained that the root pros- pered best in a temperate climate and in sheltered situa- tions. In the year 1809 General Beatson, then governor of the Island of St. Helena, in a report addressed to the English Board of Agriculture, and describing the extra- ordinary produce of some beet plants, the leaves of which had been repeatedly cut to serve as a substitute for spi- nach, says : " It certainly possesses advantages over every other plant hitherto introduced in field culture. Its pro- duce is immense ; and I have found it to grow, with con- siderable luxuriance, upon laud where no other vegetation was ever seen. It has also the singular property of being unmolested by the dolphin fly, which is here extremely destructive to cabbages, turnips, and radishes. I have very often observed, where alternate plants of cabbage and mangel were growing in the same rows, and touching each other, that whilst the former were absolutely anni- hilated by the dcstrnctive insect, not one was to be seen on the mangel leaves" (Coin, to Board of Agr., vol. vii., p. 241). The growth of mangold dui-ing the last quarter of a century has been steadily on the increase. In Scotland, where the climate is not so suitable as in Eneland, we find by the statistical returns collected by the Highland Society, that in the year 1854, 1,950 acres were grown in Scot- land, and in 1857, 2,800 acres ; but this had decreased during the next few years yery considerably, as may be f een from the following Parliamentary return, which gives the number of acres of mangold grown on our islands in the year 1867 : Acres. England 253,937 Wales 3,345 Scotland 844 Ireland 18,805 Isle of Man 47 Jersey ... ... ... ... 730 Guernsey ... ... ... ... 244 Total United Kingdom J77,952 We have noticed that in Belgium and Germany they commonly transplant their mangold from seed-beds. This plan has been partially adopted in England ; but it is not capable of being extensiyely employed. ]SIr. W. Gurdon, of Brantham, in Suffolk, has very fairly detailed his suc- cessful practice of transplanting {.Tour. Rog. Ay. Soc, vol. ixiv., p. 221), and he thus sums up his report: " Such having been the results of growing mangold by transplanting, it may be asked, do I recommend that the whole crop on the farm should be grown in that way ? My answer is ready : I do not recommend what I know I should experience great difficulty in carrying out. My own plan, to which transplanting is a valuable accom- paniment, is to dibble the seed with a dibbling-wheel, invented for the purpose. Of these I have two, one 3 feet 9 inches, the other 4 feet 2 inches, in circumference ; the first having three dibbles, and the second, four. The dibbles, instead of being cone-shaped, resemble the small ends of so many wedges 3 inches broad, bent lengthways on the iron tire. The children, in dropping, are directed to scatter the seeds along the hole, by which means the plant which is left is not so likely to be disturbed in singling, and the singling is more easily performed. By this means, also, the plants are at once set oat, no space between two being less than a foot, or more than 18 inches. It will easily be perceived that the distances be- tween the plants being thus regulated, if the filliug-up be carefully attended to at the proper time, almost every space may be filled in ordinary seasons. "As a large expenditure is generally made in preparing for this valuable crop, to ensure a heavy produce a regular plant is the chief desideratum. If a man could fill up no more than 500 a-day, the produce might be worth fromlOs. to£;i. " I ought to add that the dibble takes two rows, and consists of two wheels, which move on an axle, so as to adjust them to the width from row to row. It is guided by a T-shaped handle, the workman pushing it before him. There would be no difficulty in attaching these dibbling-whecls to the roller, whether the crop be sown on the flat or the ridge. If on the latter, a couple of iron ridge-rollers might be used ; each roller, in shape like an hour-glass, covering one ridge, with its dibble to follow. The mangold used in all these experiments has has been the yellow globe. Our late chief-justice of Singapore, Sir Christopher Rawlinson, informed me that THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 161 he had always raised his garden beet at Singapore by striking the seed, and tlieu planting out. "In conclusion, 1 would observe that the sccd-bed, the dibble, and the tilliug-up by transplanting, are parts of one whole system. The seed-bed in the hands of a gardener is simple enough, as a matter of his ordinary calling. ^Vith the farmer it is otherwise. Tor his in- formation, therefore, I may state that it is best formed of stable manure, turned over once or twice, so as to be well heated. It may then be laid about two feet deep, and six inches of loose striking-earth spread upon it. This should be formed of rotten turf, or roadside parings ; decayed leaves, or other vegetable manure ; the bottoms of dry ditches, with a good deal of silt, so as to form a loose compouud, in which the seeds may root freely. The bed should be allowed a few days to settle and to warm the earth before the seed is sown. When the plants arc removed from the bed, great care should be taken not to injure their roots. Girls' fingers are the best for sepa- rating the little plants, and laying them ready for the planter. The planting with me is done with a garden- trowel ; and, if done carefully, not more than 5 per cent, will require to be set a second time." The cultivation of mangolds has lately engaged the attention of the Highland Society. They have awarded two prizes to Mr. \l. J. Thomson, of Kilmarnock, for his researches on this very valuable root. In one of his prize essjiys, he observes (Trans Iliff/i. Soc, 1868, p. Ii9) : " Mangolds grow within a wide range of lati- tude : crops are raised at St. Helena, at 16 dcgs. south latitude ; and they are successfully grown in Scotland, at 56 degs. north latitude. It will succeed on almost all soils, even in those of the most opposite descriptions : a deep friable loam, abounding in organic matter, is the most suitable ; but a light land farmer says, ' We always sow our mangolds on our lightest land, where it is too light for potatoes;' and a heavy land farmer observes, ' My mangolds are invariably grown on the stillest land, where it's no use growing swedes.' They are sometimes grown year after year on the same soil.' The Kev. 1?. Whittaker has grown them in Lancashire for nearly twenty^ years consecutively on the same ground — a clay soil; the crop he has raised bein? from 27 to 32 tons per acre." The best dressings for mangolds is a question which has also engaged the attention of the Highland Society. In another prize essay by Mr. 11. J. Thomson, he de- scribes the result of his trials with certain phosphatic and ammoniacal manures (Trans. High. Sor., 1868, p. \Z1). The manures he applied, and the mean weight of the bulbs produced, per acre, from two plots will be found in the following tabic : — Manures applied. ,30 loads; Peruvian guano, 10 ewts.... loads ; common salt, 3 cwts loads; superphosphate, 10 cwts loads; salt, 6 cwts loads loads ; guano, 4 cwts loads ; guano, i cwts. ; superphosphate, ; salt, 2 cwts loads ; guano, 4 cwts. ; superphosphate, ; salt, ~ cwts loads ; guano, 3 cwts. ; superphosphate, salt, 2 cwts loads ; guano, 3 cwts. ; superphosphate, ; salt, 3 cwts loads Ash dung Dung, 30 Dung, 30 Dung, 30 Dung, 30 Dung, 30 Dung, 30 3 cwts. Dung, 30 •i cwts. Dung, 30 1 cwt. ; Dung, 30 •2 cwts. Dung, 30 The soil, adds Mr. Thomson, on which the mangolds were grown is of a mossy character, containing a con- siderable quantity of organic matter, and well adapted Produce. Tons. cwts 14 n 15 H 13 5 9 Vol 9 IH 13 12i 14 71 14 5i 11 9t 13 1^ 9 loi for the growth of that root; hut tlio 50u;,ou being cold, and for the most part wet, the crop was under an ave- rage. The 2 cwts. of salts, added to 10 cwts. of guauc, for the mangolds have given a marked increase of crop : we have invariably found this to be the case with man- golds. The 6 cwts. of salt seems to have bee\i too large a quantity. From these experiments, also, we may pre- sume that nitrogenous manures greatly increased the crop of leaves on mangolds, and that they tend to induce man- golds, cither directly or indirectly, to run to seed. In inquiring as to the best dressing for the mangold, we must not omit to consider the use of liquid manure. It is very certain that the weight of this root produced in moist situations is very great., and the result of the trials hitherto made with dressings of town sewage are all in favour of the use of liquid applications. At the sewage irrigation farm at Croydon, Mr. Marri- age has applied sewage to mangolds for several seasons. The mangold has been here sown on the ridge, and when the plants were an inch or two in height, the sewage, in dry weather, has been allowed to How down between the ridges, care being taken not to allow the sewage to rest in any place, or to flow over the plants, but rather to allow it to soak into the ground, and to get to the roots of the mangold, and this watering is repeated two or three times if the weather continues dry. In 1864, a crop of mangold was not sown until -July, was then sewage irrigated, and produced a good crop of roots in November. In the experimental trials at Beddingtou, it has been found that the sewage answered very well for cabbages, but not for lueern, since it induced the too copious growth of weeds. In the very dry season of 1868, 7 acres of wheat were twice irrigated with sewage, the straw became of a very rank growth, the produce of the seed between 6 and 7 qrs. an acre. Upon the Barking Lodge Tarm, belonging to the Metro- politan Sewage Company, the use of the sewage for mangold has been equally satisfactory. In the report made in August, 1868, by the Hon. Henry Petre, he thus describes tlie result of watering this and other plants with the Metropolitan sewage. Other crops were also successfully grown with the sewage, but here 1 will merely quote that portion of ]Mr. Hope's report which relates chiefly to its use for green crops. He observes (p. U) : " An acre of parsnips, sown in February, w^as flooded twice with sewage, and is calculated in the end of August to be worth £35 per acre. A piece of potatoes, consist- ing of ' ShawsX' Kegents,' and ' Hocks,' was planted on 22nd F'ebruary* wice flooded with sewage, and produced at the rate of 4 i- tons, 5 tons, and 8 tons respectively, being dug during the mouths of June, July, and August, A plot of half an acre was planted with sugar-beet, sown in April ; was twice dressed with sewage, and the crop is calculated at 20 to 25 tons per acre. Half an acre of red cabbage was planted out on 10th April, was dressed with sewage three times, and sold in August at £33 per acre. " Half an acre w'as sown in March with onions, and was sold in August for £15. This plant seems very re- luctant to acknowledge the virtue of town sewage, and at some of the stages of its growth appeared likely to prove a failure. The result, however, now attained only proves that more experience is required in applying the sewage and in the time of sowing. "The dift'erent sorts of cabbage appear in strong con- trast to the onions, as under all circumstances the sewage appears to suit them ; and in such a season as the pre- sent sunmier (1868) it is indispensable, its application ensuring a crop proportioned to the amount of sewage put on the land, and the care with which it is applied, as is evidenced by the following instances : 162 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. •' An acre aud half of drumhead savoy was planted out in May, and may be valued now, at the end of August, at £35 per acre. " Half an acre of cabbage planted out in March was sold in June for £9. " In jNIay 60 poles were planted with cauliflower, and although a large proportion of the plants proved to be of a bad description, the piece realised £4. In fact, two or three floodings of sewage will insure such a crop of cabbage as can only be obtained by very heavy dressings of farm manure and the necessary amount of rain. " Perhaps the most satisfactory result is that with the mangold wurtzel, though quite expected, from the ex- perience of the crop of last year on a smaller scale. A plot of rye-grass of about three acres, sown in August, 1866, and producing the following summer more than sixty tons of grass to the acre, was ploughed up in No- vember, sown with mangold early in April, long, red and yellow globe. A springling of sewage was applied to start the plants, and the land was flooded in May and August ; the crop is now (the end of August) calculated at 40 tons per acre. " The whole of the foregoing crops were raised with sewage manure alone." The result of other observations tend to support the conclusion that by a judicious applications of liquid manure very large crops of mangolds may be produced. In the report of General Beetson of the very large pro- duce of this root at St. Helena, on highly manured ground, he alludes to the " drizzling rains" which fell there for days together. Then I have heard of an en- ormous crop, grown at Deptford, near London, by means of sewage, and then again the late IMr. Trere in his account of the farm at Vanjours, in France, describes the result of a comparative trial of different manures for mangold ou a clayey loam soil with a clay or marl sub- soil, the previous crop being lucern {Jour. Roi/. Ag. Soc, vol. xxiii., p. 312). The roots were grown on four plots, "when results were obtained from various dressings, which are given per acre in the following table : Bulbs. Manures. Tons. Cwts. Yard manure 34< tous 16 cwts 2't 17 1 dressing of sewage 8 tons 3 cwts. 26 11 2 dressings of sewage, in all 11 tons 6 cwts 32 15 Yard manure 34 tons 16 cwts., sew- age 11 tons 6 cwts ^48 8 The liquid manure, however, applied at the French fai"m was much more concentrated than that of our towns. Mr. R. J. Thomson, in his paper I have already quoted, alludes to other large exceptional crops of 50 and 53 tons per acre, grown with the ordinary manm'es {Trans. J/?>A. ^^ot-., 1868, p. 147). The keeping quality of the mangold is one of its very valuable properties. And this, according to the experi- ments of Mr. R. J. Thomson {ibid, p. 158), varies con- siderably with the manure which has promoted its growth. The following table gives the variety of the manure per acre employed in its production, the weight of given quantities of the bulbs when put up in October, and the loss of weight ou April 21st : Weight in October Long reds. Cwts. Qrs. Lbs, 10 cwt. guano, 2 cwt. salt.,. 13 0 14 10 cwt. superphosphate, 2 cwt. salt 14 Soil' simple 14 25 yards of cow dung 13 25 yards cow dung, 6 cwt. salt 14 Loss of weight by April 21. Cwts. Qrs. Lbs. 10 7 2 0 1 3 14 3 0 2 1 14 1 14. 2 0 21 0 14 0 3 14 We have, therefore, from these valuable experiments every reason to continue our inquiries upon the growth of the mangold. That its bulb can be enlarged by deeper cultivation, and improved dressings of manm-e in either the solid or the liquid form there is little reason to doubt. That the nutritive quality of the root can be sustained under such an enlarged growth, has yet to be decided. That the amount of saccharine matter in the sugar-beet does not keep pace with the increased size of the roots is pretty well ascertained. This, however, sup- posing it to be so, is no reason for the discontinuance of our effoits to improve its nutritive qualities, as by either the discovery of better varieties of the mangold than those now grown, or by improved modes of cultivation. LOCAL TAXATION. At a general meeting of the Monmouthsliire Chamber of Agriculture, the president, Mr. J. Lawrence, high sheriff for the county, read a paper on this subject ; and the following mo- tion, after a vast deal of desultory conversation, was iiltimately proposed by Mr. Greenlow Relph, seconded by Mr. Forrest, and adopted: "That a communication be made from this Chamber to the Pontypooi Board of Guardians expressive of a desire that a deputation from this Chamber be permited to meet tlie deputation of the various Boards of Guardians at their approaching meeting for taking the question of local taxation into consideration ; and that the following gentlemen be appointed to represent the Chamber : Newport division, Mr. R. Stratton and Mr. W. Fothergill ; Monmouth division, Mr. J.Haynes and Mr. W. Brown; Abergavenny division, Mr. Thomas Edwards and Mr. Peter Morgan ; Chepstow divi- sion, Mr. Thomas Woodhall and Mr. Valentine Parsons ; Usk divison, Mr. W. B. Gething and Mr. Edward Evans ; with the hon. sec- The Chairman said he was very glad to see that the landed interest was awakening to the importance of these Chambers. He knew there was a strong opinion entertained by many tliat these societies were established for the purpose of creating in some measure a disunion between landlords and tenants. Now that their eyes were beginning to be opened with reference to the subject, they would take a warm interest in it. The landed interest was in some measure represented at that meeting by Mr. Relph and the Hon. Mr. Chfford-Butler, and before separating he would propose that a vote of thanks be given them for their attendance. As for his friend Mr. Relph there was nothing good or for the benefit of the county but what he had a linger in it, and he was never so happy as when studying any economy which would be beneficial to tlie county. And he might say as much of Mr. Butler. He (the Chairman) was much obliged to them for their frequent attendance at those meetings. Mr. Relph said the Hark Lane Kcjiress took a dift'erent view to that expressed by Mr. Evans, and found faidt with the Central Chamber of Agriculture because it was altogether under the control of landlords. Mr, Evans : The Central Chamber may oe, but I don't think that is the case with the local Chambers. THE THIN SOWING QUESTION, SiK, — I consider the thin sowing question so important nationally that I invite all those who feel interested in the question to come and inspect the 4 pecks and 2 pecks of wheat per imperial acre, and the 6 pecks of barley and 2 bushels of oats. No rule can be laid down for every soil and climate, but let every one try on a small scale, and so arrive at a proper conclusion. We commence harvest on the 2ud of August. We have 50 acres of wheat sown with a bushel per acre. In many parts of Scotland it is usual to sow 7 bushels of oats, 6 do. of barley, 4 do- of Wheat. This is a sure way to produce small crops. 1 am, sir, your obedient servant, J. J. Mechi, Ttpiree Hall, Kehedon, Essex, July 32. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 163 THE NEW FARM. Never was implement so kindly treated. Housed in full readiness for action long before, and oiled and sharpened, and finally conveyed tenderly to the field, be- fore even a villager was stirring, and while the dew hung heavy upon the serried trifolinm stems ; if it did not cut satisfactorily then, why all 1 have to say is, that I don't know when a machine could choose to cut at all. " Did ye not hear it ?" " No ; 'twas but the wind or the car rattling o'er the stony street." It did make a startling row, too, down the sleep-opprest village, driving a spirited old blind carriage mare, that was one of the pair attached, almost wild at the jiugle behind her. Nor was it long before my neighbour's shepherd came looking scared enough along the path beliind us, with his boot-laces un- done, and his wits scarcely awake, having been aroused before his time by the unearthly sound. Once at work, however, it was delightful to ourselves to find it do its duty effectively ; so that by the time the sun was fairly hot, there were some half-dozen acres laid low. By changing the horses and knife every three hours, we got twelve acres cut before night. It was delightful to be independent of the itinerant gangs of mowers, who are more extortionate, more thirsty, and more sleepy than ever this season. We soon got half our meadow-grass down in addition to the clover, and had the swede fallow being rapidly prepared at the same time, and that without an extra hand above our regular complement. Unhappily our success made us saucy, and by sauntering a day too long when we had the crop ready for harvesting we have got the showery weather down upon our last five acres. It is in cock, however, and we shall steal it on to the mow during the intervals of sunshine without much hurt I hope. It is a lesson to us however not to loiter, how- ever well advanced, another year. I am so delighted with the excellent work that machine has done in its mowing capacity that I have sent for the extra apparatus for bringing down the grain crops. They must not be allowed to get too ripe before we commence operations. One can cut too soon, however, I know from experience, no less than too late. Last year I had one field reaped full early. The sample was so full and bright while it stood in shocks upon the field, that I thought I had at- tained a perfect success, and that the sap remaining in the severed stem would sustain through its ripening pro- cess the grain in its becoming einboiipoird ; but alas, it withered sadly, and was a disappointing sample to look at in its flow from the thrashing machine, although it came to scale unusually heavy. The straw was, however, deliciously greenish and sweet to chew, and being cut up with some barley sheddings kept my stock in excellent fettle for some time. By the way we learnt another lesson from these barley sheddings. The regular clovers having comparatively failed, as I mentioned in a previous paper, we worked the stubbles evei^ way with sharpened harrow-tines. Then sowing trifolinm incarnatum and rye-grass, we covered the seed by help of chain harrows, and rolled the bed down hard as ever the heaviest Cross- kill could compress a sandy loam. Behold the shed con- tents of the scattered barley ears were spread evenly in every direction about, and threw up a luxuriant fresh growth. This when a foot or more high we nrowed for chaffing for several weeks into the mid-winter in the case of one field ; another field, the " seeds" sown upon which were intended for permanent pasture, we did not thus persecute, but allowed the barley crop its way. The consequence is, that now at mowing time we have had a grand crop of clover, rye-grass, and barley upon the field mown, whereas upon the petted laud the barley had half died ott', smothering the young trefoil, &c., beneath its shade, and so injuring the " seeds" that we shall have to plough it up again. We have a crop of autumn oats that has been in fuU ear for nine days or more, and which we hope to get cleared now in time to replace it by excellent turnips . During mowing fortunately we never cut across a single nest, except a landrail's, although we found several, both of partridges and jiheasants, in the adjoining fences. One pheasant hen allowed me actually to lift her ofl' her nest. She must have been one of a lot petted about the house through the winter, or she would have been more terrified at the approach of man. Her eggs were hatched by a Priesland hen, and are at this moment enjoying a feed of ants' eggs that I have thrown into their pen. We have had several barrows-full of the large black ant imported from a neighbouring common for them. This large sort does not breed or build within our grounds, and won't stay there, for some reason, when imported. Possibly, like bees, they may have a Lady Sixperior, whom we may never have managed to secure. So the mass gradually wing or crawl their way back, weighted though each one be with an infant in swaddling clothes, the juicy contents of which are so beneficial to the youth- ful pheasant. These black fellows, however, are terrific-looking, and I think frighten the young birds. They certainly are not agreeable to the white silky bantam ; for when we first introduced them to her pen, and she began maternally chuckling to her young charge to peg in wliile fortune favoured, it somehow sadly happened that a pirate or two of the lot managed to get up into what ladies would term her " panniers," and so irritated or alarmed, or otherwise in- commoded the old lady, that in a phrenzy she hopped and flounced wildly about, unfortunately thereby managing to kill two of the wee things of which hitherto she had been so splendidly cai-eful. She has ever since shown o-reat alarm at being shown one at all. And certainly they are ugly-looking feUows, and when they sit as they do if you ai-rest their course as if to show fight, oiur youngsters say it is to beg for their lives : they assuredly suggest to one that they would be very awkward to sleep alongside, and might certainly be expected to annoy the gizzard if swallowed in thtir ferocity alive. In one pheasant's nest that we found in a hole beside the river, a partridge had deposited two eggs. The young ones, partridge and pheasant, broke shell the same day. Now this is cm-ious as a fact of natm-al history, inasmuch as there is a week's dift'erence in the incubation of the two birds. Can it be that the birds calculate and have a common language, so that the partridge finding herself possessed of a greater quantity of eggs than she could well cover, lent a couple to her neighbour whose stock was short ? Anyhow, they are hatched and feeding under one coop now upon the lawn. I have been obliged to turn the thorough-bred into a brood mare. She never managed to precipitate the young Vulcan, but she danced with him one day so much that her swelled legs did not allow of her being mounted for some time again. Having moreover persuaded him and 164 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. some other youngsters upon the farm, who make an extra shilluig or two uow aud then, to insure their lives so as to receive £100 when they come to be fifty years of age, that sum in the event of their dying sooner being paid to their relatives I thought it might be hard upon the in- surance office if he continued his horse-taming, so I gave orders to desist, getting myself now too old to encounter a steed in fight for mastery, which might some day have been a necessity if I had resumed her services as an after- noon hack. We have been busy getting fresh water mussels off the gravel bed beneath the house for a distant friend's aqua- rium. The mother-of-pearl lining of their shells is beau- tiful. I am tempted to keep a few, in the hopes of ob- taining British pearls, if the Mr. Buckland's theory be correct that a pearl is only an accumulation of matter thrown out by the fish, a sort of gummy tear-drop to re- lieve itself of the irritation caused by an extraneous sub- stance within its house or eye. He says that if a pearl be split there is generally sand, or something within. Will any lady try her chaplet and see ? How exquisitely graduated is the supply of nature ! How gentle is the preparation of the air for the soaking that our thirsty earth desires, and which it will have ere long ! Following hot, scorching days, that make our hay almost before we knew it, there has succeeded a delicious cool- ness of superincumbent atmosphere that is grateful as fanning to the feverish cheek. And just the slightest dusting of fine rain h.ith occurred, as it were, to break the fierceness of thirst, aud prevent the soil taking a too hasty and unwholesome gulp when it gets the chance, the consequence being a fine mist, that covered the face of the whole earth, as we read it did in the first days of the Creation. So it is that we poor weak men cannot imitate (he grandeur of the Almighty, the plan by which supply is adjusted to want in the fairly-used economy of our world. You will read those exquisite lines of the noble poet in refierence to Lake Leman — " Is it not better, then, to be alone, Aud love earth only for its earthly sake? By tlie blue rushiug of the arrowy Rhoae, Or tlie pure bosom of its nursing lake. Which feeds it as a mother who doth make A f;dr, but froward iufaiit, her own care. Kissing its cries away as these awake." Beautiful aud touching they all are, but it was for the sake of the last sentiment that I have quoted them — " Which feeds it as a mother." We have no power to feed as nature feeds. How vile an imitation would the fizzing shower of the water-cart be of this gentle damp- ing aud sequent greenhouse climate which the infant mangold is experiencing in anticipation of the abundant drought duly to arrive. " Nobody knows," but I cannot say that " nobody cares" — quoting poetry again ; but in the shape of an epitaph on a favourite hound in Delamerc Forest, which runs thus in its entirety — " Bluecap's dead, and here she lies : Nobody laughs and nobody cries. How she shares and how slie fares. Nobody knows aud nobody cares," Dear old Vic ! the bandy-legged Breadalbane terrier, she was so self-satisfied when her long-threatened accouche- ment was over. So comfortably she lay, with her nose upon herpaws, along the hot kitchen-floor before the fire. I never knew so persistent a breeder. She might be fairly ranked with Lord Granville's "rabbit and cm-ate." During the night she had cleared a lodging out beneath the wood-stack, and there the children found six little black and tan puppies, which became, of course, prime favourites at once, and were brought out upon the lawn between every schooltime to sleep beside them as they read story-books recliuing on a travelling-rug, while the old parent stood by wagging her tail gratefully, aud quaintly pricking her ears in aekuowledgment of the notice her babies got at head-quarters. But these six were too many both for me and the mother, and so there are only two left beside her now. She went hunting up the straw with her nose, the children say, on her first noticing the deficient number ; and they too have been rooting up every one with inquiries as to " where the pups are gone." And one smiles, and an- other don't know, and altogether it is unsatisfactory. Some dirty, young, mis-shapen wild pigeons, which have been just brought up in triumph from the wood, will, I dare say, heal the wound and take the place of the dear departed. We have been very unlucky with a beautiful brood of fifteen young pheasants. One after another and three at once they began to droop their wings, and we could not discover why. Then they pined and died, not having suft'ered from " gapes" nor from any cause that we could discover by a post mortem examination, unless it was that they were worn out by a plaguey insect visitation. For during our investigation quite a swarm of lively, angiy, saffron-tinted lice ran out from amongst the plumage on to one's hand. I ordered some wood ashes to be strewn under the foster-mother, and the other little ones are alive aud doing well. We are just in consultation whether it would be expe- dient to move the eggs of a pheasant who only just saved her head yesterday by ducking down from the scythe of a gardener, tidying up the grounds. The children have a bantam desirous of sitting, but then she has chosen so dangerous a site for her nest. It is amidst the ivy, on the top of a high wall, beside the stable. They propose removing her to a more favourable position ; but I tell them that ladies, especially little ladies, are perverse ; so that I lean rather to leaving the hen pheasant run all risks on her own account. Whatever could have hap- pened to the temper of the Silky I don't know, but one evening about roosting time she began to deal kicks and blows on every side to the unhappy pheasant brood that she was entrusted with. Old ^lelon, who has symjiathy with young ones, having a sweet little girl of his own, made short work of this business by ousting the old lady herself, taking her degradiugly by the wings, and pitching her over to the dung-heap beside the stable, where her twisty-legged lord was investigating his supper. The old pair met affectionately, and she the very uext day showed her industry in at once depositing an egg. The poor little orphans crouched together like babes in the wood, and the next day they went wailing so plaintively over the kitchen -garden, although Melon fed them repeatedly with fat morsels from a decaying crow and hedgehog, that he keeps specially for their delight. That night they crouched all in a circle in a parsley -bed, and the uext night I don't know where they went. An occasional one reappears amongst the strawberries, as our young human blackbirds report, letting out the secret of their own mis- demeanours in their anxiety to report progress of the pheasant babes. Just returning from a stroll to see how they are getting up stone in the river bed, I passed a labourer cutting thistles who depones to having seen thereabouts a brood of two sizes with a hen-pheasant, some of which came quite tamely towards him at call. I trust, therefore, that they have foimd comfort in their orphanage. There underlies this history a problem. The very day that Silky showed so cantankerous a disposition I understand that one of the children found a young wild pheasant amidst the hay on the meadows, and put it, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 165 being of equal growth, with the Silky's charge. Whether the gipsy preached rebellion or not I cui'.not tell ; anyhow she stayed quietly enough with her newly-l'ound hruthcrs and sisters until late in the evening, when she was met rnuuing and flying rapidly down the hill towards the meadow where she was found in the morning. I'ossibly the young garden lot got their disposition infcfted by her, and so disgusted Silky. .Vnyhow I have faithfully related what I know of their history, and now I hope that there has occurred the grateful tinish of the young gipsy's having introduced them to her mother, and that they will find health and enjoyment in encamping, as nature intended they should, upon the open. We are excited and delighted to find what a clean sweep has been made of the Eastern Counties challenge plate and money by a young bull bred on our farm. We are going to have a spree on the strength of it. An own sister to him was born the day he began his victorious career ; to which, coming as his dam docs of Lord Uueie's Seagull tribe, we have given the name of Kittiwake. There was one hovering along the shallows of our river not long since ; beautiful bird from the ocean that it is. If 1 l)elieved in Home's mysterious communication with the unseen, i might, perhaps, read her visit as prophetic of the coming Seagull success. " It is nought ; it is nought," said the buyer of that young hero, when he had obtained him. Anyhow I am glad that the gentleman made a paying investment. The animal was nearly slaughtered in London, and only escaped quarantine through being conveyed on to a farm half-in half-out of the proscribed district. The jugglery tliat saved him I trust we may never need again. Vkul, THE KIND OF CARROT BEST FOR FIELD CULTURE. This is one of those debateahle questions on which you will find scarcely two persons agree. The Great Belgian White is much in favour with most people. It certainly yields a large crop ; but I very much doubt if the quality of the root, in fattening and nourishing principles, is equal to the yellow kind. It grows deep into the soil, but also stands well out of it ; so that, although hard to dig, in one sense, from its length of root, it is easy in another, from the excellent handle the portion above the ground forms ; but late lights on the subject of the difference in value between that portion of a root above the soil, and that portion covered by the soil, may render the analyzatiou of the upper half of the root well worth while by the grower. In the culture of the beet for sugar, all the root which grows out of the soil is so inferior to that underneath it, as to render it worth while to divide the root, and reject that portion for sugar-making which lias not been under the soil. Sugar beets are now earthed up, so that tlie convenient handle to the Belgian carrot may be " a handle, and nothing more." This, however, is only thrown out as a hint for in- quirers and examiners. Ne.\t comes the Long Yellow, or Orange Carrot. This yields well, is ricli, has plenty of green to smother weeds, and, if you get a good plant, will, after one or two hoeings, have the ground to itself, and form a most useful crop. The tops, being cut off and left on the soil to be ploughed in, form a good coat of green manure. The fact, too, that the roots strike deep into the soil, and evidently bring up a good deal of nourishment from the subsoil, is greatly in its favour ; but when you come to harvest this root, then comes the trouble. To dig them with ordinary forks, costs half the value of the crop. Plough them out you cannot, without leaving at least one- fourth of the root in the ground. ISo doubt this would form an excellent subsoil manure, but would be rather too expensive, and therefore there is nothing for it but to dig them. Both these aud the Belgian White re- quire thinning in the row, which is a serious job. The same observations apply to the Altringham Carrot. The next is tlie Intermediate. This is also rich, and yellow, and is less trouble to dig ; but the greens are not so long as the Long Red and Orange, and do not help much to smother the weeds. They can, however, be ploughed out, and yield well ; but tliey also want room in the row, and the work of thinning them is serious. We now come to the sliort varieties, the chief of which is the Early Horn ; and there are various others — the Scarlet Horn, tlie small kind which is used for forcing, and some others, all short, however, and blunted at the end — often, in- deed, more like bulbs than roots. None of them are more than six or seven inches long — many three or four inches. They grow rapidly, will stand thick in the row, or rather never want thinning, for they will grow together till they force one another out of the ground. Some have short tops, or greens, and are objectionable as a field crop on that ac- count ; but others have long greens, and form a good smother- ing crop. All bear the earliest sowing, and will also bear late sowing, and will come to perfection even if sown so late that other carrots would not come up at all, provided there happens a good rain to bring them up quickly. Of course, however, no one would sow so late for a standard crop. These little carrots, though small, are much sweeter than either of tiie other kinds ; and they are better liked by animals (including mankind), and it is believed would, on analysis, yield a large amount of nutritious matter. The rows may be closer together than the large sorts ;, aud as they require no thinning, the hoeing might be done entirely with a horse-hoe. On the whole, it is believed that, even weight for weight, tiie Early lloru and the largest of the short kinds would compete with the larger kinds ; but when you come to consider qua- lity, they would certainly be preferable. To show what quan- tity can be raised of these little roots per acre, the writer, on one occasion, \\ eighed, measured, and calculated the contents of a bed in his garden of sixty feet long and four feet wide, and after making every allowance for spaces of the surround- mg walks, the result was at the rate of very nearly fifty tons per acre. The entire supply of the house for the summer had been drawn from tlie rows as they grew ; but this seemed to improve the crop, as the spaces — not between the roots, for the rows were several carrots broad, but wliere the roots were pulled out— seemed to fill up with the greatest rapidity. The soil was hght ; and the entire crop could have been pulled by hand, if wished, without the assistance of a fork. — Vectis, ui Canada Farmer. 166 THE FARMEE'S MAGAZINE. MEAT-PEESERVING ESTABLISHMENTS IN AUSTEALIA AND NEW ZEALAND. The Australian and New Zealand journals teem with accounts of efforts making to utilize their surplus stock by preserving the meat. In all the colonies the increase of cattle and sheep, with the declining price of wool, seem to stimulate the efforts of the stock breeders in this direc- tion. Meat-preserving establishments on a large and profitable scale are already in active operation in Victoria and New South Wales, and now the other principal colonies are following in the same track. An influential meeting of Queensland colonists and stock-owners was recently held in the city. Sir Charles Nicholson, Bart., in the chair, to take measures for forming a meat-preserving company in that colony, where sheep and cattle are be- coming a drug. In South Australia the rapid increase of their flocks is compelling the squatters to boil down sheej) for the sake of the tallow, and this produces but small benefit, averaging little over 4s. a sheep, and about one- third of the produce is wasted, because the flesh is not utilized in any way. A meeting was held not long ago in Adelaide for the purpose of considering how best to dispose of the surplus stock in the colony, and it was decided to fonn a Company for preserving meat. The whole cost of tinned meat landed in England is 4|d. per lb., and the meat sells at Gd. and 7d. Some might be pickled in casks, some salted, spiced, rolled and dried, and some of the legs cured as mutton hams, which would command a sale both in the colonies and in England. The tongues could be sent home pickled in casks, or cured and smoked. The company will, in fact, attend to the genernl utilization of the carcases of the sheep and cattle. Every part that can by any means be made profitable will be turned to account. The skins, of course, will be saved, and the horns, hoofs, and bones dealt with profitably. All the fatty parts will be boiled down for tallow, and even the contents of the stomach aad entrails should be manufac- tured into artificial guano. By such means the operation of the company may be made much more profitable than by the mere boiling down of the sheep for tallow, or by preserving the meat alone. At the same time the preparation of a valuable manure from the refuse and the bones would be a great boon to colonial agricultm-e, and would probably be productive of important results. In course of time it might be worth while to manufacture skins into leather, parchment, or size ; but this would be for after consideration. Pigs might be fed on the refuse, and would add materially to the profits. By the last ad- vices from New Zealand an attempt was being made to start a meat preserving company at Christchurch, Canter- bury, for the purpose of absorbing the vast quantity of surplus stock in the province. In Otago, and other pro- vinces of the colony, the same complaint of redundancy of live stock is made. If this is felt now, what will it be in a few years at the same ratio of progress ? A trade is, it is true, beginning gradually to be effected here in Aus- tralian preserved meat, and our Admiralty Board are even patronising it for the navy.. It is also finding some little favoui" in the manufacturing districts. Cooked meats and extracts are, however, only tolerated as substitutes for the solid joint or beefsteak on board ship or ashore, or on ac- count of their cheapness ; and however advantageous to the buyer from a scientific point of view, will never super- sede these when the raw reality is to be had. In this country, as well as in France, it is exceedingly difficult to conquer the prejudice which is felt against new articles of food. At the last Paris Exhibition, and, later still, at the Maritime Exhibition at Havre, many foreign countries where stock is largely raised, owing to the mildness of the climate and the wide range and excellent quality of the pasturage, showed specimens of preserved meats in various forms. Charque, or jerked beef, fi'om South America, was extensively introduced into Hull and other towns five or six years ago at the low price of 2d. and 3d. a pound. Even in 1863 the production of this class of meat was as much as 113,000 tons. Some five hundred or six hundred different experiments have been made to cure South American beef so as to make it a marketable article in Europe ; but no real success has as yet attended the efforts. The meat as forwarded has been refused by the working classes in England and re- jected by the French navy, the hospitals, artizaus, &c, If some other and improved mode of bringing this surplus meat fresh to the markets of Europe could be discovered, it would increase the value of pastoral stock in Australia to a wonderful extent ; in fact, it would be the commencement of a new era in pastoral farming. We may confidently look forward to the time when the meat-preserving factories of Australia will be highly profitable industries. There are at present but four modes of preserving in use to any extent other than salting : drying or expos- ing to the air, which keeps the meat tolerably well for some time, if it be not exposed to humidity ; cooking the meat and immersing it in some substance such as oil, fat, honey, or sugar, which prevents contact with the air ; exposing the meat in turns to a high temperature, which checks or kills fermentation, and then hermetically seal- ing them, which is the Apport process ; and the employ- ment of some antiseptic agent which combines with the soluble principles of the meat and stops putrefaction. Since the process adopted by Apport in the commence- ment of the centm-y there has been really little or no practical improvement carried out in this matter. Out of nearly 300 exhibitors of preserved meat and fish at the last Paris Exhibition, there were really but two of any novelty : the plan of Mr. Redwood, of immersing meat in a coating of paraffin, and that of M. Martin de Lignac, of making concentrated bouillon cakes, without carrying the concentration to the point which renders the usual extracts of meat so unpalatable. The paraflin plan of Mr. Redwood is, however, a failure, since it gives an un- palatable odour to the meat, while the parafline will not stand the fluctuations of temperature to which it would be subjected in transport. A Mr. John Littlewood pretended to have discovered a new process in Victoria for preserving meat not long ago, and presented the carcase of a sheep weighing 113]bs., which had been cui'ed entire, by immersing it in some unnamed fluid for three weeks, then smoked for another three weeks, and it was cooked after hanging for a fort- night. The meat was said to be juicy and savoury, the fat especially, presenting every sign of perfect preserva- tion. The cost of curing was stated at about Id. per lb., and it would stand any voyage packed as hams are, either in barrels or bags. But we have heard nothing further of this process. In the freezing process, and the dozen of others lauded and puffed up within the last few years by enthusiastic projectorSj we have no faith. And above all there is, an THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 167 far as we can see, no check or restraint on the preserva- tion abroad of meagre or unwholesome meat, which may be greatly injurious to the public health. From a Government i-eturn published last year it ap- pears that about 3,000 tierces and the same nmnber of barrels of beef were cured at Deptford Victualling Yard for supplying the navy, during the pi-evious five years, at an average cost of about kG 15s. the barrel of 2081bs. lu 18G7 and I8fi8, Il,868,9l01b3. of preserved boiled beet was prepared there by the Admiralty, at au average cost of lid. per pound. This is certainly high, and Aus- tralian preserved meats can be supplied to the Navy at a far lower rate. The difficulties in the way of preserving meat to com- pete with fresh meat are very formidable. It must be good in quality, in colour, in smell, and tenderness. It must be equally palatable and digestible, acceptable to the eye, as easily flavoured with condiments, and must sell at the same or a lower price than fresh meat. Salt meat, or smoked meat cannot be eaten daily for a week together with satisfaction, nor continuously with a due regard to health. THE FERTILITY AND BARRENNESS OF SOILS, This is a subject which forces itself upon the notice of the man of science as well as upon those practically engaged in their culture, as soon as either attempt to unravel the hidden mysteries of the soil. An inquiry into the circumstances which influence these results may be useful, as it bears upon some of those principles upon which agricultural practice most surely relies. Two widely-diifereut explanations have been given to account for the variations observable in the fertility of laud. It has beeu held by some that the growing crop receives from the soil certain supplies of food, which, having passed through the plant, and yielded up such nourishment as it could appropriate, there was finally k ejected from the plant all the surplus materials which the ' growing ci'op had not utilised. This view placed the cause of vegetable life somewhat parallel to that of the animal kingdom, showing the reception in the food of waste matter, which is finally returned to the soil as excrement. In support of these views, instances were brought forward showing that land sickened of certain crops, and that, whilst such land would produce abun- dantly of other plants, there was a marked defect when the same crop was persevered in. If we accept this ex- planation— that, in consequence of the excrement thrown olf by plants, the soil becomes charged with useless matter, so far at least as that particular crop is consi- dered— we shall have no difficulty in seeing why that which renders the soil unfavourable for producing one crop may really enrich it for another. There is, however, a more recent and more generally accepted explanation of these circumstances, by which the decrease of fertility is traced to the exhaustion of the soil, rather than to its being rendered foul. It is thus argued that the productive powers of the soil are depend- ent upon the degree in which the materials required for promoting a healthy growth are present in a form capable of being made use of by the growing crop. If • these are abundant, the soil will be considered fertile ; but if such supplies are deficient, the soil becomes pro- portionately unproductive. Hence we have very frequent instances of land being productive for one description of crop, and out of condition for others. This is a result very similar to that to which we have already made reference ; but the opposing opinions are in reality expressed by those looking at the subject from diff'erent points of view. It has of late been too much the practice to look upon these explanations as conflicting the one with the other. It has been held that upon the one or the other we must base our explanation of decreas- ing fertility ; but it is by no means im])robable that we have overstepped the right line in accepting the one and rejecting the other. In each of these explanations there may be some truth ; and we shall be wise if we select and retain that which is always valuable, feeling asswed that sooner or later every fi'agraent of truth will be fitted into its proper place. The investigations which have taken place into the composition of soils have not taken that wide range which is desirable for arriving at a full understanding of the circumstances which control the fertility of the land. We have been too much satisfied with the explanation given of the exhaustion of soils to look any further ; but in practice we know that there are conditions of the land which cannot be explained simply on the ground of ex- haustion. There are well known and very frequent in- stances of land being tired of certain crops — where, for example, we know swedes would thrive, but turnips would be a faiku'e ; or the converse — of tiu-nips succeed- ing, when swedes would be hopeless. In like manner, how common is it for one kind ot clover to be safe, whUe another kind of clover cannot be repeated so soon ! On the principle of exhaustion of the soil these facts cannot be explained. The variation in the chemical composition of the mineral matter required by one variety of turnip or clover, as compared with another variety of the same crop, comes within limits which can in no way indicate the causes of success or failure. There arc other influ- ences at work ; and these will only be fully understood when the organic matter of the soil has received the at- tention which it merits, and which has been so singularly withheld by scientific investigators. In addition to the circumstances already named in influencing the fertility of the soil, we must also refer to those instances of partial barrenness arising from the presence of matter injurious to all kinds of cultivated crops. We have noticed some circumstances which were prejudicial to the growth of some given crop, and which acted favourably upon other crops ; but we have other instances in which the growth of all our cultivated crops are retarded to a greater or less extent. Some of these are curious and interesting matters of research. A soil may apparently possess all the condi- tions of fertility, and its composition may indicate the presence of those bodies upon which luxuriant growth is usually supposed to depend, and yet it does not produce the results we anticipated. Many are the instances of this kind of soil which every farmer recognises as not doing the work it ought to do ; and yet we are compara- tively helpless, until extended chemical research points out the impediment and the proper mode of its removal. Wide as the range of the connection existing between agriculture and the science of chemistry may be, we ventm'c to say that in no respect can better service be done to the farmer than by an investigation of the cii'- cumstauces which retard the fertility of the soU. The conditions may not be sufficiently powerful to render such a soil barren, whilst they may seriously check the full exercise of other powers possessed by that land, We 168 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. are well aware that there are difficulties which are of necessity connected with the prosecution of such re- searches ; but it is with these that the man of science should grap))le, and from these he should win his laurels. It is to questions of great national moment such as these that the scientific advisers of our agricultural societies may well devote their energies ; and we have no doubt that, aided by the funds at command, and assisted by the co-operation of field experiments, the investigations of the laboratory would yield results in the highest degree important. The productiveness of the soil is in many instances re- tarded by the presence of bodies which, under proper in- fluence, become stimulants of vegetable growth ; or, to " use a homely phrase, tlie poison may become a food. The more familiar instances are some of the organic acids, and some combinations of iron which are met with in soils possessing a low type of fertility. These, it is well known, may, by the action of lime and the alkalies ju- diciously applied, and by a proper system of culture, not only be prevented doing any injury to vegetables, but positively rendered sources of increased fertility. There is every reason to believe that numerous similar instances exist, which we fail to recognise or do not know how to deal with ; and it is really a matter of deep importance that all such impediments to the un- productive powers of the land should be held under proper control, and, when possible, brought in as friendly agents iu our cause. It is perfectly clear that, in tracing out the influence which the composition of a soil exerts upon its fertility or barrenness, we have abundant proof that that relation- ship is of a most important character. Some progress, it is true, has been made iu this direction ; but how very much remains undone ! and yet what a reward does it offer to encourage us to work for its attainment ! There are, however, other subjects in connection with the soil which equally demand our consideration. The physical condition of the land offers a range for inquiry of the very first importance. Shall we be speaking too strongly in saying that, for the last fifteen or twenty years, we have made little or no progress iu these im- portant subjects ; and, if so, should we not arouse our- selves from such a lethargy with a resolve that the chemistry of agriculture shall again be brought into play ? The mechanical appliances of the farm have been brought to a high degree of perfection ; the improvement of our live-stock is the wonder of other eouutries. We have, however, done but little to assist these departments of agricultural industry by those needful researches whereby we shall be better prepared economically to pro- mote the fertility of our soils, or by adopting improved measures for rendering our farm-crops more productive. THE CONVEYANCE OF CATTLE AND SHEEP BY STEAM-SHIPS. By Professor Simonds. (The following Report, as promised in the House of Commons by Mr. Porster, has just been issued.) July 10th, 18G9. Sir, — I have the honour to inform you, iu reply to your communication on the subject of the conveyance of cattle and slieep by steam-ships from tlie Continent to Great Britain and Ireland, and also from port to port in tlie United Kingdom, that a great necessity exists to place the system under proper regulations, wliereby many of the causes of unnecessary suffer- ing to the animals may be removed. Speaking in general terms of the importation of animals, it may be affirmed that they suffer immensely from over-crowding, defective ventila- tion, and want of water and food. Competition between ship- ping companies leads to small rates being charged ; and, to make up for this, as many animals as can possibly be crowded into a cattle-boat will be by the owners of the vessel. The result of this is, and especially in rough weather, that animals which get down cannot rise, and are often troddeu to death, or so bruised and injured as to render it necessary that they should he killed, either on board or immediately on the vessel coming into port. A practice also obtains with regard to these injured animals, if brought on the upper deck, to hamstring them and cast them overboard. The remedy for this evil of over-crowding would be found iu licensing the vessels for carrying only a given number of animals, according to their measurement ; and also that all sheep, whether brought on the upper or middle deck, should be confined to pens capable of containing from twenty-five to thirty sheep each, but no more. Ashes, also, of which there are always al)un dance on board from the consumption of the coal, which may be estimated at a ton an hour, should be strewed in the pens and standing places both of the cattle and sheep, to give the animals more foot-hold, and partially dry up the moisture of their dung and urine. Anotlier great necessity is, that the charge of the ani- mals should he removed from tlie sailors, whose services are most required in their ordinary duties, when most needed by the animals. Serious losses and much suffering would be spared by compelling each vessel to have on board a limited number of drivers, whose duty should consist in attending ex- clusively to the animals. I am informed by one of our chief importers and cattle-ship owner*, tliat this plan has been adopted by his companj, and with the greatest possible ad- vantage to tlieraselves and necessarily to the suffering animals. Practically it has been found that one man to 100 beasts is quite sufficient, and an additional man wlien sheep are brought with the cattle. Limitation of the number on board would also have a certain amount of beneficial influence on the ven- tilation of the lower and middle decks. Much has been done to improve this, but much more is required with many of the vessels, especially those not built for, or employed exclusively in, the cattle trade. Suffocation of animals is of common occurrence, especially when speed is slackened in coming up the river, the wind-sails not acting with the same amount of power. It is difficult to conceive the amount of heat and efflu- vium existing iu the middle and lower decks when the vessel is brought alongside. The men who go down to get out tlie animals are compelled to divest themselves of all clotliing, excepting their trousers, to perform this duty. To relieve their breathing, they are also compelled to come to the open- ings in the decks through which tlie cattle are brought up for being put ashore. The quicker the animals can be unloaded the better, and all cattle ships should therefore liave gangways from deck to deck, up which the animals can walk. Most of the vessels are so constructed, but many of them have only a hoisting apparatus for getting out the animals, to which serious objection can be taken, as well to the slowness of un- loading. The next consideration is that of supplying tlie cattle with food and water. Tliis, as a rule, is sadly neglected, and again arising in a great measure from over-crowding and a want of men being on board whose especial duty it is to give attention to the animals. Practice has shown that it is not prudent, especially with cattle brought from Spain, to give tliem either food or water for the first 12 hours after being on board. Water should, however, then be given, and certainly at not less than every 12 hours afterwards. An average pas- sage from Tonning or Gustemunde is 40 hours, so tliat the animals should have both food and water at least three times on the voyage. An average passage from Oporto is 100 hours, and the cattle will therefore require water and food about eight times. As a rule, cattle will eat but little on board, and THE PARMER'S MAGAZINE. loP hay pevliaps is to be preferved before otlier kiuJs of food. As rumiiintiug auiiu;ds, they do uot suffei' for want of uutrimcut to tlie same extent as those whose food passes at once into tlie true digestive stomach ; but they renuire water as freciuently, if not more often, especially when down in the hold of a vessel. At most of the landing places of the I'ort of London water- troughs are fixed, so that tlie cattle can drink on cmniug- out of the vessel; and at all of them, as well as at every outport, the same arrangements should be re(|uircd of the owners of tlie wharf. Apart from the absolute necessity tliat the cattle should rest for 1 welve hours after debarkation before a satis- factory opinion can l)e arrived at as to their freedom from disease, humanity dictates that, after all the privations and fatigues they have uudergone, they should be refreshed by rest and food, and breathing a pure air, before being hurried off to market. With regard to enforcing regulations to le-tsen the abuses existing in the importation of foreign cattle and sheep, no fear need be apprehended that the trade would pass into the hands of eoutiueutal shippers ; the whole business is so completely in the hands of English importers, shipowners, and cattle salesmen, that opposition may be said to be useless. It may also be aftirmed that none of the persons interested would put difficulties in the way of proper and practical alterations being made. The Scotch Tr.vbe. — The abuses existing in the foreign cattle trade apply only in part to the bringing of animals coastwise to the port of London. The vessels carry passen- gers and goods as well as cattle, and in consequence of the small numbers usually on board, overcrowding is seldom prac- tised. The voyage from Aberdeen occupies about as much time as from Tonuing, and the cattle will therefore require the same amount of attention as to food and water. The vessels should be licensed, and the numbers both of cattle and sheep restricted according to the available space, when pas- sengers and a full cargo of goods are on board. Pens should be provided for the sheep after the same manner as in the ships in the foreign trade ; and arrangeiuents made also for persons to accompany the cattle, to attend to everything which is reiiuiied. The places at wliich the landing takes place should have every accommodation for resting and feeding and watering the animals, after they are unloaded. Such accom- modation does not exist at all of them at the present time. The luisii Trade. — This trade differs essentially from the foreign or Scotch trade, inasmuch that it is almost exclu- sively confined to the importation of store stock. Cattle dealers are the chief persons interested directly in the matter, and many of these are perfectly regardless of the privations and suffering which the animals have to undergo, so long as they can keej) expenses down. The passage to Liverpool from Dublin occupies about 13 hours, and in rough weather many of the animals are lost from overcrowding, want of proper penning, &c., on board. No attempts are made to lessen these evils, nor is any proper care observed towards the cattle ou debarkation. As quickly as possible they are hurried into the railway trucks and sent on, without food or water, to places as far distant as Norfolk. The sudden transition from tlie heat and confined air of the hold of a vessel to an open rail- way truck, and rapid passage through the country, is attended with serious effects ou tha health of the animals. Nothing is more common than for a farmer to lose Irish cattle from pul- monary and other diseases shortly after purchase. A great reform is needed in the whole system, and especially should provisions be made to limit the number put on board, for their proper penning on deck or otherwise, and for. their being rested, fed, and watered, after quitting the vessel, before tiiey are put into the railway trucks. I have, kc, Dr. Williams, &c., &c. (Signed) Jas. B. Simonds. FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL GOSSIP. The question of the low price of wool is exciting considera- ble attention in France, and formed the staple subject of the speech of M. Lembezat, inspector-general of agriculture, at the distribution of the prizes at the Nancy State Agricnltural Exhibition. " You kuow perfectly well, gentlemen," said M. Lembezat, " that for a long time past the principal profit which cultivators have sought in breeding sheep has been the tleece. At one period, when the use of cotton was little known — first in consequence of its dearness, secondly because cotton-stuffs were considered less healthy, and thirdly because the custom of wearing woollen clothes was an old one — the production of wool was a very advantageous operation. At the time of the continental blockade, considerable fortunes were made in the Beauce, in the Brie, the Picardy, and in the Chatillonuais ; and for a long time afterwards cultivators made money with their .sheep, either from their wool or by the sale of repro- ducers. But a very prosperous industry which supplied Europe first and subsequently several parts of the new world, has spread in profusion the INIerino breed, which, originating in Spain, had been improved in France in a remarkable manner from the double point of view of weight of fleece and quality of wool. There is a limit to everything, gentlemen, and France, after having obtained considerable profits from the Merino breed, which it sold at very high prices, could not entertain the hope of keeping indefinitely a monopoly of woo) and reproducers. This 'is just what has happened. New economic conditions have intro- duced certain changes into international relations at the same time that the mode and processes of manufacture have changed. All these circumstances combined have pro- duced the present state of things. The present situation bad been foreseen. Twenty years since M. Yoart, now in retire- ment, but then Inspector-peneral of the sheep-folds and veterinary schools of the State, said to sheep-breeders : ' Change your sheep breeds into butchers' animals ; become producers of meat, for wool will fall to prices which you do not suspect or anticipate.' There was no <|uestiou at this time, gentlemen, as to a treaty of commerce ; but, nevertheless, W. Yoart, with his great experience, was perfectly right, and exactly predicted what has happened. The advice which was given years ago we repeat, and we urge, with all our strengtli, intelligent cultivators to enter upon the path indicated by M. Yoart. We may add that it is more economical to pro- duce meat than wool, and it is easy to give a proof of this fact. All those who have reared sheep know that with a special and suitable system of feeding, we can, according to the breeds dealt with, obtain in a year animals weighing ISOlbs. to ISOlbs., and often even more. What, under these circum- stances, is the ratio of the tleece to the total weight ? In no case can this ratio be more than 10 per cent., and j-ou will see that wool must be worth ten times as much as meat to render it as economical to produce meat as to produce wool. I would say to yon, gentlemen ot the east of France, who have many districts in which sheep prosper, address yourselves frankly to the object which I indicate to you, and you will find that' the mainteuance of a flock of sheep may be an essentially profitable operation." Turning to the merits of the Nancy Show generally, M. Lembezat denied that the district State agricultural exhibitions of France were on the wane, as some writers had sought to show. " On the contrary," said il. Lembezat, " the struggle has been extended and enlarged, and that to the great profit of all, for I am persuaded that advantage and in- struction will result from a comparison of the modes of breed- ing in operation in one district with those in force in another. It would be difficult to do better than M. Lacour-Lebailiff, of St. Fargeau, who has brought for exhibition a splendid lot of seven animals of the Durham breed ; this lot obtained the prize of honour for the best collection of aiiimals, but others, I hope, will be eualded to approach the excellence of this entry. I do not wish to conclude gentlemen, without remark- ing that the Nancy District Agricultural Show has been fa- voured by the sitting of a congress of the Society of Agricul- turists of France ; this congress has acquired an international scientific character from the presence of some learned foreigners who have come to it from Germany, A special question dis- 0 170 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. cussed in couuectiou with tlie subject of agricultural educa- tion has been the establishment of an imperial school of gariculture in the east of France. I think it right to tell you that the Minister of Agriculture had already collected this wish from the agricultural enqufete, and that he awaits proposi- tions for bringing the whole subject immediately under official consideration. The eastern part of France is a district very advanced in agriculture. The details of its cultivation are very good, and I believe that a school which would have for its object the spreading the great principles of agronomic science among the intelligent class would justify its creation, and would render services to our country." — It is difficult to form a definite positive conclusion with reference to the cereal crops in France : good in some districts, they appear to have suffered in the centre and the north of the empire. M. Cappon writes from Merville (Nord) that the wheats induce hopes of an average crop in that neighbourhood. M. Delplanque writes from Douai (Nord) that the weather in that district had not been very favourable, but that the flower- ing of the wheat had been effected more favourably than had been anticipated. M. Lhermette writes from Bussiares, in the Aisne, that in consequence of a favourable change in the weather the aspect of the country in that part of France has greatly improved ; and, although the harvest of this year will not be very abundant, stiU no serious uneasiness is felt as to the future. The Abbe Frizon writes from Verdem (Meuse) that the wheats are looking well, although no positive con- clusion can be formed at present as to the probable yield. The Abb6 Miiller writes from Ichtratzheun (Bas-Rhin) that the wheats in that neighbourhood have scarcely ever been finer than they are this year. M. Pissot writes from Doulevant (Haute-Mame) that in that district the ilowering of the wheats was effected under unfavourable conditions, and that the har- vest is somewhat compromised in consequence ; at the last dates, however, the aspect of affairs was improving. M. Eugene Risler writes from Cal&ves, near Nyon, in the canton of Vaud (Switzerland) that June was extraordinarily cold and wet in that neighbourhood, and that the wheats were a good deal laid in consequence ; it is feared also that the flowering was not effected satisfactorily, and that the yield wiU be light. MM. J olivet and le Corbeille write from Creingy (Indre) that the exceptionally cold weather of June was unfavourable to the crojjs of every description ; the wheats especially suffered, the ears being small and ill-furnished. Grouping together a quantity of miscellaneous chit-chat, we may note that Messrs. Aveling and Porter, of Rochester, were among the implement exhibitors at the late official French agriciUtural show held at Beauvais, and the inhabitants of the district were afforded an opportuuity of witnessing the double apparatus for great workings of Messrs. Aveling and Porter (and the late Sir. Fowler). Messrs. Aveling and Porter ex- hibited also one of Fowler's steam draining apparatus, a steam roller (which was rewarded ^^ith a gold medal), a locomotive steam crane, &c. Messrs. Smyth and Sons, who appear to have sedulously cultivated a French connexion, exhibited a large collection of seed-drills. Messrs. Garrett, Messrs. Samuelson, &c., were also among the exhibitors. — M. Nebout writes from Ferriferes (Allier) that, in spite of every obstacle and drawback, the wheats are now looking well in that part of France. M. Aureill complains from Mereaux-d'Arpajon, near Aurellac (Cantal), that the cold and humid temperature of June will leave traces which cannot l)e fully appreciated at present. M. Delatte, of Ruffec (Charente), anticipates a more abundant yield of wheat this year in that neighbourhood than in 1868. M, Faure of Fdrbes (Hautes-Pyrences) fears that the harvest in that locality will not come up to the hopes at at first conceived respecting it. M. Gagnaire, writing from Bergerac (Dordogne), states that in that district the harvest is almost concluded. M. Gagnaire declines to go into particulars as to the result; he states, however, that the yield of potatoes leaves a good deal to be desired. M. Vincent, writing from Bourg (Ain), says the wheats are generally good, but they are much laid at many points. " Straw will be more abundant," he adds, " than in 1868, but it can scarcely be af- firmed that tlie grain will be as good." M. de Brives reports from th« Pay (Haute-Loire) that notwithstanding the unfa- vourable character of the past season the harvest wiU be nearly up to an average. M. Croazat reports from Beziers (Herault) that the yield of cereals in his neighbourhood will be excellent. M. L603Z0U writes from La Poule, near Loriol (Dr6me) that everyone appears to be satisfied with the result of the harvest in that district. " I believe," continues M. L6oazon, " 1869 wiU be reckoned among our years of abundance." Dr. de Val- court vrrites from Cannes (Alpes-Maritimes) that the yield of wheat, barley, oats, &c., in that neighoourhood will be that of a good year. M. Dumas states that about Geneva the yield of wheat is generally inferior in quantity but good in quality.— There are great complaints of the ravages of the cattle-plague in Sicily ; a congress of local veterinaries was about to be held to devise if possible some remedial measures. — M. Alfred Le- roux has received the appointment of Minister of Agriculture and Commerce in Fi-ance, the old Ministry of Agriculture, Commerce, and Public Works having been divided. M. Alfred Leroux has for his four predecessors M. Gressier, M. de For- cade le Roquette, M. B6hic, and M. Rouher ; the last named was appointed in 1855. THE DEVOE"SHIRE CHAMBER OF AGRICULTURE. At the last meeting, Mr. Porter, the chairman, commented on the publication of Earl Fortescue's letter read at the late Council meeting. He considered that it was injudicious to publish it ; his lordship's remarks on the action of the Central Chamber had caused him (Mr. Porter) some pain. It was agreed to communicate with the other Chambers of the county, requesting them to take some action as to the working of Highway Boards. A petition was read which set forth that the Valuation of Properties Bill was capable of great improvement, and calling special attention to the arbitrary powers conferred upon sur- veyors of taxes. Mr. HoLLEY said the object of the Government was to ob- tain a fair and equal valuation of property throughout the country. He thought there ought to be only one court of appeal. If the surveyors of taxes were incompetent, or had an animus against certain parties, they would doubtless make many unfair assessments, and these should be brought before one court of appeal. Rev. W. H. Karslake observed that the Central Chamber had condemned the bill without going into particulars. The Chairman expressed concurrence with the mode taken by the Central Chamber in condemning bill as wholly ineffi- cient and unsatisfactory. Captain Tanner Davy thought the Central Chamber had done wrong in their action in the matter. It was much better to point out the defects and get them remedied, if possible. By all means let the Devonshire Chamber petition and thus make their views known. He moved that in the House of Lords Lord Fortescue should be requested to present the peti- tion, and in the House of Commons Sir L. Palk. The petition was unanimously adopted. Mr. HOLLEY suggested that the mode of electing members of the Council should be reconsidered. In this the laembere generally concurred. ESSEX AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.— A meeting of tlie general committee of this Society was held at Chelmsford, Mr. C. P. Wood in the chair. A letter was read from Major Barlow, suggesting that at another sho^v, better accommoda- tion should be made for the horses. A complaint had been made that Mr. C. HiU, of Hornchurch, had improperly removed his prize bulls at the end of the first day's show. A letter was read from Mr. Hill, stating that the bulls were removed by his man through ignorance, upon which explanation the award of the prize was confirmed. Mr. Sturgeon, of South Ocken- don Hall, whose prize sow was objected to, withdrew by let- ter to the Secretary, upon which the first prize went to Mr. Thompson, of Thorpe, and the second to Mr. Griggs, of Rom- ford. Mr. P. Havens, of Wivenhoe, complained by letter, that after his own entries had been awarded one of the first prizes, Mr. Badham's horse Eclipse was allowed to enter the ring, and the award was reversed ; but the committee decided that they could not re-open the question. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 171 FARMYARD MANURE, At the quarterly meeting of the Logie and Lecropt Farmers' Mr. JonN i'E.VT said : Of tiie many different kinds of manure applied to the soil for growing crops — whether home, foreign, or artificial — farmyard manure is the most elTicient. It seems to stand in a similar position with the vegetable kingdom as milk is to animal life ; it not only supplies what is needful for the growth of the various crops, it likewise enriches and thickens the soil for tlie claims of succeeding ones ; it mechani- cally acts on stiff clay land, by keeping it open and porous for the action of the weather, and altogether (after draining) it appears to be the most reasonable source we have to look to for permanent success in raising crops, if success may come at all. Artificial manures, in favourable seasons, increase the growth wonderfully, and 1 do not see how we could get well ou without using them extensively, both alone and along with farmyard dung ; but their efforts in our favour are only for a sejisou, and, having a tendency to exert the land for the time being beyond its natural strength, after the effects of it are over, the land is left in a poorer state than previous to using it. Nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia prove especially inju- rious to the following crop. Lime has long been, and to some extent continues to bo, favourably estimated as a manure. I think it has many virtues, but I havre never found it to have enriching qualities of much value. Some of the advantages of liming are — it brings into action for the nourishment of plants vegetable matter already existing in the soil in a dor- mant state ; it loosens the clay soils, and enables us with an indifferent seed time to get a mould for the seed which other- wise could not be got ; and it saves a good deal of the cost of labour in preparing that sort of land in all kinds of seasons. Repeated limings, however, like repeated applications of arti- ficial manure, have a tendency to exhaust tlie soil, and neces- sitate heavier manuring with farmyard dung, in order to keep it in that most desirable condition — good heart. Farmyard dung is made up principally of animal manure and straw ; the stable, feeding byre, and cattle court contribute the bulk of the heaps — the two former being the most valuable, while that made by wintering and young cattle is of less value. It is evident its value very much depends on the kind of food the stock receives ; we should therefore pay a good deal of atten- tion to the quality of the food, and instead of having the ma- nures worth 5s. or 6s. a ton, endeavour to increase its worth to 10s. or 13s. a ton. Our green crops are vastly increased when tiic land is manured with that made by feeding cattle. It is generally allowed that from two to three bolls of beans an acre more are grown with the same quantity of this kind of mannre than from that made by wintering cattle, prepared and put on the land in the same state, besides the after crops I)eing materially better. I think oilcakes, along with turnips and a mixture of other feeding substances, answer the douljle purpose hest for producing beef and enriching the manure. By giving 3 lbs. of cake daily to store cattle it helps the manure con- siderably. A great deal of waste and neglect goes on with the way the manure heap is attended to. Our farm steadings are in general not well adapted for having it properly kept. Tlie most of our cattle courts are by far too much exposed to pro- vide against this waste. Covered courts are necessary to keep out rain and drought. The warm manure from the stable should be regularly mixed with the colder and less fermenting kinds, which improves the whole, and makes it uniform in quality. The drains from the different byres should, if pos- sible, run into the courts, and their contents thrown over the dung. This enriches the heap very much, and is the cheapest and most effective method of applying the liquid to the soil. Ashes and scrapings collected about the steading ought not to be put among the other dung, but by themselves, and put on extra to the oilier dung on bare parts of the fields. Notwithstanding tliat chemists tell us decay and loss almost immediately begin and go on in the heap, I find it better to sutFer this, and apply it in a rotten state to the crops, especially to those kinds that are rapid in their growth and come early to mat urity. Turnips and potatoes grow a better crop witii short than with long dung. A braird of the former is sometimes got by using well-rotted dung, where it fails with that unfermented and recently made. Most kinds of crops thrive best when the land is dunged just before sowing. Beans arc perhaps an exception. I think that though the land is dunged in November or December previous, and allowed to lie in tliat seemingly-careless state — spread on the surface, and ex- posed to all sorts of weather till ploughed in spring at sowing time — the crop turns out as good as the morc-recently ma- nured portions. With turnips and other green crops it turns out quite different. It certainly saves labour at a very busy season, by dunging in autumu and winter ; but they never do so well as putting it in the driU before sowing, and allowing exposure in the heap and drill as short a time as possible. Mr. James M'Laken. Spittal : Tlie paper now read leaves little to be said upon the subject, in the everyday or ordinary way that the farmers are accustomed to look at it. I, as well as most of my brother farmers, are quite unqualified to follow up the subject chemically. This, no doubt, is much to be re- gretted, as I am fully satisfied every one of us ought to analyse the manure heap by some plain and simple process, through which we should be able to discover the most profitable time for its application to the soil for the different crops. As has been justly remarked, the material that goes to a great extent to make up the manure heap is of little value as manure until it has undergone a certain amount of fermentation, and it is of still less value after it has been too sorely fermented, and when decomposition has done its part thoroughly the whole thing may be said to be lost. These are facts admitted by most practical farmers, so there can be no doubt upon the mind that it IS a matter of no small importance to ascertain the proper time to apply the means for keeping the manure-heap in that state of fermentation desired, until such time as the land may be prepared to receive it, or the weather suitable for carting it on. This may be accomplished to a considerable ex- tent by turning, and a judicious application of liquid; as to prevent over-fermentation tramping should be resorted to, and a liberal application of liquid. A good deal has been said upon the application of liquid manure to fields and meadows. I at one time had an opportunity, under favourable circum- stances, of testing whether liquid manure of good quality would pay the expense of pumping and carting ; but I, like most others, after three years' trial, gave it up as an unprofitable speculation. Where liquid can be made available over mea- dows by natural gravitation, there can be no doubt of its utility ; but where this cannot be done, I have found it profit- able to retain the liquid and return it liack over the manure- heap frequently ; or allow the liquid to pass slowly over a tank or large ditch, occasionally coated over thinly with any waste substances, such as dried wreck or weeds, potato tops, or peat- moss, &e., &c. I have for years collected several hundred tons of good turnip manure from the last-mentioned plan. Mr. James Finlayson, Pendreich, said : The enlargement of the manure-heap on the farm is most important, and what- ever can be got off weeds gathered off the land, sawdust, or the like, should be collected and spread amongst it ; for, though these may be almost valueless apart and in themselves, all of them, and many things else beside, become valuable manures when mixed together and decomposed. It would be an im- mense saving, on dryfield farms especially, if the strawyards were roofed in, as where there are such dependence generally placed on the breeding and rearing of stock, all the straw re- quires to be used for fodder ; but, as matters stand, a little of the above-mantioned ingredients, or such like, spread under the cattle occasionally, will help to keep them dry, and aug- ment the mauure-heap. I believe that sawdust is very much under ban as a manure, but having used it so k-ng as bedding for my feeding-cattle and milch-cow sheds, I finl that it ab- sorbs a great deal of the surplus liquid in the byres, and be- comes, when mixed in the dunghill and decomposed, an excel- lent fertiliser, for potato, turnip, and cereal crops, and although o 2 172 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. I have not esperieuced it, I believe it will be more so for clay land. Mr. CiiAKLiii WiNtJAXE, Corntuwu, said : It appears that lime and animal and vegetable substances liave been ajiplied to laud for many ages, without any detiuite knowledge higher than the experience of repeated application producing similar results; but chemistry has to some extent dispelled our igno- rance, by disclosing the component parts of animal, vegetable, and mineral substances. We are told that vegetables have carbonic acid, water, and ammonia as their chief aliment, in combination with certain mineral substances, as these are found in plants — namely, lime, potash, soda, magnesia, silica, sul- phates, aud phosphates ; and as tliese are taken from the soU, the quantity requisite for the growth and health of plants be- comes exhausted, or so much reduced, that means are resorted to to supply the waste, and bring the various substances imme- diately essential within the reach of the roots of the grain and grass plants destined to provide food for man aud beast ; that carbonic acid and ammonia, through the agency of the sun, are decomposed and assimilated by plants ; that potash is essential for cultivated plants, and is supplied to a large extent from decayed clover and turnips ; tliat soda, which is usually in union with potash, is found in the dung-heap ; that sulphur is found in all plants, aud phosphoric acid is essential to their healthy growth ; hence the increased and increasing demand for vari- ous sulphates aud phosphates now so familiar in commerce. The sulphates of magnesia and lime are useful in the produc- tion of turnips and potatoes, and lime is held as the only reli- able substance fur the cure of " fingerand-toe" in turnips ; that uilratcs aud salts of ammonia also increase the growth of cultivated plauiswhen accompanied with the suitable mineral Kubstances already alluded to. Lime decomposes all vegetable matter in the soil, and corrects acidity in the organic matter : that it assists in the decomposition of certain salts whose bases form the food of plants ; in fact, it is an excellent solvent when applied in proper quantity and at the proper time. In regard to farmyard manure : this seems from every account to be the most important of manures to the farmer, as it contains all the elements upon which plants live. The richer the food is of the stock kept, the richer will the manure be. The loss sus- tained by the soil owing to the withdrawal to market of grain, liay, and dairy produce can only be supplied tiiueonsly by arti- ficial manures, which are happily so well understood. Farm- yard manure is required for the nourishment of potatoes and also of beans, and it is of the utmost importance in the produc- tion of clovers and grasses. The question, however, before us is, what is the best mode of preparing this manure? It may be difficult to decide it, as seasons and places may be so unlike each other. However, there is one mode which is recom- mended ; it is, that the liquids should be allowed to flow from the stables or byres into tanks or pits placed three or four feet below the level of the ground, the solids being placed on the top, so as to admit of their absorbing the gases as they escape from the liquid. CALENDAR OF AGRICULTURE. This month forms the general season of har- vest over the whole southern part of the kingdom. In the north of England and in the south of Scotland the season in the one-half is protracted into the next month, which forms the entire hardest month in North Britain, and in the extreme northern parts the month of October ends the harvesting of grain. All cereals are cut with advantage before dead- ripeness happens ; the husks being thoroughly filled with farina the grain will soon become hardened, when the straw makes better fodder than in a flinty hardness, the flour is finer and more mellow, and the sample of grain is better. Bailey retains a greenish softness, much valued by the maltsters. Cereal crops are cut by machinery or hand-sickle, tied into sheaves, carried when dry, and built in ricks, or lodged in barns. Ricks are covered with thatch soon after being built. Beans are cut by hand-sickle, laid in small heaps, which must be turned over to prevent mouldiness on the under-side. The crop must be housed with no superincumbent pressure, in ricks over a cart shed, or on ricks of oats, forming the upper-half, and must be quickly thatched, as the straws are very open to rains. In northern latitudes, which comprehend the full-halt of England and the entire area of Scot- land, a risk happens of damage from rains before the ricks are thatched after being erected. In wet seasons of late harvests, loss and much incon- venience are very often experienced, which require to be avoided by a quicker method of securing the crops. The mode of lodging and thrashing grains in large barns of timber and thatch must be wholly discarded and set aside by the rapid improvements of modern practice, and supplemented by steam- power, which performs the operation at one-fifth of the cost by the flail. There cannot be a greater blunder in social economy than to make an expen- diture on the manufacture of articles instead of in- creasing the produce, as it constitutes a most miser- able prejudice, continued long after the means have been found of completely over-turning it — a most childish infirmity of mind, and a most pitiful latent barbarism of judgment, that seems to be clenched, riveted, and stereotyped even in the minds of the highest titled distinctions that employ their time and attention in agricultural pursuits, and which Royalty itself is not able to banish, as appears from a late arrangement of rural economy. The labour of horses must be expelled from being a thrashing power, as it is a most murderous employment for animals to impel machinery of any kind. Wind is an uncertain and unsteady agent, and water can be got only in certain places. Steam-power must be placed on all farms of 200 acres and upwards, in an extent of power proportionate to the quantity of work that is to be done. The thrashing-barn stands at right angles to the northern wing of the farmery, and the straw is thrown into a roomy barn that is part of the range of building, and more convenient for being lodged in separate banks than when thrown into the barn from the end. The ricks of grain stand in rows along intervening railways extending past and near to the jutting-end of the thrashing-barn, to which the grains are carried by a light iron waggon on the railways, the sheaves are placed on a travelhng-carrier, and raised and deposited on the third floor, fed into the scutchers, and the grains separated from the straw. The grains are chaffed into an under-floor, and riddled unto the ground floor in a condition of use for maritet or otherwise. The straws may be placed in cutters and into different lengths for chaff and litter, and THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. the former falling into a room unJerncalh and the latter carried on a IravcUing-wch to any part of the yards, restinj^ on three-legf);ed moveable supports for a general convenience. Litters in short ler.gths are easily mixed with and impregnated with the fecal and urinary excrements, and very conveniently covered in the land in the shape of dung. The ricks of grain alongside a railway are covered by a roof of corrugated irou, or some similar article, extending over two rows and an intervening rail, and_ resting on iron pillars, to which the roof in convenient divisions is screwed by an over-lapping edge for the purpose. The grains carried from the field are at once secured from all damage under the roof, and the expense of thatching is saved ; the rail conveys the unthatched grains to the barn ; a travelling carrier raises them to the third floor ; steam-power separates the graius from the straw, descends the grains to the ground floor ready for use, cuts the straws for chaffs and litter, and carries each to its destination. The saving of labour in these arrangements will in due time repay the expenditure, which may be much assisted by charging a moderate interest for twenty years, and afterwards by an addition of rent for the savings that have been made in the quantity of labour. Clean thoroughly by hand-hoeing and scuffling all the drilled crops; earth up potatoes by two deep furrosvs of the double mould-board plough, drawn by two horses walking in distant intervals, with a maintree of five feet in length stretching between them. A week may elapse between the two furrows of earthing up. Pull by hand any tall weeds that may afterwards arise. Lay lime, dung, and composts on clay fallows ; use the lunc as has been duvctod, amf cover ail apjilicalions with a furrow of ploughing. Finish the hoeing and singling of turnips by the hand and the scufller. All weeds must be eradicated to produce the essential requisite that nothing grows on land except what is sown — a condition that never may be reached, as there ever will remain a wide difference between possib'e and ideal excellence ; but the nearer the approach is made to it, the nearer is the approach to perfection. Supply to horses and cattle in the yards an ample supply of vetches, which will be the green food of the farm, and a good article of food, from the pods being seeded. Provide litter in abundance, as the manure will pay almost any cost, and from juicy food and the yards' basin, shaped to hold water, the quality will equal the produce of winter. Place ewes with the ram for early lambs, and the draft ewes on good pastures to fatten the animals if intended for sale. The lambs of the year must have good encouragement, as both the lambs and ewes are sold in some arrangements of sheep farmin;^. In all cases, either for sale or keeping, a forward condition is always preferable. In the end of the month sow rye and winter vetches for spring use, in a thick allowance of seed. On richly-prepared ground, iu a sheltered situation, sow the seeds of drumhead cabbage, and any other plant of that kind, for plants to be used in the next spring. In early latitudes, that have mild winters, the plants will shoot into seed and stalks, which is prevented by placing the plants in rows when they are grown into the broad leaf. But in cold countries the rigour of winter will prevent the undue forwardness of the plants. CALENDAR OF GARDENING. Kitchen Garden. Soiv in the first week the main crop of next year's early cabbage about London and its latitude, from the 7th to the 10th ; a week earlier for colder and more northern localities. Water the drills before sowing, if the weather be dry. Sow winter spinach " twice," choose mellow soil, moderately rich, like that after fresh digged early potatoes. Nitrate of soda has been proved to be a most fertilizing dress, particularly in bind- ing gritty loams ; half-a-pound scattered over a pole of 30^ square yards, digged in, and the rows a yard a part, sown as the digging proceeds, in the third week. Sow also a sprinkling of horn carrots and onions for spring lettuces, the hardier sorts, and all other vegetables that may have been omited in July, except the legumes; salads and lettuces, early, and again after the second week. Prefer to sow cabbage for the spring in the early part of the second week ; but experience must guide in this respect. Some localities require them to be sown earlier, and even in July. Sow endive in the second or third week, and plant cauliflowers under glasses or in frames. Sow turnips for a main crop, the earlv stone or Dutch, with an inch or two of good manure, and a pint of bone-dust to each harrow, three inches directly beneath the intended rows ; and these drills ought to be struck in ridges formed by taking a little of the earth from the spaces between them. Choose an open plot of land outside the garden, for turnips rarely prosper within it. Hoe and thin the plants as they grow, till at last they stand about nine inches apart, above two feet from row to row. Dig up early potatoes ; leave some of the me- dium-sized tubers of the ashleaved kidney sort to be exposed and become more green for seed and store. This treatment has })roduced a fresh vigour in ths seed tubers for the early support of the ger- mination of the potato plant. Transplant at various times, according to their size, stout well-formed plants of cabbage, brocoli, savoys, and Brussels sprouts. Incorporate a quan- tity of good manure with the soil to which has been added sulphate of ammonia, in half-a-pound to a square pole. Coleworts for greens, in the same manner twelve inches apart. CeK^ry for the latest crop before the third week of the month. If the weather be dry apply water very largely. Never mutilate the plants by cutting the leaves. 174 THE FARMEE'S MAGAZINE. " Earth-up" former plantings timely and care- fully. The spade may be used when the plants are strong, and have already been twice earthed. Pro- pagate sweet herbs by slips and cuttings. Take up garlick, shalots, and onions that are ripe. Cut vegetable marrows and cucumbers as they come on, leaving none to become ripe. Be par- ticular to gather French beans and runners, for if pods ripen the bearing of eatable pods becomes checked at once. " Gather beans and have beans" says the old rule. Destroy weeds, leave none to spread the evil by seeding, and at the present time the most careful attention is required. Fruit Department. Raspberries : Attend first to cut out the brown canes that have borne fruit, then take away the slender supernumerary young shoots. Air and sun will thus act upon the six or seven good canes that are left to ripen. Burn the dry canes that are pruned out, and scatter the ashes over the raspberry beds. Some condemn this burning, but the earth may receive back as soon as possible the inorganic salts thus developed by fire. Spur-bearing trees on espaliers should be regu- lated very early, by cutting or snapping the wan- dering breast or spurwood one-third of their length. By snapping, the sap is checked, and diverted to the lower buds, while its course is not so fully and suddenly arrested as it is by amputation. The trees are for a time rendered unsightly; but as all must be cut lower back in a few weeks, that is a mere trifle, if the benefit now alluded to be taken as a " set off." The spring and summer growths, always excepting the leading shoots, being cur- tailed and shortened, the swelling fruitful buds at the base is immediately produced. Strawberries are planted in fresh fields, or plan- tation, on fresh or very rich grounds, that are moist and deeply dug, and amply watered at and after the time of planting. The success of the work very much depends on the presence of moisture, and the supply of it. Flower Garden. Attend to the routine directions that arefrequenly given, and now repeat and dress any auricula plants, and pot off seedlings. At the end of the month transplant or introduce evergreens, particularly if the weather be moist. Dung for the kitchen garden, and other pur- poses must be gathered with constant and never- ceasing attention. No manure yet known sur- passes decaying vegetable matters, chiefly from decomposing in the land, added to the humus it contains. Tall broad-leaved plants are now risen into height, and can be gathered for a trifle j being cut into short lengths and placed in a cemented pit, and mixed with fine earths, and the soapy and urinary liquids from the dwelling-house, a manure is formed of primary quality, quick and lasting, well fitted for root crops, or beet and cabbages, which require much moisture. For lighter pur- poses a drier manure is formed in a compost of light earths of road scrapings, droppings of animals, parings of borders, with cool lime, which will much tend to the fermentation of mucilage. These easy and simple directions cannot be too often repeated, as the means everywhere exist, and are procured at little cost, with a certainty of re- sult. These recommendations are suflftcient to stamp the value of any application. AGRICULTURAL REPORTS GENERAL AGMCULTURAL REPORT FOR JULY. Wliea wlicat had an apparently downward tendency in value and prices had already given way to some little extent, we poiuted out, in opposition to those outsiders who, without understanding the ins arid outs of the trade, are always ready to propliesy a fall, that there was nothing in the condition or prospects of the trade to justify any permanent or serious decline. The event has proved that our anticipations were altogether correct. Instead of the fall of several shilhngs per quarter, so confidently foretold, having occurred, wheat is quoted about 5s. higher at the close than at the commencement of the month. And this, too, is in the face of very favour- able weather, sufficient of itself, other things being equally favourable, to have certainly checked any upward movement in the quotations. The history of the wheat trade during tjie past month has been very much what was pointed out would probably be the case, in our last review. We did not, however, anticipate such a long-continued spell of line weather as we have experienced, and which has, in some measure, modified the force of our observations. There is no doubt that a very great improvement has taken place in the plant. The growth has been rapidly brought forward, and much of the damage that bad resulted from a dripping May and a cold and unseasonable June has been remedied. Under such favourable circumstances as these, however, we are apt to forget the generally unfavourable character of the season that the plant has liad to pass through. Although we are fully aware that the great improv«ments in modern farming and the large extent of land placed under proper drainage have greatly modified the influence of wet seasons upon the crops, this influence does exist, as we shall probably find when the wheat comes to be stacked. In such a year as this has so far proved, high-lying and well-drained lands have a great advantage over more unfavourable conditions of the soil, and on such a fair return may be expected. But the general character of the yield will, in our opinion, show no little variability, both as to quantity and quality, and wUl, in no way, be comparable to the splendid crop of 1868. With regard to the prospects of the trade, some slight decline may be anticipated when the harvest shall have thrown a condderable quantity of produce upon the market. But the causes which induced the advance that has taken place during the past month still prevail, although their effects have for various reasons been considerably modified. Stocks of English wheat are not large, the large consumption induced by the decline in prices having greatly depleted thera. And we must bear in mind that, if we secured an extraordinarily heavy crop last year, this has been counterbalanced by the fact that the demands upon it commenced one month earlier than usual. If, therefore, this year's crop should prove to be below the average there is ample room for the maintenance of preseht prices. With regard to the foreign trade, our receipts from the south of Europe and from America promise to be large, but from the north of Europe they wiU probably not be very heavy. The imports since the 1st of September last show a very heavy falling off as compared with last year, but this could THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 175. only have been expcc(eil when the very dift'eicnt ciicuiustancps I atteiuliug the trade at the two periods under revirw is takeu into eousideratiou. The decline, liowevcr, is likely to make further considerable progress, as the number of wheat-laden vessels on passage to tlie IJuited Kingdom is very much smaller than last year. The spring corn crops arc looking weU, although, at one time, they showed signs of flagging for want of rain. Oats, beans, and peas promise luxuriant crops. The hay crop has been secured under very favourable circumstances, and has proved one of the heaviest on record. The coming season will, therefore, probably be noted for the abundance of feeding stuffs, and this must have a material iulluence on the value of grazing stock. Roots are well spoken of, although more moisture is now ansiously looked for in many places. The accounts from the hop districts have been somewhat contradictory, but latterly they have improved in tone. There appears to be a heavy visitation of vermin, the invariable accompaniment of continuous hot weather, but the bine is vigorous and strong. Harvest will probably be general throughout the southern part of England in the second week in August, and it is to be hoped tJiat the weather will prove favourable for carrying the wheat. On some of the early sown lauds barley has already been cut, but this, of course, is quite exceptional. REVIEW OF THE CATTLE TRADE DURING THE PAST MONTH. The cattle trade of the past month has exhibited no feature of material importance. The receipts of stock have been on a full average scale, and have sufficed to satisfy the demand without subjecting prices to any violent fluctuations. Com- pared with this time last year, a marked contrast is apparent as regards future prospects. In 1868, the long-continued drought was producing general consternation throughout the country. Graziers and breeders dreading the difficulty of keeping large numbers of stock throughout the winter months, in conse- quence of the probability of an extremely high range in the value of feeding stuffs, were rapidly thinning their yards, and forcing stock to market in a premature and half-fat condition, long before it was ready for the butcher. Now, however, the aspect of affairs is entirely altered. One of the finest hay crops, both as regards quantity and quality, has been secured in excellent condition, and accounts from the agricultural dis- tricts agree in stating that the root crops will yield well, so that appearances are in favour of cheap food for winter consump- tion. Judging from the circumstances there is very little doubt that the downward movement which has recently mani- fested itself in the value of beasts will be continued. The re- ceipts of both from our own grazing districts and from the continent have been on a moderate scale. A decided improve- ment has been noticed in the quality, some good serviceable animals having been sent forward ; but, at the same time, really choice stock has been the exception. The trade has been quiet, and a weakening tendency has been imparted to prices ; nevertheless the fall has not exceeded 2d. per 81bs. At the commencement of the mouth the best Scots and crosses were making 5s. 6d. to 5s. 8d., at present the quotation is 5s. 4rd. to 5s. 6d. per 81bs. Large supplies of sheep have come to hand, notwithstand- ing that the imports from the continent show a falling off of about 25 per cent, compared with last month. Quietness has been the feature of the demand throughout ; but prices have undergone no quotable change, the best downs and half- breds having sold at 5s. 6d. to 5s. 8d. per Slbs. Lambs, of which a moderate number has been on sale, liave been more sought after, at from 5s. 6d to 6s. per Slbs. Large supplies of calves have been offered, the imports being extensive. On the whole trad'e has been firm, and full quo- tations have been realised. As regards pigs, we have nothing of interest to report. The supplies have been short, and the inquiry has been steady at about previous quotations. The total supplies of stock brought forward in the Metro- politan Cattle Market h ave been as under : — Head. Beasts 20,240 Sheep and Lambs 176,880 Calves 4,485 Pigs 1,129 Comparison of Supplies. Sheep July. Beasts. and Lambs. Calves. Pigs. 18G8 24,312 105,250 3,938 1,360 1867 18,5'JO 136,480 3,117 1,755 1866 21,710 158,990 3,778 2,420 1865 26,010 149,960 5,757 2,480 1864 27,394 147,890 4,658 3,140 1863 24,070 169,870 3,822 2,683 1862 23,392 151,060 2,339 2,637 1861 19,740 156,140 3,532 3,240 1860 19,870 153,600 3,133 2,428 1859 19,600 166,633 3,609 2,430 1858 20,468 154,922 4,263 3,290 1857 19,558 142,280 3,830 2,395 The imports of foreign stock have been as follows : 18G8. 1869. Beasts 0,037 8,785 Sheep and Lambs ... 24,905 30,772 Calves 2,283 4,669 Pigs 2,316 3,349 35,540 47,575 From our own grazing districts as well as from Scotland and Ireland the arrivals have been as follows : — July, July, July, July, From— 1866. 1867. 1868. 1869. Northern Counties ... 2,800 2,860 6,600 5,300 Norfolk, Suffolk, &c. . 2,700 2,500 1,800 300 Other parts of England 2,400 3,370 3,700 2,020 Scotland 149 334 96 47 Ireland 193 80 170 450 Comparison of Pbices. July, 1867. July, 1868. July, 1869. s. d. s. d. s. d s. d. s. d. s. d. Beef from... 3 4 to 5 4 3 0 to 50 3 0 to 5 8 Mutton 3453 3050 30 58 Lamb ,5668 5060 56 60 Veal 40 56 36 50 46 58 Pork 3446 3344 3 10 53 The dead meat market has been only moderately supplied, and the warm weather has weakened prices. Beef has sold at from 3s. 2d. to 5s., mutton 3s. 8d. to 5s. 4d., lamb 5s. 4d. to 5s. 8d., veal 4s. 8d. to 5s., and pork 3s. lOd. to 5s. 4d., per 8 lbs. by the carcase. NOTTINGHAMSHIRE, The agricultural world have of late had their hopes and fears. One of the best crops of grass has been secured in first- rate condition, and with very little expense. It would seem strange now to the farmers to have to go through the slow process they once had to secure their crops. Thus the demand for labour, which it was feared would be our bane, has proved a blessing both to employers and employed. The mowing ma- chine is now an established and an acknowledged fact on most homesteads, and those who once toiled at the scythe are con- tent to be spared the fatigue. Most of them have been brought to great perfection, and what remains to be done must be the work of time. We have bought three of different makers the last three seasons, and, from an observation of their working, we would draw this conclusion, that light macliines do not imply hght draft. The driving wheels must have weight, or they slin in good heavy crops, and when there is the slightest want of movement in the knives the draft is soon doubled. We give this hint so that those makers who have aimed at a light ma- chine might see our opinion, and at a small cost might very much improve them, and that would be done by increasing the weight of the two driving wheels, and enlarging the flanges to give more bite on the ground. The question of draft depends so much on those who have the management of them. Sharp knives, good oiling, proper cutting, and attention to the firm- ness of all the working parts in screwing up, all belong to easy working. A fourth hint also we would give to all makers, and that is to provide for any over excessive strain, a certain amount of which might by some simple means be nicely cor- rected, so that if the machine was neglected so as to increase the draft the horses would become detached. Or suppose (and it is too common) post ends, stones, and many things found in l76 THE FAEMEH'S JiAGAZmE. grass, citlier IVoin ciirelcssiicss or debigu, or laiigled grass which stops the itiiichiucs aiul strains lieavily, have to he gone against, something nuist give way, and hrcakage and stoppage are tlie result. Or in case of horses not used to their running away, you have uo remedy but a smack, and an awful risk of horse flesh. In 1SG8 we liad a pair of horses which took fright from some cause ; they galloped across the tield, and cleared the fence in tirst-rate style, leaving the machine on tlie hedge, the pole breaking. This season another pair took it into their heads to do the same sort of thing, save and except the clearing of the fence. Tlie scene is frightful, and damage and loss cer- tain. Now if a certain amount of pressure upon some spring would have liberated them the loss and alarm would have been avoided, and in many cases-strain and breakage saved. The wheat crop promises to be an average, and the late tine V eatlier has been all we could desire. Some fields are siiowing signs of ripening, and if we should be favoured with a eontirma- t. on of sunshine, the harvest will commence sooner than was expected. All spring corn promises to be an average crop. Turnips need rain ; llie early-sown are doing well enough, but all hite-sowu ones, where the tilth got too dry in the working of the soil, arc doubtful. I'otatoes arc doing well, and we hear little of disease. The breadtli jdanted was great, and every year they seem more appreciated. The varieties are greater than formerly, their hardiness better understood, |and the mode of culture more in accordance with reason. Farm work is for- ward. The hay harvest has absorbed so little labour that other work has lieen almost continuous. Those farmers who still value the old summer fallow have now a chance of making- clean work, and should not forget to keep the soil moving. There are chemical changes taking place in the soil during hot weatlier which always pay for the stirring of the land. You can scarcely plough strong land too ranch if you take a summer to do it in. Our markets and fairs have been well supplied with stock of all kinds, and most animals are coming- in in better condition. Good horses are scarce and wanted ; but then goodness aud symmetry are the qualities the dealer is looking for. lleally line animals are the exception to the rule ; and if we, as breeders, get the thing which is not to our minds, we cannot do as we do with the bullock — send it to the shambles: we must make the best of it. There always were screws and inferior horses, and always \iill be. Pat stock is getting more plentiful and lower in value. Our corn markets are now subject to the baroiiieler,and holders watch the weatlier to see wjien the lucky moment is at hand ; and what is human foresight worth ? We have never met viith the man who could make much of it. Some this year will hold to their hurt ; but then some one must hold on, and we ought to value him who becomes the public store-holder of human food : he rarely gets interest for his money. The labour markets, if we may so term them, keep steady, and old wages and old prices are becoming obsolete. We think we are riglit when we say that the agri- cultural labourer was never in more comfortable circumstances. He is not only better paid, but the more severe portions cf labour he is relieved of. The toil of the barn is gone ; the toil of the scythe nearly so ; and now at hand the toil of the stack- yard, by the elevator, will be lightened. Jlind must overcome matter, and the intelligence and geiii'is of the people must lighten labour. The present political c^i^is claims the attention of all classes, llow ditficult to right at once the wrongs of ages, and how slowly the mind prepares itself for the needed changes ! Let us hope for the best. — July 21. WEST WOllCESTEllSIlIRE. The tropical heat of tlie last three weeks has so forced on the crops that harvest will be full ten days earlier than was expected. Some of the early wheat will be tit for cntting in a week's time, and I am afraid it is ripening prematurely. The crop on good well-farmed land is an average ; on land that does not fulfil those conditions it will be below an average. I'eas are now being cut and carried, and are a fair crop. Winter beans are also being cut ; they are magnificent, and belter corned than was supposed. Spring beans are irregular, but well podded. A little rain would still do good, and bring them to an average crop. Barley is improved, but will not be a large crop, the breadth of land planted being less than usual. AVe have just finished haymaking, one of the largest crops ever grown, and stacked in splendid condition. Keep is getting short, and the roots are going off for want of rain ; there are signs to day that we shall not be long without it. I'otatoes: the haulm has died off, and the tubers are being raised, especially by the cottagers, who are afraid of their growing again if rain comes on. — July 23. N 0 11 T 11 AV A L E S. We have finished hay harvest except on the mountain lands, where our farmers are now in the midst of it, and glorious weather they have for this important work. Ten diiys more of such brilliant suushiue, and all will be gathered in first-rate order. The crop is on the whole good ; but owing to the late and cold spring and the consequent scarcity of grass early in the season, the fields intended for hay were not in many in- stances shut up as soon as they ought to have been, and as the month of June was remarkable for its long continuance of north and east winds, without much rain, there was not much growth then, so that in these cases the swarth is short and light. "We have had less rain, and, perhaps, more sunshine during the past six or seven weeks than other parts of the Iciiigdom. Our climate is often abused for being so moist ; strangers not uufrequently imagine that we have rain six days out of seven. Certain it is, that we are dry enough now, aud should hail a soaking shower with delight. The aftermath loses instead of increasing, and many fields are becoming brown and bare, presenting the appearauee of twelve months since. Our streams are exceedingly low, indeed we think they are re- duced to the narrow limits of last year. Cattle are beginning to find a falling olf in their bite, and must suffer soon unless we get rain. The price of butter in consequence has risen materially during the past fortnight. Wheat has improved since the warmth set in, and, although thin, may still be a fair yield. Oats look well ; on the light hilly lands they are in want of a few showers to keep them growing. Barley has al- tered for the better lately, and will probably turnout well. The cold frosty nights in May and June caused it to look very yel- low at one time, and we were apprehensive that much damage was done, but we hope there will not be much to complain of. Potatoes are doing well ; they, too, want some moisture now. The early crops in the gardens, though later than usual, have proved goed, both as regards yield aud quality. We have not seen nor heard of any symptom of disease. Cows and stock of all kinds have been making good prices. Store pigs are fearfully dear. There is an abundant supply on the apple trees ; pears, too, are numerous, but plums are a failure. The spring frosts killed the blossoms and young fruit. AVe had some damsons, which reached the size of a finger-nail, when a frosty night in June turned them from green to yello\^•, and destroyed all prospect of a crop. Garden vegetables generally have all been later in coming to maturity than in the average of years, about three weeks later as compared with 1868. — July 2-3. NORTH-EAST OF SCOTLAND. During the last two weeks of June, aud the whole of the present month, a continued drought has prevailed, almost equal to that of last year : this, following upon the cold and ungeuial weather of I\Iay and June, is proving disastrous to crops of all kinds. Oats form our staple grain crops here ; and, as is well known, they are much less patient of drought at this season of the year than wheat ; our crops must now be light under any circumstances. A few fields of good oats may be seen on soft deep land, with abundance of bottom moisture ; but generally speaking, and especially on stiff or clay soils, the crop is making a poor appearauee. Never was tlie country more completely exhausted of fodder of all kinds than it was last spring, and never, therefore, was a bulky crop more needed; but it has been denied us. There must now be a deficiency of straw ; and as the crop is far from being early, we have no reason to expect that there can be any such excess of grain beyond the bulk of straw as there \\ as last year. The greater part of our grass here is depastured, and only a very limited extent allowed to stand for hay ; the deficiency of that crop, therefore, does not greatly affect us. But a deficient produce of hay necessarily implies deficiency of pasture grass likewise ; and with the partial exception of some Wo weeks in the end of June, the pasture fields have been unusually bare throughout the season. The turnip crop is at this date better than could have been expected ; the plants have maintained their hold of the soil, but they have made very slow progress : the severe THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 177 clieck tliat tluy are uow siiHeriiig by tlio lontiuucd violciico of the drought cau scarcely fail to induce tiiiger-and-toe, or other disease. Min li depends, in so far as this crop is con- cerned, upon tlie weather of tlic next t\\o mouths, hut \ie have often observed, that vvlicu the turnip plants are severely checked during the early stage of their growth, they uever do well afterwards. Potatoes present no luxuriance of growth, hut rather the contrary: the continued dryuess and looseness of the soil have allowed the crows to dig up the planted tuljcrs to an unusual extent ; the numerous blanks in the fields ap- pear to arise mainly from this cause. We had about the average fall of rain in May ; and a single day's rain in June gHve us nearly the average for that month ; but an almost in- cessant current of cold, dry, northern wind kept the surface of the grouud unusually dry during both months; and uow, though the temperature lias Ijeeii more favourable for some weeks, we have had no rain to moistcu the parched soil siucc the middle of Jun?. — July 21. AGRICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE, FAIRS, &c. BAT AND BALL FAIR.— This Weald of Sussex Tair took place last Friday. The number of lambs and sheep was between 15,000 and 1(5,000, which is considerably above the average. Business during the morning ruled very dull, and although some fine lambs were bought there was very littls inquiry. Tegs ranged from 30s. to ils., and lambs from as low as 10s. to ~8s. Among the transactions were the follow- ing:— Mr. Kiug Sampson, Westham, 60 lambs at 15s. ; Mr. JolmShoosmith, Berwick, 100 lambs at 21s. 6d., and 50 culls at 17s. ; JMr. AVoodman, Kipe, 100 wether tegs at 3Gs. ; 3Ir. Guy, Chiddingly-place, 30 lambs at 22s. Gd. ; Mr. J. Breton, llailshara, 20 euU lambs at 17s., and 30 at 21s. ; Mr. Page, Kingmer, 100 lambs at 19s. ; Mr. Madgwick, Alcister, 100 seconds at 18s., and 51 culls at 15s. ; 31r. Woodharas, Claver- ham, 50 wethers at 37s. and 25 at 35s. Gd. ; Mr. Walter Wood- hams, Lullington, 50 wethers at 37s., and 50 cull ewe lambs at 14s. ; Mr. Akers, Ilellingly, 70 Iambs at 20s. ; Jlr. Gower, Hellingly, 90 lambs at 20s. ; the Executoas of the late :\lr- Hayward, I'olkiugton, 100 lambs at 17s. Gd. ; Mr. John Thatcher, Chillingley, 50 lambs at 22s. ; Mr. Luther ^lartin, Ripe, 100 lambs at 23s. 6d., and 72 at 17s. Gd.; Mr. Benj. Waters, Eastbourne, SO lambs at 14s. Gd. ; Mr. J. Homewood, Eastbourne, 100 culllambs at lis.; Mr. Chas. Waters, West- dear, cull lambs 16s. ; Mr. T. Cooper, Gildridge, 90 cull lambs at 13s. ; Mr. Marestield, 44 lambs at 19s. ;"Mr. D. Ayl- win, Mareslield, 30 lambs at 20s. ; Dr. Trouncer, Horeham, cull lambs 14s. 6d. ; ]Mr. Brown, Michelham, 50 lambs at 19s., and 25 ewe lambs at 17s. ; Mr. A. Ade, Alfriston, 40 cull lambs at 12s. ; Mr. Shoosmith, Downash, tegs 40s. ; jMr. T. Arkcoll, llerstmonceux, 50 lambs at 20s. ; i\lr. Jas. Keuward, Cowbeach, lambs 22s. Gd. ; Mr. EUis, Mays, 40 wethers at 38s. 6d. ; Mr. P. Mannington, Bexhill, GO lambs at 2Ps ; JMr. Reed, Jevmgton, 40 lambs at 8s. Mr. J. Page, Waldron, 100 tegs at 37s., and 20 at 32s. 6d. ; Mr. S. Jenner, Bnxted, 28 lambs at 14s. ; Mr. T. .Jenner, 3Iarlgreeu, 50 lambs at 27s. ; Mr. Paine, Laughton, 30 lambs at Its., 35 at 15s., 80 at 17s. 6d., and 12 at 12s.; Mr. Burtenshaw, Nintield, cull wethers 28s. ; Mr. John Gorringe, Birling, 50 culllambs at IGs. Gd. BR0:MYARD fair was well supplied with all descrip- tions of stock. Cows and calves sold well, as was also the case with store stock. Beef fetched 7d. to 7ad. per lb. ; sheep also brought a good price, and pigs sold dear. Altogether it was a pretty brisk market. FORT- WILLIAM SHEEP FAIR opened stiffly, and until after dinner little business was etfected. So far as could be gathered, it may be said that the market, as a whole, was not so disadvantageous to sellers as at Inverness. Blaekfaeed stock was principally disposed of, and wedders of this class would be up in price from 3s. to 4s. ; best class of slack ewes from 2s. to 2s. Gd., and inferior sorts about the same as last year's prices. Lambs in general may be quoted the same as last year, and in some eases down, while they were most difli- cult to sell at any price, and farmers had to take theip chance at Oban market next day. GLOUCESTER MONTHLY MARKET.— There was a moderate supply of fat stock, but owing to the lieat of the wcatbrr (be llie trade \\.is very dull, butchers only buying to meet immediate wants. Beef made from 7d. to 8d. per lb., and muKou fetched 7d. to 8d., small si/.e making the top price. Heavy sheep were a drug. Pigs met a dull sale at from ICs. Gd. to lis. per score. GRANTHAM FAT STOCK MARKET.— Good show of beasts, and short show of sheep. Very slow trade, and few buyers. Beef 8s. to 8s. Gd., pork Ss. per stone, and mutton 7d. to 8d. per lb. HORSHA^l FAIR.— The shepherd who ventured to put on the blue ribbon had the care of 300 remarkably tine lambs, belonging to Mr. Emery, of Hurston. They were placed in three pens of 100 each, and the best pen made 33s. a-head. Mr. Kinu's (Wcstburton) made 32s. for a lot of GOs. HITNTINGDOJM LAM15 FAIR.— A large number of lambs, and unusually high prices were made. This is accounted for by many of tiie fambs, in good condition lieing bouglit for killing, which consequently enhanced the value of others. LINCOLN FAT STOCK MARKET, — A fair show of beasts, but slow demand : prices from 8s. 6d. to 9s. per stone, mutton 7kl. to Sd. per lb. LUDLOW FAIR. — There was a good attendance, and the stock changed hands at high rates. Pigs upwards of 2s. a-head higher tlian at the last fair, very small stores realizing 35s. a-head. MUIR OF ORD MARKET.— The demand for fat cattle, as usual, was brisk. Jlost of those exposed in this class sold early in the day, and realized good prices. For the other classes the demand was slow, and the prices were slightly under those current at the last market. Although there was a large number of dealers present, the market was throughout of a very slow character and towards evening a large number re- mained unsold. OVERTON LAIMB FAIR.— The weather was beautifully fine, the numbers of sheep larger than usual (90,000, being about 7,000 more than last year) ; the prices realised were from Gs. to 7s. per head in advance of last fair, and sales, though not progressing very rapidly in the early part of the day, were pretty generally cfTected before the close of the afternoon. Ewes realised from 35s. to 42s., some reaching as high as 50s., Lambs from 23s. to 30s., a few superior lots at 4Gs., wethers from 37s. to 45s. ST. BOSWELL'S FAIR.— An excellent demand for lambs, and by nine o'clock in the morning nearly the whole were dis- posed of. The briskness of the sale is to be attributed to the satisfactory appearance of the turnip crop as compared with its condition at the same time last year, and to the brisk character of the sheep trade at the great market at Inverness and else- where. The highest price announced for bred lambs was 31s., but out of a lot of fully 200 a luckpenny of five guineas was returned. The rise in value from last year would be from 4s. to 5s. In a number of instances Gs. was secured, and one or two parties were fortunate enough to get 7s. of an advance. The show of cattle was not so large as last year, and the busi- ness of it was very much prolonged. A little over the half of the stock was Irish ; the other sorts were English shorthorns and cattle bred in the district. There was some inquiry Ur milch cows, at prices ranging from £19 to £21. The show of horses was neither large nor good, but it embraced all the de- scriptions to be found at St. Bosweli's. There was some in- quiry for the best class of harness and riding-horses, and in one case as much as £90 was sought, and ultimately a bargain was etfected at about £80. The inferior and secondary sorts were not sought after. Harness animals ranged from £30 to £60, cart-horses from £20 to £50 riding ponies from £10 to £20, and ponies for pit purposes from £8 to £16. SALISBURY SHEEP FAIR.— Upwards of 10,000 sheep were penned, most of them being ewes. There were very few lambs, and with the exception of those offered for competition very few good ones. Prices were a shade lower than those at Stockbridge. Stock ewes 36s. to 40s., wethers 35s. to 50s., lambs 25s. to 35s. per head. SHERBORNE FAIR was well supplied with cattle, in- cluding some fat things, which found ready purchasers at 12s. per score. Sheep were in short supply, and in no demand whatever. Business was excessively dull, and rates worse than those of Stoford. Several lots of wool were bought, the dealers in some instances stretching to 14d. SLEAFORD FAT STOCK MARKET.— A good show of sheep, which sold at advanced prices, aod a large show of first- 178 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. class beasts, wliicli met witli a ready sale. Mutton from 7(1. to 8d. per lb., beef Ss. 6d. to 9s. 6d, per stone, lambs 27s. to 33s. each, pigs 8s. 6d. per stone. SP1LS13Y EAIR. — The show of beasts was very good. Young and well-fed animals, whether bullocks or heifers, sold readily at good prices, but aged animals, although ready for the butcher, hung on hand, and could only be disposed of at lower rates. Drapes in good condition and tlirifty-looking steers and lieifers easily found customers, but the poor and cross-bred were a drug, and many of this class were unsold. STRANRAER MONTHLY MARKET. — The show of cattle was extremely limited. For anything handsome the de- mand was tolerably fair at prices much the same as what could have been obtained for the same cattle at the previous market, without leaving anything for the month's keep. For the best pair of the Highland stirks £4 was asked, and £3 10s. each refused. Other stirks were selling from £3 10s. up to £6 per head, and at the close of tlie market a few of the in- ferior lots were driven off unsold. The want of grass and the apparent scarcity of fodder must soon tell seriously upon the demand for store cattle. WHITCHURCH (SALOP) FAIR. — Beef fetched from 7d. to Sd,, and mutton from 8d. to 9d. per lb. There was a fair supply of pigs, and all that were sold fetched high prices. WORCESTER FAIR.— There was not a very large at- tendance, and prices were rather lower. Fat cows sold at £31 aud £21 15s; fat wethers £2 6s., ewes £2 7s., lambs £1 10s. Gd.' IRISH FAIRS. — Ballyjamesduff : The best demand was for advanced springers and dry two years old heifers. Two years old bullocks and strippers were also in good demand, and rated pretty high, the former fetching from £'12 10s. to £17 5s., and the latter from £9 10s. to £13 10s. each, in ac- cordance with age, size, and condition. Weanling and year- ling calves for stores were, in like manner, in much demand, and fetched high prices, the former selling at from £2 18s. to £5 10s. a-piece, and the latter at from £3 10s. to £7 10s. each, in accordance with size, quality, and condition. Mutton rated on the foot at from 5|d. to 6|d. per lb. for wedder, and from 5d. to 6d. for ewe. There were a considerable number of store pigs, slips, bonhams, aud suckers, whicli rated liigh, the latter fetching from £1 ISs. to £3 15s. a pair out of the crate. — Camlough : The demand for aU classes of cattle was very good. Beeves sold at £13 to £20 per head, springers £11 to £17, strippers £9 to £13 ; milch cows ranged between £9 aud £14; ; young stock were well supplied and in good demand ; two years old brought £8 to £12, yearling heife«s £i to £6 ; bullocks £1 per head less, and not so good. The liorse fair was also large, and young animals were offered at prices vary- ing from £25 downwards. — Navan : Beef was down in value, while mutton appeared to make late rates. Best beef 66s. to 68s., second quality 57s. 6d. to 63s. per cwt., spriugers (young and near dropping) £16 to £29 each, milch cows (new) best £l'i to £10 10s. each. Wethers from 44s. to 56s., ewes from 37s. 6d. to iis., hoggets from 30s. to 35s., lambs from 18s. to 30s. each ; best wether mutton 7id., inferior and ewe 6d. to 6p. per lb. Store piga 48s. to 60s. each. GLASGOW, (Wednesday last.) — Supply not quite so large this week, 1,149 being received, but with those lying over it is more than equal to the demand. We repeat last week's quo- tations, but to make sales the dealers were willing to accept prices in favour of buyers. Cheddars 59s. to 65s., Dunlop 58s. to 62s., skim-milk 25s. to 27s. GLOUCESTER MONTHLY CHEESE MARKET was moderately supplied for the time of year, only about 50 tons having been pitched. For the first two hours business was languid, factors wanting a large reduction from the rates of last market, and farmers refusing to give way. As the day wore on sales were effected at about 4s. per cwt. less than the terms of last market, and nearly all changed hands, seconds making 54s. to 56s., best 59s. to 61s. per cwt. CORDEROY AND CO.'S CHEESE CIRCULAR, (Thurs- day last.) — We have no improvement to report in the sale of Cheshire cheese. The stock is small, but the quality gene- rally is so inferior that scarcely any sales can be made. The bulk of the cheese here are large in size and tender in condi- tion. Prime lumps, forward, firm, and sound, would no doubt sell to a moderate extent if prices could be accepted somewhat la accordance with the rates of American cheese, wliich at 56s. to Gls. seem to govern the market at present. Scotch cheese, unless of fine quality and in good condition, are neg- lected. Very large supplies of American are anticipated next week. The arrivals since our last are 33,633 boxes. CORK BUTTER MARKET, (Friday last.)— Prices per cwt.: Ordinary — first quality 104s. to 101s., second ditto 100s. to 97s,, third ditto 93s. to 90s., fourth ditto 88s. to 83s., fifth ditto 82s. to 79s., sixth ditto 60s. to 57s.; mild-cured — first quality 112s. to 109s., second ditto 101s. to 98s., third ditto 95s. to 92s. Thirds, fourths, fifths, and sixths of kegs 4s. per cwt. less. Currency — ordinary butter 10s., mild-cured 10s. sponged 2s. per cwt. less. POULTRY, &c., MARKETS.— Goslings, 4s. to 6s. ; Duck- lings, Is. 6d. to 2s. 9d. ; Surrey Fowls, 4s. to 6s. ; Sussex ditto, 3s. to 4s. ; Boston and Essex, 2s. to 3s. ; Irish, ditto, Is. 3d. to Is. 9d. ; tame Rabbits, Is. to Is. 6d. ; Pigeons, 6d. to lOd. ; Leverets, 2s. 6d. each ; quails, 8d. to lOd. per dozen. Eggs, 9s. to 9s. 6d. per 120. POTATO MARKETS. BOROUGH AND SPITALEIELDS. LONDON, Monday, July 26.— Moderate supplies of po- tatoes have been on sale. On the whole the demand has been quiet at our quotations. The import into Loudon last week consisted of 306 baskets from Caeu, 942 baskets 127 bags 63 barrels from Dunkirk, 64 baskets 27 packages Calais, 48 tons Cherbourg, 32 packages Gibraltar, and 12 bags from Rotter- dam. English Shaws lOos. to 120s. per ton. „ Regents 115s, to 130s. „ French 90s. to 110s. „ HOP MARKET. BOROUGH, MoND.vy, July 26. — During the past week re- ports from the plantations indicate a steady continuance of ver- min aud increase of honeydew. Some of the grounds, blighted early in the season, show a disposition to clean ; but, on the whole, we see no reason for believing that our prospects have materially improved. Our market remains firm, with a quiet consumptive trade, at late values. Continental reports are without change. New York advices to the 15th instant report a very firm market for fine and average grades, accounts from the various hop sections being hardly so satisfactory. Mid and East Kent £2 Weald of Kents 2 Sussex 2 Farnham 3 Country 3 Bavarians 2 Belgians 2 Yearlings 3 A-mericans 2 CANTERBURY HOP MARKET, (Saturday last.)— The Hops are now in a very severe blight, opinions vary to-day, some asserting that the appearance of the bine in some grounds has improved, and that the showers of yesterday had benefited the plant considerably, others contend that the im- provement was only in appearance, as on examining the bine it is stiU very foul : there is no doubt but in some parishes there is an improvement in some grounds, while others are no better, and some are much worse. A few days will now decide whether the change for the better mentioned by some is correct or not ; under the most favourable weather we cannot now expect but a short crop. Planters are holding for better prices. WORCESTER HOP MARKET. (Saturday last.)— The general tenour of the reports at market to-day being decidedly against anything but a very small crop, planters still ask more money for the few inferior hops they can offer, and are indis- posed to sell unless they can obtain their demands. The amount of business done is therefore not large. EAST IvENT. — Under ordinary circumstances, the favour- able weather of the past week would have very much assisted the hop plantations ; but unfortunately the leaf is too much infested with vermin to make any rapid strides towards im- provement. There is, however, a better show of bine, and honeydew is somewhat on the decrease. What growers are now longing for is a heavy thunderstorm to devour the leaf. This would put a stop to the artificial washing that is now 10 ... ... £3 10 ... ... £6 10 r. ... 3 10 ... ..4 0 0 .,. ... 2 10 ... .. 3 15 10 ... .,. 4 5 ... ..6 0 10 ... ... 4 0 ... .. 4 10 0 ... ... 2 10 ... .. 3 10 0 ... ... 3 10 ... ..3 0 0 ... ... 2 10 ... .. 3 10 6 ... ... 2 16 ... .. 3 10 THE FARMEIVS MAGAZINE. 179 being pushed ou iu mauy iiaits, ;uul ccrtuiiily ojicii up grouuds for hoping that perhaps half a crop may yet bo grown. FOREIGN UOP INTELLIGENCE.— Germany : A re- port from Nuremberg states that the news received from hop- growing countries generally gives no hope for a moderate crop. Mauy persons who had visited the gardens in Bavaria declare that the plant had fallen olf very seriously, for that iu many places only a very small quantity could be hoped for. Eroiu Spalt no improvemcut was to be reported. Cold nights had done much mischief, and had reduced the hopes of growers Vermin was visibly increasing, even on those grounds which Lad held out promises of a good growth, as the blossoms are sickly ; in short, the prospects have not been so bad since hop cultivation has been introduced. In a large district near Spalt the warmer temperature had effected much improvement so far as the growth of the p)ant was concerned, though much injury had been caused by rust, which had totally destroyed the plant in some gardens situated in valleys with damp, cold soils. In gardens situated on the heights the leaves are very pale, and the plant is covered with vermin. Under the most favourable circumstances only half a crop can be hoped for. At more distant places, with few exceptions, no better prospects are in store. At Nuremburg there was ranch animation in the market, with improved prices. Prime sorts have realised from -10 to 55 florins (£3 6s. Sd. to £i lis. 8d.), and middle qualities 30 to 3G florins (£2 10s. to £3) . lleports from Wurtemburg are not better than from other German districts. — France : But little improvement is reported from Ilagenau. Warm rain and genial uiahts are wanted. Vermin have not disappeared and iu mauy places honey-dew had spread more and more. A very poor crop is hoped for. For hops from the coming crop nearly £5 per cwt. is otfered. The condition of the gardens at Bischweiler is reported to be critical. The weather had been warm and had brought with it rust, while ' vermin had not decreased ; copious showers were needed to cleanse the plant. — Belgium : No change has occurred in the condition of the plant in Birmingham. The weather is warmer, the gardens have made good progress, but vermin have increased to a great extent in many neighbourhoods. Prices are the same, and there is no speculation. At Alost the con- dition of things is the same except that there is an increase of vermin. From a few places reports are not quite so unfavour- able. Quotations are at about 60 francs (£3 10s.), but there are more offers to buy than sellers. ENGLISH WOOL MARKET. CITY, Monday, July 26. — There has been a cheerful tone pervading the Wool trade ; but the transactions have not iDeen very cousiderable. Attention will now be directed again to the public sales of Colonial Wool, which will probably commence on the 5th proximo. Stocks are heavy ; but prices are maiutaiued for all qualities of English. CuBEBNT Prices of English Wool. s. d. s. d. Fleeces— Soiithdown hogs per lb. 1 litol 2^ Half-bred ditto „ 1 4^ 1 6 Kent fleeces „ 13 14 Southdown ewes aud wethers ... „ 1 li- 1 2 Leicester ditto ,, 1 2i 1 3| SoEis — Clothing, picklock „ 1 4| 1 6i Prime » 1 2i 13 Choice „ 11 12 Super „ 10 10^ Combing, wether mat ,, 1 4^ 1 5 Picklock „ 11 13 Common ,, 0 11 10 Hog matching , 15 1 5| Picklock matching „ 1 I5 1 24 Super ditto „ 0 11 10 BRADFORD WOOL MARKET, (Thursday last.)— The market has undergone no change during the week. A quiet feeling again prevails in the wool trade. Most of tlie new wool has now been taken out of the hands of farmers, and is available for this market ; but it meets anything but a brisk demand here. Consumers who have anything like a supply in stock are chary of further operations, not having sufficient confidence in tJie stability of prices to induce them to specu- late for the future. Good lustre wools, and picked hoggs generally are most easy of sale, and for these full prices can be got. Other sorts, which are neglected, are to be bought in some quarters at a shade less money, but mauy holders arc quite firm to their quotations, and are willing to lose a cus- tomer rather than abate the price. Mohair is still very strong and in demand; alpaca couliiiues neglected. — Bradford Ob- server. LEEDS (English and Foreign), WOOL MARKETS. — Friday : The quiet state of the market for English wool still continues, and is Hkely to do for some time, till stocks iu ma- nufacturers' hands are somewhat reduced or an unexpected demand for yarn aud goods should spring up. Prices are fairly remunerative to the farmers. Clothing wool is unaltered in price or demand. Prices arc not likely to become higher in the face of the supplies which must shortly be otfered for sale. LEWES WOOL FAIR.— The quantity of wool represented was upwards of 60,000 fleeces. Business opened with brisk- ness, and continued to be transacted to the end with unprece- deutcd rapidity. Mr. R. II. Ellman sold his wool, 7S8 ewes, 308 togs, and 20 rams, to Mr. Legg, 14d. per lb. Mr. 0. Beard, of Rottingdean, sold his wool, between 2,300 and 2,-100 fleeces, to Mr. Prior, at 13jd. Mr. Osborn, Eastdean, sold 700 fleeces at 13Jd. Mr. Jolin Verrall, Swanlwrough, sold 1,525 fleeces to Mr. Breacli, at 14d. Mr. James Kent, South- ease, sold 850 ewes, 320 tegs, 16 fatting sheep, and 16 rams, at ll-ad. Mr. Homewood sold 310 tegs and 900 ewes at 14d. Mr. W. P. Ashby sold the wool of Mr. Charles Waters, West- dean, Mr. Benjamin Waters, Eastbourne, aud his own from Eastdean, 1,870 ewes aud 680 tegs, in all 3,550 llecces, at 14'id. Mr. Bidewell, Litliugton, sold 500 ewes and 130 tegs to Mr. Adams, at l+a. Mr. Ellis, of Beddingliam, sold 1,093 ewes and 407 tegs, and 21 rams, &c., total 1,521< fleeces, at 38s. Mr. John* Sasby, of Northease, sold his wool, about 1,000 fleeces, at IM. Mr. Farneorabe, of Bishopstone, sold Mr. Cooper's (Norton) wool, about 1,600 fleeces, at IM. Mr. R. Evans, Alfriston, sold 700 fleeces at 14jd. Mr. Madgwick sold 1,032 fleeces (including 270 tegs) at 14|d. The Rev. John Goring (chairman), of Wistou, sold his wool to Mr. Breach, at lljjd. Mr. John Gorringe, of BirHug, sold 945 fleeces to Mr. Prior for 14d. Mr. Paxton sold 530 tegs and 600 ewes, at 37s. 6d. a tod. Mr. Frank Tompsett sold his wool, 700 fleeces, at 14d. Mr. Case, of Street-place, sold his wool, 625 fleeces, at 14d. Mr. Uale sold Lord Sheffield's wool, 490 fleeces, at 38s. a tod. Mr. Farneombe sold his Wivelsfield wool, 530 fleeces, at 142d., and his Ashcombe wool at 14d. Mr. Brown, Fristou, sold his wool, 569 ewes and 200 tegs, at lljd. Mr. Guy, of Willingdon, sold his own, and the wool of Mrs. Guy, of Hamsey, 1,350 fleeces, at 143^d. Mr. Hart, of Beddinghain, sold his wool, 540 ewes, 200 hog- gets, and 40 rams, at 14;^d. Mr. Mockett, CrowUnk, sold his wool, about 650 fleeces, at 14Jd. Mr. Homewood, Little- horsted, sold 285 ewes and 180 tegs at U^d. Mr. Brown, Michelham, sold 1,300 fleeces at li^d. Mr. Ellis, Exceat, sold 1,100 fleeces at lid. Mr. J. T. Lade, of Falmer, sold 850 fleeces at 14d.; Mr. Saxby, of Rottingdean, 586 fleeces at 37s. per tod. Mr. John Crosskey, Beddingliam, sold at 145d.; Mr. P. Corringe, of Bexhill, 535 fleeces at 38s. per tod ; Mr. H. J. Cooper, of Findou, sold 599 ewes, 213 tegs, and 9 rams, at 14id. Mr. Hobbs, Newhaven, sold 350 fleeces at 3fd; Mr. Prior bought the following : From Mr. Reeve, Souther- ham, 530 fleeces at 14d. ; Mr. Tribe, Falmer, 600 fleeces at 14d.; Mr. Ellis, Beddingham, 1,500 fleeces at ll-^L; Mr. John Gorringe, Birling, 712 ewes, 240 tegs, and 4 rams, at 14d.; Mr. James Gorringe, Eastbourne, 290 ewes and 110 tegs at 14;jd.; Mr. Joseph Gorringe, 650 ew'es and 275 tegs at 14d. ; Mr. Green, Rottingdean, 400 ewes and 300 tegs at 13|d. ; Mr. Robinson, Sedleseonibe, 650 ewes, 330 tegs of this year, and about the same quantity of last year, at 14d. Mr. Beach also bought the foUowdng : Mr. Madgwick, jun., 610 ewes aud 260 tegs at ll^d. ; Mr. Tuppen, Westham, 500 fleeces at 145d.; Mr. Sampson, Westham, 560 fleeces at 14:jd.; Mr. Bolting, Westmeston, 800 fleeces at ll^d.; Mr. Brown, ' Patcham, 1,430, Mr. Tanner, Pateham, 700, Colonel Paine 1,200, and Mr. li. Botting 375, all at 14d.; Mr. Wood, Plumptou, 800 at l^^i.. Mr. Adams' transactions included 1,200 fleeces from Mr. Farneombe, Bishopstone, at 133d.; 1,100 at 14d. from Mr. Ellis, Exceat ; 350 from Mr. G. Holm- den, Glyndebourne, at 14id.; 1,000 from Mr. Lambe, Blatch- iugton, at 14d.; 890 from Mr. Walter Woodhams, Lullington, at 3Ss. per tod ; and 909 from Mr. Spencer Leigh, at 14d. Mr. Martin bought of Mr. Cowley, of Ripe and Brighton, 720 fleeces at 14d. ; of Mr. Martin, of Ripe, 575 at 14d.; of Mr. Levitt, Multon-street, 530 at 14d. ; of Mr. Willett, 200 tegs at 39s. 4d. per tod ; and of Mr. Mannington, Isfied, 400 at 14d. ISO THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. EEVIEW OF THE CORN TRADE DURING THE PAST MONTH. July ba« ai last brought in the summer so long defence], and a dry and brilliant time it has been, greatly hastening the maturity of the corn crops and enabling hay farmers to secure a good yield, mostly in very fair order, though some stacks put together in haste have required opening again. Last year's crop being very short this gathering has been very satisfactory, and as yet commands good prices from the shortness of grass and dear- ness of oats. The forcing heat has already brought new samples of rapeseed, peas, and Talavcra wheat, and a large quantity of the ordinary kind is ready for the sickle, which at one time did not seem likely to be ripe l)efore the middle of August Accounts of the probable yield are very various. Some ricli loams are likely to yield well with good quality, but as a good deal of the blooming happened at a time of blight its effects have been felt in many places, and if we gather au average crop it will be beyond the expectation of many. It is, indeed, well for us we have had such a change or we might have needed a larger importation than Europe and America could have supplied. But rain is much wanted tor the meadows and spring corn, and we have already had a sprinkling in some localities, which indicates a greater plenty at hand. Should it, however, prove over-abundant there would be a further upward course in prices, and all old corn must increase in value. As respects foreign countries, southern latitudes have already gathered their stores — Algeria, Spain, Italy, Hungary, and the south of France included. But we nowhere hear of a super-abundance though the quantity is commended ; and Germany having had rough weather as well as ourselves no great expectations are formed of the general yield. "Well as the world's first fruits are gathering let us hope that, as in past, years, the necessities of the whole human family will be met by the earth's new bounties, and that all will receive compensation for their labour from the fruits of the field. From such s^olden weather we could expect no other than inactive markets, but as English supplies have been diminishing from the exhaustion of stocks, so our foreign arrivals have been stimulated by the late rise in prices ; and though, by our averages, we appear to have gained about 4s., scarcely any diij'erence for the month can be traced in the London market. All now depends on the weather, but if ever so fine we expect but a small reduction in wheat; while rough weather might put us up 10s. per qr. The following were the recent prices paid at the places named. "White wheat at Paris .'32s. 6d., red 51s. The Belgian markets ranged from 49s. to 51s. The best white Zealand at Amsterdam 53s. 66. At Hambro prices were 46s. to 5 Is. At Berne, in Switzerland, 49s. At Man- heim 50s. ; at Cologne 44s. Saidi wheat at Alex- andria 37s. At Pesth, in Hungary, fine wheat 38s. Soft wheat at Algiers 43s. 6d. No. 1 spring wheat at New York 41s. to 42s. per 480lbs. No. 1 at Chicago 36s. The best white at San Francisco 45s. The first Monday in Mark-lane commenced on a small supply of English wheat, the foreign arrivals being moderate. The country markets of Kent being dearer than those of London the Kentish stands were without any fresh samples, and the show from Essex was very limited. With so little English on offer, the fine warm weather did not reduce prices, and fully the previous rates were paid. The foreign trade also was firm, but town millers being importers to a great extent, factors found but little demand for their fresh imports. Floating cargoes were fully as dear. There being also but poor supplies generally in the country the trade had a very firm aspect. The following places found it possible to obtain Is. advance, viz., Boston, Spalding, Bury St. Edmunds, Melton-Mowbray, Market Harbro', Market Rasen, Rochester, and. Newcastle ; while Bristol, Gloucester, Hull, Barnsley, and Worksop advanced Is. to 28. Newark, Stockton, and Birmingham noting a rise of 2s. to 3s. per qr. Liverpool was up 6d. per cental for the week. Edinburgh was Is. to Is. 6d. per qr. higher for wheat, and Glasgow Is. Dublin market rather favoured holders with a fair consumptive demand. Tlie second Monday opened on very short Eng- lish supplies, but there was an unusual importation of foreign. There being again only a few fresh samples exhibiting on the Essex stands, factors, in spite of the large foreign arrivals, were occa- sionally able to realize ]s. ]ier qr. more money; but with the weather still fine business was limited. Though at the latter end of the previous week the prices of foi'eign were up Is., the quantity arrived since occasioned the loss of this advance, and rates fell back to the quotations of Monday, with but little passing. Floating cargoes maintained the late improvement. The upward movement in the country still continued in spite of the very finest weather. Some j)laces were indeed quiet, others noted a rise of Is. per qr., as Boston, Bury St. Edmunds, Monmouth, Newcastle, Salisbury, and Uppingham ; but this was exceeded at Hull, Ipswich, Lynn, Rochester, Rotherham, Sheffield, Spalding, Sleaford, Stockton, Louth, &c., all of which were up Is. to 2s., while a rise of 2s. to 3s. was reported at Thirsk and Leeds, but Liverpool through the week was dull. Edinburgh advanced 2s. per qr. on wheat, and Glasgow Is. to 2s. perqr. Dublin was quiet and unchanged, millers showing no anxiety to increase stocks. On the third Monday the Englisli supplies were again small, but the foreign plentiful, though scarcely more than half the previous week. Fine weather having continued with further promise, it THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 181 WHS in vain tliat Essex factors pleaded the scanti- ness of supplies, and to make sales at all fully Is. per (jr. less was accepted, with but a moderate tradf. Foreifjn remained very dull and was generally noted Is. per qr, lower, and the same reduction was accepted on Hoatino; cargoes. The country this week was dull, a surprising difference as regards the maturity of the wheat having taken place, and though there were poor supplies generally, a reduction of Is. per qr. was made at Boston, Spalding, Newark, Market Harbro', Melton-Mowbray, Worksop, Stockton, Gloucester, Bristol, Newcastle, &c., while Sheffield, Market Rasen, and several other places gave way Is. to 28. Liverpool was down 2d. to 4d. per cental on Tues- day, but recovered 2d. on Friday. Edinburgh felt the effects of the weather reraarkabl}', and Scotch wheat went down 2s. to 3s. per qr. ; while the price at Glasgow only gave way Is. per qr. Dublin not having been previously excited upwards now evinced a disposition to do business at a small decline. The fourth Monday opened on small English supplies, but the foreign arrivals were very heavy. The show of samples during the morning was limited ; but with wheat ready to cut as the con- sequence of such forcing weather, some factors consented to a reduction of Is. per qr., with only a moderate trade. The quantity of foreign made it impossible to get on freely with sales but by ac- cepting Is. less, and then little was done, the bulk being ordered to Germany. Floating cargoes were held at former rates. The imports into London for four weeks were ] 4,946 qrs. English, 146,324 qrs. foreign, against 10,584 qrs. English, 132,556 qrs. foreign for the same period iu 186S. The imports into the king- dom for four weeks ending 17th July were 2,047,014 cwt. wheat, 226,345 cwt. flour, against 2,846,067 cwt. wheat, 213,922 cwt. flour in 1868. The London exports were 500 qrs. wheat. The London averages commenced at 51s. and closed at 55s. 4d. per qr. The general averages opened at 46s. 4d. and ended at 50s. 2d. per qr., this showing the returns made are much below the actual sales. The flour trade as respects town samples has not varied in price, the top quotation remaining 43s., but there have been fluctuations in the country trade answerable to the rise and fall of wheat, leaving Norfolks nominally Is. higher for the month — say to 34s. per sack ; while the price of foreign has not been much raised, in consequence of much freer importations, both in sacks and barrels. The imports into London for four weeks were 66,647 sacks English, 21,716 sacks 38,908 barrels foreign, against 63,621 sacks English, 10,948 sacks 9,455 barrels foreign in 1868, There having been a large importation of maize through the month, this grain was constantly fall- ing until last market, when some reaction took place, leaving prices much as they were at the com- mencement— say 28s. to 29s. for fine yellow quali- ties, and Is. to 2s. more for extra white. The re- ceipts into London for the month were 48,374 qrs., against 9,920 qrs. for the same period last year. The barley trade, as is usual at this time of year. has been on a very small scale. With almost no supplies of English and little or no demand, the malting season being over, prices from scarcity have ruled firm, and the value of grinding foreign has been maintained, though the inquiry has been limited from the relative cheapness of Indian corn, prices ruling from 233. to 26s. per qr., according to weight and sweetness. The imports into London for four weeks were 1,267 ([rs. British, 11,811 qrs. foreign, against 1,032 qrs. British, 47,656 qrs. foreign for the same period in 1868. Excepting about 6,000 qrs., the supply of oats this month has been exclusively foreign, and half of these have consisted of Russian quahties. The first cargoes came light and out of order, and for three successive weeks prices were falling Gd. each Monday, till a reaction occurred on the fourth Monday, leaving the actual decline on this quality about Is. per qr. ; but the best fresh corn from other parts has scarcely given way at all, there being so little English, no Scotch, and only one week's small sup])ly from Leland. Russian (38lbs.) may still be had at 22s. to 23s., but other heavy and fresh feed will bring 28s. and more. Indeed Scotch are hardly to be had at any price, and fine would fetch 32s. to 33s. per qr. The imports into London for four weeks were 2,090 qrs. English, 3,505 qrs. Irish. 179,081 qrs. foreign, against 921 qrs. Eng- lish, 420 qrs. Irish, 350,162 qrs. foreign for the same time in 1868. So that, with all our heavy arrivals from abroad, they hardly exceed half what they were last year. ^ The bean supply has been very limited, and, not- withstanding the low rates of maize, prices have been gradually rising till Alexandrian sorts have become worth 3Ss. to 39s. j)er qr. ; but at these rates in summer consumption goes on at a small scale, and buyers only purchase retail qualities from necessity. Our chief dependence for the remainder of the season will be Egypt, France, and the Medi- terranean, as the English croj) seems nearly used up, while that on the ground is doubtful, there being many reports of fly. The imports into Lon- don were 636 qrs. English, 1,520 qrs. foreign, against 1,362 qrs. English, 7,500 qrs. foreign iu 1868. We have therefore had only half the Eng- lish and only one-fifth of the foreign received last year. Scarcely any English peas have been forwarded to London, but there have been good foreign sup- plies of white from America and the Baltic. With only a moderate consumption for feeding purposes, prices have risen fully Is. per qr. in the month, the best white being worth about 42s. A sample of fine new has been exhibited at market held at 50s., but we expect prices to set in cheaper than this on the receipt of supplies. The imports into London this month were 125 qrs. English, 10,263 qrs. foreign, against 1,0.54 qrs. English, 6,098 qrs. foreign in 1S63. With short supplies, linseed has been firm all through the month, and seems likely to remain so, while the shortness of grass keeps up the value of cakes. Cloverseed has been gradually hardening, the second crop promising badly; and trefoil is decidedly dearer, being worth 23s. per cwt. for good old. Canary has ruled dear, as well as mustard seed. 182 THE FARMEE'S MAGAZINE. Irish, feed, white 21 Ditto, black 21 BEANS, Mazagan ...36 Harrow 40 PEAS, white, boilers..39 CURRENT PRICES OF BRITISH GRAIN AND FLOUR IN MARK LANE. SbilUnga per Quarter. WHEAT, new, Essex and Kent, white 60 to 55 „ „ red 47 60 Norfolk, Lincolnshire, and Yorkshire 46 60 BARLEY 31 to 34 ChevaUer (nominal) 40 46 Grinding 28 30 Distilling 35 37 MALT (nominal), Essex, Norfolk, and Suffolk 65 74 Kingston,;Ware, and town-made 65 74 Brown 61 59 RYE 31 32 OATS, EngUsh, feed 26 to 30 Potato 29 32 Scotch, feed 00 00 Potato 00 00 25 Ftae 26 28 24 Potato 26 29 39 Ticks 37 39 43 Pigeon 44 48 41Maple 44 to 45 Grey, new39 41 FLOUR, per sack of 2801bs., Town, Households 38 43 Country, on shore 33 to 35 „ 37 38 Norfolk and Suffolk, on shore 32 34 FOREIGN GRAIN. Shillings per Quarter. WHEAT, Dantzic, mixed 50 to 62 extra 63to56 Konigsberg 49 61 extra 61 53 Rostock 48 60 fine 51 54 Silesian, red 46 48 white.... 49 51 Pomera., Meckberg., and Uckermrk. ...red 46 48 Russian, hard, 42 to 45. .. St. Petersburg and Riga 41 46 Danish and Holstein, red 41 4'6 American 44 46 French,none Rhine and Belgium 00 00 Chilian, white 62 ... Califomiau 52 ... Australian 52 54 BARLEY, grinding 23 to 26.... distilling and malting 29 33 OATS, Dutch, brewing and Polands 24 to 27 feed 19 23 Danish and Swedish, feed 21 to 25.... Stralsuud... 24 25 Canada20to22,Riga22to24,Arch.22to21,P'sbg. 23 26 TARES, new Spring, per qr. ...small 45 47 ... large 55 GO BEANS, Friesland and Holstein 38 40 Konigsberg 37 to 39.. .Egyptian 37 39 PEAS, feeding and maple.. .37 40.. .fine boilers 38 40 INDIAN CORN, white 29 31. ..yellow 27 -29 FLOUR, per sack, French..31 37...Spanish, p. sackOO 00 Anlterican,per brl 22 24...extraand d'ble.25 28 IMPERIAL AVERAGES. ~~ For the week ended July 17, 1869. Wheat 39,3684 qrs. 60s. 2d. Barley 289i „ 32s. Od. Oats 659 ,, 26s. Od. COMPARATIVE AVERAGES. WHEAT. BARLEY. OATS. Years. Qrs. s. d. Qrs. s. d. Qrs. s. d. 1865.. . 52,131 ... 43 0 5901 ... 28 3 2,6041 ... 23 2 1866.. . 32,4811 ... 54 0 3141 ... 33 5 1,191J ... 26 2 1867.. . 27,393| ... 65 1 637i ... 35 1 l,459i ... 28 4 1868.. . 25.6421 ... 65 0 258i ... 37 4 l,024i ... 30 11 1869.. . 39,368i ... 60 2 2891 ... 32 0 1,659 ...26 0 AVERAGE S Foe the liAsi Six Weeks : June 12, 1869 June 19, 1869 June 26, 1869 July 3, 1869 July 10, 1869 July 17, 1869 , Aggregate of the above ... The same week in 1868 Wheat. Barley. Oats. 8. d. s. d. s. d. 46 0 37 1 26 8 46 2 32 2 27 8 46 4 32 7 29 0 47 9 35 8 26 2 48 11 30 6 27 0 60 2 32 0 26 0 47 7 33 4 27 1 65 0 37 4 30 11 FLUCTUATIONS in the AVERAGE PRICE of WUEAT. Pkicb. June 12. 50s. 2d. 4Ss.lld. 47s. 9d. 46s. 4d. 46s. 2d. 46s. Od. June 19. June 26. _j:iJr July 3. July 10. July 17. BRITISH SEEDS. MusTAHD, perbush., brown 15s, to 17s., white 15s. to 18s. CAifAnT,per qr 61s. 68a. Cloveeseed, rod 623. 68s. CoBiANDEE, per cwt 21s. 24s. Taees, winter, new, per bushel 9s. lOs. Teefoil 223. 243. Rteseass, per qr 26s. 28s. Linseed, per qr., sowing 703. to72s., crushing 60s. 62s, Linseed Cakes, per ton £11 6s. to £11 10s. Rapesbbd, per qr 66s. 748. Rape CAKE.perton £6 16s. to £7 Os, FOREIGN SEEDS. CoHiAKDEB, per cwt ■ aOs.toSls. Caeeaway ,, , 37s. 38s. Cloybbsebd, red 46s. to62s., white... 62s. 723. TBEroiL 183. 22s. RxEaBAss, per qr 26s. 283. Hempseed, small 39s. per qr Dutch... 42s. 41s. Linseed, per qr., Baltic 58s. to 61s. ..Bombay 6l3. 62s. Linseed Cakes, per ton £10 Os. to £11 Os. Rapbseed, Dutch 62s. 6l8. Rape Cake, per ton £6 103.to£7 Os. PRICES of BUTTER, CHEESE, HAMS, &c. BUTTER, per cwt. : s Dorset 120 to 122 Friesland 94 98 Jersey 84 91 Feesh, per doz. ... 14 16 BACON, per cwt : Wiltshire, green... 76 80 Irish, f.o.b 74 80 CHEESE, per cwt, Cheshire 66 to 76 Dble. Gloucester... 56 74 Cheddar 60 76 American 60 66 HAMS: York 100 108 Cumberland 98 106 Irish 92 110 HAY MARKETS. LONDON, Satuedat, July 24. Trade for new hay not so active. Prime old meadow hay, £5 7s. to £5 15s. ; inferior ditto, £4 to £5 ; new hay, £2 10s. to £1 4s. ; prime old clover, £6 to £6 10s. ; inferior ditto, £4 10s. to £5 10s. ; prime new clover, £4 15s. to £5 10s. ; inferior ditto, £2 10s. to £1 ; straw, £1 16s. to £2 2s. per load. BIRMINGHAM, Monday, July 19.— Hay, 105s. to 115s. per ton. Straw, 3s. 4d. to 3s. 8d. per cwt. BRISTOL, Feidat, July 23.— Hay, 82s. 6d, to 105s. per ton. Straw, Is. Sd. per dozen. WORCESTER, (Wednesday last.)— Hay, new, 75s. to 80s. ; old 90s. to lOOs. Straw, 45s. to 50s. BARK AND £ English, per load of 45 cwt. delivered in London 13 Coppice 0 Dutch, per ton B Hambro' 6 Antwerp Tree B Do. Coppice 6 French 0 Mimosa Chopped 8 Do. Ground 8 Do. Lone 7 TANNING MATERLVLS. B. £ B. £ s. £ s. Cork Tree, Barbary 6 OtoGlO Do. Sardinian 10 0 10 10 [0tol4 5 Valonia, Smyrna 14 10 17 0 0 0 0 Do. Camata 15 10 17 0 0 6 0 Do. Morea 12 0 14 IQ 0 G 0 Terra Japonioa: — 10 6 0 Gambler in bales 16 15 17 5 5 6 10 Ditto free cubes 20 0 23 0 0 0 0 Cutch, best Pegu ...26 0 29 0 10 OlODiviDivi 11 0 13 0 0 10 0 Myrabolans 11 0 17 0 10 9 0| Sicily, Sumach, p. cwt. 20 0 21 0 HIDE AND SKIN MAIlIvETS. MARKET HIDES: 56 to 641bs 0 314to0 3V2 64 to 721bs 0 72 to 801bs 0 3!^ 80 to 881bs 0 S% 88 to OSlbs 0 4 96tol041bs 0 0 104toll21bs 0 0 0 3W, 3% B. d. B. d. Hor.'5e hides, each ... 9 6 to 10 6 Calf skins, light 2 0 4 0 Full 7 0 0 0 Polled sheep 0 0 0 0 Half-breds 0 0 0 0 Downs 0 0 0 0 Shearlings 13 16 Lambs „ „. 2 0 2 10 £ s. Hemp, Petersburgh clean, per ton 35 Oto 0 Outshot 35 10 Half-clean 32 Riga, Rhine 44 Manilla 51 East Indian, Sunn 15 Jute _.„ 12 FLAX, £ B. to 0 0 &C. Coir yarn...- „.... £ B. 29 10 30 0 29 0 75 0 53 0 44 0 0 0 £ CO 31 36 0 54 45 0 s. 0 n 0 0 0 0 Fibre Flax, Riga 0 0 0 0 52 0 21 0 0 21 10 St. Petersburgh, 12 head 9 head Egyptian 0 0 0 PRICE CURRENT OF GUANO, &o. Peruvian Guano direct from the importers' stores, £12 15a. to £13 Os. per ton. Bones, £6 5s. to £6 lOs. Ditto Crushed, £6 10s. per ton. Animal Charcoal (70 per cent. Phosphate) £5 per ton. Coprolite, Cambridge, whole £3, ground £3 lOs.per ton. Suffolk, whole £2 10s., ground £3. Gypsum, £1 lOs. Superphosphates of Lime, £5 5s. to £C 5s. per ton. Sulphuric Acid, concentrated 1-&15 Id. per lb., brown 1712 O^d. Blood Manure, £6 5s. to £7 lOs. Dissolved Bones, £6 15a. per ton. Linseed Cakes, best American brl. £12 IDs. to £13 Os., bag £12 to £12. 15s. English £12 to £13. Cotton Seed Cake, £8 Os. to £& 10s. per ton. E. PuESEE, London Manure Company, 116, Fenchurch Street, E.G. Guano, Peruvian £12 17 6 to£13 0 0 , Linseed Cake, per ton- Bone Ash 5 10 0 Nitr. of Soda, p. ct. 0 14 3 15 0 Amer.,thin,bgs.£10 10 0to£10 15 0 0 14 6 English 0 0 0 Phosphate of Lime 0 0 10^* 0 0 irCotsd.Cake,decor. 7 10 0 00 7 15 0 0 0 0 7 15 0 0 0 0 2 6 0 Linsd.Bomby,p.qr.3 0 6 3 1 0 Niger 2 8 0 Rapeseed.Guzerat 3 2 0 3 3 0 Brimstone, 2d&3rd 6 17 G Cloverseed, N.Am. Tallow, 1st P.Y.C. 2 7 6 red,newpercwt.2 0 0 2 5 0| „ super. Norths 2 5 0 SAMUEL DOWNES and CO., General Brokers, No. 7, The Alljany, Liverpool. Agricultural Chemical Works, Stowmarket, Suffolk. Prentice's Cereal Manure for Corn Crops „. per ton £8 0 0 Mangold Manure «.«. „ 8 0 0 Prentice's Turnip Manure .......,..,.......„......*. „ 6 10 0 Prentice's Superphosphate of Lime ,. 6 0 0 Printed by Rogerson and Tuxford, 265, Strand, London, W. C. THE FARMER'S MAGAZIITE. AUGUST, 18 6 9. Club CONTENTS. Plate I. — S I R JOHN; A French draught-horse, of the percheroune Plate II. — R EX: A prize setter ; the property of mr. j, h. walsh, of comberton, worcester. Description op the Plates ..... Royal Agricultural Society of England: Meeting at Manchester The Stock Prize List .... The Annual Meeting ..... The French Society of Agriculture: Reception op the Deputation .the Prince of Wales at Manchester, &c. . Monthly Council The Implement Trials. Implement Prize List . The Implements on the Ground Good Meadows Wool. — By a Practical Farmer Amended Amendments The Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland Stirling Agricultural Society: Meeting at Stirling West Lothian Agricultural Association : Meeting at Linlithgow The Limestone Formations of England The Norfolk Agricultural Association: Meeting at Attleborough Concentrated Root Food What Drought Teaches The Rearing of Farm Horses . On Harvesting Grain Crops . The Changes in Agriculture . The Management of Strong Land : Wenlock Farmers North-east Agricultural Association of Ireland : Meeting at Belfast The Northamptonshire Agricultural Society : Meeting at Northampton The Suffolk Agricultural Society: Meeting at Ipsavich The Oxford and Banbury Agricultural Society : Meeting at Oxford The Peterborough Agricultural Society: Meeting at Peterborough RiPON AND Claro Agricultural Society: Meeting at Ripon Selby Agricultural Society ..... Mangold Culture on Heavy Soils : By Lieutenant-Colonel Luttrell Hints on Horse Breeding ..... Sheep Farming in South America . . . ; Reviews ....... The Cattle Plague Bill ..... The Small-Pox in Sheep : Mr. Sewell Read's Amendments Chemical Manures ...... Sale of the late Mr. T. Crisp's Stock, at Butley Abbey, Suffolk Railway Meat Vans, and Milk Vans, and Milk Cans . The Mangold Plant. — By Cuthbert W. Johnson, f.r.s. Local Taxation ...... \ The Thin Sowing Question . ; . . . The New Farm ...... The kind of Carrot best for Field Culture ... Meat-preserving Establishments in Australia and New Zealand The Fertility and Barrenness of Soils ... The Conveyance of Cattle and Sheep by Steam-ships. — By Professor Foreign Agricultural Gossip . . , . » , The Devonshire Chamber of Agriculture ... Farmyard Manure ...... Calendar of Agriculture . » , Calendar of Gardening . , , Agricultural Reports Agricultural Intelligence, Fairs, &c. . Review of the Corn Trade during the past Month Market Currencies, Imperial Averages, &c. breed, little PAGE. 89 90 98 102 BY Simon ds 103 151 153 157" 158 104 105 106 lor 109 110 111 113 118 119 120 122 124 126 129 130 132 134 136 137 138 139 140 143 144 145 146 147 148 159 160 162 162 163 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 177 ISO 182 ]} I r H O S P n A T E D V E il U V I A N GUANO. "pEES & CO., in S\i directing the atten- tion of Farmers to their 'B^^^^m" BIPHOSPHATED PE- 'TRADEl'MARfe. " RUVIAN GUANO," desire to point out the iidx-antanes that this Manui-e pObsesses more fully than the short Prospectus issued at the begm- ning of the year gave space for. It has always been felt that the use of 'Peruvian Guano alone must be hmited to those cases in which an abundance of real nourishment for the plant, or " food," in the shape of soluble Phos- phates and Alkaline Salts, ah-eady exists in the soil, and it is therefore chiefly applied as a top-dressing for grain, as a sti- mulant to enable plants readily to assimilate the nourish- ment previously provided for them, generally Superphos- phate added during the previous year to the root crop, or otherwise. The " BIPHOSPHATED PERUVIAN GUANO" is compounded to meet the ol)jections to which the above plan is open, viz., first, the accidental loss of Phosphates, or their removal beyond the reach of the plant by excessive moisture j secondly, by the conversion oi soluble into insoluble Phosphate of Lime, by the lime and other leases in the soil, which undoubtedly occm's on long continued contact; and thii-dly, the consequent unknown, and probably improper relation existing between the stimulating and the nom-ishing portions of the compounds formed on the addition of the Guano in the sprijig. In the " BIPHOSPHATED PERU- VIAN GUANO" the proper relative proportions Ijetween the Ammoniacal Salts and the Phosphates of Lime and the Alkalies are determined Ijeforehand, and the mixture abso- lutely, it is believed, represents the requii-ements of the grow- ing plant, whilst the combmation is such that it may, with almost equal advantage, be applied to the land as a top- tlressing, or in any other way, and is equally— m varying quantities — applicable to arable or pastiu'e lands. REES & (JO. desire to point out the very serious mistake sometimes committed by Farmers, who have endeavoured to supply a want most have felt for such a manure as this, viz., the mix- ing of Superphosphate of Lime w-ith Guano. A very small amount of chemical knowledge will show how wasteful a process this is, the fact being that a large part of the Salts of Ammonia in the Guano is emjjloyed, immediately the mix- ture is made, in rendering insoluble the I'hosphate of Lime which it has been the Manufacturer's business, at consider- able cost, to render soluble. The practice, therefore, cannot be too strongly condemned. The want, however, of a ]n-oper mixture is met in a way in which the Fanner cannot meet it for himself, in the supply of this very valuable Manure -the " BIPHOSPHATED PERUVIAN GUANO." The finest Peruvian Government Guano only is used as its basis, and after due preparation, with this is associated the large pro- portion of soluble Phosphates and Alkaline Salts, indicated in the analyses. Great consideration and the results of long experience have guided them in its manufacture, whilst low- ness of price, in relation to its value, has been a principal element in the calculations. Appended are tlie opinions of the best authorities in Agricultui'al Chemistry in confii-ma- tion of their statements, and thev confidently offer " BI- PHOSPHATED PERUVIAN GUANO" to Agricultiu'ists as a manure of the very highest class. For top-dressing "for Grain Crops they recommend 3 cwt. to 4cvvt.peracre, For di-illing for Root Crops -i i, 6 ,, ,, For Grass Land, for which it is admirably adapted 3 ,» 4 ,, ,, REES & CO., 32, King William Street, London-bridge, 20th February, 1869. BIPHOSPHATED PERUVIAN GUANO. The following are the results which I obtained in a careful anal.^Tsis of the sample of Rees' BiphoSphated Peruvian Guano, sent to me last week for examination : — Moisture 16.36 * Organic Matter, Salts of Ammonia and Water of Combination 32.37 Bipbosphate of Lime 12.87 Equal to Tribasic or Bone-phosphat e Of Lime ... 20.1G Insoluble Phosphates 2.69 Oxalate of Lime 4.76 Sulphate of Lime 21.62 tAlkaline Salts and Magnesia 6.24 Insoluble Silicious Matter 3.09 100.00 ♦Containing Nitrogen 6.17 Equal to Ammonia 7.49 tContaining Potash (K.O.) ... 2.82 The preceding analytical results show that the sample of prepared Guano sent to me for examination is a very valuable Artificial Manure, which, there is no doubt, will give great satisfaction as a general Manure for most crops, if it can be sold at a reasonable price. Practically speaking, the whole of the Phosphates in the Manm'e are rendered soluble, and the greater part of the Ammoniacal constituents of Peruvian Guano in its natural state have been transformed into non- Volatile and readily available Sulphate ot Ammonia. Unlike maost artificial Manures, the prepared Guano which you sent me contains, as you will nfJiice, an appreciable quantity of Potash, a constituent which materially adds to the value of thi.s Manure. I consider it a very good Manure for grass land and cereal crops. For root crops it may, in my opinion, with .idvantage be diluted with an equal weight of a cheap Mine- ral Superphosphate. (Signed) AUGUSTUS VOELCKER. 11, Salisbury-si|uare, Fleet-street, Feb. 23rd, 1869. REES' BIPHOSPHATED PERUVIAN GUANO. I have examined a sample of the above manure. It is a well-made article, in good condition for use, and containing, accoiding to my analj'sis, 6.8s per cent, of Ammonia, and 24.85 per cent, of Phosphate of Lime, of which 21.51 per cent, is soluble in water. Combining as this Maure does the quali- ties of Peruvian Guano and Superphosphate of Lime, I have no doubt that it will be used with excellent efl'ecl both on corn and green crops. (Signed) J. THOMAS WAY. 9, Russell-road, Kensington, Feb. 20th, 1869. I have carefully examined this sample of Messrs. Rees & Co.'s BIPHOSPHATED Peeutian Guano Sent to me, and find it to contain — Water 16.50 Organic Matter and Ammoniacal Salts 31.28 Biphosphate of Lime 11.84 Equal to Soluble Phosphates Insoluble Phosphates Sulphate of Lime Alkaline Salts Sand 18.55 1.65 33.08 2.45 3.20 100.00 Nitrogen 5.51 Equal to Ammonia 6.69 I consider this to be an excellent and well-manufactured Manure ; it is in a very high state of division, the Phosphates are almost entu-ely in the soluble form, and their quautitj- is well proportioned to that of the Ammonia. I have no hesita- tion in giving it as my opinion that it is well adapted for general use on the farm, and will be found to give satisfactory results. (Signed) THOMAS ANDERSON. ' 15, Shuttle-street, Glasgow, Feb. 18th, 1869. Having made a careful analysis, as here a^jpended, of a sample of Biphosphated Peeuvian Guano manufactured by Messis. Rees &. Co., I find it contains almost 24i per cent, of total Phosphates, of which 21^ per cent, are in the soluble condition, and as much as 7 per cent, of Ammonia, derived from Peruvian Guano ; I therefore consider this a very con- centrated and superior Manm'e, and from the excellent pro- l^ortions of its principal constituents and their complete in- coiiJoration, should prefer it even to Peruvian Guano as a generiil high-class fertilizer, as it is equally suitable for all root crops, as well as cereals, and may, in my opinion, be relied upon for giving the most satisfactory results in the field. (Signed) ALFRED SIBSON. F.C.S. Moisture 12.80 *Nitrogenized Organic Matter and Salts of Ammonia 32.08 Biphosphate of Lime 13.84 Equal to Bone Earth made Soluble 21.60 Insoluble Phosphates 2.83 Sulphate of Lime 28.79 Alkaline Salts 6.20 Insoluble Matter 3.46 100.00 ♦Containing Nitrogen 5.78 Equal to Ammonia 7.02 11, Eaton-terrace, St. .John's Wood, London, Feb., 1869. BIPHOSPHATED PERUVIAN GUANO. I have analysed a sample of this Manure manufactured by Messrs. Rees & Co., and find the following to be its compo- sition : — Moisture 14.37 ♦Organic Matter and Salts of Ammonia 33.00 Biphosphate of Lime 13.80 Equal to Neutral Pho.sphate made Soluble ... 21.54 Insoluble Pho.sphates 2.99 Sulphate of Lime 26.59 I Alkaline Salts 6.21 I Insoluble Matter 3.04 100.00 ♦Containing Nitrogen 5.76 Equal to Ammonia 6.99 This Manure is unquestionably of the very highest class. The large per-centage of Ammonia , accompanied as it is with 21-i per cent, of Soluble Phosphate of Lime, and more than 6 per cent, of Alkaline Salts, leaves no room to doubt that its application to both cereal and root crops, as well as to grass land, will be attended with very great advantage. ' (Signed) G. H. OGSTON. 22, Mincing-lane. London, 20th Feb., 1869. BIPHOSPHATED PERUVIAN GUANO. REES & CO., 32, King William Street, London Bridge. First-class Agents wanted for several Districts. March 3rd, 1869, ' CHEAP SUNDAY AND WEEK-DAY READIN(i FOR THE PEOPLE. Now rublishing, Cl)e €i)m'd) of Ctiijlanti iBajffajtne, A VERY CHEAP RELIGIOUS PERIODICAL, Containing original contributions by sevei'al of the Bishops j luteuding subscribers are requested to send their orders and many other distinguished Divines ; Narratives ; Sketches i without delay, as the back volumes and parts are now of Natural History ; Biography, Missionary rroceodmRS, j l;ecoming vbey ecabce. Juvenile Reading, Poeiry, &c., with a Register of Eccle- siastical Intelligence ; the whole combining amusement with j As the Magazine enjoys a circulation far exceeding that of instruction, in a style suited for all classes of readers. I any other chiuxh periodical, and is read by all classes of A series of Parish Churches, with Illustrations of a superior society, it will be found a very eligible medium for Adver- kind is in course of publication. This series, which will be tisements, which arc conspicuously printed, and inserted at of a very extended character, will be foxmd of particulai* | the most reasonal^le mte. interest. Vol. LXVI., Imperial 8vo., Embossed Cloth, 480 pages, with highly-finished Illustrations of Parish Churches, price 6«. 6d. London : Publiflhed in weekly numbers, price Ijd., and in monthly parts, price 9d., by S. BWINS & SON, 9, Ave Maria Lane; ROGERSON & TUXFORD, 265, Strand, W.C. j and sold by all Booksellers. This day, crown 8vo., price 8s, 6d.j HOW CROPS GROW : a Treatise on the Chemical Composition, Structure, and Life of the Plant, for Agricultural Students. With Illustrations and Tables of Analyses. By SAMUEL W. JOHNSON, M.A., Trofcssor of Analytical and Agricultural Chemistry in the Sheffield Scientific School of Vale College, &c. &c. &c. Revised with numerous additions, and adapted for English use, by A. H. Church, M.A., and W. T. T. Dyer, B.A., Professors at the Boyal Agricultural CoUege, Cirencester. London: Macmillan and Co. In Demy, Svo., with Illustrations, price Is., HARVESTING OF CORN IN WET WEATHER, By GILBERT MURRAY. Bemeose and Sons, 21, Paternoster Row, and Derby. NEW WORK BY THE AUTHOR OF " MANHOOD." Post Free from the Author, 12 Stamps ; Sealed Ends, 16 Stamps. DR. CURTIS'S MEDICAL GUIDE TO MARRIAGE : a Practical Treatise on ITS Physical and Personal Obligations. With instructions to the Manied and Unmarried of both Sexes, for removing the special disqualifications and impediments which destroy the happiness of wedded life, founded on the result of a successful practice of 30 years. — By Dk. J. L. CURTIS, M.D., 15, Albemarle Street, Piccadilly, London, W. Also, by the same Author, a New and Revised Edition of MANHOOD : A MEDICAL ESSAY on the Causes and Cure of Premature Decline IN Man ; the Treatment of Nervous Debility, Spermatorrhoea, Impotence, and those peculiar infii-mities which result from youthful abuses, adult excesses, tropical climates, and other causes ; with Instructions for the Cure of Infection without Mercmy, and its Prevention by the Author's Prescription (liis infallible Lotion). REVIEWS OF THE WORK. " Manhood. — This is tnaly a valuable work, and should be in the hands of young and old." — Sundan Times 23rd March, 1858. " The book under review is one calculated to warn and instruct the erring, without imparting one idea that can vitiate the mind not already tutored by the vices of which it treats."— iV«f«/ and Militaru Gazette, 1st February, 1856. "^ ' " We feel no hesitation in saying that there is no member of society by whom the book will not be found use* fol, whether such person hold the relation of a Parent, Preceptor, or Clergyman." — Sun, Evening Paper. Manhood.—" Dr. Curtis has conferred a great boon by publishing this little work, in which is described the som-ce of those diseases which produce decline in youth, or more frequently, premature old ase." — Bailu Telegraphy March 27, 1856. ^ J> i s y Loudon : Published by Allen, 11, Ave Maria Lane, Paternoster-row ; and Mann, 39, Cornhill ; and sent free by Book Post from the Author or Publishers for 12 Postage Stamps, or in sealed envelopes, 20 Stamps, Consultations daily, from 10 to 3 and 6 to 8. 15, Albemakle Street, Piccadiily, W. mntitt tfit patronage of SLxia Hogal dFamilg oe ®reat 9Stitain, ant) iffourts of (i^urope. and universally HELD IN HIGH ESTEEM. ROWLANDS' MACASSAR OIL, Is universally known as the only article tliat 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 Dandriflf, and makes it BJEAUTIFUIiliY ^OFX, IPMABIiE, Al¥» CJtOSSX^ In the growth of tlie BEARD, WHISKERS, and MUSTACHIOS, tisimfaiUug in its stimulative operation. For CHILDREN it is especially recommended as forming the basis of a BEAUTIFUL HEAD OF HAIR ; while 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. ^irOirDKltFUIi RCCOVXIRY OF HAIR. •' A striking instance of the power of scientific art to remedy tiie defects of nature has lately occurred in the case of a Mr. F. Balls, a gentleman 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 which 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 Rev. J. E. Daniel, then clergyman of the parish, offered him a wig as a substitute for his lost hair. Under these circura- itances he was lately induced to try the efifect of Rowlaicds' Macassau Oil, and it is gratifying to add with the most happy 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 head 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., Ts. Family Bottles (equal to four small), 10s. Gd. 5 and double that size, 21s. ROWLANDS' KALYDOF, This Royally-patronized and Ladies'-estecmed Specific exerts the most soothing, cooling, and purifying action on the Skin, eradicates Freckles, Tan, PiMples, Spots, Discoloration., and other Cata.neoiiM Visitatioiis, and renders XHXI ^KIIV ^OFT, €£ BliOOMIIVGi^. During the heat and dust of Summer, the frost and bleak winds of Winter, and in cases of sunburn, stings of insects, or incidental inflammation, its virtues are universally acknowledged. — Price 4s. 6d. and 8s, 6d. per bottle. WXZITi: AND SOUND TEIETH Are iudispensablo to PERSONAL ATTRACTION, and to health and longevity by the proper mastication of food, ROWLANDS' O DON TO, OR PEARL DENTIFRICE Compounded of ORIENTAL INGREDIENTS is of inestimable value in P»£^CRVI]¥€^ A]!¥» BEAUTIFYIlfC^ THE TEETH, S^TRKirOTHEIVIIVO THE O U H S, and ill givins a PLEASING FRAGRANCE TO TBE BREATH. It eradicates Tartar from the Teeth, removes spots of incipient decay, and polishes and preserves the enamel, to which it imparts a PEARL-LIKE WHITENESS. As the most efficient and fragrant aromatic purifier of the Breath, Teeth, and Gums ever known, EOWLANDS' ODONTO has, for a long series of years, occupied a distinguished place at the Toilets of the Sovereigns 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. ROWLAND & SONS, 20, Hatton Garden, London, and by Chemists and Ferfumers. V Ask for <• HOWI^AHAti' ". Articles. /J I ' /'•^ No. 4, Vol. XXXVL] OCTOBER, 1869. Thiud Series. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, AMD MONTHLY JOURNAL OJ THE ACtRICULTUEAL INTEEEST. TO THE FARMERS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. LONDON : PUBLISHED BYROGERSON AND TUXFORD, 265, STRAND. PRICE TWO SHILLINGS. ROQERSON AND TUXFORD,] [PRINTERS, 266, STRAND. IMPORTANT TO THOMAS BIGG, Agricultural aud Veterinary Oheiniat, by Appointment to His lato Royal Higlmess The Prince Consort, K.G., Leicester House, Great Dover Street, Borough, London, begs to call the attention of Farmers aud Graziers to his valuable SHEEP and LAMB DIPPING COMPOSITION, which requires no Boiling, and may be used with Warm or Cold Water, for effectually destroymg the Tick, Lice, and all other insects injurious to the Flock, preventing the alarming attacks of Fly and Shab, and cleansing and pm-ifying the Skin, thereby greatly im- proving the Wool, both in quantity and quality, and highly contributhig to the general health of the animal. Prepared only by Thomas Bigg, Chemist, &c., at his Manu- factory 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 101b. 60 „ „ „ 0 5 0 20 lb. 100 „ „ (cask and measui-e 0 10 0 30 lb. 150 „ „ included) 0 15 0 401b. 200 „ „ „ 10 0 601b. 250 „ „ „ 13 6 601b. 300 „ „ „ 17 6 80 lb. 400 ,. „ „ 1 17 6 1001b. 600 „ „ „ 2 6 0 Shovild any Flockmaster prefer boiling the Composition, it will bo equally effective. MOST IMPORTANT CERTIFICATE. From Ml". Heeepath, the celebi'ated Analytical Chemist :— Bristol Laboratory, Old Park, January 18th, 1861. Sir,— I have submitted youi- Sheep Dipping Composition to analysis, and find that the ingredients are well blended, and the mixtm-e neutral. If it is used according to the directions given, I feel satisfied, that while it effectually destroys vermin, it wiU not iujm-e the hair roots (or " yolk") in the skin, the fleece, or the carcase. I think it deserves the numerous testimonials published. I am, Sir, yours respectfully, William Heeapath, Sen., F.C.S., &c., &c.. To Mr. Thomas Bigg, Professor of Chemistry. Leicester House, Great Dover-street, Borough, London. FLOCKMASTERS. He would also especially call attention to his SPECIFIC, or LOTION, for the SCAB or SHAB, which wiU be found a certain remedy for eradicating that loathsome and rutaous 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, AprU 16th, 1855. "Dear Sh", — In answer to yours of the 4th inst., which would have been repUed to before this had I been at home, I have much pleasure in bearing testimony to the efficacy of your invaluable ' Specific for the cure of Scab in Sheep.' The 600 sheep were all di-essed in August last with 84 gallons of the 'Non-poisonous Specific,' that was so highly recom- mended at the Lincoln Show, and by their own dresser, the best attention being paid to the flock oy my shepherd after dressing according to instructions left ; but notwithstanding the Scab continued getting worse. Bemg 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 dming the di-essiug, your Specific 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 beUeve it to be the safest aud best remedy now La use. " I remain, dear Sir, " For JOHN TINGEY, Esq., " To Mr. Thomas Bigg." "R. RENNET. I^g" Flockmasters would do well to beware of such pre- parations as " Non-poisonous Compositions :" it is only necessary to appeal to their good common sense and judg- ment to be thoroughly 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 Ufe. Such advertised preparations must be wholly useless, or they are not what they are represented to be. DIPPING APPARATUS £14, £5, £4, & £3. THE ROYAL FARMERS' INSURANCE COMPANY, 3, NORFOLK STREET, STRAND, LONDON, W.O. CAPITAL. — Persons insured by this Company have the security of an extensive and wealthy proprietary, as well as an ample Capital always applicable to the payment of claims without delay. LIFE DEPARTMENT— BONUS.— Insurers of the participating class wiU be entitled to four.fifths of the profits. FIRE DEPARTMENT,- Ist Class — Not Hazardous , Is. 6d. per Cent. 2nd Class — Hazardous , 2s. 6d. „ 3rd Class — Doubly Hazardous 4s. 6d. „ BUILDINGS and MERCANTILE Property of every description in Public or Private Warehousct..— Distillers, Steam Engines, Goods in Boats or Canals, Ships in Port or Harbour, &c, &c., are Insured in this Office at moderate rates. SPECIAL RISKS. — At such rates as may be considered reasonable. NEW INSURANCES.— No charge made for Policy or Stamp. FARMING STOCK.— 5s. per cent., with liberty to use a Steam Thrasliing Machine without extra charge. Nearly FIVE MILLIONS Insured in this Office. SEVEN YEARS' INSURANCES may be effected on payment of Six Years' Premium only. LIGHTNING and GAS.— Losses by Fire occasioned by Lightning, and Losses by Explosion qf Gas when used for Lighting Buildings will be allowed for. RENT. — The Loss on Rent while Buildings remain untenantable through fire may be provided against. HAIL DEPARTMENT.— (Crops and Glass.) Policies to protect parties from Loss by the destruction of Growing Crops or Glass, by Hail, arfe grained ou Moderate Terms. LOSSES. — Prompt aud liberal settlement. AGENTS WANTED, Apply to JOHN REDDISH, Esq., Secretary and Actuaiy, l^ c^ >^ >s^ 4^U^\;3^|^^^^ THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE OCTOBER, 1869. PLATE I. THE LITTLE QUEEN; a Prize Sow. THE PROPERTY OF MR. R. E. DUCKERING, OF NORTHORPE, KIRTON-LTNDSEY, LINCOLN. The Little Queen, a white sow of the small breed, was two years anJ a week old when exhibited at the Manchester Meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society of Enj^land, where and when sbe took the first prize iua large class which the judges generally commended as "one of more than ordinary merit." In 1868 she also took first prizes atThorne, Roch- dale, Keighley, Penistone, Halifax, Wakefield, and Banbury ; and second prizes at the Highland Society, Grimsby, and Richmond. During the past season she took first prizes at the Southamp- ton Meeting of the Bath and West of Eng- land Society, at the Colchester Meeting of the Essex Society, at the Attleborough Meeting of the Norfolk Society, at the Ipswich Meeting of the Suffolk Society, at the Manchester Royal, at the Lincoln Meeting of the Lincolnshire Society, at Hexham, and the Altona International Meet- ing; and second prizes at Wharfdale, Beverley, Hunsleet, and Penip/tone. The Little Queen was, however, not noticed at the Leicester Meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society in 1S68. Mr. Turner, of Chyngton, one of the judges at Attle- borough, declared at the dinner that the Little Queen was " as good a pig as ever he saw." She is very round, of wonderful quality, with a nice kindly head and collar, as, if possible, still better in her hams and quarters. Moreover, she is pro- perly eligible for the class she has been shown in, being really of the small breed, and this is saying something as times go. The Little Queen, bred by Mr. Duckering, is by Comet, out of White Rose by Hermit. Comet won twenty-six prizes in his time, including Royal pre- miums in 1SG7 and 1868; and White Rose (late Lily), was first in a class of twenty-four at Bury St, Edmunds, as well as a winner of seventeen other premiums. PLATE II. 'THE DAY AFTER THE FAIR, Hie ! Hie ! Hie ! Let him go ! Send him along ! Give him his head ! Hie ! Hie ! Hie! is the cry, as job-job go those armed heels against poor old Hackabout's sides, although he is at full stretch and as free as over-taxed bridled liberty can be, 'Tis the day after the fair, but there is no rest for poor Hackabout, who has seen as many ups and downs by the look of his knees as his fair namesake, the heroine of one of Hogarth's well-known series. He is as game as a pebble, but much too fast to last, and, like many of our over-taxed racing stock, has fallen into the hands of the lowest of dealers. During this Michaelmas Fair time such a scene will be often realized by the way side. THE SEA COAST OF DEVON, AND ITS HARVESTS. BY CUTIIBERT "W. JOHNSON, F.R.S. The tourist, who explores the bright shores of Devon and Cormvall, is sure to be impressed with the vast con- tributions which the sea affords. He beholds in almost every inlet collections of sea-weeds, heaps of calcareous saud being carried away to eurich the soil, and a line race of fishermen whose fish startles the visitor by its reported amount. Old Skriks.] It was in the last month (September), that we were lo- cated at Salcombe, at the entrance of the estuary of Kings- bridge, amid fanners, sailors, and fishermen, all busily employed, all looking well, and independent. In Devon and Cornwall, indeed, you meet with few symptoms of poverty : we rarely saw a beggar. Thtre is a grandeur in the dark mica slate cliffs which X ^ rVoi.. LXVI.— No. 4. 278 THE FAEMEE'S MAGAZINE. surround the mouth of this bay, whicli impresses the visitor from more level districts. These uoble rocks are perforated with deep caves, and small coves, in which the sea deposits large masses of sea-weeds and fine sand, abounding iu the finely broken shells of sea fish, both of which are extensively carted away by the neighbouring farmers. The sand is even carried in barges for some miles up the Kingsbridge estuary, and is largely employed by the farmers at a cost of about ninepence per ton. These large semi-transparent weeds are collected in their freshest state, and in the spring of the year are imme- diately ploughed iu at the rate of from 30 to 40 one-horse cart loads per acre. In other seasons, when the land is not ready to be ploughed, the sea-weeds are mixed with earth, sea sand, or farm yard manure, but there is not so much advantage derived by this mode of using them. A little farmer whom I found in the noble Cove of Hope, to the west of the Bolt Tail, busily employed in carting away these weeds, observed, "they are not half as good when we do not plough them in as we collect them." The refuse matters of the pilchard, and other fisheries which have also long been used as manure in Cornwall and Devon, are very powerful fertilizers. All the chemi- cal examinations with which we are acquainted, tend to support the conclusion of the farmers of those counties. To give only one or two instances. Sprats were examined by Professor Way {Jour. Roi/. Ag. Soc, vol. x., p. 611), and he found in 100 parts of this fish : Water 64.60 Oil 19.50 Nitrogenous Matter 15.90 The mineral portion or ash formed 2.12 per cent, of the fish. 100 parts of this ash contained ; Phosphoric acid 43.53 Lime 23.57 Magnesia 3.01 Per-oxide of iron 0.28 Potash 17.23 •Soda 1.19 Common Salt 11.19 100 These researches are the more valuable since, if, as is not improbable, our supply of guano may cease, it wiU then become a serious question, Can a'supply of a some- what similar composition be obtained from our great sea fisheries ? Now the [following is an analysis of a dry powder for manure prepared at Newfoundland, some years since from the decomposed, dried, and powdered refuse of the cod fishery, {ibid, vol. xiv., p. 394. Moisture 1.00 Nitrogenous organic matter 80.00 Soluble salts (common salts, carb. of ammonia) 4.50 Phosphate of lime and magnesia 14.10 Carbonate of lime 0.06 Silica 0.02 Magnesia and loss 0.32 100 The estuary of Kingsbridge occupies no inconsiderable portion of the Devon districts called the South Hams. This fine tract of country is tenanted by a well-to-do race of farmers, chiefly occupied in the breeding and rearing of stock. Their flocks of white-faced sheep, if not very large, are excellent in quality and condition. Here too are fine herds of the noble Devon cattle, with their bright red skins, so soft to the touch, their light and tranquil action, and their very couutenauces indicating comfort and prosperity. From the extent to which the breeding of stock is carried on in this part of the county the cul- tiyatwa gf the laud is chiefly adapted to that object, The rotation of crops knownas the Old Devonian is that com' monly followed, viz., turnips, wheat, barley, oats, then seeds, two to six or more years. The mildness, and moisture of the climate, materially promotes the growth of green crops. The mean temperature of Devonshire is, in fact, about 1.5 degrees above that of the southern and midland counties of England; and yet, dming the summer months its temperatiu'C is rather below that of our southern counties. The insensible moisture of the atmos- phere of the county is greater, dm-ing the months of May, June, and July, than that of those counties ; but in much of the other portions of the year it is drier. The rainfall of South Devon, however, is greater than that of our coun- ties more to the eastward. The mean of two series of ob- servations recorded at Exeter and Torquay, make the an- nual depth of rain to be equal to 31.56 inches. This amoimt gradually diminishes as we travel through Dorset, Wilts, and Hampshire, until we find in Surrey an annual rainfall of about 23 inches, and in Essex about 20 only. The tourist from our more level counties when he visits the mouth of Kingsbridge harbour, and remarks the steep- ness of some of the arable fields which surround the Bolt Head, cannot bat be surprised by the success with which the Devon farmers cultivate them, for the ploughing of these hillside fields would seem very difficult. This ob- stacle is, however, successfully overcome, the ploughing is very fair, although the farm horses are by no means of a superior order. This great dark, frowning promontory of the Bolt Head was the commencement of the troubles which haunted the Spanish Armada. It was the first land which the Spanish admiral made after the arrival of his vast fleet in the English Channel. Mistaking this great headland for the Ramhead, near Plymouth, and knowing that in that noble port lay the English fleet under Lord Howard, Sir Francis Drake, and other great sailors, he acted on this erroneous impression. He stood out to sea, intending to return the following morning, and attack the English fleet as it lay at anchor. This was a mistake fatal to the Armada. The Spanish fleet had been seen; the alarm was given ; the news reached Lord Howard when he was playing with some of his captains at bowls, on the Hoe, at Plymouth ; om- fleet got under weigh and out of port ; and, as we all know, it hung around the huge Armada until its destruction was ensured. As I have on another occasion remarked, the carbonate of lime, of which the pulverised shells of the sea-sand are so largely composed, is the chief reason why they are employed so extensively to fertilise the soils resting on the slate rocks of Devon and Cornwall. Ei'om many of these soils carbonate of lime, so essential an ingredient in all fertile land, is found in very insufficient proportions. The agriculturist who travels around the shores of Devon and Cornwall, will note these things. Neither will he omit to remark the very brilliant sea-water which sur- rounds them. Being free from rivers, except those which flow chiefly over hard rocky beds, scarcely auy muddy waters are poured into their estuaries. The rolling seas of these western counties break almost entu'ely against the hard formations of the granite, the serpentine, and the mica slate, which have from time immemorial resisted the attacks of the ocean without muddying its waters. It is probably fi'om this purity of the sea-Avater that we only here meet with certain fish, such as the John Dory and the pilchard, which last is not found much farther to the eastward than the Start Point. The varieties of fish, and the amount which we acquire from the sea, will hardly fail to interest the reader. These questions become of the greater importance when we remember what enormous amounts of organic matters are incessantly pouring iuto the sea, ia the di'ainage of THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 279 ouv lands, and oiu" densely popidated places, and when wc farther recollect that as a recompense for these immense and inipoverishiug streams of liquid manure, the sea returns to us little except its calcareous sands, its weeds, and its fish. Let us then inquire as to the amount of fish which the fisherman annually brings on shore (and there is not a finer race of lishermeu in the world than those of Devon and Cornwall), aud to what extent he restores to the laud the vast amount of organic matters which our drains and rivers pour into the sea. Here wc have the evidence contained m the report of Iler Majesty's Commissioners appointed to inquire into our sea fisheries. They remark Qieporf. vol. i., p. 10): "The great importance of fish as an article of food may be clearly shown by a compari- son of the total supply of fish and beef to London in the course of a single year. Neither in the case of fish nor of beef is it possible to give accurate statistics. But it has been roughly estimated that London consumes 300,000 fat cattle annually, which at an average weight of 0 cwt. each, would amount to 90,000 tons of beef. At this time there are between 800 and 900 trawl vessels engaged in supplying the London market with fish, and assuming the annual take for each to average 90 tons, this would give a total of some 80,000 tons of trawled fish. This quantity is irrespective of the vast quantities of herrings, sprats, shell-fish, and other descriptions of fish which are supplied by other modes of fishing. In fact," as the Commissioners add, " on the east coast of England, and in the London fish market, the trade divide the fish into two classes — ' prime' and ' offal.' The ' prime' comprise sole, tui'bot, brill, and cod. The ' oft'al' are chiefly haddock, plaice, and whiting. The term ' offal' seems to have been .introduced when the demand for fish and the means of conveying it to market were much more limited than at present, aud when it was therefore often found necessary to throw overboard much of the less valuable descriptions, which could not bear the cost of transport. The use of the word ' oft'al'^ may now be held to signify the more plentiful and lower-priced class of fish, which finds its way in the greatest abun- dance to the large towns." One of the largest salesmen in Billingsgate, in speaking of the great increase in the supply of fish, remarked to the Commissioners : " We formerly could not get our fish to market with the same facility that wc do now. Then it was not unusual to throw away on an average one-half of the produce of the voyage before we came home. Now we do not throw away a fish's eye. Some of our baskets may only fetch Ss., while others will fetch £3 or £4. Now we have food for the poor and food for the rich." The proportion of " prime" and " offal" fish caught by the trawl varies con- siderably, but may be taken at an average of one-fourth "in-ime" to three-fourths of the "offal." Of "prime," sole seems to be the general favourite. It is more eaten in London than any other description of " prime" fish, and during the smumer a considerable supply is sent daily from the London fish-market to Paris. As the Commissioners remark : "The produce of the sea around our coasts bear a far higher proportions to that of the land than is generally imagined. The most frequented fishing gi-ounds are much more prolific of food than the same extent of the richest land. Once in the year an acre of good land carefuUy tilled produces a ton of corn, or two or three cwts. of meat, or cheese. The same area at the bottom of the sea on the best fishing grounds yields a greater weight of food to the persevering fisherman every week in the year. Five vessels belonging to the same owner, in a single night's fishing, brought in 17 tons' weight of fish, an amount of wholesome food equal in weight to that of 50 cattle, or 300 sheep. The ground which these vessels covered dimng the night's fishing could not have exceeded an area of 50 acres." Large as is the present supply of fish, and considerable the refuse of our fisheries as manure, much greater things are yet to be accomplished in this way, in both our sup- ply of food, and of dressings for our laud. On the first of these questions the Commissioners observe : " The evi- dence we liave taken, coupled with the increasing scarcity and high price of butcher's meat, leaves no doubt in our minds that a great field is open for the application of in- creased capital and skill to our sea-fisheries. Within the last two years a single London company have increased their fishing fleet by ten sailing, and two steam vessels. The same course is being followed by others, and though by such means the su))ply of fish to Billingsgate is con- stantly increasing, it fails to keep pace with the demand. The well known fishing grounds of the North Sea, are jet only partially fished. The Dogger Bank, which has an area of several hundred square miles, and is most prolific of fish, is to a great extent imworked by the trawlers, and new grounds are still being discovered where fish are found in great abundance. Between England and the continent the average depth of the Gcnnan Ocean is 90 feet. One fifth of it is occupied by banks, which are al- ways being added to by the muddy deposits of the rivers of both countries. In extent they are equal to the super- ficial area of Ireland. To these banks the animals of the ocean chiefly resort, and the great and prolific field is free to the industry of us all." Few persons indeed, are aware of the extent of our sea fisheries. The summary of the report for 1868 of the Commissioners of the British fisheries briefly alludes to some interesting statistics. The commissioners observe : " The total quantity of herrings cvired during 1868 was 651,4331 barrels, the total quantity branded 209,4G2i barrels, and the total quantity exported, 368,744f bar- rels, being a decrease from the preceding year of 174,155^ barrels in the total quantity cured ; of 107,958^ barrels in the total quantity branded ; and of 109,959^ barrels in the total quantity exported. In the cod and ling fishery, the returns show that in the year 1808, 113,831 cwts. were cured dried, and 9,659 barrels cured in pickle ; and that the total quantity ex- ported was 52,403 cwts. cured dried; being a decrease from the preceding year of 5,8074 cwts. in the total quan- tity cured dried ; and of 1,160 barrels in the total quan- tity cm'ed in pickle ; but an increase of 6,178 cwts. in the total quantity exported. From the fishery statistics, it will be seen that in the year 1868, 14,300 boats, manned by 46,417 fishermen and boys, were employed in the herring and cod and ling fisheries, and that the total estimated value of boats, nets, and lines employed in these fisheries in the same period was £1,041,809 ; being an increase over the preceding year of 92 boats, and 198 fishermen and boys, and of £21,621 in the estimated value of boats, nets, and lines." And then as to the extent of the trawl fishery, Her Majesty's Commissioners observe in theu* \st Report, p. 19 : " Leaving out of consideration the minor ports, and taking account only of the Thames, Yarmouth, the Humber, Ramsgate, Brixham, Plymouth, Livei-pool, Fleetwood, and Dublin, no fewer than 955 sail of trawlers of between 40 and 60 tons are employed in the North Sea, the Channel, and St. George's Channel. These vessels are manned by at least 5,000 souls, they represent a capital of at the very lowest estimate £1,000,000, and they supply the market daily with probably not less than 300 tons of fish." The progress of some of the great branches of our sea fisheries may be seen from the following returns of the fish cured since the year 1811, X 2 280 THE FAKMER'S MAGAZINE. ~ The number of barrels of wliite herrings cured was in the years ending April 5 : 1811 91,827 1821 442,195 1831 439,370 1841 557,263 1850 770,698 (The returns for England ceased this year.) 1861. .For Scotland only the barrels cured amounted to 668,838 1808 ditto ditto 651,433 Tlie amount of cod, ling, and hake cured — dry and in pickle — since 1826 was as follows: Dried cwts. Pickled barrels. 1826 69,136 5,621 1836 181.6 1856 (Scotland only) 1866 1868 38,040 0,276 92,323 5,037 110,504 0,642 115,819 9,957 113,831 9,659 Of the pilchards, at the great fishery of Devon and Corn- wall, the amount annually cured varies very considen-ably. The following table gives the amount of pilchards takeu in Cornwall and Devon duiing 7 years — 1857 to 18G3. Hogsheads. 1857 15,898 1858 18,479 1859 3,145 1860 3,920 1861 10,988 1803 17,807 1863 30,057 Then there are the salmon fisheries of Devon, which might be so protected as to be far more productive and valuable to the owners and to the public than at present. I have no return of the weight of salmon caught in the rivers of Devonshire. That the amount of salmon sold at Billingsgate is large and increasing is a fact ; 1,722 tons were sold at that market in the year 1868. Why the salmon fisheries of Devon and Cornwall should have diminished in their produce, was well described by Mr. P. Biickland at the recent meeting of the British Association at Exeter (U'esieni ilor/ibii/ Netcn), when he remarked that " It Avell becomes us to inquire into the causes why the Devon and Cornwall rivers and estuaries do not yield a larger amount of salmon than formerly. No doubt the progress of civilization has materialjy affected the interests of a wild water-fox like the salmon, and it must be also recollected that the local people do not enjoy the produce of their own rivers to the extent that they did in former times ; and as Devonshire cream and Devonshire chickens are now sent off by railway to Loudon, so doubtless Devonshire salmon go also. But at the same time it must be borne in mind that the wealth of the counties is increased by the money which the fish fetch in the London market. If therefore the Devonshire and Cornwall rivers be cultivated, a new source of wealth will be added to the communities living on and near the rivers. Nearly all English and Welsh rivers suffer under four great evils — firstly weirs, which prevent the fish ascending the streams to bi-eed ; secondly, pollutions, which either deter them from taking the river, or poison them when they are actually in it ; thirdly, poachers ; fourthly, mill leats. Now the Taw and Torridge complain of weirs ; the Camel is terribly pol- luted with clay works, and is blocked out by a big weir at Bodmin ; the Fowey has its upper waters much pol- luted by china clay works ; the Plym complains of mineral water from mines and mineral refuse at its mouth ; the Tamar says that all her best tishiug pools are filled up by the Drakewalls mines ; the Avon is polluted by a sail-cloth manufactory at South Brent; the Dart is obstructed by a terrible weir at Totnes, and another at Buckfast Abbey ; the Teign is very much polluted by refuse water from mines ; the Otter happily is free from both evils ; the Axe is obstructed by a very bad weir at Axminster, and four others above it ; and the Exe is worst of all, for it has five weirs, and pollutions without end, especially from paper-mills. In order therefore to increase the supply of fish in these rivers, they should have a free access from the top to the bottom of the river at all times, and should have uucontaminated water when they get to the upper streams. The river Exc, I may boldly say, has been utterly ruined by weirs, these weirs being five in number. In olden times salmon were very plentiful in the Exe, two miles above Exeter. In proof of this, Mr. Gidley, of Exeter, gives the following extract from the Corporation books, dated 21st Septem- ber, 1601 : ' And they agreed that Mr. Crossinge, Mr. Newcombe, and Mr. Hunt, shall have the fishing of salmons in the river Exe, for five years from the feast of St. Michael the Archangel next, and they pay to rente £50, and to fine £35, under the condition that John Alsop late held the same.' Putting this sum of money into its present worth, the value of the rent and fine together would be about £425. The Exe itself has mag- nificent spawning grounds above Tiverton, on Exmoor." The agriculturist who, from our more level counties, makes a pilgrimage to these western coasts, will be deeply interested in the facts to which I have alluded. If he there misses the great holdings to which he may be used at home, he will yet see many things novel and instructive, lie will there note very great and successful efforts to enrich the land by the fertilising matters thrown up on the sea shore ; and although a farmer who prides himself upon the good order of his implements, his horses, and his yard-buildings, may not admire the con- dition of those found in some portions of South Devon, yet he wiU quit with regret its lovely scenery, and will not fail to appreciate the comfort, the independent bear- ing, the kindly feeling, and the general intelligence which so well marks the character of its inhabitants. SHEEP FARMING ON STRONG LAND. At a general meeting of the members of the Newcastle Far- mers' Club, Mr. William Bell, of Harlow Hill, said : This subject is one of considerable importance, and must frequently have engaged the attention of all concerned in the cultivation of strong land, and more especially in this county, where land of this character is so extensive. Taking into consideration the improbability of a permanent rise in the price of grain, the mcreasing demand for Libour.aud, on the other hand, the en- lianced price of butcher meat and consequent demand for pas- turage, it becomes all the more imperative that the subject should be considered in all its bearings, and some decision arrived at as to the best mode of applying it to feeding pur. poses. On such soils the cereal crops are chiefly depended upon, and in the preparation for them, if the expenditure can- not be curtailed, or an increase take place in the price of the produce, or crops of a liiore valuable description can be sub- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 281 stituttnl, it appears io lie very improbable that after tlie im- provement elfeeti'cl by drainage tlie laud will be much further increased in value. J5y the use of manures and good manaj,e- ment it willbe brought to a higher state of cultivatiou,tliercby yielding a hivger produce; but loo frequently, as sooi\ as these are witiulrawu, it recedes to its former state. On the less retentive portions, turuips, rape, and cabbages may be grown ; but it is important to iuipiirc whether these can be grown to advaulage. I'or such crops it is essential to have the land prepared and tlie seed sown in proper season ; and as the dis- advantage of comnieneiug operations too early is well known, tile work must be performed in a much more limited time than is required on land of a freer nature ; consequently more horse power is required, greater expense and risk are entailed, and the objections to consuming tlie crops on the ground are so great as scarcely to warrant the production of tiiem to any great extent, llowever, 1 believe it will be generally admitted tliat of the abovementioncd roots the cultivation of the turnip will be |found most profitable ; and as there exists a diversity of opinion as to whether strong arable soils capable of growing green erojis can be more remuneratively employed in the feed- ing of stock than if laid to grass, I will endeavour to show tlie number of sheep likely to be prolitably fed on the turnips grown on such land, worked on the four-course system — assuming the roots are drawn olf the land as early as possible — stored up and consumed upon a dry and well-sheltered pasture, care are being taken that the land from which they are led is suificiently dry so as to prevent it from being poached or cut in liic operation, otiierwise it not unfrequeiitly follows tjiat a deiieiency is expe- rienced in the yield of the succeeding corn and hay crops. I may here mention that sheep fed under cover will consume a less quantity of food, and.perhaps feed quicker; but by such as a mode I don't think there is mueli to be gained ; they require considerably more attention, and if laid on to grass in the spring, I have noticed that tliey do not make the same progress or feed so quickly as those fed in the usual way. The extent of strong land a man and a pair of horses will be able to cultivate on the four-course system, one fourth being in turuips, is ii acres. We have first 11 acres turnips, averaging say 14- tons per acre ; and as a sheep can- not be depended upon leaving more tlian 3s. 4d. per month, and will consume in that time about 7 cwt. of turnips, the eleven acres of turuips will carry seveuty-three slieep six months, leaving £73 ; eleven acres of barley, five quarters per acre, at 2Ss. per quarter, £17; eleven acres of hay, one ton per acre, at £!• per ton, £-11 ; eleven acres of oats, five quarters per acre, at 3Us. per quarter, £55 ; eleven acres of oat straw, £11 — making a total of £2G0 for the forty-four acres. The straw and liay supposed to be eaten on the premi- ses, and the manure made to lie applied to the land for the corn crops. From the above we must deduct expenses as fol- lows : — Keep of horses, wages for man, small work, black- smitli and joiner's work, &e., £110 ; seed for the above-named crops, £17 ; manure for turnips £27 10s. From the average value of crops we may put down rent, iueluding rates, at 2Ss. per acre, i.e., £61 13s. ; total, £216 2s. The capital required will be six times the rent, or say £3'o9, and the amount of profit, after deducting the expenses, being £43 8s., is at tlie rate of £11 J per cent, for interest on capital, management, and casualties. You will perceive by those figures that the average yield of crops has uot been taken, but is still liable to be atfected by unfavourable seasons. Assuming such land to be worked with a bare fallow, sixty acres will be as easily cul- tivated witli the same capital and at the same cost as 44 acres with a root crop ; and calculating on the same principle, mak- ing allowance for extra small work and manure, which the root crop requires, it will be found to leave £13^- percent., showing that the advantage of a turnip crop on strong soils is more than met by the additional cost it is attainable at. From tlie above calculations it would appear to be unprofitable to grow root crojis purposely for the feeding of the sheep on soils where they cannot be advisedly consumed, though, when horses are not kept solely for the purpose of working the whole of a strong fallow quarter for a root crop, to a certain extent, a portion may be grown to advantage to assist in breaking up the straw, and carrying store cattle and sheep over the winter. On fine working soils the result is entirely different, they being worked at considerably less expense, and the roots drawn off or consumed on the ground, and the land ploughed at almost any season without incurring scarcely any risk to the suc- ceeding crops. How, tlien, are we to keep pace in supplying a population increasing at the rate of about 200,000 per year with butcher meat? It has been suggested to increase the stock in this country that a prohibition of the slaughter of lambs and calves would be beneficial ; but when we consider that even at present no hay, straw, turnips, or grass go uuconsumcd, it ap- pears such a mode would only tend to enforce the slaughter of older auimals. The impossibility of increasing the slock with- out first increasing the aricles of food for them must be evident to all ; and the weekly variation of about 2s. per stone in the quality of cattle sold in our fat markets, is a proof that there is an ample supply of store stock in the country, and a scarcity of food to bring it to perfection. On looking at the agricultural statistics wliich have been recently issued, we find 870,857 acres standing under the head of bare fallow. Now, sup- posing it to be cultivated on the four- field system, wliich is likely to be most generally adopted on inferior soils, we have 3,483,428 acres of this class of land in England and Wales ; and judging from what we see around us, comparatively speak- ing, doing little towards the keeping and feeding of stock. Then what might we suppose would be the result if a large portion of this descriptiou of land was laid down to pasture ? Taking, for instance, tiie forty-four acres to feed seventy-three sheep six months, and assuming it to be sown away with a spring corn crop. The capital required will be about nine pouuds per acre, or say 396, viz., 30s. per acre for seeds, 50s. per acre for manure for a top-dressing in the spring following the cutting of the corn, leaving £5 per acre for the purchase of stock, management, &e. Now, it may with safety be estimated that oue acre will carry two sheep throughout the year, and a sheep calculated to leave 2s. 6d. per month. We find on de- ducting rent, that the 44 acres will carry 88 sheep, and leave a profit of £l7jper cent., less the usual losses a sheep stock is subject to— agaiust 44 acres arable feeding 73 six months, and Icaviug £llj percent. And assuming out of 3,483,438 acres of this kind of land there are 2,500,000 on which, from the uatnre of the soil, a root crop cannot be advantageously grown ; and supposing it, after having been laid out dry by draining, to be sown to grass in such a way as to enable it to carry two sheep to the acre, by this means the sheep stock of this country would be increased by 5,000,000, and mutton and wool pro- duced to the value of £7,500,000 per year. And as a sheep leaving 30s. should produce 2j stones of mutton, the addition to the country in butcher meat would be 85,9372 tons, and equal to a yearly importation of 343,750 foreign cattle aver- aging 40 stones each. From this statement it must not be inferred that it is most beneficial to graze new lands solely with sheep, or that they will convert grass into a greater weight of meat than cattle, but merely to give an idea of how onr home supply of animal food might be augmented. The supply being regulated by the demand, stock of either description would be reared accordingly. Nor do 1 thiuk any serious loss need be apprehended to the country in corn and straw. Mr. Browell (the secretary) said he was in the unfortunate position of having to cuhivate a quantity of strong land, and lie had considerable dilBcuIty in rendering it at all profitable. He was of opinion, however, tliat all land which was too strong for turnips might be put to grass, and he was now still more strongly impressed with that opinion. Draining was another point wliich should be looked to, so that the land might be well cleaned before it was manured, and the result of this would be that they could get good grass land. He referred to the advantages of grass lands over tilled ground, and believed that grass lands would afford more profit than cereal crops. Mr. Weeks bad uot had much experience in grass lauds, but he believed that the secretary was right when he said that grass lands would return a greater sum on the outlay than tillage. In- deed, so extensive was the system of grass cultivation be- coming, that the country blacksmiths had now little to do, and complained of want of business, because farmers were parting with their teams and doing away with their implements. He was much pleased with the paper. A vote of thanks to Mr. 15ell for his paper concluded a brief sittinfc. 282 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. THE MODERN "BREEDS" OF SHEEP. " And what breed of sheep may you eall this, sir ?" asted a visitor of an exhibitor, who with pardonable pride was contemplating his own prize pen. As the other with ii kind of charitable indifference turned his head to answer, and give the name of the sort, he recognized, with some dismay, the familiar features of a well known judge ! And again, "these are capital Oxfords," said one man to another, as they were walking over a farm in the Midlands not long since : " they are indeed," answered his friend ; " but they might show them as Shropshircs." In plain truth, in this age, when we go so much for purity of pedigree and recognized standard of type, there is no such growing abuse as the readiness with which people pass anything as " a breed" of sheep ; and this is only the more noticeable when we come to consider how very particular we are in other ways. One of the very best Shorthorn bulls out. during this last summer has been put aside over and over again because of his smutty nose ; a feather of the wrong colour in the wing of a pyle or a black -breasted red is held to be fatal ; and no man who knows anything of what he is about will recognize the qualifications of a hunter-sire who has any Haw in his lineage. But with sheep it is a very different case. A ram may have a black face, a white face, or a grey one, and he may take a premium nevertheless. Nay ! the first shall be light and the second dark in one and the same class. The wool shall be close or open, just as it may happen, the general character neat or useful, and the much admiring spectator shall still ask in all simplicity of purpose, " And what breed may you eall this, sir ?" For some years back we have been gradually opening our ranks, and as the art of agriculture advanced, have given a status to certain varieties of animals not hitherto acknowledged. And this no doubt was a politic step enough ; as it would sound very harsh and dogmatical to say now there should be no other sorts of sheep but Southdowns and Leicesters. If, however, the Royal Society bestows any fiu'ther recognition care must be taken that not only is this merited at the time, but even more that the claim to distinctive form and feature be maintained. But this, amongst the other or new classes of sheep, would appear to be precisely what we are not doing. The flock-masters do not attempt to adhere to any fixity of type, but every man makes experiments just as he fancies, and takes prizes just as it happens. Indeed, if this kind of thing goes on much further it will be necessary to draw up a scale of points for sheep after the faslujn they have in the Channel Islands for cattle. Thus, there shall be so many marks for the colour of the countenance, so many more for the texture of the wool, and so much set-off for any signs of slugs, dwind- ling of form, and so forth. The show of the Royal Agricultural Society will be held in 1870 at Oxfoi'd, or, in other words, in the very capital of the Oxfordshire Downs. And of these sheep we said at ^Manchester : " The Oxfordshire Downs were far better represented, and no sort of sheep would promise to become more worthy of the recognition given to them as a distinct class, not that uniformity of character has as yet been quite arrived at ; as, indeed, the up-here and down-there way in which the best sheep are occasionally placed goes to say that difterent judges of Oxfords have very different views as to what an Oxford should be. Thus ^Ir. Wallis' second-best shearling here was nowhere at Oxford; and Mr. Gillett's first at Southamp- ton nowhere here, and Mr. Treadwell's second at Oxford and Northampton now without notice." In the new number of the Royal Journal, one of the judges of these sheep says : " I think the opinion of the Mark Lane Ex- press is good respecting the difference of ideas that exists as to what an Oxfordshire Down should be." But if this difference of ideas is suffered to continue — if one set of judges is to give it one way, and the next another, the question must soon be not what an Oxfordshire Down shoi'hl be, but rather what he uill be ? As the answer of course — anything you please, a Dowa or Long- wool, as may be found most convenient. The argument, however, by no means stops here. Some of the breeders of Shropshire sheep have of late expressed themselves as not altogether pleased with what has been said of this sort ; while it is thus that Mr. Wells, as senior steward of the year, speaks through the pages of the Royal Agricultural Society's own Journal .- " If there were differences of opinion as to whether the type of the pure Southdown was being preserved in some of our flocks, as evidenced at Mauchestei", there could be but one opinion as to the want of a standard by which to judge of the typical merits of a Shrojjshire sheep. Nothing can be more puzzling to the uninitiated than to attempt to arrive at any conclusion as to what are the fixed land- marks which should guide him in his selection of a model sheep of this breed; and, beautiful as were some of the animals in these classes, they clearly lacked uniformity of character, and it seems very desirable that the Shrop- shire breeders should settle among themselves, once and for all, the colour and shape, as w"ell as the quality of wool, of this uoble class of sheep, well described as one of the best rent-paying breed of sheep iu Eugland." The whole tone of our remarks has gone for some time to this "want of a standard," the continual "puzzle" as to " typical merits," and " lack of uniformity," as we gave some clue to this curious diversity of character. Even further, at a famous Shropshire sheep sale only the other day, a Shropshire breeder said: " \Yherever Shrop- shire sheep were bred honestly, as they ought to be, the public could always appreciate them." And, again, " Gentlemen who undertook the breeding of Shropshire sheep should be very careful as to what they w'ere doing, lie had no sympathy with men who crossed the breeds of good animals with those of an inferior kind — with men who crossed pni-e Shropshire with Southdowns or Long- wools." So that it seems after all there are men who cross Shropshircs with Southdowns, although it is not for us to ask Mr. Coxon for his authority. Still the Oxfords or the Shropshircs are not the only breeds open to such kind of commentary. With the Southdown shearlings Mr. Ellraan " was puzzled to decide upon the predominant feature ; so difterent were the shades, from black to white." Then, " the exhibition did not meet my expectation, either iu quality of mutton or their general appearance. A prevalent opinion appears to exist in inland counties that quality and form should be sacrificed for quftutity." And so the dissentient goes on to infer that " in most of tlie decisions in the short-wool classes the characteristics of Southdown sheep were ignored ;" while the senior steward points all this by stating that "an impression seems certainly to have prevailed on the show-gi-ound that, with respect to THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 28^ not a few of the sheep exhibited, there was room for criticism as regarded their deficiency in uniformity of character." This will never do ; as nothing threatens to work so much mischief as a cross-bred animal being passed off as a pure-bred — the more especially when under the auspices of our national Society. Nothing is so easy to produce as a mongrel; a good-looking beast enough in his own proper person, while nothing will do more damage to a ilock or a herd than his use. He will up- set the labour of yeai's spent in achic\ing fixity of character. and he will throw back to as many whimsical shades as there arc patches in harlequin's jacket. Although every breeder or purchaser should be familiar enough with such truisms as these, he cannot be expected to know all the tricks that are played, particularly with a first-prize placard placed over the head of the half-caste. Mr. AVells says, and says well, " One cannot but consider that he who watches over the sources of any of our great national breeds of stock, with, it may be, even an excess of jea- lousy, is fulfilling a useful part in his generation." And here, with Mr. Ellman, we take our stand. ECHOES FROM THE AUTUMN MEETINGS. OXFORDSHIRE. At Bicester, Mr. J. W. Henley, M.P., said : During the last Session we came to the consideration of a question which, at tliis moment, unfortunately concerns you in this county very much — that was the regulations for the prevention of the spread of cattle disease, and Parliament determined that those regulations should be left in the hands of the Goveru- luent, that is, in the hands of the Privy Council for the time being. We in this county, unfortunately, have had a consi- derable outbreak of what is known as the foot-and-mouth disease, and which, I am sorry to see, has spread itself to many parts of the country. This being the case, we shall speedily be able to judge how far tlie regulations which have been made are or are not well suited to the purpose ; whe- ther, indeed, tlie regulations will or will not prove to be a greater curse to the country than the foot-and-mouth disease itself. That is a matter only to be judged of by experience. It is a most troublesome complaint, is this foot-and-mouth disease, as all of us who have had anj thing to do with land for the last twenty years know full well. But whether these regulations will stop it or be better than the disease itself I for one, not having experience, do not pretend to give an opinion. The feehng of tlie agricultural world, so far as we could get at it in Parliament, was unanimous in wishing regulations to be made. It was not the action of ParUament alone. Communications came from all quarters, from people who got together and considered themselves entitled to express an opinion on the subject. There was no difference of opinion that tlie Govern- ment should endeavour by regulations to check the foot-and- mouth disease as well as other complaints to which cattle are subject, and which may be eomuiunieated from one to the other in moving cattle about the country. I think we may congratulate ourselves in having good produce of tlie earth this year, and still more that the Almighty has been pleased to favour us with weather by which the crops have been well got (Hear, hear). That is a great blessing to us all, and I hope it wiU prove a real blessing to the country at large. Wliether the harvest be a large or small, or a moderate yield out of the straw, none of us will know until we begin to thrash, but there was undoubtedly a great bulk of produce on the earth, and the stackyards now seem to be very full, and generally speaking where there is great bulk the yield to the acre is not a very bad one. NORFOLK. At Attleborongh, Mr. Sewell Read,M.P., said: When last I had the pleasure of addressing an agricultural assemblage in this parish it was at our county agricultural show. At that time I had to take a very gloomy view of our agricultural prospects, but since then an all-wise Providence has sent us most beautiful and glorious weather, so that we liave been rewarded with a crop which, if not abundant, has at least been secured in the very primest condition. At this time last year we had rather a dolorous tale to tell as to our prospects for the winter. Now, I am happy to say that we have an excellent and an abundant crop of hay, we have plenty of food upon our new layers, and with these glorious rains we have had lately, we may look forward to a very heavy and good root crop. But just when we were hoping we should provide this great nation witli a supply of meat at a little cheaper rate than we have done during the last twelve months, we have again an outbreak of disease which threatens to make both beef and mutton as dear as ever. Tliis, I believe, might have been prevented. It is most unfair for tliose members who represent the great manufacturing and consuming popu- lation to tax us with wishing to revive protection wheu we simply wish to protect ourselves against foreign diseases. We were told by the best veterinary authorities in the days of the cattle plague that if we took reasonable precautions to extir- pate that disease, we should at the same time get rid of the foot-and-mouth disease. We did so. Professor Gamgee said at the same time, " You will never have it again, imless you have importations of it from abroad." It may be said, " Prove this !" We cannot prove it, but we have reasonable suspicions, inasmuch as the disease broke out exactly in those neighbourhoods where foreign sheep and cattle were located. Therefore I say we have just cause for making this statement. But I hope and trust that we shall take every possible pre- caution to once more get rid of the disease. You know very well that the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act cannot be put into full force until the October sessions ; but there is plenty of power in the hands of individuals to prevent any infringement of the Act, aud therefore I trust that the agri- cultural community will take precious good care that there is no violation of its clauses — that cattle which are diseased shall not be exposed in markets, and shall not be driven along roads. LEICESTERSHIRE. At Ashby-de-Ia-Zouch, Mr. Pell, M.P., said : As regarded the condition of the agricultural labourer a variety of broad assertions had been made rather loose in character ; among others he noticed the other day the ahsurd statement that when winter came round the labourers who were employed on farms in a certain coimty as a rule retired into the workhouse. Witli regard to education, Professor Leoni Levi, in a remark- able paper he read at a recent meeting of the British Associa- tion, pointed out that the condition of the agricultural labourers, in this respect was not so bad as some of our manu- facturing districts. They did not lag in the rear in point of education as was generally supposed. This extraordinary paper of Professor Leoni Levi, which was shortly to be pub- lished, stated that out of every hundred women married in the county of Rutland, which was altogether an agricultural county, no less tlian S-k were aljle to write their names, wliUst in Laneasliire — the manufacturing county — only 54 signed the register : an advantage of 30 in favour of the county where old and primitive institutions were kept up. It might be that educational institutions in rural districts were maintained in a rongli and antiquated way, but they secured advantages to the people, specially the women, in education, which were lost to the working people of Lancashire. He did not wish to say this as a reproach to Lancashire ; it was their misfortune. He could go further, and say — having carried out the figures beyond those of Professor Levi — he found, making use of the same basis (the Registrar General's return) that tlie advance was now more rapid in Lancashire than in Rutland. He was quite aware, no man more so, of the enormous difficulty there existed in keeping up the old relationship between employer 2->4 THE FAJiMER'S MAGAZINE. and ejiii'loyetl, where thoasiinds were «np:aged, as compared with that where tliey had to deal with scores, but still agricnl- tamti might rest contented lliat whea tlie comparison was made, the coudition of those tlicy employed showed to their adyantage. One word raore. It- would be a great blessini if our people were better educated : but thev must bear this in mind, they, in the House of Commons, as weU as those in the Upper House, must be practical as well as theoretical, and consequently could only attempt to what they knew they could carry out to some practical end. He denied tliat landlords and tanners were the opponents of education, and pointed to Professor Levi's figures as irresistibly proTing the contrary. AVliat was it that the farmers wanted now ? They were not so for advanced in the application of machinery to agricultural pursuits as the manufacturers were to the goods they made, but there was a great ditference between the cir- cumstances of the two. On land they had to pass tlie imple- ment over the surface of the grotmd, which might be irregular ; they had also the condition of the atmosphere to contend with, difficulties which the manufacturer had not to combat. His machinery was steady and fixed, its condition of working less variable. He could introduce an artificial atmosphere if it was necessary into his factory. WTiat the agriculttirist still had to rely on to a great extent, was the pliysical strength of bis men. There was an amount of hard work to be done in connection with farming that could not be better done by the book : there was an immense amount of work, which if they pat a highly-educated man, and a tine strong physical man to do, there was no question which of the two would do the work the better. The times, no doubt, would change. There was a tendency to employ machinery wherever it could possibly be brought into use : the employment of it was intended to relieve mankind of the drudgery of work, and many a piece of machinery had been invented with that object. Xow, when this machinery came to be further — as he hoped it wonld be — applied to agriculture, then the men of sheer animal strength will be less wanted, and better educated men, able to take charge of macldnery and to attend to minor details will find employment. Tlieu the educated labourer would be more needed than he now was. 3Ir. Forsters Cattle Contagious Diseases BUI had been carried, and he hoped would prove beneficial to the farmer. If it kept the plague from off our shores, and the spread of indigenous disorders, no one would wore rejoice tlian he should. The Chairman of the meeting, Mr. AB:>rET HASTnfGS,said, on behalf of the Countess of Loudoun, her ladyship had appeared that day as a successful eshibitor at the show. She had carried off the first prize for mares, and she was exceedingly proud of the victory she had gained over nearly all Leicester- shire. Lady Loudoun, as a land-owner to some extent, bad land in her hands which she farmed, and she felt great interest in certain stock which had been raised upon that Land. It was stock which no agricultural society had yet offered a prize for. He alluded to the breeding of foses — animals which, in his opinion, deserved a prize. CHESHIRE. At Over, Sir Phllip Egeetox, M.P., said that when this society was first talked about, he was not very sanguine about its success : and the reason was this, that he thought by mnl- tiplving these small societies the area covered by each was so insignificant that the competition could not be of any great extent. He was afraid persons wonld come and bring a mediocre stock of animals, and carry off the prizes, and think they had got the finest beasts in the county ; instead of which, when the area of competition was extended, they wonld meet with more formidable rivals, and theirs would be a good beast indeed which took the prize. But another point, which weighed very much with him in a contrary way, was that these local societies gave an opportunity to small men to com- pete which they wotdd not otherwise have. Small farmers conlJ not send their cattle to a distance ; whereas, if yon brought these meetings home to them in different parts of the county, they had a fair cliance of exhibiting their stock. They liad in their cheese premiums a graduation as to sizes, and tht same in their prizes for farms : but he would like to see some- thing similar with reference to stock. At pr«ent there was nothing between two cows and five acres and the largest /arms in the county ; and it often happened that some levia- than came among the minnows, and airried away all the prizes. This was a point which he thought worth consideration. When he found there was a verj- prevalent feeling in favour of this society, he came forward and supported it to the best of his ability! What he would like to see further was this, that some large society should bring them all together, in the same way that the rifle clubs were affiliated to the Wimbledon meeting. The Cattle Plague BUI was a measure which had given them a great deal of trouble for many years, ;uid the most heart-rending part ot it was that their labours shoiild have met with so little success in alleviating the distress of the county. It was all the pocket. They got plenty of sympathy, but ■he members would not put their hands, as they said, into the pockets of iheir constituents. They might go on fighting to eternity, and they never would get the House of Commons to give them any relief if it was to come out of the pockets of the nation. As to the bill which had passed, he thought it woidd be a very good biU. for the future. He hoped they would never be visited by such an inilicrion as the plague again ; but if they were, the authorities had ail the power to stop it if they chose. He thought he might say, without risk of introducing politics, that some good measures passed into Law last session, such as that for preventing the adulteration of seeds, which was an Act very advantageous to farmers ; the Act with reference to beerhouse licences, and others. TORESHIKE. At linutby, the Honourable Colonel Dun'cosibe, M.P., said, any strangers who came there from a distance he would point to the horses, and he would ask those strangers whether, considering that the district was limited, and that the farms were not large, there was not a most excellent and creditable exhibition in respect to that section ? He might say that they did not pretend to compete with owners and occupiers of large farms. In some parts of the country large farms were general. Here, he might say. they were quite an exception ; and he must say— expressing his own opinion, and in conse- quence of what he had seen stated by high authorities in fa- vour of doing away with small farms and making them large ones — that he hoped that system wonld not be introduced into the North Biding. He thought that small farms, in that part of the county at least, were an inducement to men who had begun perhaps as farm-labourers, who had saved a little money, and who wanted to marry and settle in Ufe. These men came forward, and their means, although limited, enabled them to take a small farm, which they could not do if the district were divided into large farms. His experience of that class of men was that they were not the worst farmers. They had begun at the tail of the plough ; they had seen reared their employers' cattle and other stock ; they knew how to cultivate the land ; and they could breed and produce good animals. If he were the proprietor of a small farm, and wanted a tenant for it, such a man, if possessed of sutiicient capital, wonld.be the tenant he should prefer. Another question arose this way. A great evil in this country was that farms were taken by men who had no capital to work them. If England was di- vided into large farms, there would be this great evil — that many men with small capital would be induced to enter upon large farms, to the destruction of the land and to the destruc- tion of their own interests, because they wonld not be able to acquire small farms. Iherefore, dividing the country into large farms would, so far as the North Riding was concerned, be one of the greatest evils wliich the farmers of that district would hare to encounter. LINCOLNSHIRE. At Aylesby ilr. W. Toke said : Good landlords had ever been proverbial in Lincolnshire, because there was a mutual confidence between them and their tenants, and tenants were treated by them as gentlemen, and they were equally kind to their labourers. He did not believe in leases, and said they were never made but for one of two reasons — either the tenant thought he was going to get a better farm, or the landlord was going to get more for it. They had in this county model land- lords, and the tenants were worthy of them. They had a class of labourers, too, that they ought to be proud of, and he was proud of them. He professed to be a man to encourage the TE.E FARMERS MAGAZINE. ^0 re;i|>er, and lie liad one, but lie rri;.«rdcJ ilie reaper merely as an addition to a farm and a supplementary agent to labour. Mr. Mechi made a speech the other day, and said the reaper sup- plied the hard work of the English labourers, but (said the Chairman) the honest Englisli labourer liked the scythe if he was paid for it. Let the reaper be an addition to the labour of a larra — a supplementary agrcnt, hut not for the suppression of all other labour at a moderate value. He disapproved of the system of extensive cutting of the crops before beginning to cart them. When one sheaf was ready to lead, they should lead it. lie saw now thousands of acres of com, which ought to have hfXTi in the stack a week ago. It was quite wrong to reap all before they began to lead. Kam-letting vras no great fortune, and it would Ije less so, for before next Peterborongh fair lliey ■nould be able to buy rams at less than the price of any other mutton. He beheved that at nest Peterborough fair they would find lots of tups at 6d. per pound, and his advice was, buy them. He was more and more afraid every year that the market value of a tup was its mutton more than its elegance of form and feeding qualities that would repay for the food put into it. The great fault of Lincolnshire was in growing too big sheep on poor Lind, for where they attempted to grow big sheep on poor land they failed. He had shown them that day ilo better sheep out of 60 than he had ever shown in his Ufe. But the jobbers were the men who made more money than anybody in this county, and they made it out of what ought to be the brains of the farmer. He himself was so far advanced that he conld sell his own cattle, but it was a most extraordinary thing that the farmers of ^vonh Lincoln- shire should let their brains be jobbed by other people. " Sell your own cattle,"^ he said, " and don't ask the jobbers what they are worth." STAirORDSHTRE. At Pendeford, Mr. Coxos said, that wherever Shrop- shire sheep were bred honestly, as they ought to be the public would always appreciate them. He had been at many shows recently, and he had found this to be true wherever he went that Shropshire sheep as a class were not only able to hold their own, but were far more numerous than any sheep exhibited. "When they found this to be the case, then it behoved every gentleman who undertook the breeding of Shropsliire sheep to be very careful what they were doing. He had no sympathy with men who crossed the breeds of good animals with those of an inferior kind — with men who crossed pure Shropshire with Southdowns or with longwoois. Those were the men that deceived the public GLOUCESTERSHIRE. At Badminton, the Ducniss of Blai'TOKT, in the chair at dinner said. Ladies and gentlemen, you must not expect from me speeches such as yoa have been accastomed to hear from tliis chair, so ably nDed as it has been in former years : bat I think any one can feel a pride and pleasure in giving the Queen's health, and I give it now — " The Queen, God bless her." I have one more toast to propose, and then I think the arduous duties of chairman — or shall I say chair- woman?— wUl cease. It is "Success to the Badminton Farmers' Club." May it go on and prosper, and be for many years to come a happy gathering of friends and neighbours, a day to he remembered witli pleasure and to be looked back upon with satisfaction. Mr. Kilminster gave the health of the Duchess. Her Grace, in responding, said : Again and again I thank you for the kind manner in wliich you have recei\ed the toast which has been proposed by Mr. Kil minster. I w-ish I had the power to say all I feel ; but accept my most im- perfectly expressed gratitude, and beUeve that I have never greater pleasure than in being at Badminton, and nnding my- self surrounded by so many kind and friendly faces. Lady Blanche Somerset responded for the younger branches of the Beaufort family. WARWICKSHIRE. At Coventry, 5[r. Xzitdegvte said : It is impossible that I should return thanks for the county members without — what shall I say ?— to use a homely expression, smcUing some- what of the shop. What am I, if I am not member for North Warwickshire? I am Charles Newdegate, who would be very proud to write '" farmer" on his taxed cart, and have some reason to co so ; and I should have satisfaction in putting the words " coal higgler," indeed, in the same con- spicuous position. But I appear before yon as one of the representatives of this division, and though God forbid that I should attempt to travel through the wide range of last session, perhaps you will forgive me if I touch upon any subject which comes within the restrictions laid down by the rules of this society. Not only as a county member, but as chairman of the governors of the Royal Veterinary College, I think I am able to speak with effect on one matter. The R yal Veteri- nary College, I am happy to say, has contributed largely to the extension of veterinary science through a large number of practitioners, and these are bringing to bear towards the pre- servation of your stock an amount of snence which has ncTer hitherto been witnessed in this country. We have not aimed at producing high instances of individual excellence. We cannot manufacture such men as in this science had dis- tinguished themselves in this neighbourhood; but what we can do, and what to a certain extent we have done, is that we have raised the average attainments which shall quahfy prac- titioners to call themselves veterinary ?urgeons. Connected with this subject, I mu.< allude to the statute of last session, which was intended to secure the health of cattle in this country. In many respects that statute is comprehensive — in many respects it arms the Government, through the Privy- Council, with vast powers of interference — I hope to be exercised for the benefit of the herdmasters of this country. But in one respect it makes no provision for the establish- ment at the outports of such lay yards and sheds as would admit of time for the due inspection of imported cattle. When the rinderpest was prevalent in this country the Irish obtained powers to exclude cattle from importation into Ireland. Now plenro-pneumonia has been prevalent in Ireland, but there are no powers in the statute to prevent the importation of dis- eased cattle from Ireland into England, and I speak from good authority when I say one of the dangers to which our herds are exposed is that very plenro-pneumonia, and that it lias been prevalent in Ireland for some time. It is a subject on which the attention of the Legislature ooght to have been 3sed : and when my hon. friend, the son of the member for South Warwickshire, said that we need a Minister of Agiiciil- ture, all I say is this, that it was not from want of earnest representations on my part and on the part of others of your friends in the House of Commons that you are not belter secured than liitherto against the importation of disease. I rejoice, gentlemen, at tlie success of your exhibition to-day ; I rejoice stiU more in the success ot that system of paying honour to the agricultural labourer who has proved himself capable of commanding the confidence of his employer for, as we have heard this night, 50 years. Wherein is the origin of your success ? If you had not a good shepherd, how ooold you show good sheep ? If you had not good herdsmen, how could you exhibit good cattle r Each farmer among you £nds it difficult to do his own labour ; he has sumcient upon his hands to direct the scientific part of his farm. Without com- petent assistance from your labourers, how can you hope lo succeed in the highest application of agricultaral science ? It is yonr highest wisdom to study the welfare of those who most fill the position of non-cotnmissioned oScers on your farms. It is your highest wisdom to cultivate among those who are, as it were, your natunu connexions, a knowledge which wiU enable them to carry out the directions which are essential to the adequate cultivation of the land, and to the due protection of such stock as has been exhibited to-day. Questions have been ventilated which again will appear be- fore the public Tliere is the question of the tenure of land, for instance, on which I think, I have some reason for saying a word or two to an agricultural assembly. I have some excuse, because some years ago I moved for a committee which examined into the agricul*"ural customs in every county in England and Wales, and the evidence and report of that com- mittee has been reprinted. My belief is this, that there cer- tainly remains something — though it be little — to ?je done in order to improve the relations between landlord and tenant in England. I speak upon the report of the committee which has been doubly sanctioned, and that committee recommended that every fanner who insisted upon having a written agree- ment specifying every particular of his tenure should have one. That agreement may be printed, and then it is the 286 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. tenaut's owa fault if he. does not hold tliR land upon condi- tions advantageous to liimseK. But in Ireland tliis question lias assumed a different aspect, and I would warn tlie farmers of England to remember tliis — Ireland, in my experience, has never been free from agitation, and of all the agitations which I have known, and which have claimed to be national in their origin, few have been so. There arc objects underlying the agitations in Ireland wliich entitle me to say there are but few of them really Irish agitations. I would warn the farmers of England uot to be led astray by the wild declamations with which this question may be brought forward, but to look at it in tlie face like men of business, and secure for themselves everything which, in taking a farm, they would vifisli to claim by the law of England. In Ireland j'ou will hear opinions expressed and objects explained which are inconsistent with the rights and the safety of property; and I warn you, farmers and tradesmen alike, that if you endanger property you will shake credit, and if you shake credit you will injure your own business and interests. Depend upon it, that those agitations which claim to be Irish are foreign in their origin. Depend upon it, that their great principle — according to the assertions of their advocates — is that the conditions which suit England will not suit their object with respect to Ireland. They never have been so successful as yourselves. Eeware of being led away by an agitation which is founded not really upon any desire for the national advancement of the tenant, but is calculated rather to injure liis position by shaking the security of property, and with it the soundness and avail- ability of credit. I will not travel into other subjects, but I will just say this, that during the last Session, and during the discussions upon the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act we met with the same observation — whenever the interests of England were advanced, if they came in the smallest degree apparently into collision with the interests of Ireland, as in the case where the Irish obtained the power of excluding our cattle from being exported into their country, English interests were subordinated to Irish interests ; and, whether there is a Minister of Agriculture or not, I hope that in the next Session the agriculturists of England will insist upon this, that there shall be means of excluding pleuro-pneumonia or any other disease from Ireland ; that they will insist tliat there shall be provisions by which, if there be any fatal disease among the Irish cattle, it shall not be imported into England. Mr. G. Wise said the formation of Chambers of Agricul- ture throughout the country wiU, I hope, do good to the whole of the community ; but I wish they would be more practical, and less political, if they are to do good for the in- dustrious tenant farmer. Eew of them wished to have a voice in parocliial taxation, but desired to know how they were to grow twelve bags of wheat to the acre where now they only grew ten. There has been a question lately mooted, but I do not know how the agriculturists look upon it, and that is, to have a permanent Minister of Agriculture in the House of Commons. When trade and commerce is so nurtured in the House of Commons, agriculture ought to have some one to look after its interest in that house ; and, in fact, by a person who can tell a good beast from a bad one, and a good sample of wheat from a bad one. I do not think that the agricul- tural interest is so well represented in the House of Commons as it ought to be. There is another point an which I shall say a few words. Before many months have expired, the Irisli land question will be discussed in Parliament ; and I hope wlien the legislature have got their hands clear, they will not forget the interest of the farmers of England, but remem- ber them and their interest as well as those across the Chan- nel. I will venture to say that no legislation will change the indolent and impoverished farmer to a thrifty agriculturist ; and if legislators think they can do so, they will be greatly disappointed. Mr. T. IIOKi.'EY said the agricultural labourers were made the suljject of discussion wherever they went. He would ask them all fairly and impartially to look at the progress they had made within the last few years, the wages they had earned with those years ago, and the nature of the work they per- formed. As a large employer of machinery and labour, he believed there was no class of labour better paid than the hrst-rate agricultural labourers of the present day. He would ask them to look at their dwellings, and the little control the farmers had over them. He believed they would have a great tie upon the agricultural labourer if they let him ground for his own use, for, in his opinion, it would be impos- sible for him to grow corn so cheap as he could purchase it. He might say that it had been his end and aim to improve the dwellings of his labourers, and he hoped his efforts had had some good effect. His experience proved that the better a man was educated, the better servant he was. HUNTINGDONSHIRE. At Huntingdon, Mr. J. M, Heatucote, the chairman, said ; The foot-and-mouth disease had latterly been spreading so rapidly that it was becoming a matter for very serious con- sideration. In 1866 the cattle of the county of Huntingdon numbered 20,000, but 11^ per cent, were destroyed by the cattle-plague, and there were apprehensions that the foot-and- mouth disease might prove equally destructive. He congratu- lated the farmers upon the recent harvest. They had been led to anticipate a bad and late harvest, but the prediction had not been verified, and there had been a fair average harvest throughout the country (strong expressions of dissent), lie had lately travelled throughout the whole length of the country, and the inquiries he had made convinced him that the harvest was, taking everything into consideration, a very favourable one (cries of" No, "no"). As the point was disputed he would not press it, but, leaving the past and the present, and, turning to tlie future, he would, above all, entreat them uot, on any future occasion, to select as the anniversary for their meeting the day for the running of the St. Leger, Lord R. Mo:sTAGU, M,P., said : Any one who comes to an agricultural show in Huntingdonshire expects to see specimens of a fine breed of horses. I have always had a hankering after the breeding of horses. I entertain that feeling now, -not only for the sake of the horses themselves, but also because of the truth whicli they exemplify. There are " sermons in stones," if only you could hear them. You cannot go anywhere without finding a lesson to be learnt, if you only know how to look for it. So, here, the horses in the show are examples of a great truth. I meau any horse wliich, by patient training and con- tinued custom, has learned his paces, and can carry you across country. I once inquired why Irish horses jump so nincli better than those of other countries, and I was informed that it was merely the result of habit. It is in fact because the Irish are much worse farmers than you are. The foals are turned out into rough fields, full of small ditches, and are thus made to jump when young, and M'lien two years old tliey are led over bigger leaps. They thus acquire a greater custom or habit of jumping. I have seen circus horses perform feats wliicli bystanders have attributed to a certain amount of mind, but it was merely the effect of habit ; it was their education. The same truth is still more apparent in dogs, for their very nature must be overcome before they will stand still and point to game. This is merely the effect of habit. The same is true of men. Lately, I read the autobiography of the great Ereuch juggler, in which he explained how he had taught his sons to accomplish feats which were held by the public to be magic. By daily practice their sight was rendered so quick, and the power of retaining an image on the retina was so in- creased, that they could perform a trick so far beyond the compreiiension of ordinary men, that it was supposed to be clairvoyance, or second sight. But it was only the result of habit. Similarly, an old actor told me not long ago that by daily custom he had so much increased his powers of memory, that he could learn 120 lines of a play in an hour, and that the power of moving his mind was so increased, that he could at wiU possess himself with any passion or feeling that he chose. TJiis is a wonderful truth which runs tlirough the whole of life. Education is nothing but tlie giving of habits ; or, as Lord Bacon says, " Education is a custom," and custom is tlie magistrate of men's minds. The powers of mind and body, the feelings and passions, are all amenable to habit. The I'undamental maxim of education is this — train up a child in the way he is to go, and when he is old he will not forsake it. If this rule be borne in mind, you will give a better education than a whole council of pen-nibbing pedants could devise. It wiU save you from dividing your boys' heads into many mansions, of making him a walking enclyclopjedia THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 287 or universal gazetteer. It will, moreover, solve tlic, ,;(yi//^* ol' national edueation, anil suiicrscile the necessity of pushing carelessness beyond toleration. CHESHIRE. At Tarporley, Lord Binning, the chairman, said he must congratulate them i:pou that which was a matter of congratu- lation to us as a country — the snccessful harvest ; which, upon the whole, was good, and the crops had been well got in. The wheat might have been a little deficient in yield in many places, but the hay, oats, and barley had all been of an average ciiaracter ; and though it was proverbially difficult to please an English farmer, he thought there was little cause for complaint. He would not venture to make any remarks upon the various classes in tlie show, which lie was delighted with as a whole ; but if they would allow him, he would say this much in regard to the horses, that he never saw a more marked improvement in any class, for while he did not wish to cast a rcllection upon anyone who competed in 1863 — the year in whioii the show was iirst held — he must say that the show of agricul- tural horses then was neither more nor less than disgrace- ful. But that day the class would have done credit, he would not say to any show, but to any local show in England, as there were many really good and serviceable animals among those exhibited, lie could not help thinking, in going about tiie country and seeing mares with foals, that sufficient at- tention was not yet paid by Cheshire farmers to the subject of horse breeding — that is, in the choice of the dam. How often did they see a farmer who had an old and favourite animal, which perhaps had met with an accident, or, worse still, jiad broken down, and, as they said, was unfit for any other purpose, put to the stud ! Coiild there be any greater mistake ? If there was any instance in which there was no such thing as chance, it was in horse-breeding. Thongli much depended in that upon the sire, still more depended upon the dam. A recent writer, ]Mr. Tarry, an Irish breeder of great note, goes so far as to say that three-fourths depend upon the mare. He (Lord Binning) vi'ould not go so far as that, but still his own experience would to a great extent bear that out. He had a brood mare perfect but for one defect, which would catch a judge's eye. Erom that mare he had at the present four foals, two colts and two fillies, the eldest four years, and the youngest three months. All were got by different sires, thoroughbreds, and in three out of the four foals he could trace tlie same fault as there was in the dam as to physical con- formation. That would go far to confirm Mr. Parry's remark that the brood mare should be symmetrical in shape, good in temper, and perfectly sound. If they wished to improve agi'i- eulture they must begin at the root by preparing a man for the work that is before him. In every profession a man goes through a systematic course of instruction and training before entering upon that profession, but in agriculture it was not so. Do not think for a moment that he meant to say that no pro- gress had been made. Ear from it. He had seen in his own day steam introduced, and manual labour superseded by me- chanical power in many departments of agriculture. There had been great and undeniable progress, and there were far- mers worthy of the name in its highest sense ; but they had become so by practice and by experience. But both required time ; and, as they well knew, experience was often very dearly bought. Looking at this, he hoped he should not be considered to be starting a wild idea in suggesting the estab- lisliment of a College of Agriculture, which should give to young men a systematic training before entering upon so im- portant a profession as that of agriculture. Tliere was a college at Cirencester, where, by the charter under which the lloyal Society of England is incorporated, they were bound to pro- mote agricultural education. There was another similar in- stitution, known as the Devon County School. These two institutions, as far as he knew, had done wonders in producing eminent agriculturists and men of science, and he could not see why, if introduced in other counties, such colleges would not answer very well. Not long since many farmers were almost ignorant of the intimate relations wbicli subsisted be- tween botany, chemistry, and other branches of science, and agriculture. At tlie beginning of this century, not more than forty years ago, Lord Dundonald, himself a scientific man and a skilful agriculturist, had a hard up-hill battle to fight against those around him in trying to demonstrate the connection be- tween science and agriculture. One day he was with a farmer, and pointing to a number of acres which had been manured with farm-yard manure, he said the day would come when an acre of land would be manured with a bag of artificial manure. The reply of the old farmer was short, sharp, and sarcastic. " Yes," he said ; " and bring the produce home in your waistcoat pocket." But they had out-lived those days. Experience had driven out old-fashioned prejudice, and there were now farmers who were beginning to appreciate more and more the value of scientific knowledge in agriculture, and of the various mechanical appliances for the more eQective cul- tivation of land ; and as the love of science increased, he be- lieved tlie day would come when agricultural colleges would be established among them. Mr. EiNCiiETT said his opinion was adverse to liigh-brcd stock for milkiug-purposes, such as were exhibited at Man- chester. But at this time he thought they should get the highest-bred bull they could, because, since the cattle-plague, they had had to renew their stocks with cross-breeds — some from Ireland, which were pretty good ; Welsh, which were not so good ; and Ayrshire, which were light-fleshed, and made but poor milkers. By crossing these with high-bred bulls, they would get a better class of stock, if not good milkers. It was his intention not to sell any stock half-fat, as it was better in the case of a cow to keep her barren till she improved. JSFOUFOLK. At Wayland, the Hon. T. de Grey, M.P., said : He was at Doncaster on Monday, and he thought he might fairly congra- tulate them upon being in some respects this season more for- tunate than many of their neighbours in having got their bar- harvest in in good condition ; for he noticed in the north of Yorkshire, Durham, and the Teesdale country, much corn out; and when lie was there the weather was anything but promis- ing for getting it in, although further soutii, in the southern parts of Yorkshire the crops were mostly gathered, and in good condition. He merely mentioned these things as they were likely to be interesting with regard to the important question of price. He had been lately walking over those beautiful hills, where the heath was still unmolested, after that wild and unapproachable bird the grouse, and he could not help feeling the hope that the excellent agriculturists of Norfolk would not be in too great a hurry to do away with those pieces of nn- cultived ground, which he might say \\ere not only advanta- geous in a sporting point of view, but added to the beauty of the country. When he saw the sheep he could not help re- membering that the agricu.lturists of Norfolk were great sheep breeders, and, therefore, there was, perhaps, no great danger of what he alluded to. The sheep in the country he had been visiting bore no resemblance to the prize pens to-day ; they had long legs and were razor-backed, but with magnificent horns, and he should think not very good wool, and on the whole not to be compared with tliose they saw in this county. But they must remember that in this county they had their turnips, and they had no grouse, although they were very well for par- tridges ; and in these days, the absence of tliose good old stub- bles up to the knees had involved the introduction of an en- tirely new system of shooting, which was, perhaps, not taste- ful to everybody, but which at all events was effective. He thought they might also be congratulated on their crop of tur- nips, which was good when he went away, and he was sure the recent rains must have been beneficial to it, and conduced to that which they all desired, the prosperity of Norfolk agricul- ture. Lord WALS1NC4IIA5I said: I may say, because I have a right to say it, for I have attended for a great many years, practically and personally, to the improvement of agriculture on my es- tate— I trust I have done so not without some little general benefit to the neighbourhood — but as to tlie success of any ef- forts of mine. I must leave others to judge of them. With respect to one point, I must most gratefully acknowledge that I owe my success mainly to the skill of that able and practical man who has brought my sheep to that perfection at which they have now arrived — I mean my agent, Mr. Woods. But with respect to that I may, perhaps, claim a very little credit for myself. A person who, like myself, has many irons in the isi THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. fire must engage the assistance of able men to see that those irons are always kept hot, and above all, must supply the fuel which is necessary to heat tlie furnace. Parsing from ray own concerns, I wish to say that 1 have, since I have known tlie neighbourhood, seen many improvements in it. I remember when a great portion of my estate was nothing but a rabbit warren ; and I may say, as of a person who makes two blades of corn grow wjicre only one grew before, so also perhaps a per- son who has made several blades of corn grow were none ever grew before, must be considered in the light of a benefactor. But with reference to tliese matters, 1 would allude to the show whicli we have liad to-day. I cannot say that I think it has been supported quite as well as it has been on previous occa- sions, and I wish to put it to you, whetheryou tlii[\k that it is kept up so well, and affords such general interest to the neigh- bourhood, and is of sufficient use, to make it worth while to call people together to see a collection of animals sucli as they were to-day. Undouutedly, there were nrauy animals which would liave done credit to any show at which they might have appeared, but I should like to hear your opinion, because it is to you we mnst look to support these shows and make them efficient. I could not help seeing, for some reason or other, there was a falling olf. CUMBERLAND. At Carlisle, Mr. Donald, the chairni-an, congratulated them and the country at large on the harvest. At the early part of the season, it was predicted that the harvest would be a late one and the crop deficient. Now, the harvest was not a late one, and the crop would turn out to be much better than was at one time predicted. As to the quality of the wheat, perhaps it would be barely up to that of last year ; but they must re- collect that last year was an exceptional year, and it would be many years perhaps before we saw such another crop of wheat. Last year tlie harvest was a very early one, and the farmers, at meetings like this, were recommended, in consequence of the early harvest, to seize the opportunity to snatch a second crop by ploughing down their oat stuljbles and sowing rape. Several had adopted the plau, and it had turned out a mistake. The crop had rarely been equal to the expense of the artificial manure used. With respect to artificial manure, they all knew tlie very great extent to which it was used, and the great amount of money paid for it by farmers. Now he would take tlie liberty of suggesting — and it was no theory of his own, for it had actually been practised by several — that farmers should become their own manufacturers of manure. They would thus save the profit of the luauufacturer aud of the merchant, and at the same time they would be satisfied that they had a good, pure manure, unadulterated. The process was very simple, and miglit be easily practised by larmers. It was simi)ly to dig a pit of the right size, puddle it so that the liquid would not escape, put in the requisite quantity of ground boues, pour over them a large quantity of boiling water, along with some salt, and also the necessary quantity of sulphuric acid ; put over these some dry ashes or sawdust ; take it up after the proper time, and they would find they had a good manure at a cheap rate. BEDFORDSHIRE. At Biddeuham, Mr. TuxrORD said : Lately we have brought into use a vastly-improved machinery, which has mitigated manual labour in a great degree, It has been mitigated won- derfully since the days in which a man stood with a sheaf on the lloor thrashing it. A machine is now employed instead of the thrashing-floor, and instead of sickle and scythe we are gradually coming to a stage in which neither will he required. We are undergoing a great cnange — a vast metamorphose ; but, associated with it, the condition of the labourer has been a special subject of consideration of those — I shall not call them his betters — but of those who have Ids best interests at heart. I believe at no time in the history of our country has there lieen manifested more anxiety on his behalf than at the present moment, and I am satisfied that a gathering like this has a tendency to realise the views which I have held for years concerning that unity of interests to which I have spoken between landlord, tenant, and labourer. There is a growing conviction on the part of working-men that they can only hope to realise a higher situation in life by the exercise of more mind; aud, depend upon it, just in the ratio in which yon realise the advantages of education, so will be the advan- tages of yourselves, your children, and those immediately be- longing to you. THE IRISH LAND QUESTION AND THE FARMERS' CLUBS. On Thursday, Sept. 13, in Cork, delegates from the principal larmers' Clubs of Munster met to discuss resolutions drawn up by the joint committees of the Cork, Limerick, Clare, Tiji- pcrary, Macrooin, and Mallow Farmers' Clubs, at their private conference, held in Mallow, Tuesday, Gth July, 1860. The following were the resolutions : 1st. — That we know and feel, from sad experience, that the anomalous state of her land laws is the cause of Ireland's dis- tress and discontent, aud we unhesitatingly declare that until these laws have been fundamentally revised and remodelled so as not alone to secure the interests of the tenant, but to main- tain the rights of the landlord, peace, prosperity, or content- ment cannot exist in Ireland. 2nd. — That, with a view of securing this desirable consum- mation, this meeting is of opinion that nothing can more assuredly contribute thereto than a perpetuity of tenure based upon a rental, to be in the first instance fixed by a board of agriculture established for that purpose, and to be periodically revised accordingly as the vicissitudes of the times and other influencing circumstances may demand. 3rd. — That such rental shall be estimated by the average market value of the several holdings for the previous twenty- one years, and tJiat all future revisions of rental shaU'be made to vaiy according to the fluctuations of such standard, and that from every such estimate shall be excluded the value of all bondjlde improvements made by the tenant. ■1th. — That should the valuation made by such board of agriculture not meet the approval of both landlord and tenant, either shall have power to appeal to the local Quarter Sessions according to the method provided in the General Valuation (Ireland) Act. 5th. — That the period of revision of rental shall be Septem- ber, and that such revision may be called for by either land- lord or tenant. Gth. — That every tenant shall be permitted to sell liis inte- rest, but that the preference be given to the landlord. 7th. — That the law of distress shall be abolished. Sth. — Tliat the grand jury cess shall be equally divided between the landlord and tenant, aud that the valuation sought for in No. 2 resolution shall be the basis on which such tax shall be struck, and that T,-ublic roads shall be exempted from rent. Otli. — That an absentee tax of 2s. in the pound be levied and the proceeds appropriated in liquidation of grand jury cess, such tax to be imposed on all rents paid out of Ireland when the recipients absent themselves more than six months in the year out of this country. 10th. — That all existing vested interests be maintained in- violate. 11th. — That inasmuch as the land — the great staple upon which the lives and fortunes of the overwhelming majority of the Irish people depend — is, almost as a rule, practically ex- cluded from the operation of the laws that regulate commercial transactions, we hail with infinite satisfaction the statement that has been recently made by the Right Hon. John Bright, M.l'., President of the Board of Trade, to the effect that he is prepared to propose a measure whereby the population, with- out doiug injustice to any one, can be placed in greater num- bers than they now are in possession of the soil of their own country, and that pointing as this pronouncement does to the creation of a farmer proprietary class in Ireland, we are con- vinced that no more wise, just, or opportune measure could be devised for the permanent advantage of this country. The meeting decided on passing resolutions 1, 2, 3, and 4, and withdrawing the others. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 289 THE TRANSFER OF LAND Let us suppose that au industrious tradesman who has saved a little money has, in the course of some morning walk, set his heart upon a bit of laud lying near his city ; and suppose the owner to he quite willing to sell it. The price is asked, named, and finally agreed to ; the intending purchaser writes a cheque for the amount, and hands it to the seller, takes his receipt for the money, and — Here the writer is interrupted by " shouts of laughter from the one common throat of almost all the " conveyancing " lawj'ers in England — almost all, observe, nol all ; not the beat, not the highest — not Lord Cairns, not Lord Westbury, not the Lord Chancellor himself. No ! they will not laugh ! for they and each of thera have bent their noble strength to try to make it so, or nearly so. But if they — the " upper ten" — do not laugh, be sure the lower " thousand " will, with all their hearts, at the very idea, the bare nlea of au acre of land being bought and sold in this vvay ! changing owners like a hack in the stable, or a hunter in the field, or a brace of pointers over the crisp turnips. But why not ? The hunter may be worth his hundred and fifty guineas, yet the buyer is content to pay his money and ride, or have him led, away, without asking troublesome ques- tions. " Where did you get him ?" " Did you steal him ?" " Whom did you buy him from ?" " How long have you had him?" " Is there any debt unpaid upon him?" and so on. Yet surely all these suspicions might apply to a horse, which may be here to-day and fifty miles away to-morrow. Why do buyers and sellers settle these matters for themselves, in pro- perty liable to every risk of personation and false ownership ; yet, when a bit of laud is in question, which of all things on the face of the earth — being, in fact, a definite portion of that face — is the most obvious and immovable, its ownership re- cognisable and matter of record ; all transaction between the principals — the buyer and the seller — is impossible, simply ri- diculous, and the whole matter must be relegated to two or more lawyers, and performed in their oftioes, and represented, not by a well-authenticated Government map, but on sheep- skin " deeds," upon which must be engrossed the history of that bit of land for sixty or seventy yesrs back, with all fa- mily biography, birth, deaths, and marriages of the owner or successive owners. We are " so to the manner born" that the absurdity has ceased to strike us. But, in order to see its lUiciiess, as you cannot see itsetf, imagine for a moment all this " legal coil" having to be gone through every time a valuable horse, or a pearl necklace worth a thousand pounds, or a set of brilliants worth ten thousand, cliauges hands, at Tatter- sail's, let us say, or Hunt and Roskell's ! I name these costly things merely to show that intrinsic value has nothing to do with the matter. The horse may have a pedigree reaching up to " Childers," or " Eclipse": the pearls, or the diamonds, may have been in " my lady's family" three hundred years and more, yet they change owners by a few words of bargain, a cheque, and a receipt, and the transaction is ended, absolutely and legally complete. What then is the difi'erence? if neither value, nor length of ownership constitute it. What, I say, is the dilference? The boy wlio sweeps out the lawyer's office can almost tell it you : " Because," he answers, " the bit of land is real property, and these other things are oiili/ personal properly !" That is the answer. Each, you see, is " property :" that is, it hetonys to somebody — to Itiin, and nobody else; both are alike in this, yet there is a difference. The one is his, and he can sell it himself; the other is his too, hut \w can't sell it himself. Somebody else to whom it does not belong, must do it for him. Not to-day, nor to-morrow, nor this week ; perhaps not for some months to come^jierhnps not at all ! and " this, this is the unkindest cut of all !" However truly it may be his, good to hold, and safe to plough and sow and manure, and talk of, and pay rates and taxes for ; yet when he comes to selling, perhaps not tit atl. What does this mean? yon ask, and well may ask. Well, the answer is a volume. It is a history ; " Sir, a whole history !" To he able to form any idea of it, it is necessary to bear in mind that the time is not so very far back when land was the only kind of ' property' that existed ; when there were no canals, no railroads (nor any other roads except what a pack- horse with its load on its back could brush along), no banks, no national debt, therefore no "funds;" no writing, therefore no biUs — of exchange, or sale, or lading ; no form, in fact, in which personal savings (the only source of " property") could exist — except here and there a secret hoard of gold or of jewels — it will easily be understood that land was the oitty property, the only thing that deserved, or bore, the name. Therefore when a warrior took possession of a country, as Norman WiUiaui did of this, he gave to his captains and fol- lowers all he had to give — the laud ; not for their own, but to hold under him in Fcmtat tenure. Except himself there was no such thing as a h.\\i.-owner. They were all " tenants," liold'inij (the simple meaning of tlie word) under him as the lord paramount, or suzerain (sovereign). That which was not their own of course they could not sell. A colonel might as well talk of selling his regiment, as a tenant in chief {^m '.-cpltc) selling his fief (or feudal estate). It de- scended from father to son — to the eldest of course, as beiug the first who could discharge its duties, in regular succession of " primogeniture :" a line never broken except when " some fair mischief," inconveniently occurring in the shape of a daughter, was as matter of course immediately consigned to the first favourite on the royal list vvho wanted — a fief. Remember — there was no standing army, uo navy, no Civil List, no Parliament to " vote supplies." The King liad to do it all himself; and this network of subinfeudation whicli pe- netrated the whole body politic, say rather this pyramid of which the sovereign was the summit, embraced at once his military power, and whole system of government. The land was the basis on which it all stood,' the pivot on which the whole turned. War being the one occupation of life, tlie " na- tural pursuit" pursuit of man — to follow to the field some war- like lord was the rent which each vassal paid to his superior, throughout all the links of the feudal chain. But there was one class of society which did not go to war. The churciiraeu of those days (for lawyers, like other national blessings, were of later birth) were the only scholars as well as the only landlords, in the land-improvmg sense of the word ; and by degrees, invented modes of leasing, and then releasing land, which, gradually superseding the old fashion of enfeotf- meut, furnisiied one out of several ingenious and evasive modes of passing the actual ownership from one to another in fee ; and (in an evil day,) even of conveying it to one man for the ac- tual benefit, or use, of another ; and then, this very use losing (as words will do,) its first and simple meaning, became, in its turn, conveyed substantively to one, or more, in trust for some one else ; the latter thus enjoying what was called the equita- ble, while the former held the legal estate. i3ut here let us take breath for a moment, and survey the jungle we have got into ! Lord Suzerain, tenants in capite, fiefs, and feoffments, lease and release, uses, and trusts, legal and equitable estates, and feudal tenures in general! With such a vocabulary over its head by way of pedigree, will it now be wondered at, that that bit of land, about which those two citizens were so complacently negociating, changed masters, under their simple check aud receipt-book operations, about as elfectively as if they had proposed to buy and sell the odd d.ay out of the week, or one of " The Twins out of zodiac ! To modern eyes the power to buy and sell is almost insepa- r.able from the idea of ownership. That freedom and facility of transfer which has during the past year enabled three and a half tjittloiis sterling to change owners at the London " Clearing House" is due solely to tlie growth of trade and commerce and manufactures, those " younger children" of national history, which, as they rose to wealth and importance, obtained laws for themselves adapted to the stature and intelligence of the periods in which they attained to corporate existence aud matu- rity. Laws are to a nation very like what habits are to an in- dividual ; it is easier to make a new one, than to alter au old 290 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE, one ; and thus we mvist not be surprised to find the modem trade interests of society clothing themselves with the legal ha- biliments of advaucemeut and intelligence, while land was still struggling in the fetters, say rather in the swaddling-clothes of a system, which, while studiously retaining the old appellation of rw/ property, deprived it of that which is recognized as the best test of all proprietary right — the power of disposal, or " alienation." There is nobody to hang, or even to blame for this. It is not the fault of the lawyers. They did not make it. It gretv. The poor old feudal system was a good one in its day, and suited to its day. It kept society together in a sort of chival- rous interdependence, which was better than independent bar- barism. The evil is, when a thing had lost its use and mean- ing, and become obsolete, when the caudle lias burnt down into the socket and grown mischievous, that the extinguisher is not put on to prevent its becoming — disagreeable. " Time," said Lord Bacon, " is the greatest of innovators." We all believe it ; but we fail to realize it, and fear to act upon it. Our yesterdays are treated as to-days, and we conserva- tively clutch the empty forms of things whose essence and material part have passed away along that far reaching wake that stretches out behind us into the illimitable past. 15ut why, you will ask, if this obstructive system exist no longer iu the other countries of Europe, oucc as subject to feudal laws as Eugland, and has never existed at all in the American States since they ceased to be a colouy, why does it still hold its ground in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland ? Why have the efforts of our legislature, as in tlie Act of 1833, which limited land titles to tTenty years, been unavailing? Why was Lord AVestbury's bill '.ilSGl for ths registration of indefeasible titles unavailing ? Why was the proposal (perhaps the best of all) to cut the Gordian kuot ))y insurance — buyers and sellers uniting to insure till the twenty years had run out and the title run in — unavailing ? If you ask the question of a layman, he will answer, smiling, with the aphorism that " No craft reforms itself." And as the public think they cannot do it, and the conveyancers will nol do it, landed titles iu England and Ireland can only wait patiently for another deluge, or some terrestrial cataclysm like those which Sir Roderick Murchison and the geologists tell of, to give us a fresh start altogether, and put us on a par with Holland, Denmark, Norway, Germany, Switzerland, tlie Tyrol, Italy, and Belgium, where no doubt some such convulsions must have happened, as ihey have made short work of feudal- ism, and converted the conveyancers down to the vulgar doc- trine of " small profits and quick returns." But if you are not afraid to ask a conveyancer himself about it, and he should chauee to be one of " those better brotliers Who think of something else beside the pen," lie will probably ask you in return (also smiling, " like any christom child") " how ou earth are we to enable you to sell land, like horses ? how would you set about selling a horse whose master had settled him in sucli a posture that his head was in this century, and his tail iu the next — m vice versa? If you could sell him, how would you deliver him ? We have to deal in a kind of ware more far-reaching thau the Atlantic Cable, more delicate than the electric brain-thread, the nerve that links on mind to matter ! We are your only true spirit- ' mediums.' They, poor bungling sciolists, only profess to bring back the dead to life, and evening parties, and round games. But our machinery, our dealings are with the un- born ! Tliey are our real clients, those post-natals, ' in re- mainder ;' for they are always ' coming,' and they have got, and for ever and for ever hold, the fee, while tha^ poor breathing wretch, the ' life in being,' the ' tenant for life' in tail, whom you ignorantly call the owner, and address as ' esquire,' is a being whom we look upou as altogether at the wrong end o( the settlement, for any good, or harm, he can do ; and as in our eyes, nobody at all ! His life estate — his ' esse^ is daily diminishing, while the remaiuder-man's ^ posse" is daily dilating, and enlarging on the view." You reply that that won't exactly do, for the purpose that the soil was made for, viz., its agricultural use ; that it was meant to be cultivated like a garden by somebody, not tied up, like a lettuce, for somebody else's future enjoyment, and that the land, if it be " real property" ought also to have a real owner of some sort : that the proprietor ought to have some motive, the tenant some security, the labourer some " place where he may lay his head," after his hard day's work, and near it too ; and you say that this long-winded system of en- tail on an unborn generation interferes with all of these, and sacrifices the present to a future uncertainty, which the very instant it ceases to be future and uncertain, and comes into possession, is chained down in turu to the despised " life estate," and from that instant begins to " Lose the name of action." WeU ! what can the conveyancer do to help it ? He has only to obey instructions. " The family" asks it, and " the law allows it." You say that it is written somewhere that " the earth was made for aU" — that, to this day (and mark that), it is as responsive to the spade, as to the steam-plough, and more ; and that if a live dog is better than a dead lion, a living Nabotli should be able to buy, and hold, his five acres (and without taking Sinbad's " old man of the sea" on his back, in the shape of a lawyer) as easily as Ahab to inherit his five thousand. It sounds dreadfully " radical :" but it is the nature of things that penetrate the soil to be so. Yet how to " disestablish" this unborn tyrant, and restore English and Irish earth to. "lives in being," as in the United States and other countries P "Won't it give birth to a revolution — /. e., amongst the unborn, whose " vested interests" it so cruelly disendows. — from Land In EiH/land, by Mr. WliEN HOSKYJMS, M.P. LARGE AND SMALL FARMS. At the Quarterly meeting of the Dalrymple Earmers' Club the following paper was read by the president, Mr. Smith : — The subject of tliis paper is " The Relative Advantages of Large and Small Earms.' In considering this subject, I refer, of course, to the advantages accruing to the farmer, but I am of opinion that a very slight examination will show that any advantages that we would derive would be shared iu by the people at large , and for this reason, that by whatever prodess — whether by obtaining the same crop at a smaller outlay, or a larger crop at the same outlay, the result is in either case cheapening the products of the earth to the consumer, along with an increased profit to the cultivator. Whether this end can be best attained by large or small holdings is an undecided point, and involves the question — Which offers the best oppor- tunity for exhaustive cultivation? Now, it must be borne in mind that the words large and small are in this case only re- lative ; what is large in one county or district, or on one class of land, being small iu another. For example : a small sheep or hill farm might be a large agricultural one. A great part of the first miglit not pay to be ever otherwise than iu pasture, and the rent of the one might be two or three times the rent of the other. It follows, of course, that the exhaustive cultivation of the one is impossible iu the other, and the la- bour and superintendence required in the one case might be two or three times more than is necessary for the same extent of the land iu the otlier. I am disposed to think that for the reasons now to be mentioned that a medium sized farm is tlie best, and a medium sized farm I would define as one which the lessee can fairly aud carefully superintend himself, neither more nor less. There are, of course, exceptions to every rule — this as well as others — but the exception proves the rule. The disadvantages of a large farm, against which there is no set- off, are numerous and very evident. In the first place, and chiefly, there is scarcely any trade or profession iu which a man has to trust so implicitly to servants, and iu large farms this, of course, becomes more aud more the ease, while only faithful service, can ensure satisfactory results. Practical men like yourselves can readily appreciate the difference be- tween saying to a servant come to yonr work, and having to say to him (/o to your work, It may, quite possibly, be the THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 291 d^erence between profit ami uo profit. This is a matter of much greater importance than in manufactures, because iu a factory the workpeople are concentrated in one buikling, anil constantly under the eye of the numagcrs and foremen. To etlcct so complete a supervision iu agricultural operations you would require a foreman for every man ; it would, at least, be quite impossible for any one man to overlook the working of other men employed, perhaps two or three miles from each other. I have heard manufacturers remark (and I find the same holds good iu agriculture) that the larger the concern is the greater is the danger, and, indeed, the certainty of waste and estravagauce creeping into its operations. For instance, a plough may want some trilling repairs, or a horse-shoe want some nails, or any one of the hundred wants, continually crop- ping up, may be supposed to require attention, and man, horse, and implement may go off to the smithy, the Wright's shop, or saddlers, perhaps two ar three miles off, and at a loss of half a-day. Oue-half of these jouruies, I am satisfied, would be found unnecessary were the farmer in a position always to examiue the grounds of the necessity himself. On moderate- sized farms it is quite possible to find useful employment for the field hands, detained in-doors in winter by stress of weather, but where the servants are very numerous this is much more difficult, and involves an expenditure of wages without return. In large farms there may be some saving to the landlord, and consequently in rent to the tenant, by the concentration of buildings in one place, but I question whether this is not more thau coimterbalauced by the loss of time involved in men, horses, and implements having to travel long distances to and from their work. In any size of farm the extent of crop primarily depends on the amount of seed sown, but the value of the profit depends on the economical working, which iu its turn depends upon personal and careful supervision. I am therefore disposed to think, for reasons I have indicated, ■ that medium farms may be worked most economically, and that farmers will find that after they have passed some such limit as I have laid down, their profits are in an inverse ratio to the extent of their holdings. As their holdings increase their profits get less in proportion. Of course T do not mean that this would go on till there is nothing left, but after a certain point I believe that the farmer does not earn the pro- portion of profit wliieh a large outlay and constant labour deserves, and that a considerable part of his capital would probably realise as much for him if invested at fair mercantile interest without any of the risk or toil and anxiety attendant upon money outlaid on -a busi- ness. Every man in any business of an honest kind is fairly entitled to be recompensed for his anxiety and trouble and risk, and if the returns on liis capital do not sufficiently reward him for these, his business cannot be said to be a paying one, and in this sense, to which I do not see how any objection can be taken, I question whether large farms can be said to pay. One advantage which a large farm undoubtedly possesses over a small one, is the power which the holder has on account of his extensive holding, and his larger capital, to employ machinery iu his agricultural operations with economy. The use of ma- chinery involves at first a very large outlay, which, however cheap in the long run, is too expensive for a small holder. The interest, even if he could command the capital, forms a serious addition to his rent, while in the opposite case the in- terest will be but a small item in the whole expenditure. The possession of it gives the owner, among many obvious advan- tages, the power of getting his work done with the greatest possible expedition, in suitable weather, with an important saving of wages ; the speedy and economical ingathering of his crops, and with tlie power to be early in the market, and to sell at once should prices rule high. The last is a matter of great importance, and would weigh materially against any argu- ment, but that I hold that machinery may be as cheaply ap- plied on medium as on large farms. There are two points *kfl be considered in this connection : first, the suitability of ma^ chinery to the extent of the farm ; and secondly, its suitability to the means of the farmer. As to the first, I speak from ex- perience, because my own farm is a medium-sized one, and 1 find that, taking everything into account, the interest on field machinery during the time it is idle, the expense of working, &c,, I save considerably by its possession. In proportion, I am convinced, is the saving effected on larger fanns, because my first outlay is proportionately less, I h.ave a machine just nowj for iustnuce, which in three or four seasons will pay itself in wages saved, and I shall have it for nothing during the rest of its existence, which will be a very long period. I speak generally of the machinery in use in our neigh- bourhood, aud I except steam ploughs, which, while very costly, we need not here take into account, as tlicy are not adapted to the formation of the land around us. As to the second point, I am bound to say that those farmers who cannot, or wiU not, spare sufiicient capital to provide them- selves with scientific appliances for the cultivation of their farms, are placed at a great disadvantage ; aud in the existing race of competition they are easily distanced. I do not for a moment pretend to have exhausted this subject iu this brief space and time. T can only hiut to you the reasons whicii have established iu my mind the truth of the proposition that, wlule large farms are good, moderate-sized farms arc better ; small holdings I do not think advantageous. I do not here speak of small or peasant proprietorships. Were that question imparted into the discussion, my argumeut might have to be revised. Now, speaking generally, and without regard to the argument, I wish to add a few words more. The progress of science in its application to agriculture is rapid, and the farmer who neglects its teaching will speedily be stranded on the shore, wlule his neighbours are carried on the flood ; aud if there is oue thing which science as well as com- mon sense teaches more clearly than another, it is that, if you are ungenerous and unkind to the land, it will certainly not be liberal to you. It is a willing servant when well treated, and generosity is seldom thrown away. Bear in miud that, what- ever you do, you must always incur the bulk of the expense of generous treatment, aud it is the extras that often make the profits. You have, say, a field of poor soil. You must plough it, but it may be that it only wants a little extra labour to make it bear a good crop. Then, should 3'ou put iu inferior seed, a great part of your labour may be lost whicli would have been saved ; the use of good seed (only a little dearer) ; or it may be that at a critical time iu the growth of the crop a little extra manure for forcing will make the dillerence between only a moderate and excellent crop. I should like to see everybody thoroughly alive to this, in order that the most may be made of the lands — we have none too much of it for our population ; and I hope to see the time when all the soil shall be made available for the wants of all the people, aud the whole land shall flourish like a weU-trimraed garden. A vote of thanks having been awarded to tlie president, the meeting broke up. SMALL FARMS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SHREWSBURY CHRONICLE. Dear Sir, — I was astonished to read the letter of the Eev. Archdeacon Allen, in your impression of Friday last, on small farms. A more retrograde move could not possibly be advanced. Why, the rev. gentleman may as well advocate the destruction of all mill machinery, and set forth the advantage that would arise if hand-looms were the all-m-all of manu- facturing happiness — when every wife spun her own yarn, and her husband wove it into cloth by his own loom. Will the rev. gentleman say, that if small farms had been the prevailing system in England, the magnificent result in agricultural pro- duce of the last 30 years would have taken place ? Would the grand display of agricultural implements shown at Mauchester been forthcoming F or, if forthcoming, could the man of 15 acres have availed himself ot any of them ? Talk of a labourer upon every 15 acres ! Why, our very crack farmers, who cultivate their farms with the exactness of the gardener, do not require more than three labourers to every 100 acres ; the average would be one and a half. Were it not for farmers who can afford to place their sons on farms of 300 or 400 acres, the present supply of beef, mutton, and breadstuff never would have shown itself. I have now in my mind's eye some of these small farms, and I have no hesitation in saying that the surplus supply of 'food for the people per acre is five times greater on the large farms abutting upon them, lleduce the farms of England to the size the Archdeacon recommends, and we shall soou be a nation of beggars, quite ready to allow our sons and daughters to go as menial servants in the parson's family. ~ '~ I remain, yours faithfully, ^PaitQii) Sepfpnkr 7, 1869, liYAN Davies, 292 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. THE LUNG DISEASE. I have had the hing disease on two farms ; all known treatment is unsatisfactory. I believe, if the attack be violent, no treatment will save the animal. It is sometimes difficult to know it at first. There will generally he a cough, hut it is not the clear cough of the animal iu health. It is compressed, and the animal coughs unwillingly and with evident pain. The particular cough cannot be mistaken, and the gtunt is a never-failing symptom. There is generally one lung more affected than the other. The ear being applied to the chest will discover the impeded circulation. Many cattle take the disease so slightly that it is never discovered. Some have little if any cough, and the pile continues soft and healthy. I recollect a milking cow which I was suspicious had the disease. I made her be run out ; there was no acceleration of breathing ; her coat was fine, and there was no diminution of the milk ; but she gave a grunt which confirmed me in my opinion that she had had a slight touch of the complaint. The grieve, a most intelligent man, was satisfied that the cow was healthy. I fatteued her, and for my own information had her slaughtered at home. It was three months after, and the 2">sit mortem examination showed one of the lungs, to the extent of about the size of a crowu piece, adhering to the ribs — a sufticient proof that my conjecture was correct. Many take the disease that are never suspected. I had a bullock showing some symptoms of the disease in a byre amongst ten. The others were, to all appearance, iu perfect health. I sent thera im- mediately to Loudon. My salesman was instructed to inspect the carcasses after they were slaughtered, -and to report. lie did so carefully, and there was not one of the number but had their lungs more or less aft'ected. Mr. Collie, Ardgay, Moray- shire, had a byre of cattle slaughtered under the same circum- stances, and with the very same result. Pleuro-pueumonia is not so int'ectious as foot-aud-mouth disease, but if it get into a farm-steading it is most difiicult to get clear of. I have known cattle infected in three days. I had bought a lot of cattle from a farm in Morayshire where the disease has never been up to this hour. It was in the month of April. There were two or three of the lot that I did not think profitable to graze. I tied them in a byre where infected cattle had stood. They were only to be kept a week or two, and I had no idea of danger. One of them took the disease very badly in three days after he was tied up. I have known it lie dormant in tlie system (as to any visible appearance) for three months and a half. I found the general period of incubation from five to SIX weeks. I liave taken the greatest pains with the byres where the infected cattle stood, having tlie wood-work taken out, the roof's and greeps carefully scraped and washed witli soap and warm water, lime water, and afterwards with chloride of lime, and yet, after all this labour, I have seen the disease break out again and again. After repeated outbreaks, 1 not only removed tlie woodwork, but the whole of the stones in the stalls and greeps, and buried thera. I had the roofs, and stone mangers, &c., carefully scraped, and washed with soap and warm water, and afterwards with chloride of lime. They Were then closely painted, and lastly coal-tarred ; but it was only after five or six niontlis' perseverance that I got clear of it. Having heard a report that a cow belonging to my cousin, Mr. M'Coinbie, editor of the " Free Press," was labouring under pleuro-pneuraouia, I went to see her. Mr. Sorely, ve- terinary surgeon, was in attendance. As there had been no disease iu the neighbourhood for five years, I was unwilling to credit the report. But a more marked case I have never wit- nessed, ^wiS.\\\^ post mortem examination showed all the symp- toms of the fell disease. Mr. Sorely, Mr. M'Combie's overseer, and I, all agreed that as a wood dividing-partition bad been al- lowed to remain since the time of the previous infection, and the cow was seen chewing pieces of the wood that had got rotted at the base, the wood had retained the poison, and the cow had been infected from the chewing of it. The breath is the cause of the infection when cattle are housed together and the disease introduced. It generally attacks the animals standing at the walls first. The breath is driven by different currents through the building to the walls, where it is stopped ; it rebounds, and hence the beasts at the walls generally fall the first victims — so, at least, I have found it iu my experience. I had forty beasts divided by a stone-and-lime mid wall, to the level of the side walls ; up to the roof there was a strong and close division of wood. Unfortunately there had been a small aperture about two feet square left open. I made an observa- tion to the cattleman that I should not be at all surprised if the disease came from the infected byre through the opening to the byre where the cattle were sound. The first or second day thereafter the animal standing below the aperture was seized, and got down iu the disease. In treatment I have no confidence, having tried everything that could be tried and completely failed. I would, however, recommend that neither jiay nor straw be given to animals labouring under the disease. I lost a valuable bull, after he was recovering, from this cause. He was allowed to eat too freely of hay, which he could not masticate ; and when opened after death, an ordinary bucketful of hay way found in his stomach, as dry as when it was eaten. I have come to the conclusion that no animal should be al- lowed hay or straw while unable properly to masticate its food. It is well ascertained that when the poison is lying dor- mant in an animal, it will infect the other cattle before it is visible in itself As a confirmation of this fact, I had a sale of breeding stock after the Dumfries show, on Thursday, 30th August, 1860. The cattle seemed to be iu perfect Jiealth on the day of the sale ; about three-foihths of thera were removed on I'riday. The day following, viz., Saturday, a cow was taken ill. I entertained fears that it might turn out pleuro-pneu- inonia ; and circulars were sent to the parties who had re- moved their cattle. The buyers isolated the cattle bought at the sale from their own stock. Two of the beasts that had been removed died, other two took the complaint and recovered, but fortunately it did not spread amongst the buyers' other stock. The cow first taken ill recovered, and another that was left over took the disease and recovered. But, further, a bull was withdrawn from the sale and sent home to Tilly- four from Dorsell the night of the sale, to all appearance in perfect health, though he afterwards died of the disease. He was watered at a watering-place on the roadside, where a crofter's cattle watered daily. The crofter's cattle went down in the disease, and one of them died. Many were the weary days and restless nights I endured when the disease got fairly developed through two of my largest steadings. It is in such cases that the value of a clear-headed veterinary surgeon is ap- preciated. I would not be well away from one steading, when a messenger would meet me with intelligence of some disaster at the otlier. I had many beasts being fed on other farms as well as those on my own — not fewer than 400 one way or other. I have said how much I am indebted iu such emergen- cies to the advice and counsel of a clear-headed veterinary sur- geon. The disease was in the midst of my breeding stock, and two or three had succumbed to it. Mr. Sorely and I were brooding over this state of matters, when I asked him whether he could do anything to save the herd. He said " I will think over it till to-morrow." He came on the morrow, and seven successive evenings, and administered to each animal a drench, and he would trust no one but himself to do it. I be- lieve there were three changes ofmedicine, not* one animal which got the medicine took the disease, although they had been standing iu the midst of it. There was one worthless old milk cow amongst the others, that I did not think worth the trouble of giving the medicine to ; slie took the disease, and was fed with gruel for fourteen days, and recovered, while the others continued in perfect health.— 6'«///(? wul Cattte Breeders. By W.3rCombie,M,P, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ^9S THE CONDITION OF THE AGRICULTURAL LABOURER. At the meetiucj of the British Association for the Advaucemeut of Science, in Exeter. Professor Leo:je Levi read the report of tlie committee on the "Economic Condition of the Agricultural Labourer in England." The committee reported that they had been obliged to confine their inquiry to such matters concerning the con- dition of the agricultural labourer as were to be found in existing documents, and their first report embraced only the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Surrey, Gloucester, Northumberland, Durham, Lincoln, Nottingham, Leicester, Cambridge, York, Nortiiampton, Bedford, and Buckingham- shire. In these counties wages were represented to range from 18s. a week in Northumberland aud Durham, 17s. in Lincoln and Nottingham, and lis. in Gloucester, to lis. or even 10s. in parts of Cambridgeshire, Where the wages were higher the diet was better. Diet and conditions \^ ere best in Northumberland and Durham. Except in those two counties, the employment of women and children in agricul- ture flas represented as morally bad, and was dying out, in consequence of the growing aversion of the women to the em- ployment. The committee were desirous that the General Committee of the Association should be moved to memorialize Government to make a thorough inquiry into the condition of the agricultural labourer. It is the rule of the Association that the reports of com- mittees should be received \vithout debate ; and, therefore, at the request of the President (Sir Stafford Northcote), Pro- fessor Levi proceeded to read portions of his own report of facts aud observations on Agricultural Economies and Wages. The acreage of the United Kingdom under cultivation was 58 per cent, of the whole area, while II5 per cent, of the entire population were employed in Agriculture. There was an enormous increase in the use of machinery in 20 years. The average wages were about 12s. per week. The number of men engaged in agriculture was far in excess of the require- ments. The adult labour needed was about 50 persons per 1,000 arable land aud 20 per 1,000 acres of pasture, and the actual number, according to the last census, was nearly double that. Wages varied as much as 6s: per week in different localities. With regard to relative productiveness of different soils, Professor Levi spoke as follows ; " No data is furnished in the agricultural statistics of the degrees of productive- ness of the soil of different counties ; but if the presence of wheat, apart from climate and elevation, be a safe indication of a good soil, we find that the south-western counties have a double quantify of acreage sown in wheat than the northern counties. Who, indeed, that has seen both Devonshire and Northumberland can fail to perceive the great advantage of the former over the latter ? Yet who at aU acquainted with northern and southern farming is not convinced that the northeru farmer has made more of his land than the southern ? Compare, for instance, Lincoln with Devon. The soil of Devon is new, and red sandstone always productive. Lincoln's soil is nearly all drift, generally considered light and poor ; yet what is their relative productiveness ? The following is given as the result of the harvest of 1807 : ESTIMATEl) NUMBER OF BUSHELS YIELDED PER ACRE. Wheat. Barley. Oats. Bean.s. Peas. Devon, Axminster 20 ... 32 ... 38 ... 28 ... 22 Lincoln, Alford... 32 ... 40 ... 64. ... 40 ... 40 And what is the reason ? In Lincoln everything has been done to remedy the defects of the soil ; in Devon Nature has been left unaided. Should we calculate the return of the soil from grass in both counties, the result, perhaps, would be different ; but my object is to sliow what has been achieved in Lincoln, no doubt by the larger investment of capital in land." On the subject of the taxes on land, the Professor expressed a doubt as to whether any undue share of burden is put upon real property ; but if such an inequality should be found to exist, it was all-important that it should be removed. Pro- fessor Levi made a special report upon Devonshire as follows ; " In Devon my first visit was to Ilalberfon, a parish of 7,600 acres, half arable aud half pasture-land. The population in 1861 was about 1,600 persons. The cottages have generally thatched roofs, and they are constructed with cob walls, which is a concrete of mud, straw, and pebble. In many cases, where they are in good repair, they may be warm and com- fortable, especially if kept dry at top and bottom ; indeed, a local aphorism says, ' Good col), a good hat and shoes, and heart lasts for ever.' But many cottages were in great want of repair, and with their open roof seemed somewhat cheer- less. Those I visited generally contained a sitting-room and a small back room on the ground-floor, and two bedrooms above. None of them had one bedroom only. In one cottage, the family, consisting of a man and wife aud his wife's mother, had two lodgers, who paid 8d. per week each. In another there were a man and his wife and four children. In another a man and his wife, two grown-up sous, aud a grandfather. On an average the inmates numbered less than five per cot- tage. The rent of the cottages was Is. 4d. to Is. 6d., but each had a small garden attached, which supplies a good deal of vegetables, aud allows facilities for the keeping of pigs. The weekly wages at Halberton were 9s. per week for common labourers, with three pints of cider per day. A carter gets Is. more, or is allowed his cottage rent-free ; but he works longer time per day. Sometimes a certain quantity of grist is allowed by the farmer, at 5s. per bushel ; but though that makes a better bread, it is not cheaper than what is bought. The ordinary diet appears to be tea or kettle-broth (being bread in water aud milk) in tiie morning, bread aud cheese for lun- cheon and dinner, and a hot supper consisting of potatoes and a piece of bacon. The general appearance of the people seemed healthy. At church on Sunday all were comfortably dressed ; the children at the Sunday school seemed as tidy as those in any ordinary school in town, aud they looked healthy. There is one day-school with 130 or 150 children, which, from the report of the Inspector of Schools, appears to be in a good state of efficiency. From Halberton I went to South Molton. Eilleigh, the parish where Castle Ilill is situated, has 2,000 acres, one-third arable and two-thirds pasture-land, and has about 700 inhabitants. The cottages are fair, with larger gardens than at Halberton, and the rent is uniformly Is. jier week. There, too, the wages are 9s. per week ; but the forester supplies lire-wood at only 10s. per annum. On Lord Fortescue's estate there are, on an average, oniy four persons per cottage. The diet of the people did not dper mucli from that of Halberton, except that the dinner i^ the chief meal instead of the supper, and fish comes more in use. There,,f,oo, I visited the school, which was well-attended. There Setos, however, less difficulty in obtaining the children oftke labourers than those of small farmers ; the latter having to pay 6d. to 7d. per child per week, instead of Id., as ^ the labourers are too ready to find excuses for keeping the children from school. On my way to Exeter I visited Lord Portsmouth's estate at Eggesford. There, also, the rent of cottages is Is. per week, and I understand that the land- owner does not allow the farmer to charge higher rent for his cottages. The wages are 9s., but a good deal is given out by piecework. I had also the pleasure of visiting Sir John Kennaway, at Escot, near Ottery St. Mary. In the adjoining parish of AVhimple I found the cottages dearer and not so good ; but on the Escot estate, as at other places, I saw how much the condition of the labourers is bettered by the presence of a good landlord. The wages were 9s. aud 9s. 6d. per week. An allotment of garden land is also given at a nominal rent, and the information received ou the state of education was more cheering. The schoolmaster knew few in the parish who could not read and write. In calculating the income of agricultural labourers in Devon, it is not sufficient to take the standard weekly wages. Where piecework is given a good deal more is earned, by which the income is often increased to ]2s. or 15s. a-week. Extra pay is also given at harvest time and at haymaking, for wliich some give a sovereign, some 30s., and some other extra allowances. Including piecework and 294 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, extra earnings at harvest time, the wages cannot be less tlian 10s. or lis. per week. A portion of these extras clouhtless goes to replace the loss of wage for the days when there is no work ; but good labourers do not lose much from that source. To the wages of the men we must add the value of the labour of women and children. Not many women are to be found working in the field in Devonshire, yet they earn a little from otlier occupations, and thus add to the resources of the family. Isolated cases of extreme penury or comparative comfort are fallacious in such calculations. I saw a case where the hus- band was tlie only earner of 9s. per week, and ■nath his 7s. 6d. net of rent he had to support himself and his wife and five lit- tle children, or seven persons. But there were cases where the husband and wife, or the father and one or two boys, were all earners. To an agricultural labourer a family of little children is a burden, but a number of boys, up to a certain age before they leave home, is a mine of wealth. The evil is that often a youth, earning almost as much as a man, gives only a small weekly sum to his mother for his keep, and wastes great part of the remainder. Taking one with another, I would imagine that we should be safe in estimating the total earnings of a man and boy, or one full wage and a third, as the earnings of a family of five. If that be correct, we have probably 13s. or Ms. per week in money as the average income of a family. I will not say that the whole of this amount is practically de- voted to the necessaries of life, but, unfortunately, even if it were, it is hardly sufficient to cover the cost of living." On the whole he found the condition of the labourer in the parts of Devonshire he visited far from satisfactory, but at the same time it was by no means of so despairing a character as it was described by some. In the concluding summary of his facts and observations the Professor said the causes of low wages in agriculture were the prevalence of physical labour and excess of labourers. For the welfare and improvement of the condi- tion of the labourer he recommended elementary education, to enable him to take the position of a skilled labourer, technical education among farmers, liberal remuneration for skill, exten- sion of piecework, greater adoption of machinery, assistance to enable the labourer to remove freely from county to county, emigration, extension of the cultivation ofthe land, an increase of the commerce and manufacture of the country. He also recommended long leases to occupiers, removal of any inequa- lities of the burdens of taxation, extension of railway accom- modation in agricultural districts, yearly hiring of labourers by means of registij offices; the general discontinuance of pay- ment of wages in kind (especially cider, &c.), better cottage accommodation, cottage gardens or allotments, promotion of savings-banks, friendly societies, &c., hmiting of publichouses, facilities for the purchase of plots of land, &c. He thought it desirable that to the annual agricultural statistics should be added the number and extent of land proprietors, number and acreage of farm holdings, the wages of agricultural la- bour, and the jwoduce of the soil. As to the character and habits ofthe agricultural labourers, there were among them fewer births, deaths, and marriages, better education among adults (especially women), less drunkenness, less crime, but ■ more pauperism and more illegitaraacy, than among the rest of the -industrial population, while the proportions of children sent to school were nearly equal. _ Canon Girdlestone said he held an official document in his hand, proving, beyond dispute, that in 1861 the wages of agricultural labour were lower in Devon than in any other county in England. To give cider was worse than giving no- thing. The introduction of macliiuery tended at present to reduce the amount of harvest wages, and tlie excess of earn- ings at that season was neutralized by the seasons when the men were out of work. It was of very doubtful financial ad- vantage to the labourer to keep a pig. Employers professed to give fuel, but it was generally roots, which the labourer had to grub out before he had it. The Rev. Canon protested that he had nothing to gain by the part lie took in this move- ment, but he had gained the synipatliy of the country, as well as that of most of the Press and the Eritisli Association. Mr. Neville Guenville, Mr. Websteii, Q.C, and Mr. J. H. Kennaway took part in the subsequent discussion, which terminated in a vote of thanks to Professor Levi, and a recommendation that his paper sliould be printed. The subject was, however, resumed on Wednesday, when some other con- tributions bearing on it were brouglit'before the section. The JTresident suggested that they should all be read in succession. and that in the debate on them Professor Levi's report should be included. Dr. W. Neilson Hancock contributed a paper on " Local Taxation in Ireland." He pointed out the salient difi'erences between the systems of taxation in England and Ireland. He gave a full account of the manner in which taxes are levied in Ireland. The grand jury cess, poor-rates, and town-rates are levied upon the same valuation, which in 18G5 amounted in the aggregate for aU Ireland to £12,986,026 giving for grand jury cess an average of Is. 7id. in the pound, and for poor- rates an average of Is. l^i. in the pound, which amounts to a total average of 2s. 9d. in the pound for aU districts outside towns under town councils. The average town rate is about 2s. Id. in the pound. The entire subject ofthe general valua- tion of Ireland has been under investigation by a Select Com- mittee of the House of Commons during the Session just con- cluded. The consideration of the subject has not yet con- cluded, and the Committee purpose resuming their labours next Session. ]\Ir. W. BoTLEY read a paper on the " Condition of the Agri- cultural Labourer." He said : AA^hether we took the statis- tics of Mr. Bailey Denton, Mr. Corrance, Canon Girdlestone, or his own, which he gave in the discussion last year, the con- clusion forced itself upon us that the s/a/iis of the agricultural labourer needs and calls for amendment. Mr. Botley then pro- ceeded to give from personal observation his ideas as to remc- dials, both direct and indirect. Speaking of education, he said that where so many prejudices and conflicting interests unite in opposing education, the state should step in and assert its right of guardianship. He was continually reminded of the necessity of compulsory education. L n the matter of edu- cation Scotland was better off than England ; and while only one-third in the English army could read and write 99 in 100 in Prussia could do so, 199 in 200 in Saxony, and all in Switzerland. The three days per week system appeared to him, by results which he had witnessed in the North Surrey and other industrial schools, to possess considerable merit. America, Switzerland, and Prussia were, he said, examples of the advantages of the compulsory system, and that with- out those drawbacks which opponents urge against it. He thought it would not be going a step too far were the Legisla- ture to compel landed proprietors in rural districts to build or provide the requisite number of decent cottages and garden ground for the labourers required to work the farm. His advice to lauded proprietors was, if they had not the means to build, to raise the money in the same way as, under Act of Parliament, they did for drainage and farm buildings. Com- ing to the earnings of labourers, Mr. Botley said, " The average of day labourers throughout England is said to be 12s. Gd. per week. To this must be added, in the case of carters and shepherds, the cottage and garden free ; but piece- word, such as wheat hoeing, grass mowing, sheep shearing, &c., taking the mean at 15s., and adding 20 per cent, as the earnings of his wife and children, the gross will be 18s, per M'eek for a man, wife, and three cliildren, to pay rent, buy fuel, food, and clothing. We who know what daily expenses are may well wonder how with the most rigid economy they subsist at all." Piecework, continued Mr. Botley, is adopted by tlie most advanced agriculturists wlien i)racticable, stimu- lating the men to exertion, and inducing a better class of labour ; the mind must be brought to bear upon the work — tlie head going before tlie hand. Education will tend thereto if it is what it invariably should be — industrial. Speaking of emigration, he said, had the present liberal system in grants of land been adopted years ago, tens of thousands who emi- grated to the United States would have gone to Canada in- stead, and would thus have enriched the territory under the British Crown some hundreds of millions. Although not a warm advocate of emigration, he considered it a great boon to many who might suffer here before landed proprietors were convinced of the profitable investment of reclaiming, draining, and improving their lands by the well-directed application of labour. Provident societies and cottage garden exhibitions were advocated by Mr. Botley. With regard to co-operative societies, lie thought if the agricultural labourer could be educated up to provident habits and economy there would be no lack of respectable tradesmen to insure the ready-money customer good value for his money. Coming to the second part of his subject, drainage, reclamation of waste lands, higher cultivation, game laws, and leases, Mr Botley pointed THT^ FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 295 out the advantage of drainage, botli on account of its sanitary benefit and increased production. Tlie tenant should stipulate as to the game, hedgerows, &c. ; also as to the lease. As regards the game laws, he said, " So demoralizing has their operation been on the agricultural lahourcr, that they are all but uni- versally condemned, to say nothing of the thousands of acres of corn devastated, and ' wliereou the mower fiUeth not his hand, neither he that biudeth up the sheaves his bosom.' " He had seen a 20-acre field of wheat so eaten up and poisoned by rabbits and hares that the yield was scarcely eight bushels per acre, when, from the excellent cultivation, it ought to have yielded 40. What farmer could stand against such results as these ? he asked. With respect to leases, he had never yet heard or read any argument to alter or qualify his opinion in favour of a lease. The law should compel proprietors who objected to let On lease to do what equity and political economy require, and to recoup the out-gonig tenant for all unexhausted improvements, to be arranged by valuation. In conclusion, he said he believed there was an abundance of facts to warrant the conclusion that the agricultural labourer's condition is to be advanced by the more liberal management of landed property. Mr. Botley thus summarized his ideas of improving the condition of the agricultural labourer — First, by an industrial education producing temperance, prudent forethought, and economy. Second, by every estate having a sufficient number of substantial cottages thereon, with land adjoining to grow plenty of vegetables for a family. Third, farms to be let on long leases with very few restrictions, and containing a compensation clause for all unexhausted improve- ments. Fourth, all wet strong land to be thoroughly drained. Fifth, the immoderate preservation of game to be discontinued, and cumbrous hedgerows grubbed. Sixth, tenants to be selected not on account of their politics, but as men of skill, capital, and enterprise. Seventh, piecework where possible instead of day work, the utmost employment being given by the farmer, who knows that judicious outlay in labour brings a sure return, realizing the desired ultimatum — a fair day's pay for a good day's work. Mr. James Bulleu rebutted the statement of Canon Girdle- stone that the labourers received only 9s . a week, and pointed out that there were extras which raised the sum to more than 15s. He also took exception to some statements made by Professor Levi, Professor Thorold Rogers said that to doubt that the wages of the agricultural labourer had fallen within the last twenty or thirty years would be to fly in the face of facts. In considering this question of wages it was important to take into account the power possessed by tlie agricultural labourer of purchasing the secondary necessaries of life, such as butter, bacon, and cheese. This power had, he held, considerably diminished within the last twenty years. He would put this question : Why is butter Is. 6d. per pound ? Twenty years ago butter in summer was 9d. or lOd. per pound. lu towns the prices for these secondary necessaries were more uniform than in the country ; and in this respect the agricultural la- bourers suffered. Coming to the question of improving the condition of the agricultural labourer, he touched first on the proposal to encourage emigration. He must confess that he had looked with regret on the fact that an exodus had been going on in England, not among the poorer classes, but among the most enterprising (Hear, hear). Long ago he ventured to predict that the emigration system prevalent in Ireland would be extended to England ; but he did not think that the remedy of emigration was likely to meet the case. He thought that farmers would find it advantageous to give their labourers better wages : the latter would then have better food and grow stronger, and consequently be able to do more work. Uev. Prebendary Sa2^ders confined his attention to the state of education in the county, as shown ihy the reports of the Diocesan Inspectors. These reports showed that there were 493 parishes and districts in this county, and that out of these 493 there were only 39 whichjiad no schools, 12 had less than iOO inhabitants each, ^^2 less than 200 each, and four just over 200 each. „ There were 29 parishes, with 11,144 inhabitants, which had no sehgols, or had Sunday-schools only, and that represented the 'neglecte:d districts in this county. He would leave them to draw what inference they liked from that. There was no account of Nonconformist BChools, The Rev. Prebendary beUeved the agricultural la-' bourers were, as a rule, anxious to avail themselves of the means of education placed within their reach. He also dwelt on the importance of diilusing knowledge, in order to raise the labourer from his present condition. Mr. John Daw submitted that agricultural labourers re- ceived in tlie present day wages much higher than those given formerly. He denied Professor Rogers's statement that the wages had fallen. He also questioned the accuracy of the Professor's assertion that there was a decrease in the pur- chasing power of those necessaries. Why, the average price of butter was Is. l^d., and in summer it was Is. Tea could now be had for 2s, Gd. per lb. ; and lump-sugar, formerly at Is. 6d. per lb., was purchased .at 5d. In the price of clothes there had been a similar reduction. Mr. Daw had heard some most astounding statements in this section. For in- stance, a professor had stated that there were too many la- bourers ; whereas the real fact was that you could not get sufficient labour. The other day a labourer died in his parish ; and he could not supply his place (laughter). Then, as to yearly hiring, why that was quite unnecessary : a good la- bourer never left you, if treated properly. Canon Girdlestone lived in an unfortunate part of the county. As to teaching, it was no use shooting above the heads of the people. If the labourers were taught at all, let them be taught " the three R's," and the fact that there was a parish out of their own division (Hear, hear). They had heard two exquisite papers to-day. As to making landowniers build cottages, gi^fe higher wages, and so on, compulsion would not answer : it must be shown that it was their interest to do so. As for game, he thought it would be well to get ParUameut to interfere : the simple remedy would fee to make a law that no lease should contain the restriction of not killing rabbits (laughter). He certainly did not assent to all that Canon Girdlestone had said, nor yet to all that Professor Levi had said. Mr. George Hirst called attention to the great want of employment for the labourers during the winter months, and urged the importance of paying attention to the question of allotments. Earl Nelson spoke on the importance of cultivating among the labourers a feeling of independence and self-reliance. He had been astonished at the deductions of Professor Levi from his figures as to the large surplus of agricultural labour in the country. He was quite certain, from piactical knowledge of his own, that the Professor was wrong — although with the greatest sincerity, he must have made some mistake some- where. There were many labourers in the neighbourhood of great forests — comparatively uncultivated land. There were many agricultural labourers who were moving rapidly into the towns ; but it was very difficult indeed, if ' you took tlie statistics of any particular year, to get them at all times. The law of settlement and other evils being removed, a good deal of good would be done for the labourers ; but if you wanted to benefit them you must not make them out worse than they were (Hear). Hitherto they had as a class been kept down. The noble earl admitted the value of education. He answered several of Canon Girdlestoue's statements. Respecting " farmers' fuel," he, as a landowner, allowed his men to grub up the roots of trees, and some of them, he had heard, made as much as 10s. or 12s. per week by the work. Wages were not so bad as represented. When he wanted a woodman he offered 14s. weekly, with rent free, and garden and fuel, and he could not get one at first — at least, four out of eight refused the wages. He had seen an advertisement in the paper for a policeman 5ft. 7in. high, of good character, at £1 per week ; but his bailiff would not accept the post because £1 a-week did not anything like represent what he was receiving. Respecting the cottage question, he approved the system of borrowing money for the erection of good cottages. The general cry was for good cottages on a farm, because with- out them the farmer was afraid that he should lose his labourers. As for allotments, he had found that labourers preferred a c[uarter of an acre allotment to one double the size. Mr. A. H. A. Hamilton observed that with reference to tlie ill condition of the agricultural labourer it was of no use ex- aggerating things. He showed that the. labourer in the country had many advantages not possessed by the town labourer— fresh air, pure water, &c. The agriculturallabourers liked cider, and that must be taken into consideration. Re- garding the addition of rooms to cottages, one labourer had remarked that an extra room would be very comfortable, and 296 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, now tliey should be able to take in lodgers (laugliter.) Mr. Hamilton urged the importance of education. Canon Girdlestone liad stated that signatures to marriage registers were a fallacious test of education, and he now adhered to the statement. Numbers were enabled to write a signature on an important occasion, but yet could not write a single sentence correctly at other times. He admitted, in answer to Earl Nelson, that there were many liberal land- owners, and that in those exceptional cases the labourers were well treated. Earl EoRTESCUE joined issue with Professor Rogers on what he had taken as " undisputed facts." He could not allow that " secondary comforts" had been raised in price so as to . depress the condition of the agricultural labourer lower than it was 20 years ago. His impression was that it was improv- ing, and that there was a tendency to raise wages. Taking piecework into consideration, he knew from what he paid himself that wages ran from 12s. to 13s. weekly. Then it must be remembered that in this country the agricultural labourer had a less number of hours' work than those in other countries. He should not from his own experience be inclined to say that Devonshire labour was cheap, though the rate of wages was certainly below that in some other districts. He thought tliatthe building of cottages was a question of demand and supply. lie pointed out that the improvement in the sanitary condition of the countrj during the last 20 years had greatly diminished death rates, and, that bad as was the over- crowding ascribed to the cottages of agricultural labourers, it was nothing to the systematic and increasing overcrowding in the large manufacturing towns. His lordship referred to tlietest of marriage signatures on the point of education, and showed tliat tlie agricultural districts bore favourable comparison with the manufacturing districts of Lancashire and elsewhere. Lord Halifax did not believe ia the excess of agricultural labourers, and, regarding the wages, he set them down at iCis. 15s., and 14s. weekly. He submitted that this question of wages would always depend iipon supply aud demand. He did not think that " payments in kind" was, as a rule, a good thing ; still, it was in some cases convenient, and very accept- able to the labourers themselves. Dr. E.vitR spoke on the marriage-signature test in reference to education. Mr. AcLANB, M.P., who said he was a pupil of the late riiilip Pusey, reminded the meeting of the modesty of the plain yeomanry of this country, whose opinions on the points in question were very important, but in consequence of the said modesty were seldom expressed. He should much like the benefit of their experience. The lion, member praised the paper by Mr. Purdy, and hoped that Agricultural Chambers would make themselves masters of its contents. Mr. Acland could see nothing to be done without increasing the capital of the land (Hear, hear). Oneway to elevate the labourer was, he thought, to remove every discouragement from theemployerwho should have plenty of capital and suflicient confidence to use it. Professor Leo^'e Levi having replied, The President made a few observations in closing the debate. He pointed out that it did not follow that because labour was low-priced therefore it was cheap. He advised agriculturists generally to be self-dependent, and not trust too much to legislation. He hoped that inquiry into the question which had been so ably debated would be continued. The committee at their final meeting appointed Mr. J. D. Acland, M.P., Mr. Edgar Bowring, M.P., Dr. William Parr, Professor J. Thorald Ilogers, and Mr. Frederick Purdy to be a committee to report on the wages of the agricultural labourer and on the purchasing power of.such wages at different periods of English history within the last century anu a half; Mr, I'urdy to act as secretary. THE SANITARY PRINCIPLES OF COTTAGE IMPROVEMENT. At a meeting at his own house, at East Sheen, Mr. Edwin CiiADWiCK delivered an address in which he said, the great sanitary evil to be contended against in the cottage aud house site and the habitat for puericulture is damp, which lowers temperature and lowers strength ; generates painful diseases — rheumatism — and, lowering strength, predisposes to all other passing causes of disease, and especially to consumption. The first article to be insisted upon in a sanitary specification is, that by drainage of the site if it be necessary, " the water- table shall be lowered not less than three feet below the sur- face." Throughout the country it has been of late observed that a diminution of consumption has followed good subsoil drainage works. In this particular instance, the site being a deep gravel, in which the water-table is several feet below that minimum, there was no necessity for this precaution. My first condition of a sanitary preparation, as respects the con- struction of the house itself, is " that the flooring shall be im- pervious to rising wet, the walls to driving wet, and the roof- ing to falling wet or to snow, and that they shall bo absolutely damp-proof." As illustrative of the conditions of the common constructions, I may here mention that the common bricks of which cottages are made, absorb as much as a pint or a pound of water. Supposing the external walls of an ordinary cottage to be one brick thick, aud to consist of 12,000 bricks, they will be capable of holding 1,500 gallons or 6^ tons of water, when saturated fully, which they sometimes are. To evaporate that quantity of water would require nearly a ton of coal well applied. These bricks give off their moisture slowly. It is unsafe to inhabit, in less than nine months or a year, the liouses constructed of the common materials ; and almost a double death-rate has attended recently the occupation of a brick-built model dwelling. When I examined, as a reporter, the model dwellings built at Paris by the Emperor, I found the appearances of damp on some of them that had been built two years. The concierge who showed one block had her head bouud up, and was suffering from an attack of rheumatism, connected with the dampness of the liouses. The ^Empress has since jiaid attention to the subject, as I am informed 'anil ' I nope, Willi bijttpr effect. ]3ut it is proper to'm^nti'on, as show-. ing how little is to be expected, not merely from architectural science as it is, hut from curative science when uncombined with preventive or sanitary science in construction, and also as sliowing that the poor are not the only persons who suffer, that the medical officers at the recently-constructed hospital at Netley have been afflicted with rheumatic fever, arising from the excessive dampness of the brick construction of their quarters. Some military officers' quarters, constructed chiefly, I believe, of stone not loug ago at Dover by an eminent civil architect — which is often as bad as brick — were, I am assured, so damp, that it was found to be impossible to occupy Ihem, though they had cost oue thousand pounds each. A gallant friend, wiio the other day examined the cottage I shall show to you, exclaimed, " What superior oflicers' quarters such cottages would make," though they would cost one-tenth the sum expended on the damp construction at Dover. I think it right to mention these tilings in illustration of the common state of information on tlie question. Tlie opportunity of my constructing a model cottage, as I may call it, arose from the need of erecting anew lodge for my gardener and his mother, in lieu of one enlarged from a two-room to a three-room cot- tage, built by my predecessor as tenant to this house — my learned friend, the Hon. Adolphus Liddell. He is a man, as everyone who knows him is aware, of solid virtues, who would be the last to do harm to any living creature. If he happily had had a ray of sanitary science, lie would have been aware that in keeping the poor woman in that cottau'e he was victi- mising her, as happened, with rheumatism, from the damp brick floor and the damp walls aud ceiling. His regret at what he unwittingly did to this poor woman by the common erior will be sharpened when he learns that it was at double the expense of the construction by which I trust she will now be relieved. Parliament has — in what shall I say — conferred great sanitary powers not upon a Minister of Health, but of all men upon the Secretary of State for the Home Deparfment, froiu whose visible occupation with other subjects you may see wliat is his .'power of attention to that subject. Now, it may be mentioned, as a point of observation I'or the Sanitary Commission now sitting, that his only adviser within the *#■■ THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 297 oiiice, so far as 1 ain aware, Cur the selection of s.mitary ofliccrs and the exercise of very large sanitary powers must lie, on very important questions for the health of populations, 'the perma- nent Under-Secretary of State, my predecessor here, the lion. Adolphus Liddel, who, I should he glad to Itope would iind, amidst the multiplicity of his other duties, some small scrap of time to amend his deficiency of sanitary knowledge, of which his old lodge, which you niay sec here, may he presented as a monument. II. 11. 11. the late lamented Prince Consort, with ■whom 1 had correspondence on this question, accepted com- pletely the principle of tiic dry, damp-proof construction, and endeavoured to aiiply it by hard-burned hollow bricks, glazed for interior wail facings. I undoubtedly consider that a construction of vitreous tiles or bricks the best possible, but for trade reasons, stated in my report on the exhibition of model dwellings at Fans, they are unattainable at present. The late Captain Fowke first directed my attention to concrete, as the most advantageous and the clicapcst material available for cottage construction, and gave some specimens at the South Kensington Museum. Portland cement is a stronger material than Roman cement, and, as was shown at the International Exhibition, its use is extending throughout Europe. Those who wish to be informed particularly in relation to it will find all about it in tlie report of the Children's Employment Com- missioners, that it originally imbibes less water than the com- mon brick material, parts with it more rapidly, hardens and becomes utterly impermeable to water. My specification " that the walls and ceilings shall be impermeable to water or damp," is complied with in this instance by the contractor, Mr. Nicoll, by the use of a new material for wall and roof construction, of which Portland cement concrete forms a part. You may imagine, as adopted for houses, the Crystal Palace, principle of construction, with iron framing and bearers, but, instead of glass, opaque slabs, made of a web of straw compressed to about oue-fourth the space of loose straw into a mat, which is spread over a framework of iron vvire. Upon this compact web of straw, layers of hard bitumen are put on both sides. Over the bitumen is placed a layer of concrete. If the bitumen be of sufficient thickness and hardness and properly spread, it appears impossible that wet can penetrate that walling ; and although the outer layers of concrete might, if not well made, for a time, imbibe some portion of moisture, it could not pass tlirough the bitumen. The straw, kept dry — and it should be kept completely dry — by the bitumen — is, as we know, a non- conductor of heat, and the bitumen should be preserved in hot weather by the non-conducting power of the outer layer of concrete, which is also an entire non-conductor of damp. Mistakes have been made with the first attempts, in carrying the economy of the iron framing too far, and occasioning cracks in the roofs ; but two years and a-lialf experience of a lodge on this principle of construction at South Kensington is very satisfactory. The next articles of a sanitary specification applicable to cottage construction are, " tliat the walling shall be washable," " that it shall be such as not to harbour ver- min," and " that it shall be of a light, agreeable colour." It is a sanitary rule, as applicable to closely occupied dwellings that the walls shall be cleansed at least once a year, and some authorities have required that it shall be done at least four times a year. To provide for lime washing it has been pro- vided that the brick walls of the Peabody and other model dwellings shall be kept bare. At the Board of Health, at epidemic periods, when houses were struck with fever, we or- dered tlie inmates to leave, and the houses to be cleansed. In some instances the orders were disobeyed, and fresh population came into the uncleansed houses, and they were attacked witli fever, proving the deleterious quality of the deposit on the walls. The cost of lime-washing, as often as it is required to be repeated, is a serious tax. In hospital-construction the cost of the washable wall facings is often as much as ten shil- lings a superficial yard- You will see the sort of wall facings that have been given by Mr. Nicoll in the several rooms of the cottage at from one-tenth to one-twentieth of the hospital prices. The way in which the sanitary specification that the flooring shall be of a good non-conducting material, and be water-tight and damp proof, you will see is ftttained by squares of the cheaper wood laid upon a layer of bitumen. The occu- pant attests that this flooring, wliich you will see, is a great immediate improvement in comfort. So f.ir as the shell of the cottage is concerned, it is submitted that it is an improve- ment on the principle and the quality of construction upon the common dwellings. If the workmanship bo good, and flie contractor onglit to be held to inuke good for a period of time all defaults from the sanitary specification — 1 do not see that the dilapidations will be greater, and 1 do believe they will be less, than in the common constructions. The contest is for re- duction of price as well as for improvement in quality, and the economy may be achieved at the expense of stability, unless the point be guarded ngaiust, but, at the worst, I do not believe that the new construction can be so bad as the more common old one. Constructions in most forms of entire concrete wal- ling appear to be better in quality, and may be lower in price, than brick, wjiere good sand, or gravel, or other wall material is close at hand. But if tlie three-inch walls of tliis cottage constrnctiou have suifieiently good non-conducting power, or as good non-conducting power as the common nine-inch walls at tiie same price, they give an important gain in space. The cottage you will see has a gain of 564 cubic feet of interier space from three-inch instead of nine-inch walls ; and, by having the entire space up to the roof, there is a gain of 720 cubic feet, or in all 1,284 feet more; that is to say, space such as in some constructions would be considered to suffice for tw o more persons. This is an uudoubted gain for the next great point of a sanitary specification : " That the ventilation shall be (that is to say in cold weather,) with air tliat is warm as well as fresh." All common modes of cottage ventilation ventilate by cold air, and are almost invariably contended against by the inmates. The uew method of ventilation, in- vented by Capt. Douglas Gallon, R.E., by a fresli-air flue, in which the air is warmed, has been experimented upon in this country, and tried in a number of barracks. It has been tested by Dr. Park, of Netley, as to the hygrometrical condition of the warmed air, which he pronounces to be satisfactory, and he tells me that he intends to apply the principle to his own dwelling. It has also been carefully tested in many experi- ments in Paris, by General Morin, of the Institut, and, un- doubtedly, it is in principle a decided success. The soldiers in the barracks warmed by it declare that they are no longer, as heretofore, roasted in front whilst they are frozen behind. By this method the air may be changed three times an hour, or oftener ; and nearly fifty per cent, of the chimney heat, now wasted, brought back into the room. Though the ventilation, is, of course, the most active when the fire is alight, it was found, upon experiment, that from the continued warmth of the flues and the mass surroundiug the flues, the change of air effected was considerable, even as late as sis o'clock in the morning. The concrete is peculiarly adapted for the construc- tion of tubular smoke and air flues at a cheap rate. This, as far as I am aware, is the first instance in w hich the important principle has been applied to a cottage, and until we have a winter experience, it cannot be pretended that the best adjust- ment of the fresh-air flue, and the means of warming it by the chimney flue, have been attained. According to General Morin, the ventilating chimney is a means of saving fifty per cent, of the coal consumed in domestic fires ; and the estimated consumption of coals in our domestic fire-places is forty millions of tons annually. I commend to your notice a newer arrange- ment, by Mr. ISieoll, by which the same fire-place that gives radiant heat, and warming, and ventilation to the front room, keeps a boiler and an oven at work in the next. This is al- ready reported, on trial by the housewife, to be a success. In conclusion, I may state for consideration another article of a sanitary specification, which will be realised here : " That the complete construction of the house shall be such that if it be left clean, unoccupied, and closed for any time, it shall remain dry, ;,frec from any close, musty, or foul smell, and shall be immediately habitabl?, without the need of fires or of any special preparations for safe occupauey in winter or in summer." This cottage is detached, and uncon- nected with any system of sewers ; and the plan in use here is a moveable pail under a seat, into which pail is to be put all the soap suds, house-slops, &c., wliicli serve to dilute excreta, the whole being removed daily, or before decomposition can commence, and deposited in a trench, or applied, at the discre- tion of the gardener, as liquified manure, the principle of the plan being to take the manure to the prepared soil, instead of bringing prepared soil to only a part of the house manure, as is the principle of the earth-closet system. Where the bouse is connected with a public system of sewerage, which, it is to be hoped w^ould be a self-cleansing system of sewers instead of sewers of deposit, which areonly extended cesspools, the fuuda- 298 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. mental item of a sanitary specification, I take occasion to state, would be in the following terms: " The house shall be provided with a water-closet on the syphon principle, so shaped, and so provided with water as to be effectually self-cleansing throughout, and to remove at once from beneath the premises all fjecal matter or waste water, and to be so trapped as to prevent tlia ingress of vitiated air from the sewer in the event of accidental stoppages, and to be at all times free from foul smells." Now, as to the cost of this cottage construction. My conclusion is that an improved cottage construction, on ■whatever principle, will be only obtainable when cottages be- come a manufacture (which is not yet) with the advantage of mucli machinery for the repetition of numbers. I think ac- knowledgments are due to Mr, Sharp, the architect, and to Mr. Nicoll, tlie contractor, for their steady efforts to reduce and to keep down prices. I am assured by them that de- tached cottages, such as the present specimen, with 4,800 cubic feet of internal capacity, may be repeated, in half a dozen at a time, for about one hundred poimds each ; or, if a dozen cot- tages in a row (where it must be so, for I do not like cottages in rows) be ti^ken of the same riualities, guaranteed damp- proof, but without decorations, at about eighty-five pounds each. These (apart from the present main question of quality and economy in use) are, as far as I know, important reduc- tions in prices. To the members of the Ladies Sanitary Asso- ciation, who do so much with little money, who have circulated such admirable tracts on the sanitary treatment of children, and on domestic management, I respectfully commend the promul- gation of sanitary principles for the improved construction of the people's homos. The first of these principles is the re- quirement, by specification, of dry foundations, of dry and warm floors, of perfectly damp proof walls and ceilings, walls washable and fair to see, and means of ventilation with air that is warm as well as fresh, saving half the cammon consumption of fuel, and giving really comfortable homes. To my colleagues of the Council and to the members of the Society of Arts, I venture to commend the consideration of tlie perfectionment of the arts and appliances by which these several ends may be best attained for the poorest of the population, Mr. Chadwick will allow his cottage to be shown to any one who has a special interest in the subject, and he will be thankful for any suggestion of further improvements. THE BREEDING AND REARING OF AYRSHIRE DAIRY STOCK. . At the quarterly meeting of tlie Ayrshire Farmers' Club, Mr. R. Dalglish, Templand Mains, President of the Club, in the Chair, Mr, Lindsay, of Craigends, said: In speaking of the breeding of Ayrshire dairy stock, I would say first— Take a herd of cows, compact in shape and of good size, with milk- ing and feeding qualities combined; what I mean is, that altliough we are to have the Ayrshire milk cow still in view, yet I would retain a stoutness that would render the stock more hardy. Such stock would be most profitable in my opinion when taken fpr the whole season. Too-smaU teats ou;^ht to be guarded against; for if the dairymaid cannot catch them in her hand when milkiug, it takes so long to milk them that tliere is a loss occasioned, and if not milked clean, the produce will soon become less. Then I would say, take a buU from a stock not connected with your cows — a stock tliat has been good for generations back. Be sure that the bull's mother is a good strong profitable cow, such a cow, in fact, as you could face a distant market with. Don't at all be guided by the prizes that she may liave taken, unless she have a good appearance of milk, and seems likely to be a good fat beast at the end. I have been thus minute about the bull's mother, because I expect from what I have seen that his progeny will probably be more like his mother than him- self. I would like both tlie cows and the bull whicli judges at a show of cattle ivould perhaps pass when awarding the prize to the animal showing the most breeding. Next, as to the rearing of Ayrshire dairy stock, I would say— Give the calf its mother's milk. Speaking generally, I would say, give one pint at a time, feed twice a-day, aud increase the quantity as the calf grows, but take good care that you do not give it more than it takes cleverly. Give a dry bed, and put a little good hay within its reach. When about three weeks old, give skimmed milk. Give two pints twice a-day, with hay or grass three or four times a-day. Very small quantities given often is best. This ought to be continued for four or five weeks. Wlien turned out to grass, the calves should have gruel at least once a-day, made with linseed-meal ground oil- cake, or bean-meal. If tlie calf is liable to purge, take bean- meal ; if otherwise, give linseed-meal. The calves should be put on young grass at first, and after a little, should be clianged from field to field. Unless the water be plenty and good, the gruel should be continued in June and July, as it supplies them with a drink ; for calves are slack in seeking water, and will not do well without drink. The meal should have boiling water poured on it, and stand for an hour, and then be mixed with a pint or so of water given at not more than 90 degrees : a handful of meal or about 8 ounces to eacli will do. Turn on to hay-stubble as soon as it wiU keep them, and before it is too rank. If they have been getting the gruel, this is the best time to take it off. As sooa as the nights grow stormy or frosty, they should be taken in and allowed good hay. Being learned to eat when calves, they will take it at once. There should be hay selected for them. They should be out tlirougli the day when it is not stormy, as long as there is a fresh bite for them. When tlie grass ceases to keep them fresh — and this can be seen at once by their droppings — they should at once be supplied with sliced turnip, or, if you have not turnip, give the gruel at once, and not at all suffer them to fall off before you begin. Give the gruel in the morning. It should be continued up to the 1st of April, Eight ounces to each will do. I would prefer having them loose, and the house divided, and the calves classed — the strong with the strong, and the weak by themselves, and turned out at mid-day to drink and air themselves. They should not be allowed to stay out wlieu they are uncomfortable with either cold or rain. In spring tiiey should be put out by degrees as the weather allows, and brought in at night. It is not safe to let tliem stay out at night, although there should happen to be a few warm days, until the month of May be in, I should have stated before this that the house ought to be roomy and well-aired. It should be more of the nature of a shelter from wind and rain than a close house. In the month of May they should be sent to the moors or shut up in a field of the coarsest grass on the farm for the summer months ; but they should be brought home by the 1st of September, and have plenty of grass down to Martinmas. They should by no meaus be kept on bare grass in autumn. They are uow six quarters, aud this is the best age to bring them to the size you want. Tliey ought to have sliced turnip or cut hay or straw steamed in tlie morning, and be turned out to water through the day. If you have not turnip, the cut hay, with a very little meal, will pay better at this than any other age of the beast. The plan of sending them to the moors is good, but it is quite wrong to allow them to remain on the moors for more than four months. There should be a field cleared a month or six weeks for them, and bring them home to plenty of grass in autumn. By no means allow them to be falling off before ygu take them in. Feed them at once, and keep the flesh on them till February, when they must have a little meal to supply the drain of nourishment that will be caused by the growth of the calf. But it is wrong to feed heavy at this age, as it is apt to bring on too great a flow of milk. It is better to feed moderately tiU once they are calved, and the swelling has begun to subside : then feed and bring them to their milk. They are now milk-cows, but still they are young, and in the latter end of the year all those that are good milkers ought to be watched, and put dry at least 3^ months before they are expected to calve next year. Great loss follows from milking three-year-olds too long ; it hurts them greatly for the next year's produce. The Chairman said; Whilst there were popular ideas The FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 299 current as standards in regard to tlie points of Ayrsliire cattle, it might be a subject for discussion whetlier these points were altogether profitable, or whether there was not a little more of fancy than of profit or utility about them. For instance, it might be thought by some that the popular idea of the vessel of the cow was perfect — that was to say, as well forward and as far up behiud as possible, and at the same time coming square down and having a square bottom, with small teats. Now, his own opinion was that it was best to have the vessel as well forward along the bottom, and as far up behind as possible, but to become narrower as it dropped rather than broader, with the teats not too far apart for getting them all into one pail. A cow with that form would be olieaper than one that would take a prize; but he found that it would wear better and keep its shape better, and would be able to walk and lie more comfortably than a cow whose legs were forced apart and its walking impeded by a square vessel. Mr. Clellaj^ (Knockinlaw), did not agree witli the Chairman as to the advantages of a narrow vessel in a cow. He had said that to have the teats close together would be more profitable for milking, but he admitted that an animal of this kind eoidd be bought cheaper than one with a square vessel. But if the latter kind of cow would sell better, it would be more profitable for them to raise that kind of cow for which they would get most money. Too much had been said against the class of cattle to which prizes were awarded. For his own part, he did not like the big coarse animal which ate a great deal and gave very little milk. He thought this Club should try to establish a herd book of Ayr- shire stock. This had been tried by the Ayrshire Agricultural Association ; but if that Association was too unwieldly to manage it, this Club might take it up. Mr. Lindsay (Gardrum) said he agreed with his friend, Mr. Lindsay, that the male animal was the one to look to in the breeding of cattle ; but he did not agree with him that it was of no importance whether or not the bull's mother had been a prize taker. He thought it was well that the animal witii the best-formed vessel should have a preference. A good deal had been said in the discussions in the Ayrshire Agricultural Association about Ayrshire cattle degenerating. He did not share that opinion. Generally the prize cows were those that were best fed, and in most cases they were of a fair size. He did not like over-sized Ayrshire cattle — those big strong-boned cows that would not give milk. He had gone through the country with one of the most extensive dealers in the country, and he had observed that he did not give the largest price for the largest eow.s ; it was medium- sized cows that he gave the most money for. Mr. Baird of Cambusdoou had offered a prize for the largest sized Ayrshire lieifer, but it was not a prize worth competing for. It would liave been better to offer the prize for the best cow for dairy purposes — that was to say, the cow that would best pay the tenant farmer to rear and keep for the use of his farm. In the East country they beat them in producing good feeders ; but the finest breeds were always the best for giving milk. Mr. Wallace (Braehead) said he agreed with almost everything that was stated by Mr. Lindsay in his paper, which he valued much for its shortness, conciseness, and practica- bility. He believed what farmers wanted was to have some- thing that would pay ; and they would make a great mistake if they attempted to lay down a rule as to what would pay best for every one. Many things might pay him that would not pay auother man, For instance, if he were placed in circumstances where it would pay him best to raise a fancy cow, he would try to do it. Some remarks he liad formerly made on this subject had given offence, because they were misunderstood. He was speaking of the best kind of cattle for general useful purposes, but he did not mean to say that that kind would be the most profitable for every individual. When he spoke on any subject, he looked to the general profit of the farmer, and he agreed with Mr. Lindsay that it was not the cow that took the prize that would be the most profitable cow for Scottish farmers. The rearing of fancy stock was a good hobby for some men, and it did tend to bring out some useful points ; and it was a good thing to have gentlemen willing Jo spend money in encouraging experiments in this as in other things. But the cow that Mr. Lindsay had described in hia paper was the one that would be most profi.table to farmers. Mr. Robertson (Ryeburn) said the subject of the rearing of dairy cows was one that he had taken more interest in than in any other branch of agriculture. There were one or two points which he thought had not yet been referred to. AVhen he reared cattle, he had a purpose in view, and that purpose was to rear what would serve him as slock, aud not what would bring a great price. Regarding the size of cattle, a great deal had been said lately to very little purpose. One man had a farm that raised a good sizeable stock, while another man had a farm where he could not bring out the same weight without extra feeding. It was for every man to judge as to what was the most suitable size of stock for the land he was occupyiug. In the district where he lived it was naturally good pasture, and they had no difficulty, if they attended to the cattle in winter, in rearing cows of a fair size. The size that he reckoned best in a good dairy cow was one that when fed would weigh from 36 to 28 stones. Many studied chiefly the bringing out of fine points ; but his opinion of a good profitable cow was one that would stand the wear well iu the dairy, and theu pass ofl' advantageously as beef, lu the breeding of youug cattle his experience was that the progeny followed the mother's side more than the father's. Of course it was perfectly right to have the best bull they could get ; but if they put tlie Ijest bull to inferior covi^,;,they would not produce an improved breed that would fill the 'IjJggy* It was good for a farmer rearing his own stock to take three or four of his best covvs, that he found most profitable, and raise stock from. them. By that means every farmer could greatly improve his stock as a dairy stock to be profitable to himself. Mr. CuNNiNGH.VM (Chapelton) concurred very much in the remarks of the last speaker. The feeling had been growing in liis mind that there must be something wrong with the breeding and rearing of Ayrshire stock. He did not think there had been any animal in any country on which so mucli money had been spent to bring it to perfection as the Ayrshire dairy cow, and his opinion was that they were not improving it very fast. He was afraid they were working in a wrong direction. He did not think any one association or another was to blame for this ; but it arose from the farmers not keeping in view their own practical interests. Nearly every speaker had admitted that the fine, prize-takiug cow was not the most profitable. They were neither good milkers nor good for the butcher. If that was the case, why were so high premiums given to keep them in that same shape and form. One gentleman had spoken in favour of a herd-book for Ayr- shire stock ; but the best way to accomplish this would be for the Agricultural Association to offer a premium for the best dairy stock in each of the three districts of the county; and let the man who raised the most good cattle on his own farm have the first prize. Let this be done for a few years, aud then they would come to have a herd-book of some use. By this plan cattle not reared , in Ayrshire could not get the prize. He knew a gentleman in the South of Ayrshire who had never shown a cow that was bred in Ayrshire, and yet he carried off more prizes than any other exhibitor. Mr. Brown (Ardueil) would like to know wherefore Mr. Lindsay would send his stirks to the moor or to the worst pasture. Were it not more profitable to give the grass to his cows, he would send his stirks to the best pasture ke had. He did so generally, and he found they throve well. Now, when there was so much talk about rearing bigger cows, it was necessary that they should be both well wintered' and well summered. A moor might keep the stirks alive, but they would not grow very much upon it. With regard to the kind of cows they should rear, he agreed very much with the re- marks of Mr. Robertson. If they were rearing for showing or selling, let them rear animals that would take prizes, and that would take the eye of gentlemen who had plenty of money to give for them. But if it was their aim to produce plenty of cheese and butter, they must not attempt to rear such cattle. He was thoroughly of Mr. Cunningham's opinion that those cattle with all the fine points were not the cattle for farmers. He had often seen cows that were far from fashionable the ones that filled the luggy best. It might be profitable for an individual here and there to raise prize cattle ; but he believed it was the testimony of most rearers of cattle for showing that they did not pay. With all their pains, they would only rear one animal now and then that was at all like a prize-taking cow, It seemed to Mm as if they were warring against nature 300 THE TARMER'S MAGAZINE. altogether. The great: thing was to raise a cow that would be useful for produce, and at tlie end would be useful vrhen she came to the shambles. With regard to size, it would he folly for a man on poor land to try to raise lieavy cattle. If they bought cows from poor land and put them upon rich pasture, they would soon increase in size. He did not approve of breed- ing small cows, but every man should try to raise tlie kind of stock tiiat liis land would maintain. As to the vessel, he thouglit one sucli as the Chairman had described was most likely to be useful. He liked large teats, which the dairymaid could get a iiold of. It was a well-known fact that a vessel witii small teats was never milked clean. He would only further say that he would feed the calves well, summer and winter, and would never allow them to stand outside in the cold season. By such exposure tliey often fell off, and it took more feeding to make them up again. Mr. STEVE^'so^' (Silverwood) said heliad not had much ex- perience in the breeding of cattle, but he agreed witli what liad been said that the important thing was to rear a cow tliat would be profitable. Symmetry of form and beauty of tlie milk vessel were no doubt pleasing to the eye, but cows with these char- acteristics were not generally the most profitable in tlie long run. It had always been his practice in selecting calves to take tlie calves of the cows that were the best milkers. At the last annual meeting of the Agricultural Association there was sometliing said about the Ayrshire stock going back, and that tjiey were not improving it as they ought to do. It was said they were becoming smaller in size, and not giving so much milk as they did many years ago. A suggestion was thrown out that this might be in part caused by the practice of some, with the view of taking prizes, of hungering the animals when young. Since that meeting he had met with a gentleman who said lie was very well acquainted with a very eminent breeder of Ayrshire stock, who had been very successful in taking prizes both in Ayrshire and other counties. He said he had told him once that if he were not a very much respected friend, he would have had him taken up for cruelty to ani- mals, for he hungered his calves so much that almost annually he lost about one-half of them. Now, if cattle when young were used in that way with the view of being fine in the bone and becoming prize takers when tlfey grew up, he thought the plan had not much to recommend it. Their cattle shows did not serve the purpose for which they were originally intended if prizes were given to animals that were bred to perfection in that way. It was a thing new to him. He always thought it was the best plan to be good to a calf, and to continue to be good to it till it became a cow. He always found that to be the most serviceable plan in every way. There were some who were in the habit of having the cow in calf when it was two and rising throe years old ; others thought it was best not to have them in calf till they were a year older. He had tried both ways, and he always found the younger calved ones give the most milk, and continued to be the best milkers. He could account for this only in this way, that they became in calf at a time more nearly in accordance with the promptings of nature, and that theiefore the milk came sooner, and continued to flow more copiously all their life. He had heard a good many of his hrotlier farmers say that this had been their experience also. Ho knew there was a general feeling against bringing cows thus early into milk, but if they were properly grassed on till that time, and properly wintered, he thought he could have just as good animals at that age as he used to have when he used to send them to the moor to get grass there : in fact, he thouglit he had heavier animals the one way than the otlier. With regard to giving milk to the calves tliere was some dif- ference of opinion. He knew some who used to be in the habit of giving their calves new milk for a good time, and they never did well. Latterly, he knew a good many who had given new milk for perhaps eight days at first, and after that skim milk, and even a good many used butter-milk ; and, with the addition of a little feeding, they could raise better calves with their skim or butter milk than with new milk. lie knew many fanners who had had a great many deaths when they used only new milk, and tliey could raise "them now when they used nothing but new milk or butter-milk with almost no deaths. The one way was certainly a good deal cheaper than the other. Mr. Lees (West Carngillan) said this was a subject in which he had taken a great interest all his life. He did not hesitate to say that he differed from nearly all who had spoken. He spoke as a breeder of dairy stock to pay, and as a breeder of show cattle to pay ; and his opinion was that, when they In-ed properly for the one, they had a cliance fo^ both. His opinion was that the reason that so many failed in raising first-rate cows was, that they did not feed properly. He would say for himself that those he fed best he was most successful \vitli. With regard to what Mr. Stevenson said about the hungering of calves, those days were over now. No person would take a prize now with those small, ragged, towsy stirks. Another reason why many did not succeed was that they were not careful enough in selecting their bulls. They sliould go for their bulls to select stocks that had been long known ; and if they did so, they were sure to hit. An- other thing was to feed the animals well in their infancy. The feeding laid down by the essayist was too little. Eight ounces of feeding-stuft' might be well enough when they went to grass ; but they should double that quantity in a month. His opinion was that the calves should get new milk for four weeks, and then skim milK mixed with linseed. Linseed kept the bowels open. He would keep the young grass for the calves. Great deterioration often took place from sib-breed- ing. [In-and-in breeding.] That was the reason why they had so much loss among young calves from two days to four days old. When they changed their bulls, as they should do, the calves generally did well enough. He could say for him- self tliat it had paid him well to breed from the best bulls he could get, and to rear for showing. The produce sold better ; and his dairy-stock was larger and better. As regards cows, he would say for himself that those he had taken prizes with were the best milkers. The reason he assigned for this was that animals that were intended for showing were better taken care of and better fed. With regard to the suggestion that prizes should go for the whole stock, his opinion was that, if that plan were adopted, the prizes would still go to the same individuals; for the best stocks were those from which most prize animals came. He thought a good vessel was one of the most valuable points in a cow. Of course, too, small teats would not do ; but he thought a square vessel was better than the kind mentioned by the Chairman. He be- lieved that a vessel that a cow had to straddle over would stand longer than a narrow one. Mr. Steele (Bumhead) said he could not see any reason for sending young cattle to the moor. He would put sheep on the moor ; but he would put his stirks on better land. He agreed that the best way of breeding Ayrshire stock was to get a good bull. He did not say they should go to a cattle- show, and buy a bull with the finest symmetry, or that had got a first prize, nor would he say they should go to a cattle- market, and fix upon a very fine bull, of which the seller could give a pedigree as long as the 119th Psalm. They might produce good stock ; but they might also do the very reverse. Then, where were they to get a good bull? He would say, just go to a farmer — a man that they could depend upon, whose stock had been of long standing. Don't let them put dependence upon a single cow. It was very good to have a good cow as the mother of the bull ; but they should trace her back for three or four generations ; and if they were all good, then fix upon the bull, and get a calf from it. It might be that the calves would turn out coarse ; but let them not despair, but rear them up- till they were three years of age, and they would have a good stock, and many prize cows amongst them. If they had not, then his experience had been false. Mr. WiivTE (East Raws) said he had not had much expe- rience in the breeding or rearing of cattle ; and he had not studied the subject sufficiently before coming here to enable him to give any opinion that would be of much value. It ap- peared to him that they were all of one mind as to the neces- sity of securing a first-rate IniU. But what were they to look for when they went to seek a first-rate bull ? Tiiere had been nothing said as to the points by which they were to judge of his first-rate qualities. He did not pretend to be an authority, but in making his selections he always liked to get a bull with a good broad face and a good strong horn, as he believed these to be indications of a healthy, strong animal. Great stress had been laid upon the cow's vessel ; and it was right that it should be of good shape ; but the milk-producing organs were not confined to the vessels. The organs by which the milk was secreted must be in closer proximity to the vitals of the animal. He had not that knowledge of anatomy that would warrant him in speaking authoritatively THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 301 ou this subject ; but he would consider a good Uioad loin and a good breadth between the ears [kidneys] indications of good milking qualities, lie would not have a cow too deep in the chest, but wedge-shaped in front and wcdgc-shajicd along the back. If they got good breadth between the ears and good depth towards the vessel, he wo\ild consider these better indi- cations of luilk-prodncing qualities than the mere shape of the vessel, lie thought it was a good pkn to have the calves early in the season, lie believed that many, witii a view to prizes, had their cows too late in calf. Tlvc calves were more likely to come to a good size when calved early. A good deal had been said about the size of cows ; but when it was as easy having large cows as small ones, it was better to have them large. The milk-secreting organs would be larger in the larger animals, and therefore they would give more milk. In rearing young stock, the better they were to them the better they would be in the end. lie would not send them to tiie moor, if he had better grass to give them. Jlr. Lindsay replied that, with regard to what had been said against sending young beasts to bare grass, the paper went ou the ground of bringing the beast to three years old before calving. Taking this view, to feed the calves well for six weeks on sweet milk, and then turn them ou to good pas- ture, would not pay. It made them too dear to bring up. The calf at sis weeks old would be worth £'3 10s., while at sis quarters old it would probably not bring more than £-1. If the early feeding was uot followed up, the beast would fall off ; and if it was followed up, tlie beast sought the bull ; and if kept back till two years old, there was great danger that she would not settle, but become an unprofitable beast. The system he pointed at was regularity of growth, instead of the beast growing rapidly at one time and falling off at another. His idea was tliut of bringing a beast to three years old that would pay — a really useful animal of fair size, that might be a show beast if she came out well, but that would pay in any case. He mentioned about hearing, when a boy, of some two-year- olds that sold at £35 each, while the breeder gave his testi- mony that they had cost him £30 to bring them up. He failed to see any advantage in a system like that. The CiiAiKM.vif said he thought it was a very good sugges- tion that had been made by Mr. Cunninghanx that it would be better if premiums could be given for whole stocks instead of for individual cows. Those who reared the best stocks were entitled to the most credit. It was not unusual for some to bestow all their care on one or two animals that were likely to take prizes, and to neglect all the rest of their stock ; whereas by giving the prizes for the whole stock there would be greater uniformity. In regard to the feeding of calves, his opinion was that it was good to feed them well from their birth up to the time of their death. But good feeding required to be de- fined under certain rules. He thought it was far wrong to give calves sweet milk for any considerable length of time ; a fortnight or three weeks was quite long enough ; after that he would give skimmed milk and a little bran or steamed hay, as something bulky introduced into the calf's stomach as early as possible was an advantage in feeding. There was as much in the feeding of a young calf for bringing it to perfection of symmetry as there was in its breed, deeding a calf too long on new milk had a tendency to contract its bowels and its ribs. Tiiere must be food to expand the animal's body, and it was by this means that the whole framework of the cow was brought into proper form ; the milk-secreting organs were also better developed. In regard to the rearing of beasts to pay, the question simply resolved itself into whether they tried for fancy or for profit. If they bred for popular fancy, no doubt selling them was the best manner of making them pay ; but if they bred to produce a larger return in the shape of milk, then they must breed a different sort. Ilis experience was that it was best, when he could get a good cow, to get a calf or two from her, and then get her into the best condition for getting a good price for her. He agreed that it would not be profitable for an individual in a poor, barren district to attempt to bring up his cattle to too large a size. There was a great error some- times committed in those districts in giving beasts too much meat in winter, and bringing them into a condition that the grass would not maintain them in summer. They should never turn beasts out in better condition than the grass could maintain them in, or else they must continue to give extra feeding during summer. The point about the square vessel was not worth saying inucli about ; but, at the same time, it appeared to him that those cattle that took prizes, and that pleased some people by going astride their vessels, could not enjoy themselves as cows ought to do to which they looked for profit as milk producers. A great many of these fieshy vessels did not milk well ; for, whatever quantity of milk they took, some was left in the vessel still. 'Chis meant a little loss at each milking, and it was cruelty to the animal? to leave them with such a deposit of flesh as to cause them to walk astride, while at the same time there was not much room because of the fiesh to contain much milk. It might be all well enough to have these wide vessels, provided they could get thigh bones made with plenty of circle ; but then it would be objected to the cows that they were hen-hocked. With regard to bringing cattle into milk at two or three years old, that depended upon the circumstances in which an individual was placed, and the facilities he had for letting out the cattle in winter. In a place where there was shelter it was an advantage to let thera out, and to give them good palatable fodder with turnips or meadow hay. He agreed with what Mr. Lees had said about sib- breeding ; nothing had wrought more mischief amongst the best breeders than breeding too sib. He believed that this was the reason that many of their most successful prize-takers two or three years ago were now in the shade. They had not gone out of their owu stocks for new blood, and the consequence was that their own cows were of unhealthy constitution and diminished strength. He had once been told by one who had been a successful breeder on an extensive scale, that there was no business he had ever tried in which he had met with so much disappointment as in the breeding of cattle. He told him that he had now arrived at the conclusion that there were only two points worth aiming at : the first was to have the cows of a good size, so that if anything went wrong they might fill a good big barrel ; the next point w'as to produce as good symmetry as he possibly could get, and to use the means that presented themselves to him for producing that end ; and he said that the best and surest way of accomplishing that end was to breed three times as many cows as he needed, and sell the worst and keep the best. Votes of thanks were tendered to Mr. Lindsay and the chair- man, after which the meeting broke up. THE IRISH TENANT-RIGHT.— The Earl of Erne's tenants have just presented the Countess with her husband's portrait. At a dinner at Croom Castle, where there was a com- pany of between 700 and 800 occupiers on the estates, Lord Erne said : " There has been, and there still will be for some time to come, much discussion both in and out of Parliament upon the land question. But on this estate I do not see that we want any change from the "tenant-right" system, which I have long since adopted. I think as far as it is possible that every tenant ou my estate may call his farm his castle as long as he conducts himself honestly and quietly and industriously ; and should he wish to leave in order to find a better landlord, I allow him to sell his farm, provided he pleases me iu a tenant. Therefore, if any man lays out money on his farm judiciously he is certain to receive back the money should he wish to go elsewhere. But T find very few -wish to leave the estate, which proves, I hope, that they are as well off with me as they would be on any other estate. Last year three or four instances of the advantages of tenant-ri»ht both for the land- lord and tenant took place on my property in this county — one on the Killyuick estate, where the tenant had two farms. He wished to dispose of one, ;ind got the usual permission to do so. He then sold his farm, which consisted of 70 acres, a slated house in bad repair, and a farm in bad order, for which he received £570, and I exchanged a bad tenant for a good one. The next instance occurred on the Knockballymore estate, where the tenant was obliged to leave. His far'n con- sisted of 30 acres, with a very bad house, and badly cultivated land. He got £200, and I got a good, solvent, and improving tenant. In the third instance the tenant was obliged to leave, and disposed of his farm, consisting of 30 acres, for which he got £300, and, as in the other cases, I got a good tenant." Mr. Armstrong, one of the tenants, said that on Lord Erne's estates, no matter what his arrears might be, the tenant had leave to sell to the highest bidder 302 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. NORTH LANCASHIRE AGRICULTURAL SHOW. The auuual exhibitiou of the Royal North Lancashire Agriciiltui-al Society was held at Burnley, iu a field beloug- iug to Lieut.-General Yorke Scarlett, near the Bank Top railway station. Mr. Brierley's Bolivar was again successfiilj closely followed by Lady Pigot's Charles le Beau as second, which, although not a prize-getter, was highly recommended at the Royal. Messrs. Crawshaw and Blackley's roan bull. Prince Leopold, obtained the first prize in the two-year- old bulls. The class of bull calves produced some good specimens, but the judges had not much difficulty in de- ciding upon-the merits of the prize animals belonging to Colonel Towneley and Mr. William Slye. Perhaps the class which attracted most attention, and in which the competition was very strong, was aged cows. The first prize animal at the Royal was not present, but the second. Lady Pigot's Queen of Rosalea, obtained the first here. There was a very close run between Lord Skelmersdale's red and white Cherry, and Mr. Adam Dugdale's roan, Kent Cherry, but the judges awarded the prize to the last. In this class also was Colonel Towneley's cow Duchess of Lancaster. The agricultural horses vi ere distinguished by ver/ high merit and symmetry. Sheep were a very meritorious class, and some very fine specimens were exhibited. The Leicesters, although not numerous, contained some animals of merit. There were some fair specimens of Shropshire Downs, but, generally speaking, the class 'was not strong. Lonks showed re- markably well. The silver cup, value 10 gs., given by Mr. R. Shaw, M.P. for Burnley, for the best collection of Louk sheep, not less than twenty iu number, embracing both sexes, was taken by Mr. Joseph W. Green, Keighley. This gentleman also carried off the silver medal for the best yearling ram of the same breed. There was only a small show of pigs, CATTLE. Judges. — Cattle : Messrs. Jefferson and Wilson. Subjoined are the principal prizes : SHORTUORJMS. Best bull, two years old or upwards. — First prize and spe- cial medal, Charles William Brierley, Rhodes House, Middlc- toii, near Manchester (Bolivar). One year old buU. — Crawshaw and Blackley, lleadfield Parm, Dewsbury (Prince Leopold). Bull calf. — Colonel Towneley (I3aron CoUenge). Cow or heifer, above three years old. — Lady Pigot (Queeue of llosalien). Two-year-old heifer. — Rev. Leonard Charles Wood, Single- ton Lodge, Kirkham (Miranda lOtli). Heifer, not exceeding two years old. — Colonel Towneley (Oxford ]3eauty). Heifer calf.— Lady Pigot (Manteline 3nd). CATTLE 03? ANT BREED. Bull, two years old and upwards. — Geo. Butler, Preese Hall, Weeton, near lurklram. BuU, above one and imder two years old.-— -Robert Thomp- son, Mythop Lodge, Blackpool. BuU calf.— Jas. Walton, Horncliffe, RawtenstaU. Cow in calf or milk, having had a calf, and above three years old. — George Hunt, Prenchwood, Preston. Ditto, not exceeding three years old. — first prize and spe- cial medal, Rev. Leonard Charles Wood, Singleton Lodge, Kirkham. Ditto, not exceeding two years old. — John Milnerj Myers- cough, near Preston. Heifer calf. — Jolin Farrer, Thorneyholme, Burnley. SilTcr cup, or £10, for the best buU, cow, and calf, the latter to be the progeny of the two former.— Thomas Statter, jun. Stand Hall, Wliitefield, near Manchester. Cup, presented by the secretary, for the best three Short- horns of any age or sex (tenant farmers' prize). — Benjamin Baxter, Skipton. HORSES. Judges. — Messrs. Angus, Pishwick, and Smith. Thoroughbred stallion, challenge cup, value 20 guineas. — WilUam Sumner, Prince Albert Hotel, Pulwood, near Preston. Roadster stallion. — Richard Coward, Cabus, Garstang. Dray staUion.— Thomas Statter, jun., Stand Hall, Whitfield, near Manchester. Agricultural staUion. — John Edmonson, Houghton, Extwis- tle, near Burnley. Brood mare, for agricultural purposes. — Rev. J. Pinning- ton, Stonyhurst CoUege, WhaUey. Mare for breeding hunters. — William Roberts, Thorney- holme, Burnley. Brood mare, for harness purposes. — Robert Shaw, Hookcliffe House, Gownhain, near Clitheroe. Pair of draught or agricultural horses, above three years old. — Charles W. Brierley, Rhodes House, Middleton. Dray or agricultural mare or gelding. — John and Thomas Barcroft, GaghUls, Waterfoot, near Manchester. Three years old gelding or iiUy, for agricultural purposes.— John Pearson, St. Michaels, Garstang. Three years old ditto, for hunting purposes. — P. B. Jameson, Roach Place, Haywood. Ditto, for harness purposes. — Benjamin Bee, BuUsnape HaU, Goosnargh, near Preston. Two years old gelding or fiUy, for agricultiu*al purposes. — > Charles W. Brierley. For hunting purposes.- Robert Fielden, Walsden, near Todmorden. For harness purposes. — James Walmsley, Boys Farm, Rib- chester, near Blackburn. Yearling colt or filly, for agricultural purposes. — Robert Harrison, Yorkshire, Burnley. For hunting purposes. — WiUiam Roberts. Colt or fiUy foal, for agricultural purposes. — R. C. Richards, Clifton Lodge, near Preston. For hunting purposes. — John Jarvis, Red Pump Inn, Ba- sliall Eaves, near Clitheroe. For harness purposes. — James Alston, Ashes Farm, Goos- nargh, near Preston. HUWTEKS. Hunter, four years old and upwards, to carry 12 stones over liurtUes four feet liigh. — B. Nicholson, Sturton Grange, Gar- forth, near Leeds. Fencer, to carry 13 stones over hurdles four feet six inches high. — James Wuson, Newchurcli-in-Rossendale. ROiVDSTERS AND COBS. For the best roadster, mare, or gelding, four years old and upwards.— T. H. Threlfall, Colne. For the best cob above 13J-, and not exceeding 15 hands high. — Joseph Holroyd, Rockwood, Burnley. Cob, above 12 and not exceeding 13^ hands liigh. — Thomas Horrocks, Preston. For the best pony under 12 hands liigh.— Edward Stocks, Burnley. SHEEP. Judges (and for Pigs.— Messrs. Baxter, Torr, and Riley, EAMS. Leicester shearling ram. — T. H. Hutchison, Manor House, Catterick, Yorkshire. Leicester ram. — T. H. Hutchison. White-faced longwooUed shearling iam.— Wni. Norman, HaU Bank, Aspatria, Cumberland (Lincoln). Ram of the wliite-faced, longwoolled, not being of the Leicester breed.-wJoha Binder, Waddiugton, near Clitheroe, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. SOS Shearling ram, Shropsliire Dowu. — J. H, Kearne, HoUeth, Lancaster. Ram, Shropshire Dowu. — John Coiilthiirst, Gargreave House, Skiptou, Yorkshire. Shearling ram. — ^Vm. Midgeley, Birkctt, Newton, near Clitheroe. Ram Louk. — Wm. Midgeley. Ram of any other breed, adapted to a mountain district. — George Brown, Windermere, llerdwick. EWES. Pen of three Leicester ewes. — T. H. Ilutcliison. Three shearling Leicester ewes. — T. IL Hutchison, Three wliite-facsd lougwoolled ewes, not being of the Leicester breed. — William Normau. Three shearling white-faced lougwoolled ewes, not being of the Leicester breed. — William Normau (Lincolus). Three Shropshire Down ewes. — Roger Bowling, ITortou Lodge, near Garstang. Three shearling Shropshire Dowu ewes. — J. H. Kearne, Holleth, Lancaster. Three Louk ewes, not to exceed in age four shears.— Abel Bridge, Edge Coats, Rawtenstall. Three shearling Lonk ewes. — Lawrence Duckworth, Sheep Hey, Ramsbottom. Three ewes of any other breed. — William Midgely. Cup value £10 10s., presented by Mr. Richard Shaw, M.P., Buruley, for the best collection of Louk sheep, not less than 20 iu uumbcr, to comprise both sexes, and of any or various ages. — Joseph M. Green, Black Hill, Keigliley. Shearling ram of the Louk breed. — Joseph M. Green. Ram of the Lonk breed, auy otiier age than shearling. — Joseph M. Green (2 y. 3 m. 7 d. old). Three Louk ewes. — Abel Bridge, Edge Coats, Rawtenstall (3-shears). Three shearling Louk ewes. — Abel Bridge. PIGS. Best boar of the large breed, auy age. — Peter Eden, Croas Lane, Salford, Manchester. Best boar of the small breed, any age.— -Peter EdeUi WIRRAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. The auuual show took place at Birkenhead. The entries were numerous, the weather delightful, and the visitors fully satisfied with what they saw. The exhibition was held iu a large field near to the beautiful park, kindly lent by Mr. William Jackson. The prizes were numerous and valuable, and iu addition to the £720 given by the Society, 17 silver cups were given hy private individuals, thus bringing the money value of the prizes to £815. Subjoined is a list of the awards : HORSES. Judges. — Captain Skipwith. W. Lort, the Cotteridge, Kings Norton. W. Owen, Norris Greeu, West Derby. — . Dickon, 18, Magdala-street, Windsor. Entire horse, for draught or agricultural purposes. — Pirst prize, A. Woods, The Grauge, Sefton ; second, B. G. D. Cooke, Colomendy, Mold. Mare for agricultural purposes, with foal at foot. — Eirst prize, C. Hill, Lower Bebiugton ; secoud, P. Stevenson, Thorn- ton, Hough. Mare for agricultural purposes, without foal. — First prize, W. Birch, Aintree ; secoud, L. Ashcroft, Mawdsley, Orms- kirk ; third, W. Sutton, Leasowe Side, Bidstou. Gelding or filly for agricultural purposes, foaled after Janu- ary 1, 1866.— First prize, T. Statter, jun.. Stand Hall, AVhite- field ; second, J. Rigby, Little Leigh, Northwich 5 third, H. Neild, AVorsley, Manchester, Gelding or filly for agricultural purposes, foaled after Janu- ary 1, ISO/. — First prize, W. Hampsou, Church Farm; second, T. Houghton, Oxteu ; third, C. Bushell, Hinder- ton. Gelding or filly for agricultural purposes, foaled after Janu- ary 1, 1868. — First prize, W. Stanley, Lingham ; second, W. Dale, Thornton Lodge, Neston. Entire yearling colt for agricultural purnoses, foaled after Jan. 1, 1868.— Prize, C. Hill, Lower Bebington. Foal for agricultural purposes. — Prize, P. Stevenson. Pair of draught horses, with harness. — Prize, T. Statter, juu. Pair of Agricultural horses, with harness. — First prize, T, KeiT, Arrowbrook ; second, T. Statter juu. Hunter up to 15 stone. — First prize, J. R. Court, Park-road West, Birkenhead ; second, W. H. Stuart, Claughtou Firs. Hunter up to 13 stone. — First prize, J. Laird, M.P., Bir- kenhead ; second, J. Moore, Barton, near Malpas. Roadstec, gelding or mare, 15 hands and upwards, not under five years of age. — First prize, A. Bailey, Worthington, Aig- burth ; second, J. Findlay, Woolton. Roadster, mare, 14 hands and upwards, with foal at foot.— First prize, R. Barton, Caldy Manor ; second, T, B, Forwood, Thornton Manor, Gelding or mare, 14 hands and under 15 hands. — F'irst prize, A. Heywood, West Derby; second, E. Cogswell, Plimyard Manor, Eastliam. Cob, gelding, or mare, 12 hands and under U hands. — First prize, N. Grundy, Neston, Cheshire ; second, R. C. Naylor, Hooton ; third, J. Cunningham, Fir Grove, Claughtou. Gelding or mare pony, under 12 hands. — First prize, J. Barker, Wallasey ; secoud, R. M. Townsend, Neston ; third, T. Jones, juu., Neston. Jumping pony, under 14 hands. — First prize, T. B. Brierley, TattenhaU, near Chester ; second, J. Stevenson, Northgate- street, Chester. Jumping pony, under 12 hands. — ^First prize, J. Wainwright, Acres Farm, Upton ; second, T. Jones, jun. Extra stock. — G. Woolrich, Barnston. CATTLE. Judges. — J. Morton, Skelmergli Hall, Keudal. C. Richmond, Elm House, Crosby. G. Henderson, Orrell, Wigan. Bull of any breed, calved after January 1, 1866. — First prize, W. B. Burnham, Spital ; second, N. Grundy, Neston. Bull of any breed, calved after Jan. 1, 1867. — First prize, W. Dale ; second, H. Totty, Heswcll, Neston. BuU of any breed, calved after Jan. 1, 1868. — First prize, W. Dale ; secoud, W. B. Burnham. Pair of dairy cows. — First prize, W. B. Burnham ; second, G. Woolrich, Barnston. Cow in milk or calf. — First prize, S. Hayward, Lower Beb- ington ; secoud, W. Pulford, Mere Farm, Oxton. Pair of heifers, calved after Jau. 1, 1867. — First prize, W. B. Burnham, Spital ; second, E. Cogswell, Plimyard, East- ham. Pair of heifers, calved after Jan. 1, 1868. — First prize, W. B. Burham ; second, W. Dale. Pen of three calves, calved after Jau. 1, 1869. — First prize, W. Dale ; second, W. B. Burnham. Shorthorn bull, calved before Jan. 1, 1867. — First prize, T. Statter, juu. ; second, S. Ashton, Manor Farm, Timperley. Shorthorn bull, calved after Jau. 1, 1867. — First prize, T. Statter, jun. ; secoud, R. Birch, Orrell, Liverpool. Shorthorn bull, calved after Jan. 1, 1868. — First prize, T.- Atherton, Speke, Liverpool ; second, H. Littledale, Liscard Hall. Shorthorn cow. — First prize, T. Atherton ; second, T. Stat- ter, jun. Shorthorn heifer, calved after Jau. 1, 1867. — First prize, T. Statter ; secoud, T. Atherton. Shorthorn heifer, calved after Jan. 1, 1808. — First prize, T. Atherton ; secoud, J. Hart, Bulkeley, Malpas. Channel Island cow, in milk or calf. — First prize, C, L, CampbeU, Thurstaston ; second, T, Statter, juu. 504 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE, Cow of any other bieod, in milk or calf. — llrst prize, E. Birdi, Orrel; second, T. Alherton. SIlEEr. Judges, — Mr. Dcster, Leckington, Tamnortli. J. Coxou, Freeford, Lichfield. W. Wise, Woodchurcli. AV. Kitchen, Hootou. LEICESTERS, Ram under four years. — First and second prizes, W. Lay- cock, Keigliley. Shearliuff ram. — First prize, W. Laycock ; second and third, T. AV. Uutchiiison, Manor House, Catterick. Ten of three ewes. — First and second prizes, T. W. Hutchin- son. Pen of three shearling ewes. — First and third prizes, T. W. Hutchinson ; second, J. Cheers, The Hough, Barrow, near Chester. Tup lamb. — First and second prizes, AV. Laycock ; third, T. W. Hutchinson. Three ewe lambs. — First prize, AV. Laycock ; second, AA^ Dale, Thornton Lodge ; third, J. Cheers. ANY OTHER Lo:yG-^YOOELED BREED. Shearling ram. — First and third prizes, R. Kynaston, Thornton Hall Farm; second, C. BushcU, Hinderton, Neston. Pen of three Clicviot ewes. — First and third prizes, H. Littledale ; second, R. Kynaston. SHROPSHIRE DOWNS. Ram under four years. — AA\ Baker, Atherstone. Siiearlincf ram. — First and second prizes, AV. Baker ; third, AV. B. Buruham, Spital. I'cn of three ewes of any age. — First prize, AA'^. Baker, second, R. Barton, Caldy Manor ; third, R. Tanner, Frodes- ley, Salop. Ten of thiee shearling ewes. — First prize, E. Musgrove, Aughton, Ormskirk ; second, AV. Baker ; third, R. Tanner. Tup lamb. — First prize, R. Tanner; second and third, AV. Baker. Three ewe lambs. — First and second prizes, AA''. Baker; third, R. Tanner. Shropshire-down ewe, with its own two lambs of 1869. — First prize, AV. Baker ; second, AV, B. Burnham. PIGS. Judges. — H. Nicld, The Grange, AA'orsley. AV. Gamon, Dec Mills, Chester. MIDDLE BREED. Boar of any age. — First prize, J. Maxwell, Mossdale House, Aigburlh ; second, T. R. Shallcross, Great Sutton. Sow and litter of not less than six pigs, the pigs to be not more than ten weeks old. — First prize, \V. D. Briscoe, Nes- ton ; second, T. R. Shallcross. SMALL BREED. Boar of any age. — First prize, J.Maxwell; second, Lieu- tcuant-General the Hon. Sir E. Cnst, Leasowe Castle. Sow and litter of not less tlian six ])igs, the pigs to be not more than ten weeks old. — First and second prizes, J. Max- well. Breeding sow. — AA''. Dale. Extra stock.— First prize, Lieut.-General the Hon. Sir E, Cust ; second, J. Bcasley, Fern Hill, Claugliton. CHEESE. Judges.— R. Bate, Northgate-street, Chester. G. Davics, Birkenhead. Three cheeses over 501bs. weight each. — First prize, R. Martin, Hnrlcston, Nantwich ; second, AA^ Dean, Leadsham. Three cheeses under 501bs. weight each. — First prize, AA''. Dean; second, G. Kno. vies, Burton. The great attractions on Tliursday was the jumping of hun- ters and ponies. The first trial of liunters over four artificial hedges formed of hurdles, covered with furze, called out 13 competitors, some of the animals being of high blood, and first-rate creatures at a fence. The match was for a sweep- stakes of seven prizes, the winners being in the following order : 1, J. R. Court, Park-road, Birkenhead ; 2, AV. H. Stuart, Claughtou ; 3, R. Martin, IIurleston.Nantwicli ; 4, J. Moore, Barton, near Malpas ; 5, G. Schullz, Biskenhead ; 6, R. Barton, Caldy Manor ; 7, AV. B. AA'ignal, Spital. This was followed by a similar match for ponies, the first prize of which was carried olf by a pony under 13 hands, belonging to Thomas Jones, of Neston, which was jockeyed by AA^illiam Briscoe, jun., Neston. The performances of this little animal called lortli reiterated applause from all parts of the field. The second prize was given to T. B. Brierley, of Tattenhull, near Clicster, and the third to N, Grundy, of Neston. CRAVEN AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. The fiftccutli annual show meeting of this Society was held at Skipton, and. the entries and quality of cattle, horses and sheep were quite equal to that of last year. The sliorthorus were such as could only be expected to be seen at some of the largest county shows. The first prize for the best hull was awarded to Mr. C. AV. Brierley, of Rhodes House, Middleton, Manchester. The following is & list of the principal prizes : — Cattle. — Best bull two years old and upwards, Charles AA'^. Brierley, Rhodes House, Middleton, Manchester. Best yearling bull, Crawshaw and Blakcley, Dewsbury. Best bull- c\lf under 12 months old and second best, James AValton, Horncliffe, near Rawtenstall. Best cow in calf or in-milk of any age, Lady Pigot, Branches Park, Newmarket. Best two- years-old heifer, John Yorke, Bewerley Hall, Pateley Bridge. Best yearling heifer. Captain Robert Tennent, Scarcrott Lodge, Leeds. Best heifer-calf under 13 months old, Lady Pigot. SnoRTiiORNED Cattle. — Best bull two years old and up- wards, John Haythornthwaite, ArnclifTe. Best yearling bull, Edward Airey, Dykelands House, Bell Busk. Best bull-calf under 12 months old, Thomas Haythornthwaite, Corn Close, Pateley Bridge. Best cow in calf or milk of any age, Benja- min Baxter, Elslack Hall, Skipton. Best three-years-old heifer in calf or milk, John Farrer, Thornyholme, Burnley. Best two-years-old heifer in calf or milk, Alexander Bell, Horestones, Pendle Forest, Burnley. Cattle oi any Breed (Open to Local Competition). — Best cow for dairy purposes and best calving cow or heifer. Thomas Hird, Sniallhouse, Skipton. Best two Highland heifers, J. and R. Bennett, Cawder, Skipton. Best fat cow, Thomas Atkinson, Linton. Best two store buUocks, Richard and George Hey, Beamsley. Horses (Open to all England). — Best thoroughbred stal- lion, John AVright, North Rigton, Otley. Best roadster stallion, Richard Coward, AA^ildiugs Farm, Cabua, near Gar- stang. Best draught stallion, Michael Strickland, Headley Hall, Tadcaster, Horses (Open to Local Competition). — Best brood mare for hunters, W. Roberts, Thorueyholme, Burnley. Best brood mare for roadsters, T. AA'^alker Crookrise, Skipton. Best brood mare for coaching, R. Dawes, Friar's Head, Gargrave. Best brood marc for draught, E. and AV. Pawson, Burley, AVharfdale. Best tliree-year-old gelding or filly for draught, J. Howard, Bracewell. Best three-year-old filly for hunters, AA". Roberts. Best three-year-old filly for roadsters, A^^ M. Spence, AVcston, Otley. Best three-year-old filly for coaching, E. Airey, Dykelands House, Bell Busk. Best two-year-old gelding for hunters, AV. Roberts. Best two-year-old gelding for roadsters, R. Duckctt, AA'igglesworth. Best two-year-old • coaching, S. AVatkinsou, Ilighgate' House, Gargrave. Best two-year-old gelding or filly for draught, J. AVood, Beeston Royds, Leeds. Best two-year-old filly for huuters, II. Green, Leys House, Crossbills. Best twoyear-old filly for roadsters, J. and L. Green, Silsden. Best two-year-old filly for coach- ing, J. Ormrod, Intake House, Embassy. Hunters (Open to the United Kingdom), — Best liunter of any age, R. Coward, AVildings Farm, Cabus, near Garstang, TFTl FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 305 Best leaper of any age, C. B. E. Wright, Bolton Hull, Clitheroe. Best pouy leaper, R. I'roctor, Hill Top, Malham. SiiEEr : Bams (Opeiitotlie United Kingdom). — Best long- woolled ram of any age, J. Greenwood, Swareliclifl'e Hull, Ripley. Best short-woolled ram of any age, J. Coulthurst, Gargrave House. LoMi-wooLLED SiiEEP (Open to Local Competition). — Best ram of any age, W. Laycock, Woodville, Keighley. Best shearling ram, W. Laycock. Best tup lamb, W. Skirrow, Askwitli, Otley. Best pen of ftve ewes of any age, W. l^ay- cock. Best pen of live shearling gimmers, J. Drury, The Moss, Ripley. Best pen of live gimmcr lambs, J. Drury. Mountain Sheep : Scotch Breed (Open to Local Com- petition).— Best blackfaced ram, T. Greenwood, Eastby. Best shearling ram, S. Hudson, Broadsliaw, Uazlewood. 13est tup lamb, S. Newall, Eastby. Best pen of five ewes, S. Newall. Best pen of five shearling gimmers, J. Birkbeck, Threapland. Best pen of five giinracr lambs, S. Hudson. Mountain Sheep (Open to Local competition). — Best pen of five two-shear ewes, Scotch breed, J. Birkbeck. Best pen of five wethers, Scotch breed, T. Hudson, Haysliaw, Ha/.le- wood. Best pen of five two-shear ewes, lonk breed, J. M. Green, Blackhill, Keighley. Best pen of five wethers, lonk breed, H. Young, Hazlewood. Lonk Sheep (Open to Local Competition). — Best ram, best shearling ram, and best tup lamb, J. M. Green. Best pen of five ewes, J. B. Sidgwick, Ryddlesden Hall, Keighley. Best pen of five shearling gimmers. Cooper and Foster, Morton's Bank, Keighley. Best pen of five giiumer lambs, J. M. Green, EOYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF IRELAND. The little towu of Ti-alee — the scene this year of the Royal Agricultui'al Society's annual show of stock and implcnieuts — presented a gay and bustling appearance when the exhibition was opened. The streets were thronged with strangers, attracted from all parts of the country by the show, which is justly regarded as ail event of great national importance. To do honour to the visit of the Lord Lieutenant several arches of ever- greens were erected iu the principal streets, and in sonic instances gay banners were displayed from the windows and housetops. The show was held on the fair green, ad- joining the railway station — a large, well-enclosed area, alt'ording every necessary accommodation. It was the smallest exhibition ever held under the auspices of the distinguished society to which Irish agriculturists are so much indebted. There were only 414 entries, while the show held in Londonderry last year, and which was con- Bidered numerically a poor one, comprised 453. This apparently discouraging paucity of entries may be satis- factorily accounted for by local causes. The locality is very remote — the most remote, indeed, in which the So- ciety has yet held a show — not only from Dublin (from which it is more than 200 miles distant), but from all the celebrated grazing districts of the country. This fall- ing oft', howevei", in point of numbers was in some measure compensated by the great excellence of much of the stock exhibited, and the evidences which may plainly be dis- covered of a higher standard of practical ability and seiencific knowledge among the exhibitors. The 414 entries comprise 58 Shorthorns, 121 of other breeds of cattle, 143 sheep, 42 horses, and 50 swine. In the class of Shorthorns, the Lord Lieutenaut, Lord- Castlerosse, Mr. Richard Chaloner, jMr. Cosby, Lord Ventry, Mr. Edward Smith, and Richard Welstead of Ballywalter, were the principal exhibitors. ^Yith few exceptions, the animals displayed in this section were iu splendid condition, aud evidenced the highest breeding. Kerries, as may be sup- posed, formed a strong feature in the show-yard. They were like a "cock on his own dunghill." The native little blackies were shamefully bashful when they found themselves in the ring with those intelligent and well- cared-for specimens sent in from the province of Leiuster. Captain Baylic aud Mr. Brady, both county Dublin gentlemen, came down here with their improved Kerries to illustrate to the natives the propriety of paying more attention to the keep aud care of the native darkies. There was a very fine show of sheep, to vi'hich Messrs. Owens, Mowbray, Cosby, aud other distinguished breeders had largely contributed. The Leicesters, in particular, commanded admiration by their rich fleeces and superior condition. Some excellent horses were shown, and the agricultural stallions were a splendid lot. The collection of swine was one of the best that has been seen for many y^iars, and there was a large and attractive collection of poultry. The most striking feature of the show, however, was the implement de- partment, iu which there were no less than 40 stands, replete with aU the newest inventions for the econo- mising of labour, by which science has been applied to the aid of agriculture. To this department all the emi- nent English manufacturing firms sent large quantities of valuable machinery, and the Irish machinists were also fairly represented. JUDGES. Shorthokns. — H. Thurnell aud H. Smith. Stewards — Wil- liam Owen, J. G. Hewson. Other Breeds. — R. S. Skirving, — Campion, A Bogue. Stewards— Sir A. J. Walsh, Bart., W. Denny, jun. Horses. — H. Briscoe, H. Thurnell, R. S. Skirving. Stewards — H. J. MacFarlane, Major Crosbie. Sheep — Leicesters, &c. — T. C. Booth, J. Hutchinson, A Warburton. Stewards— C. C. Vesey, C. P. Nash. Short- woolled — B. Pickstock, R. S. Skirving. Stewards — R. Chaloner, R. C. Maine. Pigs. — A. Warburton, John Borthwick, Alfred Darker. Stewards — D. Milward, Hastings Peat. LIST OE PRIZES. CATTLE. shorthorns. For the best bull, calved on or after the 1st of January, 1864. — First prize, £10, and Purdon Challenge Cup, Richard Chaloner, Kingsfort, Kelts, Co. Meath ; second of £5, Edward J. Smith, Islanmore, Croom, Co. Limerick ; commended, the Right Hon. the Viscount Castlerose, M.P. For the best bull, calved iu the year 1867. — First prize, £15, Henry Lyons, Croom House, Croom ; second of £5, Thomas Sandes, Sallow Glen, Tarbert. For the best bull, calved iu 18G8.— First prize of £15, Ed- ward J. Smith, Islanmore, Croom Co., Limerick; second of £5, Roljert G. Cosby, Stradbally Hall, Queen's County ; highly commended. Earl Spencer; commended, W. Hutchinson Massey. For the best bull calf, calved in 18C9.— First prize of £5, Richard Welsted, Ballywalter, Castletownroche ; second of £3, Richard Welsted; commeuded. Sir Robert Paul, Bart., Ballyglan, Waterford. For the best cow, in calf or in milk, calved previous to 1st January, ISOC— First prize of £10, W. Hutchinson Massy, Mount ilassy, Maeroom ; second of £5, Richard Smith, Blos- somfort, Mallow ; liighly commended, Earl Spencer. For the best heifer", in calf or in milk, calved in 1866. — First prize of £10, William Bolton, The Island, Kilmuckridge, Co. Wexford ; second of £5, Richard Welsted, Ballywalter. For tlie beSit heifer, ia-calf or iu-railk, calved in 1807.-^ 306 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, First prize of £10, Sir Robert Paul, Bart., Ballyglan, Water- ford; second of £5, Richard Welsted, Ballywalter. Com- mended : W. Hutchinson Massy, and Earl Spencer. For the best heifer, calved in 1868. — First prize of ^£10, Joseph Meadows, Thornville, Wexford; second of £5 and Purdon dial. Cup, WiUiam Bolton, The Island, Kilmuck- ridge, co. Wexford. Highly commended : Wm. Bolton, and Sir Robert Paul, Bart. For the best lieifer, calved in 1869. — First prize of £5, Edward J. Smith, Islanmore, Croom, co. Limerick ; second of £3, Sir Robert Paul, Bart. Commended : M. F. Sandes, Oak Park, Tralee. HEREFORDS, DEVONS, A^D POLLED ANGUS. Best Hereford bull, calved on or after 1st January, lS6i. — Richard S. Featherstonhaugh, Rockview, Killucan. Best Devon bull, calved on or after 1st January, 186i. — Charles Boyle, Tahagli, Dartry, IMonaghan. Best Devon cow, in-calf or in-milk, calved previous to 1st January, 1866. — Charles Boyle. Best Devon heifer, calved in 1867 or 1868.— Charles Boyle. Best polled Angus bull, calved on or after 1st January, 1864'. — Wm. Owen, Blesiuton. Best polled Angus cow, iu-calf or mUk, calved previous to 1st January, 1866. — Wm. Owen. KEKRIES. Best Kerry bull, calved on or after 1st January, 1864. — First prize, James Brady, The Cottage, llaheny, Co. Dublin ; second, Madame M'GiUicuddy, The Recks. Best Kerry cow, iu-calf or milk, calved previous to 1st January, 1866. — First prize, Thomas JM'D. Mahony, CuUe- uagh, Killarney ; second, George Massy, The Spa, Tralee. Best Kerry heifer, in-calf or in-milk, calved in 1866. — First prize. Viscountess Castlerosse ; second, Morris F. Sandes, Oakpark. Best Kerry heifer, calved in 1867 or 1868. — First prize, John Breen, Glencar ; second, P. Fitzgerald, Kuiglit of Kerry, Glanleara, Valentia. OTHER BREEDS. Best West Highland cow, in-calf or in-milk, calved previ- ous to 1st January, 1866. — Thomas Butler, Priestown House, Co. Meath. Best Ayrshire bull, calved on or after 1st January, 1864. — N. M. O'Donnell, Coolemore, Millstreet. Best Ayrshire cow, in-milk or in-calf, calved previous to 1st January, 1S66. — J. Buchanan, Sackville, Tralee. Best Ayrshire heifer, in-calf or in-milk, calved in 1866. — David Patton. Best Ayrshire heifer, calved in 1867 or 1868. — Henry Jones. Open for competition to tenant farmers whose poor-law valu- ation is under £100 per annum. Best cow, in-calf or milk. — David Patton, Trynauny, Glass- lough. i5est heifer, in-calf or milk, calved in 1866. — David Patton. Best heifer, calved iu 1867 or 1868.— First prize, Patt Quinn, Priestown ; second, John Forrest, Boulamore, Bauteer. SHEEP. • LEICESTERS. Best shearling ram. — Thos. Marris, The Chase, Ulceby, Lincolnshire, and Cork Challenge Cup ; second, AV. R. Meade ; third, AVilliam Owen, Blessington. Best ram of any other age. — Seymour Mowbray, Killeany, Mountrath ; second, William R. Meade, Ballymartle, Ballin- liassig ; third, Thomas Marris. Best pen of five shearling ewes. — Thomas Marris ; second, Seymour Mowbray. Best pen of five ewe lambs. — Seymour Mowbray. BORDER LEICESTERS. Bent shearling ram. — Robert G, Cosby, Stradbally Hall, Queen's County ; second and third, Robert Briscoe, Fermoy. Best ram of any other age. — Roliert G. Cosby ; second and third, Robert Briscoe. OTHER LONC-WOOLLED SHEEP. Best shearling ram. — T. Beale Browne ; second, same ; third, Captain J. B. Smyth, Fedamore, county Limerick. Best ram of any other age. — Captain J. B. Smyth. Best pen of five shearling ewes. — Third, Tlios. Butler, Priestown House, Priestown, county Meath, SHROPSHIRE DOWNS. Best shearling ram. — Prize, Tiiomas Marris. Best ram of any other age. — Prize, Thomas Marris. Best pen of five ewe rams. — Prize, Thomas Butler. OTHER SHORT-WOOLLED SHEEP. Best shearling ram. — Prize, Thomas Marris. Best pen of five shearling ewes. — First and second prizes, Thomas Butler. Open for Competition to Tenant Farmers whose Poor-law Valuation is under £100 per annum. Best pen of five ewes which have reared lam.bs in 1869. — First and second prizes, Pat Quinn, Priestown. Best pen of five hogget ewes. — First prize, Michael Mar- nane, Ballyryan, West, Tipperary ; second, Pat Quinn. HORSES. The Croker Challenge Cup, value 50 sovs., with 20 sovs. ad- ded, for the best weight-carrying thoroughbred stallion. — F. H. Power, Rooskeeu, Mallow. Best gelding or filly suited for hunting purposes, and up to at least 13 stone, foaled on or after 1st January, 1865. — First prize, Jolin Sheeby, Shannon Grove, Pallaskenry ; second, Jonathan Bruce, Miltown Castle. Brood mare, not thoroughbred. — First prize, Edward D. Stokes, Castle-street, Tralee ; second, J. F. Godfrey, Kilcole- man Abbey, MiUtown. Best pony. — First prize, Edward R. Bayley, Reenmore, Kenmare ; second, Peter Curry, Railway Hotel, Killarney. AGRICCLTURiO. HORSES. Best stallion of any breed for agricultural purposes, foaled on or after the 1st of January, 1863, and previous to the 1st of January, 1866. — John Fleming, 69, East Neilson-strcet, Glasgow ; second, James Magrath, Knockbrack. Best stallion for agricultural purposes, foaled on or after the 1st of January, 1866. — P. Cahill, Anna, Tralee, County Kerry. Best draught gelding or filly, foaled on or after the 1st of January, 1866. — Dennis W. Barrett, Lissereen, O'Dorney. Best draught mare, in foal or with a foal at her foot. — George Bolster, Curra Bower, Mallow ; second, Jas. O'Connor, Bonemore, Listowel. PIGS. COLOURED BREED. Best boar under eighteen months old. — First and second prizes, Frederick Trevor, Beech Hill, Donnybrook. Best boar over eigliteen month and under thirty-six months old. — First prize, Patrick Marnane, Ballyryan, Tipperary ; second, W. Hutchinson Massy, IMacroom. Breeding sow under eighteen months old. — First prize. Earl Spencer ; second, Thomas Sandes, Sallow Glen, Tarbert. Best breeding sow over eighteen months old. — W. Hutch- inson, Massy ; second, R. W. Reynell, Killynon, Killucan. Best lot of three breeding pigs of the same litter, above four and not exceeding eight months old. — First prize, John IMolloy, 73, Mountjoy-street, Dublin ; second, Frederick Trevor. Best sow and litter of six pigs. — Prize, Frederick Trevor. Best breeding sow over eighteen montlis old. — Prize, J. C. Cooper. Best sow and litter of six pigs. — Prize, John Molloy, 73, Mountjoy-street, Dublin. A RARE PLANT. — " There is at present in the possession of Mr. George Terrey, a builder iu Clerkenwell, (says a letter in the Gardener^s ilar/nzine), a most remarkable plant, for which the owner has refused consideriible sums of money. It is about the size of an ordinary gooseberry bush, and although living and growing bears no semblance of vitality. It has no foliage ; but little pellicles of flint bud out of the twigs and stems, which are likewise encircled with rings of flint ai every joint. In some places the fiint, which it appears has exuded from the plant itself, cases the stems like a pipe. The plant looks black and dead, but the twigs instead of being brittle like wood, are tough as leatlier thougs. It has beeu suggested that the flint which forms so large a component of plant life, has, by some freak of nature, been eliminated from the natu- ral vesicles of the plant and developed outwardly instead. Scientific men from various public institutions and learned bodies have inspected this phenomenon, but ^dthout arriving at any conclusion respecting it, beyond its indubitable singula- rity,"—C% Press, THE FARMEB'S MAGAZINE. 307 WORCESTERSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. The show was held iu a field at Henwick, within a very easy distance of the town. The Hereford bulls, Avith which the show opened, brought to the fore ilr. J, Williams' massive six-year- old representative of the Grove herd, to which Mr. Edwards's three-year-old, from the late Mr. Moukhouse's stock, was a good second ; Mr. Edwards also winning with a yearling, with Mr. C. Vevers, the breeder of the renowed Battersea, once more a successful competitor. Mr. Rea's Venus, exhibited by Mr. John Baldwin, was in Christmas show condition, and Mr. John Williams scored another first and second with his two-year-old and year- ling heifers, Mr. P. Turner taking the first in a very good class of the younger ones. The Broadmoor and Churchill Heath Herds of Short- horns, the property of Messrs. Game, senior and junior, were iu strong force, the former taking first with his old bull Monk, third with yearling heifer Penguin, and first iu the bull cow and off'spring class with A. A. Bessy, and her produce, and the latter winning firsts with his four- year-old cow Pride of the Heath, and his heifer Snrjmse. Mr. Wm. Woodward was the breeder of the first prize yearling bixll shown by Mr. Watson, and the exhibitor and breeder of the second in the same class. Mr. Curtice's, as usual, were sent in their natural condition fi'om the pasture. In the class for three dairy cows, twelve Shorthorns were exhibited — all highly descended animals — Earl Beauchamp taking first and Mr. W. Woodward second honours. With the exception of the Leicesters bf Mr. T. Harris, of Stoney Lane, who took six of the ten prizes, and deserved two others, this breed was practically unrepre- sented, and the other Longwools were in a minority, the only redeeming point in this section being Mr. Lynn's Lincoln-Leicester rams. The Shropshires (thanks to the practical example of E. Holland, Esq., and Mr. Randell) are rapidly making ground in the district, and no fewer than sixteen rams and twenty pens of ewes and theaves put in an appearance. The only real work of the sheep judges was in these classes, in the first of which, for ewes, so close was the competition between ^Messrs. Baker, Keeling, Pirmstone, and Randell, that a third judge was called in, and ultimately the decision was given in the order named. Mr. Keeling was first with theaves, and Slessrs. Randell and Berkeley second and third. In shearling rams, no doubt owing to an oversight in not properly reading the rules, one breeder entered one as his own breeding which he had recently purchased, and was accordingly disqualified, and the "prizes fell to Lord Derby, a very strong shearling of Mr. Baker's, also a winner at Beverley and Derby, with Mr. Randell well up as second. Mr. Baker was also successful with aged rams, in which class Mr Keeling was second with a two-shear, let to Messrs. Crane. In the classes for Crossbred sheep the judges would have been fully justified in withholding some of the premiums. Mr. John Wlieeler's whites were the best among the pigs, of which there was but a small show, Mr. H. Allsopp also taking three prizes with his white Berkshires ; and Mr. McCann a first for sow and pigs described as Berkshires, but which evidently had a cross of Black Suffolk in thens, Mr. Wynn's Al added another to his many previous victories as a cart stallion, and Mr. Stephen Davis's pair of cart horses recently exhibited at Binglcy Hall had little diflicidty in disposing of the other competitors. Flash-in-tlie-Pan, the diminutive Chester Cup winner, was put before Mr. Watkin's Distin, as a thorough-bred sire. As the hunters were tried by the judges in fencing, the Islington winner, St. Clare, was deposed by a wiry grey of Mr. Adams's, of Woodhall. Judges. — Cattle : Mr. Thomas Dnckham, Baysham Court, Ross ; Mr. Edmund L5'thall, Radford Hall, Leamingtou ; Mr. Charles Hobbs, Malseyhampton, Cricklade. Sheep and Pigs : Mr. Thomas Horley, juu., The Posse, Leamington ; Mr. W. H. Clare, Twycross, Atlierstone. Cart Horses : Mr. Joseph Potter, Witton, Birmingham. Horses (Hunters, Hacks, and Ponies) : Mr. J. Capel Croome, Cirencester ; Mr. J. E. Bennett, The Grange, Husband's Bosworth, Rugby. Wool : Mr. Martin Ganderton, Pershore, We append a list of the prizes : CATTLE. nEREFOUDS. Bidls above two years old. — Pirst prize, £18, J. Williams, St. Mary's Parm, Kingslaud, Herefordshire ; second of £5, T. Edwards, Wintercott, Leominster. Commended : J. H. Powell, Lulsley, Worcester. Bulls above one and under two years old. — Pirst prize of £10, T. Edwards ; second of £5, C. Vevers, Ivingtoa Park, Leominster ; third of £3, J. Harding, Bicton, Shrewsbury. Commended : E. J. Morris, Stanley, Pontlarge, Winchcomb. Cows in milk or in calf. — Pirst prize, £8, J. Baldwin, Lud- dington, Stratford -on- A von ; second of £4, T. Rogers, Coxall, Brampton Bryan, Herefordshire. Commended : £. T. Goldingliam, Grimley, Worcester ; and R. Hickman, Lower Court, Cotheridge, Worcester. Two-year-old heifers iu milk or in calf. — First prize, £8, J. Williams, St. Mary's Parm, Kingsland, Herefordshire ; se- cond of £4, T. Rogers ; third of .£3, T. Trinder, Sandlin, near Malvern. Yearling heifers. — Pirst prize, £6, P. Turner, The Leen, Pembridge, Leominster ; seccmd of £4<, J . AViUiams ; third of £3, T. Penn, Stoneljrook House, Ludlow. Commended : T. Peun. SnOETHOELVS. Bulls above two years old. — Pirst prize, £10, T. Game and Son, Broadmoor, Northleach ; second of £5, J. Lynn, Church Parm, Stroxton, Grantham. Bulls above one and under two years old. First prize, £10, E. Watson, Swinesherd Parm, Worcester ; second of £5, W. Woodward ; third of £3, G. M'Cann, Malvern. Cow in milk or in calf. — Pirst, £8, G, Game, Churchill Heath, Chipping Norton (Pride of the Heath) ; second of £4, T. G. Curtler, Bevere, Worcester. Commended : T. Game and Son ; and J. Webb, Springhill, Pladbury. Two-year-old heifers in milk or in calf. — First prize, £8, G. Game (Surprise); second of £4, T. G. Curtler ; tliird of £3, T. G. Curtler. Commeiuled : T. G. Cnrtler. Yearling heifers. — First prize, £6, J. Webb, Springhill, Pladbury (Bella) ; second of £4, Earl Beauchamp ; third of £3, T. Game and Son. Commended : Earl Beauchamp ; and T. Game and Son. Bull, cow, and their offspring (the offspring to be under twelve months old when exhil)ited). — First prize, £10, T. Game and Son ; second of £5, Earl Beauchamp. Highly commended : W. Woodward, Hardwick Bank, near Tewkes- bury. Commended : G. Game. Three dairy cows, of any breed, in milk, hirst prize, £8, Earl Beauchamp; second of £4, Wm. Woodward. Cora- mended : J, Webb, Spring HiU, Pladbury, Pershore, 808 THE TAEMER'S MAGAZINE. SHEEP. LEICESTEES. Five breeding ewes, having liad lambs in 1869, and suckled them up to June 1. — First prize, £4, J. Bayzand, Kingley, Alcester ; second of £3, T. Harris, Stoney Lane, near Broms- grove ; third of £3, T. Harris. Five theaves, — First prize, £■!•, T. Harris. Shearling ram. — First prize, £5, and second of £3, T. Harris. Ram of any age. — First prize, £4, T. Harris; second of £2, S. Davis, Woolershill, Persliore. LONG-WOOLLED, NOT BEING LEICESTEKS. Five breeding ewes, having had lambs in 1860 and suckled them up to June 1. — First prize, £4, G. W. Crump, Woolers- hill, Pershore ; second of £3, J. Webb, Spring-hill, Fladbury. Five theaves.- — First prize, £4, J . Wheeler, Long Compton, Shipston-on-Stour; second of £3, J. Webb. ShearUug rams. — First prize, £5, J. Wheeler; second of £3, J. Lynn, Church Farm, Stroxtou, Grantham. Ram of any age. — First prize, £4, and second of £2, J. Lynn. SIIEOPSIIIKE. Five breeding ewes, having had lambs in 1869 and suckled them up to June 1. — First prize, £4, W. Baker, Moor Barns, Atherstone ; second of £3, C. R. Keeling, Yew Tree Farm, Penkridge ; third of £2, W. C. Firmstone, Rockingham Hall, Uagley, Stourbridge. Five the.aves. — First prize, £4, C. R. Keeling ; second of £3, C. Randell, Chadbury, near Evesham ; third of £2, R. Berkeley, Spetchley Park, Worcester. Shearling ram. — First prize, £5, W. Baker ; second of ^£3, C. Randell. Ram of any age. — First prize, £4, W. Baker ; second of £3, C. R. Keeling. CUOSS-BRED. Five breeding ewes, having had lambs in 1869 and suckled them up to June 1. — First prize, £4, J. Webb, Fladbury ; se- cond of £3, G. Lawley, Blackstone, Bewdley ; third of £2, H. F. Vernon, Ilanbury Hall, Droitwich. Five theaves. — First prize, £4, T. Trinder, Sandlin, near Malvern ; second of £3, J, Webb ; third of £3. T. Trinder. PIGS. Boar pig of any age. — First prize, £3. — J, Wheeler, Long Compton, Sbipston-ou-Stour ; second of £3, and third of £3, H. AUsopp, Hindlip Hall, Worcester. Sow with pigs, the age of the pigs not to exceed four months. — First prize, £5, G. McCann, Malvern ; second of £3, R. Berkeley, Spetchley Park, Worcester ; third of £3, J. Walker, Knightwick, Worcester. Two hilts, above four and under twelve months old. — First prize, £5, J. Wheeler ; second of £3, H. Allsopp. HORSES. Stallion cart horse for agricultural purposes. — First prize, £15, W. Wynn, Cninhill Leys, Grafton, Alcester ; second of £10, Wm. Biiller, Hunwell, Banbury. Commended : Earl Beauchamp. Pair of cart geldings or mares (or gelding and mare) above four years old, which have been regularly worked. First prize, .68, and second of £5, Stephen Davis, Wollasliill, Pershore. Clommeuded : Robert Berkeley, Spetchley Park, Worcester ; and Earl Beauchamp. Cart mare and foal. — First prize, £5, Thomas Wyatt, Ilan- oury ; second of £3, William Taylor, Braces Leigh, near Mal- vern. Commended: Joseph Miles, Astwood, Claines, Wor- cester. Cart filly or gelding, two and under three years old. — First priie, £5, James Groves, Friar-street, Worcester ; second of £3, Robert Berkeley. Commended : John Prosser, Honey- bourne, Grounds, Broadway. Thorough-bred stallions, that have served mares regularly in the county of Worcester during the season of 1869, or cer- tified to serve mares in the county of Worcester iu the season of 1870.— First prize (given by the Riglit Hon. the Earl of Coventry), £30, W. Mytton, Naunton Farm, Kempsey ; second (by the Society) of £10, J. Gregory Watkins, Woodiield, Droitwitch. Hunters, in the opiniou of the judges, equal to 15 stone (open to all England). — First prize (given by Mr. Henry All- sopp), £25, Thomas Adams, Woodhall, Worcester; second (by the Society) of £10, David Mcintosh, Havering Park, Romford Essex. Hunters that have been ridden iu the past season with the Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Ledbury, Cotswold, North Cotswold, Albrighton, or Ludlow hounds. First prize, £15, N. N. Dyer, Bredon Manor, Tewkesbury ; second of £10, Henry F. Dowdeswell, Pull Court, Tewkesbury. Hunters, the property of tenant farmers resident in Worces- tershire, and been ridden by themselves in the past season with the "Worcestershire hounds. — Prize of ^£10, George Potter and Son, Martley. Hunting mare or gelding under five years old. — Prize of £10, Charles Cooke, Taddiugton, Winchcomb. Hacks, not exceeding fifteen hands. — Prize of £5, Charles Cooke. Ponies, above twelve and under fourteen hands. — Prize of £5, George Potter and Son. Commended: James Laugher, Worcester. Brood mares for producing hunters. — Prize of £10 (given by Mr. H. F. Vernon), H. F. Vernon, Hanbuiy Hall, Droit- witch. (Special prize, given by the Citizens of Worcester) . Forthe best hunting mare or gelding of any age irrespective of weight, and open to all England. — First prize, £25, H. F. Vernon ; second of £10, WiUiam Colman, Walton House, Tewkesbury. Conjmended : Nathaniel Smith, Martley, Worcester. "WOOL. Tod of wool of the clip of 1S69, shorn from long-wooUed sheep. — Prize of £1 10s. (given by Mr. J. S. Pakingtou), John Walker, Knightwick, Worcester. Tod of wool of the clip of 1869, shorn from short-woolled sheep. — First prize, £1 lOs., Robert Berkeley, Spetchley Park, Worcester (Shropshire) ; second of £1, Richard Hickman, Lower Court, Cotlieridge, AVorcester, WHIT WORTH AND EOCHDALE AGRI- CULTURAL SOCIETY. The fourteenth annual mectiug of this Society was held at Green-hill, Rochdale. There was a very good collection of cattle. Tlie bull " Bolivar," the property of Mr. C. W. Brierlcy, Middleton, which obtained the first prize at the Royal Show iu the two-year-old shorthorn bulls class, took the first ])rize and silver cup in the bulls of any breed class. Mr. Thomas Statter, of Whitefield, was second. The challenge cup, value £10, for the best bull of any breed, was taken by Mr. Robert Hurst's (Rochdale) "Baron Marlaby." Mr. Brierley also won a piece of plate, value £10, given for the best beast on the ground. In the tenant-farmer's class, Mr. J. Collinge gained the first prize iu the class of buUs of any breed. The agricultural horses were a very fine class. INIr. Hem-y Neild, of Worsley, obtained the first prize in the three-year old filly class. There were fifty-two entries of hunters. Mr. Brady Nicholson, of Garforth, won the first prize iu the first class for hunters of any age. There was not much competition in the pigs, Mr. Eden, of Salford, carrying all before him. There was a good show of wool. For the best ten fleeces of this year's wool, Mr. James Butterworth, Greenbooth, Rochdale, was the victor. The results of the trial of hunters in leaping were : Hunter of any age. — First, Mr. Brady Nicholson, Garforth, near Leeds ; second, Mr. James Wilson, Newchurch, near Manchester. Hunter of any age, of the parish of Rochdale.— Mr. E. E. M. Royds, Grecu- hill, Rochdale. Jumper. — First, Mr. Robert Greenhalgh, jun., Ashlea House, Cheshire; second, Mr. John E. Taylor, Booth Hall, Blakely. TH^R^ FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 309 NORTH AND EAST RIDINGS AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. MEETING AT SCARBOROUGH. The show of the Scarborough, Hackness, aud North ami East Ridings Agricultural Society took place as usual at Scarborough. The entries gave aa increase of 150 over those of last year ; aud this had no doubt been brought about by the heavy amount offered in prizes. Of Shorthoi'us theie were fifty entries ; and tlic first prize went to Mr. Wiley, for the Earl of Derby, the roan bull that took lirst honours at the ^lanchester Royal Show, although unsuccessful at the later meetings that took place at Beverley and elsewhere. The second prize in the same class went to Major Stapylton, Hel- perby, for " Lord Wetherby." Mr. W. Linton's " Lady Valentine" proved the best cow above three years, as she has done at Selby, Bridlington, Ripou, and Otley, where she took the cup. Earl Feversham was first with a roan heifer in the class under two years; and Mr. T. Frank, of Whitby, took a first prize with a six- teen-mouth bull that was shown for the first time. The sheep shown were nearly all Leicesters, and of these the shearling lambs and gimmer lambs made the best eutry. The pigs were not from a wide district ; and nearly all the prizes went to Scarborough and the neighbourhood. Regarding the horses, in the principal classes — hunters, coaching horses, and agricultural horses — a very good show was witnessed. The first prize for k thorough-bred hunter stallions went to Mr. \V. H. Con- stable, of Hull, for "Theobald;" aud for a brood mare for hunters the leading prize went to Mr, G. C. Jarratt. The leading coaching horse stallion prize went to Mr. H. R. W. Hart, Dunningtou Lodge ; and Messrs. coulson. Castle Howard, were first in the brood mare Class. In the roadster section Mr. Cook, of Driffield, took first stallion prize with " Denmark;" and the first prize for brood mares in the same section went to Mr. J. Binnington, Sheriff Hutton. In the agricultural classes the leading stallion prize went to " Black Robin," the property of Mr. R. Cole, Lowthorpe ; while the same prize for brood mares was secured for Scarborough dis- trict by Mr. C. Leadley, of Cloughtou. JUDGES. Cattle. — T. P. Outliwaite, Goldsbovough House, Knares- horough ; W. Jobson, Buteland, Hexham ; W. Kuowles, Wetherby House, Wetherby. Hunting and Nag Houses. — E. Abraham, Barr.etby-le- Wold, Ulceby ; A. Majnanl, Skinningrove, Saltburu-by- the-Sea ; G. 15olam, Alvvinton, Morpeth. Coaching and Agricultural Horses, — W. WooJ, Ha- brough, UJceby ; T. Brown, Butterwick, Maltou ; 11. Rob- sou, Deightou, York. AWARDS. CATTLE. Shorthorns. Bull of any Age. — First prize, Mr. M'iley, Brandsby ; se- cond. Major Stapylton, Myton Hall, Helperby. Bull above one and under two Years old. — First prize, J. S. Jordan, Driffield ; second, 0. Smith, Yarm. Bull-calf uuder twelve Months old. — First prize. Earl Fe- versham, Duucombe Park ; second, W. Linton, Sheriff Hutton. Cow or Heifer above three Years old, iu Calf or Milk. — First prize, W. Linton ; second, I. Garbutt, Kirbymoorside. Heifer above two Years old, iu Calf or Milk.— First prize, T. Stamper, Oswaldkirk ; second, C. Smith, Yarm. Bull above one and under three Years old. — First prize, T. Frank, Whitby ; second, G. Jackson, Sherburn, Cow or Heifer above three Years old, in Calf or Milk. — First prize, T. Frank ; sccoud, R. Rowlay, Ileslertou. Heifer not exceeding three Years old, in Calf or Milk. — First prize, T. Hornby, Ganton. Heifer not exceeding two years old. — First prize, R. Row- lay ; second, T. Hodgson, Staintondale. Cattle of any Breed. Dairy Cow. — First prize, T. Walker, Searaer ; second, J. Stephenson, Scarborough. Cottager and Milksellers' Prize. — First prize, J. B. Baker, Throxenby ; second, U. Wilkinson, Seamer. SHEEP. Leicesters. Two-shear or aged Rams. — First prize, E. Riley, Beverley. Shearhng Ram. — First prize, E. Riley ; second, J. J. Simp- son, Hunmanby. Pen of five shearling Wethers. — First prize, J. S. Jordan. Pen of five shearling Glmmers. — First prize, J. Boast, North Dalton ; second, W. Brown, Uolme-on-Spalding Moor. Pen of five Leicester Ewes. — First prize, W. Brown ; se- cond, C. Leadley, Cloughton. Pen of five Leicester Gimmer Lambs. — First prize, W. S. Gray, Whitl)y ; second, C. Leadley. Ram ad.apted to a Moor or Mountain District. — First prize, W. Rudsdale, Yarm ; second, C. Smith. Pen of three Ewes adapted to a Moor or Mountain Dis- trict.— First and second prizes, W. Rudsdale. Fat Ewe or Wether.— W. Brown. Extra Stock. First prize, J, Eldin Seamer, three fat ewes — Shropshire Downs. PIGS. Boar of large Breed. — First prize, G. Chapman, Seamei. Sow of large Breed, iu Milk or Pig. — First prize, D. Berry- man, Rnston ; second, G. Chapman, Seamer. Boar of small Breed. — First prize, G. Mangles, Great Gi- vendale ; second, J. Thompson, Seamer. Sow of small Breed, in Pig or Milk. — First and second prizes, G. Chapman. Three Store Pigs of any Breed, of the same Litter, and from four to nine Months old. — First and second prizes, M. Harri- son, Scarborough. Boar of large Breed, not exceeding twelve Months old. — First prize, W. Rudsdale, Yarm ; second, G. Chapman. Sow of large Breed, not exceeding twelve Months old. — First and second prizes, G. Cliapman. Boar of small Breed, not exceeding twelve Months old. — First prize, G. Earle, Strensall ; second, W. Rudsdale. Sow of small Breed, not exceeding twelve Months old. — First and second prizes, G. Earle. Store Pig, the Property of a Cottager or working Man, in his Possession for three Months prior to the Show, Age and Quality considered.— First prize, G. G. Bilton, Scarborough ; second, D. Berryman. Extra Stock. First prize, Mrs. Simpson, Carton. HORSES. Hunters. Stallion, thorough-bred.— First prize, W. 11. Constable, Hull ; second, Mr. Hoggarth, Lythe. Brood Mare, with Foal at her Foot. — First prize, G. C. Jarratt, Harpham ; second, G, Watson, Newbiggin. Yearling Gelding or Filly. — First prize, J. Cattle, Malton ; second, M. Leaper, Sledmere. Two-year-old Gelding.— First prize, J . B. Booth, Catteriek ; second, Mrs. E. D. Nesfield, Scarborough. Two year-old Filly. — First prize, J. S. Darrell, West Ayton. Three-year-old Gelding.- First prize, W. J. Simpson, Easton ; second, Marrpii; of Normanby, Whitby. Z 810 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. Three-year-old Filly.— First prize, J. W. Simpson ; second, J. B. Kobson, Ganton. Stallion. — First prize, H. R, W. Hart, York ; second, "W. Hance, Garton. Brood Mare, with Foal at her Foot. — First prize, W. and F. Coulson, Castle Howard ; second, J. B. Baker, Throxenby. Yearling Gelding or FOly. — First prize, J. Miles, Lebber- Bton ; second, G. Hopper, Yedmandale. Two-year-old gelding or fiUy. — First prize, T. Curry, Great Ay ton ; second, J. S. Barrel 1. Three-year-old Gelding or Filly. — First prize, J, Cattle; second, T. Darrell, West Ayton. Stallion. — First prize, J. Cook, Nafferton ; second, H. R. W. Hart. Brood Mare, with Foal at her Foot. — First prize, J. Bin- uington. Sheriff Hutton ; second, T. Luty, Huntington, Yearling Gelding or Filly. — Fii'st prize, M. Leaper ; second, J. S. DarreU. Two-year-old Gelding or Filly. — First prize, J. N. Kendall, Pickeriug ; second, F. C. Matthews, Son, and Co., Driffield. Three-year-old Gelding or Filly.— 'First prize, W. Major, Malton ; second, J. Colby, Malton. Mare or Gelding of any Age. — First prize, J. Robson, Old Malton; second, W. H. Cranswick, Hull. Agricultural Horses. Stallion. — First prize, R. Cole, Lowthorpe ; second, W. Simpkin, Driffield. Brood Mare, with Foal at her Foot. — First prize, C. Lead- ley, Scarborough ; second, J. Fetch, Scarborough. Yearling Gelding or Filly. — First prize, J. Kirk, Sherburn. Two-year- old Gelding or Filly. — First prize, Mrs. E. Smith, Bridlington ; second, E. Coltas, Scarljoyqugh, Three-year-old Gelding or Filly.— First prize, J. Crompton, Hull ; second, Messrs. Barnett and Robertson, Lowthorpe. Pair of Horses of either Sex. — First and- second prizes, J, Simpson, Hunmanby. Ponies. Mares or Horses under eight Years old, not to exceed four- teen Hands two Inches high. — First prize, G. Holmes, Bever- ley ; second, W. Stephenson, Brough. Mares or Horses under eight Y^ears old, not to exceed thir- teen Hands high. — First prize, H. J. Hammond, Scar- borough ; second, H. Smithson, Malton. Extra. Stock. First prize, W. Cranswick, Scarborough ; second, R. Cross^ Scarborough. Special Prizes. Hunting Gelding or Mare of any Age, open to the District only (Cup). — J. B. Booth, Catterick. Hunting Mare or Gelding, five years old. — J. Darrell, York. Hunting Gelding or Mare, four Y'ears old, the Property of a Tenant-farmer residing within thirty Miles of Scarborough, — H. Jewisou, York. Harness Gelding or Mare, not loss than three, but under eight. Years of Age (open to the District only). — G. Holmes, Beverley. Ladies' hackney Gelding or Mare of any Age. — J. Crompton. Leaping Prizes. Horses of any Age, Sex, or Breed. — J. C. Bilton, York. Ponies of any Age, Sex, or Breed. — W. Simpkio, Driffield. Special Prize. Silver Medal for the smallest Pony.— Messrs. Henry and 44^nis, Scarborough, THE HALIFAX AND CALDER VALE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. MEETING AT HALIFAX. The total number of entries was 559. The specialty of this exhibition, like all West Riding shows, consists in the entries of liorses ; while the cattle were very good. Mr. Brierley's Bolivar and Lady Pigot's Queen of Rosalea were again easy winners in their respective classes. The show of sheep was poor, and that of pigs only tolerably good. We subjoin the principal prizes : CATTLE. Two-year-old and aged shorthorued bull, C. W. Brierley, Rhodes House, Middleton (Bolivar). One-year-old shorthorued bull, Crawshaw and Blakeley, Dewsbury (Prince Leopold). Shorthorued bull calf, H. Crossley, Broomfleld, Halifax. Alderney or Guernsey bull, J. H. Thursby, Snydale Hall, Pontefract. Three-year-old and aged shorthorned cow. Lady Pigot (Queen of Rosalea). Two-year-old shorthorned cow, L. J. Crossley, Willow Hall, Halifax. One-year-old shorthorned cow, Crawshaw and Blakeley (Lady Edith). Shorthorn calf. Lady Pigot (Mantelina). Alderney or Jersey cow, J. H. Thursby. Guernsey cow, H. Ambler, The Grange, Ovendeu. Ayrshire cow, T. Riley, Ewood Hall, Mytholmroyd. Dairy cow (any age or breed except pure-bred shorthorn), H. Crossley. COWS. prizes open to tenant-earmers in the district. Three-year-old and aged shorthorned cow, T; Stausfield, Rodwell Head, Todmorden, Two-year-old shorthorned cow, J. Sutclifife, Holdsworth, Ovenden. One-year-old shorthorned cow, R. Greenwood, West Royd, Warley. Shorthorned Wye calf, J. Crossley, Stones Grange, Tod- Dairy cow any age or breed, T. Stansficld. The borough member's (Mr. E. Akroyd, M.P.) silver cup for the best shorthorned bull, Mr. Brierley (Bolivar). The vice-president's (Mr. W. Ambler) silver cup, for the best shorthorned cow. Lady Pigot (Queen of Rosalea). Tlie vice-president's (Mr. T. Riley) silver cup for the best dairy cow, Mr. Sutcliffe, Ovenden. HORSES. Hunter, any age, silver cup, J. Robson, Rose Villa, Old Malton. Best leaper (mounted) above li^ hands high, any age, silver cup, J. Bennett, York-street, Wakefield. Best leaper (mounted), 14| hands and under, any age, silver cup, W. M. Darley, Thorne, near Doncaster. Roadster stallion, H. R. W. Hart, Dunniugton Lodge, York. Yearling roadster, J. F. Crowther, Heaton Lodge, Hudders- field. Two-year-old roadster, W. Stead, Cleckheaton. Three-year-old roadster, I. Firth and Son, Square-road, Halifax. Roadster mare or gelding, four years old and aged, H. R. W. Hart. Roadster mare and foal, J. F. Crowther. Draught stallion, M. Stickland, Heading Hall, Tadcaster. Yearling draught colt or filly, J. Moore, Cottingley. Two-year-old draught gelding or filly, J. Robinson, Cliffes Farm, Laister Dyke. Tliree-year-old draught gelding or filly, W. Roberts, Fair- burn, South Milford. Draught mare or gelding, four years old and aged, Craw- shaw and Blakeley. Draught mare and foal, T. Statter, jun., Stand Hill, Man- chester. Carriage horse, G. Brooks, Springwood, Huddersfield, THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. 311 Pair of carriage horses, J. Foster, jun,, Priestley Green, Lightcliffe. ■ Lady's pad, H. Crossley. Cob (mounted) above 13 and uot exoeediug 15 hands, any fige, H. Crossley. Pony (mounted) above 11 and not exceeding IS liands, any ago, Tliorpe and Womaok, Bradford, Pony (luonnted) not exceeding 11 hands, any age, T, C. Whiteliead, Park-road, Halifax, SHEEP. Ram, any age or breed, T. H. Hutchinson, Manor House, Catterick. Pen of three Leicester ewes, T. H. Hutchinson. Pen of three Lonk or mountain ewes, J. B. Sidgwick, Eiddlesden Hall, KeigUey (Lonk). Pen of three ewes of any other breed, L. J. Crossley. PIGS. Boar, large breed, P. Eden, Cross-lane, Salford. Boar, middle breed, P. Eden, Boar, small breed, P. Eden. Black boar, T. Gaukroger, Clarendon-plaee, Halifax. Boar, under six months old, H. Crossley. Sow and litter of pigs, P. Eden. Sow, large breed, W. Lancaster, Jail-lane, Halifax. Sow, middle breed, P. Eden. Sow, small breed, J. and W. Sager, Lister Hills, Bradford. Black sow, H. Crossley. Gilt, J. and W. Sagar. Black gilt, H. Crossley. Store pig, large or middle breed, W. Lancaster. Store pig, small breed, R. E. Duckeriug, Northorpe, Kirton Lindsey, Black storp pig, W. Smith, Beech-hill, Hahfox. WEST RIDINGS OF YORKSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. MEETING AT WAKEFIELD. This show was creditable to the Riding. The entries gave an increase of about one hundred, as compared with last year. The sum offered as prize-money reached £450, and in addition there was an unusual number of silver cups. The cup for the best bull went to Mr. C. W. Brierley's Bolivar ; the second prize to Mr. T. Statter, jun., Manchester ; tlie well-known bulls Lord Wetherby and Charles le Beau being passed over. Messrs. Crawshaw and Blakeley, Dewsbury, were first with Prince Leopold in the class under two years. Lady Pigot's Queen of Rosalea proved the best cow on the ground ; and her Ladyship was also a first-prize winner with a yearling heifer. Amongst the horses the roadsters were particularly numerous in all the classes. The cup for the best draught or agricul- tural mare or gelding was secured by Mr. Brierley, of Man- chester. For the best hackney mare or gelding the cup went to Mr. Joseph Robson, Old Malton, and a similar prize for the best cob mare or gelding went to Mr. W. Stephenson, Bushy Hill. The Society's cup for the best horse for harness purposes fell to Mr. C. E. Charlesworth, Lofthouse. The Judges were : Cattle and Sheep — H. Ambler, Watkinson Hall, Halifax ; R. Woods, Osberton, Worksop. Pigs, Roots, and Butter — J. Fisher; Woodhouse, Crossbills, Leeds ; G. Hutchinson, Prospect House, York. Horses — H. Crossley, Broomfield, Halifax ; G. Holmes, Beverley ; T. Metcalfe, Cratemarshe Hall, Uttoxeter ; G. Robson, Shires House, Easingwold. The following were their principal awards ; CATTLE. Bull, any breed, two years old and upwards (cup).— First prize, C. W. Brierley, Middleton ; second, T. Statter, jun., Man- chester. Bull, any breed, under two years old. — Prize, Crawshaw and Blakeley, Dewsbury. Cow, three years old and upwards, in calf or milk (cup). — First prize. Lady Pigot, Newmarket ; second, Capt. Tennant, Scarcroft Lodge. Heifer, above two and not exceeding three years, in calf or milk. — First prize, H. Crossley, Halifax ; second, T. Statter, jun., Manchester. Heifer, under two years old. — First prize, Lady Pigot ; second, Capt. Tennant. Aldeniey or Guernsey heifer, any age (cup) .—First prize, T. Statter, jun. ; second, J. Hardy, Pontefract. Cow, three years old and upwards, for dairy purposes.— First prize, J . Charlesworth, Wakefield ; second, G. Willans, Wakefield. Heifer, not exceeding three years old, for dairy purposes.— First prize, T. C. Johnson, Chevet ; second, T. C. Johnson, SHEEP, Ram, any breed, two-shear and upwards (cup).— First prize, W. Brown, Holme-on-Spalding Moor ; second, T. H, Hutch- inson, Catterick, Raih, any breed, one-shear.— First prize, T. H. Hutchinson ; second, T. H. Hutchinson. Ram lamb.— First prize, J. Greaves, Ripon ; second, T. H. Hutchinson. Pen of three ewes, any breed, having suckled lambs in 1869. First prize, W. Brown ; second, T. H. Hutchinson. Pen of three fat shearhng wethers or gimmers- — First prize, W. Brown ; second, T. H. Hutchinson. Pen of three gimmer lambs. — First prize, J. Greaves ; second, T, H. Hutchinson. Extra Sto(!K. Pen of sheep.— First prize, withheld ; second, E. Wilkinson, Wakefield. PIGS. Boar, small breed, any age.— First prize, P. Eden, Salford ; second, J. and W. Sagar, Bradford. Boar, auy other breed, any age.— First prize (cup), P. Eden ; second, J. and W. Sagar. Boar of the black breed, auy age.— First prize, T. Gaukroger, Halifax ; second, G. Earle, York. Boar, any breed under ten months old. — First prize, J, and W. Sagar ; second, T. and J. Halmshaw, Dewsbury. Sow, large breed, any age. — First prize, P. Eden ; second, W. Lancaster, HaUfax. Sow, middle breed, any age.— First prize (cup), W. Parker, Bradford ; second, P. Eden. Sow, small breed, any age. — First prize, J. and W. Sagar ; second, R. E. Duckering, Kirton Lindsey. Sow of the black breed,— First prfze, G. Earle; second, M. Wahon, HaUfax. Gilt, any breed under ten months old. — First prize. J. and W. Sagar ; second, R. E, Duckering. STORE riGS. Pig any age or breed. — First prize, R. E. Duckering ; se- cond. West Riding Asylum, Wakefield. Pig any age or breed. — First prize, West Riding Asylum ; second, C. Roberts, Wakefield. LABOURING MEN'S PREMIUM. Pig any age or breed. — First prize, G. Sutcliffe, New Miller Dam ; second, E. Kershaw, Wakefield. HORSES. Two-year-old gelding or filly for agricultural purposes.— First prize, C. W. Brierley, Middleton ; second, J. Robinson, Laisterdyke. Brood more and foal. — First prize, T. Statter, jun., Man- chester ; second, T. Makin, Fairburn, South Milford; Mare or gelding for dray purposes. — First prize, T. Statter, jun.; second, Mrs. E.Emmerson, Hemsworth. Mare or gelding for agricultural purposes, — First prize, C, W, Brierley ; second, T. Statter, jun. DISTRICT PRIZES, Limited to persons resident within five miles of Wakefield. Mare or geldinc; for agricultural purposes. — First priy;e, ^ 2 312 THE TARMEK'S INIAGAZINE. T. C. Johnson, Clicvet ; second, Mrs. Charlcswortli, Middles- town. Marc or fielding for tradesmen's purposes. — First prize, T. Gates and Co., Wakefield ; second, C. lloberts, Wakefield. Roadster, two-year-old gelding or filly. — First prize, W. Stead, Cleckheatou ; second, T, Hemingway, Ileatli. Brood mare and foal. — First prize, J. li. Crowtlier, Ilud- dersfield ; second, T. Bower, Wakefield. Hackney mare or gelding. — First prize (cup), J, llobsou. Old Malton ; second, J. Horusby, Grantham. Cob mare of gelding above 13 and not exceeding 11^ hands. — First prize (cup), W. Stephenson, Newbald Brough ; second, II. Neild, Worsley, Manchester. I'ony not exceeding 13 hands. — First prize, T. Bower ; se- cond, W. Shaw, Wakefield. Mare or gelding for harness purposes. — First prize (cup), C. E. Charlesworth, Lofthousc ; second, J. Green, jnn., Ilcms- worth. Hunter mare or gelding. — First prize (cup), J. Robson ; second, E. Green, Heath, Jumping mare or gelding. — First prize (cup), W. M. Bar- ley, Thome; second, Brady Nicholson, Garforth. EXTR.V STOCK. First prize, W. lloberls, Fairburn, South Milford ; second, W. Borman, Wombwell, near Barnsley. THE BATH AND WEST OF ENGLAND SOCIETY AND SOUTHERN COUNTIES ASSOCIATION. The usual meeting of the Council of this Society was held on Tuesday, August 31st, at the Grand Pump Room Hotel, Bath, under tlie presidency of Sir Stailbrd 11. jNorthcote, Bart, C.B., M.r. There were also pre.sent : Viscount Sidraouth, Sir J. T. B. Duckworth, B:»rt., the Hon. and Rev. J. Townsheud Boscawen, Messrs. T. D. Aclaud, M.P., J. D. Allen, R. G. Badcock, Clement Bush, Tlios. Danger, J. Tanner Davy, R. R. M. Daw, I". W. Dymond, Charles Edwards, M. Farraut, Henry Fookes, John Fry, John Gray, J. D. Hancock, H. 1*. Jones, J. Webb King, Jos. Lush, H. A. F. Luttrell, Henry Middleton, Rev. T. Phillpotts, Messrs. R. J. Spiers, and J. Goodwin (Secretary and Editor). Two vacancies having occurred in (he trusteeship of the Society, owing to the death of Mr. John Sillifaut, and Mr. W. S. Wait, they were severally tilled by the appointment of Mr. Jonathan Gray, nominated at the last meeting of tlie Council, and Sir J. T. B. Duckworth Bart., now proposed by Mr. C. Busli on behall of the Finance Committee. It was also re- solved on tlie motion of Mr. Bush that the necessary steps be taken to transfer the stock of the Society to the new body of Trustees, viz : — Messrs. Thomas Dyke Aclaud, M.F., and Jonathan Gray, and Sir J. T. B. Duckworth, Bart. ; and also that an additional sum of £570 8s. be invested in the 3 per cent, consols, tiius bringing up the total amount to JE;4',800. The following are the appointments for the ensuing year, concluding with the Tauntou meeting ; — Publication Committee. — Mr. T. D. Acland, M.P., (Chair- man), lion, and Rev. S. Best, Mr. F. W. Dymond, Mr. G. S. Poole, and Lord Portraan. I'inanco and Contracts. — Mr. II. Williams (Chairman), Mr. Clement Bush, and Mr. J. C. Ramsden. Stock Prize Sheet. — Col. Luttrell (Chairman) Mr. Thomas Danger, Mr. J. T. Davy, Mr. T. Duckham, Mr. M. Farrant, Mr. lieury Fookes, Mr. John Fry, Mr. C. Gordon, Mr. John Gray, Mr. James Hole, Mr. T. Hussey, i\Ir. J. Webb King, Col. Lennard, Mr. Henry Middleton, Mr. E. F. Mills, Mr. J. P. Pitts, Mr. W. Rigden,and Mr. J. S. Turner. Implement Regulations. — Mr. J. E. Knollys (Ciiairman), Col. Deedes, Mr. Mark Farrant, Mr. W. Froude, Mr. John Gray, Mr. Jonathan Gray, !Mr. H, P. Jones, and Col. Lennard. Judges' Selection. — Col. Luttrell (Chairman), The Stewards of Stock and Poultry (ex-ollicio), Jlr. John Gray, Mr. Thomas Hussey, Lieut, -Col. Lennard, Mr. J. P. Pitts, and Mr. W. Wippell. Railway Arrangements. — 'Slv. W. Adair Bruce (Chairman), Lieut.-Col. Brent, Sir M. Lopes, bart., M.P., Mr. S. Pitman, and Mr. R. J. Spiers, with power to add to their number. Disqualifying Committee. — Mr. John Gray (Chairman), The Stewards of Stock, and the Stewards of Horses. STEWARDS A^I) OFFICERS. Stewards of Iniplemeuts (Yard). — Mr, John Gray, and Mr. W. Froude. Stewards of Implements (Field). — Mr. J. I*]. Knollys and Mr. II. P. Jones. Supernumerary Steward, Col. Lennard. Stewards of Stock. — Mr. John Fry, Mr. James Hole, Mr. J. S. Turner, and jMr. H. Fookes. Stewards of Horses. — Mr. C. Gordon and Colonel Luttrell. Stewards of I'oultry. — Lieut.-Col. Brent and Mr.R.H.Bush. Stewards of Horticulture.— Rev. T. Phillpotts and the Hon. and Rev. J. T. Boscawen. Steward of Music.— Mr, Jonathan Gray. Steward of the Mess. — Mr. Henry St. John Jlaule. Stewards of Library. — Mr. Jonathan Gray, and Mr. Wm. Thompson. Steward of Advertisements. — Mr. Clement Bush. Stewards of Plant. — Mr. Jonathan Gray (Chairman), Mr. John Gray, I\[r. J. E. Knollys, and j\lr. Herbert Williams. Stewards of Arrangements. — ISIr. John Gray, and Mr. Jon.athan Gray. Hon. Secretary. — Mr. H. St. John Maule. Arts Hon. Secretary. — Mr. R. R. M. Daw. Treasurers. — Mr. II. G. Badcock, and Mr. F. W. Dymond. Ollicial Superintendent. — Mr. H. Spackniau. Ollicial Accountant. — Mr. Wm. Smith. Cousultiug Chemist. — Dr. Augustus Voelcker. Veteriuary Inspector. — Professor Brown. Assistant Secretary (Exeter). — Mr. \V. Roberts. Secretary and Editor ol Journal. — Mr. Josiali Goodwin. Tau^'ton Meeting, 1870. — Reports were brought up from Messrs. Badcock, the Society's Treasurers, announcing that the required sum of £900 had been paid to the credit of the Society by the Taunton Local Authorities ; from the Stewards of Plant, announcing that all the plant of the So- ciety had been removed from Southampton within the speci- fied time, and was now safely stored at Taunton ; and from Mr. Knollys, who had been deputed to conclude arrangements with the Tauntou authorities, announcing that all matters left in abeyance were now satisfactorily arranged. A Committee having been appointed " to take into con- sideration the duties and salaries of the Editor and Secretary, and the routine of the Secretary's oliice, and to recommend such alterations generally as in their opinion ra.ay be de- sirable," the report was now brought up aud ordered to be taken into consideration at the October meeting of Council, after due notice given on the Agenda Pajier. Peace of Meeting in 1871. — As the Society's Annual Meetings are now held alternately in the Eastern and Western Districts, and as the meeting of 1871 would iu due couise bo held in the Eastern District (including the Counties of Berks, Surrey, &c.), a Committee was appointed to consider the sub- ject, to take such steps as tiiey think necessary, and to report to the Council at the October Meeting. Mr. Margary, of Plymoutli, suggested to the Council the desirability of olfering I'rizcs for Donkeys, which he con- sidered would be a great boon to the industrious poor. The subject was referred to the Stock Prize Sheet Committee. Mr. Le Cornu, of Jersey, having expressed a desire to convert the money prizes which be obtained at the Southamp- ton meeting into a piece of plate, asked the sanction of the Council to his engraving the badge of the Society thereon, and the desired permission was granted. New Life Governor. — Mr. V. F. Benett-Standford, Pitthouse, Salisbury. New Governor. — The Rev. Beauchamp Kerr Warren Pearse, the Rectory, Ascott, Berks. New Members. — Mr. Heury Ernst, Wescombe House, Evercreech, Bath ; Mr. Nathaniel Benjafield, Shorts Green Farm, Motcombe, Shaftesbury ; Mr. Henry Charles Dear, North Stoneliam Park .and Millbrook, Southampton; Mr. William Paxton Parkin, Ridgemouut, Basset, Southampton. It was resolved, " That until further orders tlie Council Meetings do commence at 12.30 o'clock instead of 1,15," THE FARMER fc> MAGAZINE. 313 A GROUND GAM E CON S IJLTATION. 'riic raljljit.j iiiul Imics fvoin l)uirows ami I'oriii, b'rom iiiiMiIow and cojisi-, tliro' raiu and lliro' storm In council assembled, one evening of late, Question niomeutoiis ! discussing their late. With ears on the stretch, with eyes at tlie stare, The chairman sat up, an aged Jack llare, 'Twas just on that part opposed to liis head, And brushing his whiskers, he cough'd and lie said, " My friends we are met, we all hither came. Of matters to speak, aiieut the fur game ; The landlords preserve, to shoot us at best, The tenants all liate, and call us a pest. A few days ago, when nibbling some grain, 1 met an ' E>iprcss' — they call it Maii Lane ; And letters read there — a farmer in rage Had written at length — the length of a page. He made it appear, how great is the wrong That's done to liis rights — and done just as long, As rabbits and hares, with keeper to boot, All feed on his lands, and thrive on the loot ; AVe feast upon him, and they upon us. While owner he's not of rabbit or puss ; But all are the squire's — to whom we are fare, You rabbits in pies, and wc as jugged hare ; In kitchen and Imll — to servant and guest, Wc furnish a meal, howe'er we are drest. Board wages are we to servants in town, To Sally, the cook, John Thomas, and Brown ; To footmen and grooms, whate'er the degree The knaves who are fed by you and by me. No tenant complains when mi)ii's a lease. Hare lie but grumble, his holding would cease. So says he and more, and wliat is far worse. He calls us a plague, a nuisance, a curse. The worst of all vermin — badger and stoat, Who no value have, not even a groat , Hats, weasels and mice, and pests of tlie kind, jSIore tolerable arc, at least to his mind. Tiie deuce of it is, we breed at the rate Of curates who're lean, and people tlie state. Aud now, my good friends, my breath is all spent, jMv speech at an end, ray heart is content, But quite in a flutter — bursting its bounds, Specching, I think, is like fleeing from hounds." So Jack, delighting each long-eared friend. Bowed on all-fours, and resumed his end. The next speaker sat up — a rabbit of years ; He patted tlif ground — the answer was dicers, Or what the same meant, and thus he began, " Rabbits and hares — foes, victims of man, The man oflhc plough, the tenant at will, Tlic liolder of land on 'will ye or will;' The lords are our friends tho' the tenants are foes, Bad friends to be sure, as each of us knows. But such as they are, they're better than none. With eyes and with ears, with legs that can run, And holes to run into, and in forms to hide. What feftr we from man ? his rage we'll abide. He fights o'er us now ; ay, even in court, The lords to pay lor what they call sport. In damages, bills, and drawbacks in rent, III keepers, and law, their money is spent ; It's naught but their pride, and were it not that, They'd trap and destroy us like weasel and rat ; What matter to us — we live as we may. We plunder the crops — the tenant must pay, And we live wliile lie must ; well do I know All this to be true, not two days ago The keeper and squire were talking it o'er When sitting together, close to where four Of us snugly were hid, near to that ripe Field of red wheat they were smoking a pipe. The sijuire in a pet damned all rabbits as slioii , Aud vow'd he would rout us e'en a la mort, If hurt we did him — you see that he gains. Since lease gives he none, but either disdains. By notice ejects the tenant whoe'er Durst trap or destroy, or rabbit or hare. He spoke of a law, a big statute book, Wliere rabbits aud hares for safety must look ; Our names are writ there with pheasant and grouse, Written in fact in the rarliameut house ; By lords and " M.P's.," folks of great power. In London, who live close to the Tower ; Who doze thro' the day, and talk thro' tlie night. Owl-like in wisdom, p.nd shunning the light ; If stolen this book, or altered the law, If error tiierc were, ay, even a flaw. If omitted our names, slaughter most dire. By gin, trap, aud net, by gunpowder fire Our portion would be. How dreadful the scare Would seize the twin race— doomed rabbit and hare Protection then gone, beyond the law's pale, By thousands we're slain — to market for sale. No licence to kill, nor magistrate's fine So cheap that on us the beggar might dine. Breakfast, and sup, without measure and stint, 'Till from earth we are gone — eaten — extiuct." At prospect so gloomy, low hung the ears, And quivered the lips, revealing their fears Of the listening beasts, rapid the beat Of tails, that are brief, and velvety-clad feet. Oh, wol'ul the hour ! oh, dread will the day, When justice have tenants, and they but pay Ilent, labour, and tithe, when the word " game" To birds that are wing'd alone is the name. The sentinel rabbit patted the ground — Signal, the keeper was making his round ; The meeting resolv'd liis counsel to take ; Gladly he gave it for old friendship's sake. And thus Plush addrcss'd the plump furry crew ; His tears he could scarce conceal from their view. " My dear friends," said he, " now draws the day nigh When perquisites go, and all of you die. Angcr'd the farmer, defying all rule, He mocks at the sport of stripling and fool ; While valuers call, aud thus assert right. The sums they assess to, our master afTriglit. Stamps he, and swears he, and of his own will. Gives sentence of death that you pay the bill; Pull absolution from perjury lie, Slander, talc-bearing, from heaven 1 cry, Adieu, my friends, my dear old frieuds, beware. Twice seal'd your fate, your doom, now gnu or snare." That wisdom spoke, the beasts were all couviuc'd That wise was he, the keeper soon evinc'd. Chairman and ralibit to his midnight feast Invited were, with six more at the least: How hapjiy they, how blest they each his lot I Till Mr. Keeper's wife put tliem ia her pot^ Anr/i'sf, 1809. 314 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. THE CLEVELAND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. MEETING AT MIDDLESBOROUGH, Tlie entries were numerous ; and, although the Society has been about a generation in existence, it has never had a more successful gathering. For the best bull in the open class, under three years old, Mr. Jeffery Bulniei', Darlington, was first, with a yearling ; while the Earl of Zetland was second with a two-year-old roan. Ilis Lordship was also second in the class for cows, Mr. Ro- bert Thornton, Darlington, being fii'st with an eight- year-old ^cow. In the other open prizes for heifers, Mr. Thornton took the first and the Earl of Zetland the se- cond prize. Regarding the horses, Cleveland is famous for nothing if not for its " bays," and Friday's show was remarkable for its horses more than for anything else. Judges — Cattle, sheep, and pigs : Thomas Wetherell, Clapath ; Thomas Outhwaite, Goldsbro' ; Thomas Stamper, Highfield House. Moor Sheep: J. Fairweather, Busby. Hunters : T. Ellerby, Whitwell ; C. Wood, South Dalton; J. Martin, Wainfleet. Cleveland bays, other harness horses, and donkeys : J. Outhwaite, Bainesse ; J. S. Darrell, West Ayton ; William Hordou, Wackerfield ; Roadsters, draught-horses, and ponies : J. Thomas, North Otterington ; T. Scott, Boroughbridge ; P. Stevenson, Rainton, The following are the principal awards : SHORTHORNS, Bull under three years old. — First prize, Jeffery Bulmer, Darlington ; second, the Earl of Zetland. Cows in calf or milk. — First prize, Robert Thornton, Dar- lington ; second, the Earl of Zetland. Heifers in calf or milk. — First prize, Robert Thorton; se- cond, Earl Zetland. DISTRICT CLASSES. Shortliorn bull under three years old. — First prize, David Hartley, Yarm ; second, Henry Elliff, Yarm. Bull under two years old. — First prize, Cass Smith, Yarm ; second, Messrs. Cleasby and Jackson, Redcar. Bull under twelve months old. — Prize, David Hartley. Cows in calf or milk. — First prize, Isaac Garbutt, Kirby- Moorside ; second, James Herring, Middlesboro'. Cows for dairy purposes in calf or milk. — First prize, James Herring ; second, W. T. Horton, Yarm, Two-year-old heifers in calf or milk.— First prize, Cass Smith ; second, John Peacock, Middlesbro'. Yearling heifers. — Prize, Isaac Garbutt, SHEEP (Leicester and Black- faced). Shearling rams.— First prize, T. Rickinson, Yarm : second, R. P. Fetch, Marske-by-tbe-Sea. Two shear and upwards.— First and second ririze, R, P. Fetch. ^ ' Pen of five breeding ewes. — First prize, J. C. Bulmau, Marske-by-the-Sea ; second, W. T. Horton. Pen of five shear ling'gimmers. — First and second prizes, W, T. Horton. Tup lambs.— First and second prizes, R. P. Petch. Black-faced tups. — First and second prizes, Cass Smith, Pen of five black-faced breeding ewes. — First and second prizes, Cass Smith. PIGS, Boars under two years old, large breed. — First prize, W. Rudsdale, Danby End. Boars under two years old, small breed.— First and second prizes, W. Rudsdale. Sow of any age, large breed, in pig or in milk.— Prize, J. leatherstone, Middlesbro'. Sow of any age, small breed, in pig or in milk.— -First and second prizes, W. Rudsdale. Grazing pigs, the property of labourers, tradesmen, or me- cnamcs^ iiot occupying more tlian one acre of land.— First prize, M. Story, Stokesley; second, S. Pitt, Middlesbro'. Pen of three store pigs, any breed, four to nine months old.— W. Fidler, Stokesley Mill ; second, J. Holroyd, Middlesbro'. Litter of pigs under eight weeks of age. — First prize, W. Wood, Gisbrough ; second, J. Snowball, Middlesbrough. HORSES. CLEVELAND BAYS. Brood mares. — First prize, M. Robinson, Bedale ; second, J. Porritt, Guisbro', Filly foals. — Prize, J. Featherstone, Middlesbro.' Yearling fillies. — First prize, J. Plews, Whitby ; second, J. Knaggs, Guisbro'. Three-year-old filhes. — ^First prize, L. Manfield, Thirsk; second, W; Thompson, Yarm. OTHER HARNESS HORSES. Brood mares. — First prize, W. & F. Coulson, Castle How- ard ; second, J. Newburn, Redcar. Colt foals. — First prize, M, Willey, Darlington ; second, J. Dodsworth, Stockton-on-Tees. FiUy foals. — First prize, M, Robinson; second, J. Win- spear, Stockton-on-Tees. YearUng geldings. — First prize, A. [ Watson, Stockton j second, M. Fowler, Stockton-on-Tees. Two-year-old geldings. — First prize, T. Curry, Northaller- ton ; second, J. Mewburn, Yarm. Three-year-old geldings. — First prize, J. S. Stowell, Darling- ton ; second, J. Mewburn, Yarm. Three-year-old fillies. — First prize, M. Robinson ; second, H. Jackson, Bedale. ROADSTERS. Brood mares. — First prize, R. Emmerson, Darlington ; se- cond, H. R. W. Hart, York. Foals, colts, or fillies. — First prize. Rev. J. C. Wharton, Richmond ; second, S. R. C. Ward, Darlington. YearHags, colts, or filUes. — Frst prize, J, White, Stockton; second, G. Laidler, Yarm. Two-year-old colts or fillies. — First prize, J. S. Stowell ; second, J. Leng, Darlington. Three-year-old colts or fiUies. — First prize, J. White ; second T. Johnson, Darlington. HEAVY DRAUGHT HORSES. Brood mares. — First prize, J, Turner, Northallerton ; se- cond, G. H. Head, Rutterby, Colt foals. — First prize, C. Jackson, Redcar; second, W. Chapman, Yarm, Filly foals. — First prize, N. Stonehouse and Son,Marske-by- the-Sea ; second, W, Kitching, Northallerton. Yearhngs, geldings, or fillies. — First prize, J." Nightingale, Guisbro' ; second, N. Stonehouse and Son. Two-year-old geldings, or iillies. — First and second prizes, N. Stonehouse and Son. Tluee-year-old geldings or fiUies.— First prize, G. Liddell, Ferry-hill ; second, G. H. Head. Pairs for agricultural purposes, mares or geldings under eiglit years, the property of a tenant farmer. — First prize, W. T. Horton, Yarm; second, C. Dobson, Middlesbro.' Pairs of young draught horses, mares, or geldings, either two or three years old, the property of one or two persons resident within the district, — Prize, N, Stonehouse and Son. PONIES. Mares or geldings under eight years of age, from 13 to 14 hands 2 inches high. — First prize, W, Coates, Yarm ; second, A. H. Turner, Kirkleatham Hall. Mares or geldings under eight years of age, not to exceed 1 3 hands high. — First prize, H. Smith, South Stockton ; second, B. Ringrose, Oswaldkirk, HUNTERS. Brood mares.— First prize, J, T. Robinson, Asenby ; second, G, Laidler, Yarm. Colts foals,— First prize, R. Atkinson, Yafforth j sfecond, G. Laidler. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 315 Filly foals. — ^First prize, R. Enimerson, Darliugton ; secoud, R. Thompson, Kirklevingtou. Yearling gclilings. — First prize, S. Atkinson, Darlington ; second, R. F. Treuholm, Ferryhill. Yearling fillies. — First prize, J. W. Annett, Tagstou ; second, J. Hughill, Normanby. Two years old geldings. — First prize, R. Brunton, Marton; second, R. Jackson, Normanby. Two years old fillies. — First prize, J. Kirby, Knayton ; second, R. Jackson. Three years old geldings. — First prize, J. B. Booth, Cat- tcrick ; second, J. W. Annett. Tliree years old fillies.— First prize, J. Bulman, Gainford; second, R. Fmmerson. Extra Stock.—Horses. Tlie following received medids : T. H. Dobson, Linthorpe ; G. Watson, Middlesbrough j Master F. L. Dodds, Stockton- on-Tees. * Specim, Prizes. Five years old and upwards hunting geldings, by a thorough- bred horse. — First prize, J. B. Booth, Catterick ; second. G. W. Appleyard, Easingwold. Five years old and upwards hunting mares, by a thorough- bred horse.— First prize, J. S. Darrell, Sherbouvn Station ; second. Lady De L'Isle and Dudley, Northallerton. Four years old hunting geldings, by a thorough-bred horse. —First prize, J. Robson, Old Malton ; second, T. Heath, Ripon. Four years old hunting mares, by a thorough-bred horse.— First prize, G. Holmes, Beverley ; second, J. W. Annett, Morpeth. For the best hunting gelding or mare, of any age (by a thorough-bred horse), which shall have been hunted during the last season with the Cleveland or Uur worth hounds; the exhibitor to be a tenant farmer and a member of the Cleveland Hunt Club. — Cup and £5, G. Robinson, Middlesbrough. Roadster gelding or mare, not more than 15 hands 3 inches high, and not less than four but under eight years of age, qualified to carry 13 stones weight on the roads. — First prize, J. Robson ; second, H. R. W. Hart, York. Ladies' hackneys, geldings, or mares, not to exceed 15 hands 2 inches high, and not less than four hut under eight years of age. — First prize, E. Pease, DarHngton; secoud, Hon. Miss Sidney, Northallerton. Leaping prize, for horses of any age, sex, or breed. — First prize, J. Casson, Carlisle j second, W. and B. Muzeem, Slingsby. THE AGRICULTURE OF IRELAND. At the dinner of the Royal Agricultural Society of Ireland, at Tralee, Earl Spencer, the Lord Lieutenant, said : During ray visit to the show I was enabled to learn the opinions of those better able than myself to form an opinion, and their opinion was that the show was very excellent in quality. The quantity was, perhaps, not very great in the difterent classes, but the quality of the animals exhibited was good. I do not thiuk, perhaps, I ever saw a finer specimen of a Shorthorn bull than the animal called " Sovereign," the property of Mr. Challouer. There were many excellent specimens of quality and shape, and no one who saw them could fail to admire the symmetry and beauty of some of those animals. The sheep show was good, and 1 can speak myself in reference to the pigs, inasmuch as I was an exhibitor in that particular department. With the view of testing the excellence of the breed of pigs in Ireland, I thought I could not do better, when I formed the in- tention of being an exhibil:orhere,than to go to the Royal Agri- cultural Society in England and endeavour to get as good a specimen as England could produce. I brought two exceUeut animals over, one of which, a sow, had an increase in her family. They had obtained a second prize in England, where- as they were only highly commended here. Such was the de- cision of the judges to whose opinion I most freely bow. I shall be most happy if the animals I brought over will be of any use in improving the breed in this country. Passing from this I woulel say there was another important part of the show which was well represented. I allude to the machinery, I saw some improved specimens of machinery, ploughs, thrashing machines, and other implements well ealcnlated to assist in agricultural labour. I feel impiessed with the idea that re- ference to improvement in such articles is a very important part of the work wliich the Royal Agricultural Society per- forms, introducing in every part of the country the most re- cent improvements in agricidtural machinery. I may here ob- serve that when going round the show-yard I saw one machine whicli I thought rather calculated to cast a reflection on good agriculture. It is a machine which I hope is not much re- quired in this country ; but I must confess that on my journey from KiUamey to Tralee I saw a good many fields where that machine should certainly be in operation. I allude to a ma- chine for cutting down thistles. I sincerely trust the energy of the Irish farmer wiU soon render the sale of that instrument almost impossible in Ireland ; that they will eradicate that noxious weed, the seed of wliich frequently blows upon neigh- bouring farms. Now, gentlemen, I should wish to refer to some more general matters, and glance at the general condition of the country. In doing so I would refer to two points which are indicative of that condition, namely, the class of houses in which the agricultural portion of the population live, and the amoVint of their savings. I believe that there is a considera- ble increase in the better class of houses. During the terrible ordeal through which the covintry passed at the time of the famine, and the large exodus of the population which then took place, it was a remarkable fact that there was no diminu- tion in the better class of habitations, but rather an increase. I sincerely hope that the diminution in the class of mud cabins referred to in the reports [of the Census Commissioners will continue, and that they will ultimately disappear. The reports of the Commissioners of Public Works give some small indica- tion of the change which is going on in that respect. In 185D, an Act was passed to enable proprietors and farmers to borrow money from the Board of Public Works for biiilding cottages. In 1866 it was amended when a short Act was passed which enabled the Commissioners to lend money, not only for the building of cottages, but for alterations and improvements. The amount so advanced was not very large, hut it had been increasing. Since the passing of the Act, there had been ex- pended for cottages over £50,000. I confess I should like to see that greatly increased, for nothing is so important for the country. When referring to these improvements, it is satis- factory to find that there has been an increase in loans for general improvements. In 1866 it was little over £26,290 whereas in 1867 [it amounted to £39,185 ; and in 1868 to £64,973. The increase for the present year is considerable, and it is likely to amount to upwards of £80,000, making a total already borrowed for the improvement of agriculture in this country of over £3,000,000. That is due partly to the idea which Parliament rightly entertains — that they may lend money to advance so useful a purpose on good security. It is also indicative of a considerable amount of piiblic spirit on the part of the proprietor in this country. I see in this coun- try au active proprietor who has his name down for a loan of over £8,000, and in the county of Longford a proprietor is going in for a loan of £15,000 for the improvement of his estate, whereas in the North of Ireland two proprietors have applied for a sum of £10,000 with the same object, I think that is a very satisfactory sign. With regard to improvements in the general condition of the country I would touch on an- other point, namely, the amount of savings in the bank, I am happy to find that the amount of deposits has largely increased this year, and close on twenty millions have been deposited in the joint stock banks in the country, and this year a considera- ble increase is likely to be made. Such deposits largely re- present the savings of the agricultvrral classes in the commu- nity. I would now refer to one or two more distinct agricul- tural statistics which I have been enabled to procure, owing to tlie excellent arrangements which are made in Ireland in re- spect of agricultural returns. With regard to live stock I see 31G THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. tiiat tliis year there is a considerable increase, with one ex- ception, lor I fliul there is .1 consiilerable diminution in the number of sheep, over 25,000 as compared with last year. 1 think that is not indicative of any great decrease in the wealth of the country as regards slicep, i'or last year there was an increase of over a million and a- half. But that increase was preparing for a larger export. We find this year that from the port of Dublin alone there was an increased export of nearly 81,000 sheep. I think, Ihercfore, wc may consider that tlie wealth of the country in sheep this year has not very mucli diminished. The increase of sheep in the country is a very significant fact — for, since IStl, the first year of the Royal Agricultural Society, the number of sheep in the country would seera to have doubled, lu ISil there were ^,106,lS'j'and in the present year, 1869, there are 4',Gt8,158. AVith regard to cattle I do not think there is anything which calls for particular remark. The number of cattle remains the same. There has been a sliglit increase as well as a sliglit diminution in the exports. While on this subject I cannot lielp alluding to an important measure which has passed into law in England and Scotland. I allude to the bill respecting contagious diseases. On a former occa- sion I spoke at some length on this subject, but the importance of it is so great that I cannot help again alluding to it. That Bill simplifies the various Acts on the subject, and introduces special laws with regard to pleuro-pneumonia. This is a very important matter, and well worthy of your attention. You will consider whether some similar provision should not be applied to cattle in tliis country. Nothing could be more im- portant than legislation with the view to the prevention of such diseases, and if the farmers of England and Scotland forced the Government to introduce a measure of this sort, it must be the interest of farmers in Ireland to do likewise, for in Ireland, where there are so many small farmers, the loss which would arise from contagious diseases would be almost ruinous. The tenant fanners in Ireland had not the same means of separating their cattle as the large farmers in Eng- land and Scotland liave. 1 earnestly hope that on the intro- duction of such a measure next year that it will receive the support of the IrisJx farmers. Willi regard to pigs, it is satis- factory to find there is a very considerable increase in Ireland. That is a sign of the growing prosperity of the labouring classes. A pig very early comes to maturity. He is easily kept, and is the best kind of stock for a poor man. It is, there- fore, satisfactory to find that tlicre is an increase in pigs of 310,315, and, if the increase goes on, we shall very soon arrive at the highest figure which the stock of pigs ever attained in this country. I will now |)ass from tliese figures to other statistics which are also furnished by the Registrar-General. I allude to statistics which refer more particularly to arable land. It is Bometimcs thought tliat tliose who liold prize cattle are in favour of increasing the grass in this country and diminishing tlie arable. I for one consider it important that cattle should be increased in this country ; but I do not believe it need be done at the sacrifice of the tillage land. In this country, which is dependent on agriculture, it is of great importance that the amount of tillage land should be kept up to the highest point which is useful for agricultural progress. T have noticed in England that you will seldom lind 300 or 300 acres of tlic best grazing land without finding against that some land equally inferior in quality Mhich is far more profit- able to the farmer. I know it is the case in Warwicksliire and Leicestershire and the modern improvements in farming have converted estates which were entirely grazing into mixed arable and grazing land. Now, I believe that is the case in Ireland as well as in England : and anyone who travels about the country will see a large quantity of grass laud which could with great advantage to the country be turned into tillage ■and. To prove what I say, I would allude to remarks made not long ago by a gentleman well known to you — I allude to Mr. Monsell, M.P. for Limerick. In a statement which he made before the Statistical Society in Dublin he compared the agriculture of Scotland and Ireland in this respect, and the results are very remarkable. He showed that in eleven years, between 1857 and 1868, that in Scotland, though wheat diminished by 118,557 acres, barley, oats, potatoes, and turnips increased by 163,610 acres ; at the same time stock increased by 1,4415,393 head. In tlie same eleven years wlieat and other crops decreased 700,000 acres, or, deducting flax increase, 579,746, it leaves an increase in live stock of 1,040,749. But, at the same time, the increase of slock does not bear anything like the saute proportion as the increase of stock in Scotland. That proves what I say. It is not necessary to have a decrease of tillage. If you can increase green crops and artificial grasses you will find immense benefit from it. If I am right the returns this year are, on the whole, quite in the right direction. There is an increase in flax and other arable crops — an increase of 5,000 acres. With regard to wheat, it is re- markable what free trade has done in Ireland. There is no doubt wheat is better grown in other countries. In 1847 there were 743,871 acres under wheat, and in 1869 there were 381,117, showing a considerable loss. It does not follow that it is necessary all arable crops should increase ; but in Scot- land, notwithstanding tlic decrease in wlieat, there is a large increase in other crops. In this country tliere is a considerable increase in barley, which is a crop well suited to this country ; and there is a small decrease witli regard to oats. There is one point whicli, I think, every stranger is struck with, and that is the peculiar character of the fences in Ireland. Such large fences were hardly necessary for agriculture. Every person who had the pleasure of hunting near Dublin looked with horror at the gigantic fences. There is a wide dyke, separating the field from the bank, which is wide enough to engulf both man and horse. There are gentlemen liere wlio tremble in the saddle when approaching some of the large fences, covered by men who are ready to drag out the unfortunate man who falls on the other side, and they go by the name of wreckers. As a farmer I cannot see the necessity for such large fences or why so much land should be taken up with them. 1 made some inquiry from Mr. Baldwin respecting the excellent insti- tution knowa as tbe Model Earm near Glasnevin, which I frequently visit. 1 was told the amount of land which a fence occupies on that farm, which is 108 acres in extent. The Education Commissioners levelled 13 acres of fences, and it was found that two acres of fences would be necessary to divide the fields, and they tlius gained six per cent, of land on their small area. On a neighbouring farm, 381 acres in extent, 7 acres of it was occupied by fences and 8 per cent, instead of 3 lost to farming. It would be a great advantage in Ireland to diminish those large fences. I have now travelled over the different points to which I wished to refer. I liave shown the Agricultural Society has had a large share in improvements in the country, but I have also shown there is still great room for the operation of its skill and energy. My lords and gentlemen, I have carefully followed the rule which is invariably followed at those meetings, not to allude to any subject of political moment. But I cannot htlp feeling when talking of improve- ments in agriculture in this country there comes up to the mind of everybody present a subject now occupying the at- tention of politicians. I shall not enter on that subject. I feel now the importance of encouraging confidence between laud- lord and tenant. I will not enter into that diilicult subject now, but I think I may be allowed to implore aU those who have influence in the country to come forward to meet this difficult subject with fairness, impartiality, and justice. There will be much discussion on what should be done for the settlement of this question, which has been so long agitated in this country. I would again imjilore all who have an interest in it to approach it with impartiality and fairness, and above aU means to discuss only what is really practicable. If that is done I look forward to see this difficult question satisfactorily settled. HOW THEY GROAV POTATOES IN AMERICA.— Wc take the following from a letter addressed to Judge McRca, of the parish of East Ecliciana, Louisiana, U.S., now travelling in this country : " I have just had a small piece of my grouml measured, and the yield per acre was 880 bushels of potatoes. IMy ro\ys were two feet apart, and the jiotatoes planted in tlve drill nine inches apart. Every twenty-four feet iu length would yield one bushel, or sixty pounds of potatoes. I worked these potatoes only once !" The writer says further on, that were he at Killarney with the judge, he would " no doubt pick up many valuable liints, but I can beat all Ireland at raising Irish potatoes I" THE FARMERS MAGAZINE. 317 F O O T-A N D-U O U T H D I S E A S E INC A T T li E . Tlie Bi-i!j'orii Times snys : " We are sorry to li(';ir that tliis disease lias made its appearance on land of Mr. Ginger, of Slapton, and several other farms in Bucks, hut, hy energetic attention, it is heing eradicated. The few hcasts which have hecn attacked are kept isolated. Mr. Ginger was one of the greatest sufferers in Bucks from the rinderpest in IStitj and 1S67." At the meeting of the North Clicsliire Chamber of Agricul- ture, IMr. Legh, M.P., of Lyrae-liall, tlui chairman of the Association, reported that a serious outbreak of the foot-and- mouth disease had occurred iu his herd. No fewer than Dti of his cattle were at present stricken down with the com- plaint. The Biiiukc Courier says that "murrain, known as the Ibot-and-mouth disease, has broken out among cattle in Perth- shire within the last few weeks, and is spreading rapidly in several districts. The malady, where prevalent, has attacked not only milch cows, but all other descriptions of cattle ; and, in some instances, fiirmcrs have lost from two to five cattle each by the distemper. This disease has also broken out in Aberdeenshire, Ayrsliirc, and rifeshire, and we are sorry to hear that it has made its appearance iu the Mesteru portion of Morayshire." The disease has extended beyond the bounds of Glasgow, cases having been reported on several farmsteads around the city. According to the new regula- tions iu force, no cattle are allowed to leave the cattle-market alive e.Kcept to proceed to a slaughter-liouse within the city. A North Hants farmer says : " The foot-and-nionth dis- ease seems spreading in nearly every district, while, in the neighbourhood of Aldershot, it is very bad ; so also i^ pleuro- pneumonia. I have seen remedies advised in the papers, but the best 1 have ever found is common salt, applied to the month and feet ; an aperient dring given, followed by a tonic." At a meeting of the Scatborougli Branch Chamber of Ag- riculture, lately held in the Savings' Bank, Scarborough, the secretary said, " he deeply regretted to find that, although the Cattle Diseases Preventiou Act had become law, there was at the present time a great prevalence of the foot-and-mouth disease. A number of beasts, lately bought at York market, all went down in the disease before tlieir arrival at Leeds ; and every beast belonging to a gentleman at Jlalton had had it, the infection being most rapidly taken from a few animals pass- ing through their immediate neighbourhood. He believed that this disease lowered the value of the beast fuUy one- fourth ; so that, where it ran through a herd, the loss to the farmer was no less than 25 per cent., a really serious conside- ration." The Liinrcl says ; " A great outbreak of eczema epizootica — of the so-called foot-and-mouth disease — among horned cattle in Brixton, Claphara, Camberwell, and other parts of Surrey, will, unfortunately, all too soon, test the working merits of the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, passed sliortly before the Prorogation of Parliament. The epizootic, it is reported, has broken out with peculiar severity among the dairies of South London, and is extending with great ra- pidity. The disease is more disastrous to the condition of the animals affected than to their life. The milk is early lost, the ilesh wastes very quickly, and it is often long before the health of the affected animal can be reinstated. Eczema epi- zootica is highly contagious, spreadmg by means of the dis- charges given off by the eruption about the mouth and hoofs. It is by measures based upon this view of its mode of diflfu- sion tiiat the disease alone admits of effective control. A question of much interest to the profession, in connexion with the prevalence of the epizootic, is the probability that the milk from cows affected with the disease may communicate an eczematous, or apthous malady to man, particularly to chil- dren. We would direct the attentions of practitioners in the districts infected by the epizootic to this subject. It is impor- tant to ascertain to what extent apthous maladies may be pre- valent among the young of the infected localities, and what probability there may be that, if prevalent, this prevalence is caused by the consum(ition of the milk of cows allccdd with the foot-and-mouth disease, More iiumeious and precise ob- servations are wanted to elucidate this question." The following letter, from the Member for Bedford, has ap- peared iu tlie Timrs : " Sir, — I have seen notices in your co- lumns of the outbreak and spread of the foot-and-mouth dis- ease in Eughind. During the present week I have been upon a visit to a friend in Austria, who has large herds of cattle. Last month, foot-and-mouth disease, which had been preva- lent in the neighbourhood, made its appearance at one of his dairies. Having in early life acquired some knowledge of the veterinary art, he resolved upon a course of treatment which he had found years ago to succeed with his Hungarian cattle. His method has been so successful that, in the interests ol the cattle-owners of England, I hasten to send you an account of the simple and inexpensive means he adopted. ' Take honey 1 lb., muriatic acid I4- oz., inl.t them well with a wooden spoon iu an earthenware vessel ; apply with a wooden spa- tula about a dessert spoonful to the tongue, leaving the animal to distribute it "over the inside of its mouth by the champing motion which is sure to follow its application. Take aloes \ oz., rectified spirit \ pint, alum | oz., dissolve them in one pint of water; mix, and apply a little twice a day between the claws.' In addition to the above treatment, rye-meal, ground very fine, was placed in the manger, a little being dusted on the noses of the animals, in order to induce them to eat ; the meal being almost impalpable, they could lick a little without increasing irritation. On the 26th of July, in a shed containing 51 cows and 3 bulls, the disease broke out, one cow only being attacked. She was removed to a distant shed the same day and kept isolated. On the 29th of July, four other cows which had stood next in order to the former were down, and others continued to fall rapidly day by day. By the 5th of August, the disease had reached its Inghest point, I'S cows and 2 bulls having been attacked. By the 13th, the whole herd had sufficiently recovered to be able to eat well. Yesterday, when I inspected them, every ani- mal seemed sound and'liealthy. Altliough the disease was of a virulent form, the daily supply of milk when the complaint was at its worst fell off only one-third ; this week the supply shows a deficiency of only one-eighth of the quantity ob- tained before the outbreak. I had an opportunity of examin- ing the accounts of the dairy, which are so minute and so methodical that they would surprise many an English farmer. The owner, Mr. Sinallbones, who had for many years the management of the vast estates of Prince Esterhazy, is a gen- tleman well-known to the leading agriculturists of England. Mr. Smallbones gave very valuable advice to the members of the London Farmers' Club upon the breaking out of rinder- pest. I mention these facts, as 1 know tliat any recommen- dation of his will, with all who know him, have considerable weight. As I am preparing some account of Continental agriculture, and collecting facts as to the condition of the peasantry, I have, during the present month, visited a consi- derable number of the large and small farms of Belgium, Ger- many, and Austria. Wherever I have been, I have found this foot-and-mouth disease either raging or having but recently disappeared. On one farm alone, in Belgium, between 100 and 200 head of cattle, being fed for the English market, were down with a very virulent form of the complaint. Pleuro-pnenmonia also, which in my own county (Bedford) has entailed tenfold the loss that cattle-plague did, is very pre- valent on the Continent. It has proved such a scourge in Belgium that intelligent farmers in that country informed me that with every cow and bullock they buy, they now adopt tlie practice of inoculation, the matter being obtained from a dis- eased lung and inserted in the tail of the animal. The Bel- gian farmers state that cattle diseases are brought to them from Germany. German and Austrian farmers say they are brought to them from further east. These statements tally with the opinions expressed by Professor Simonds, after his tour upon the Continent some years ago. I am, Sir, &c., James Howard.— Venice, Aug. 21. 318 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. FARMYARD MANURE. At the quarterly meeting of the Logic aad Lecropt Farmers' Club- Mr. John Peat said : Of the many different kinds of manure applied to. the soil for growing crops — whether home, foreign, or artificial — farmyard manure is the most efficient. It seems to stand in a similar position witli the vegetable kingdom as milk is to animal life ; it not only supplies what is needful for the growth of the various crops, it likewise enriches and thickens the soil for the claims of succeeding ones ; it mechani- cally acts on stiff clay land, by keeping it open and porous for the action of tlic weatlier, and altogetlier (after draining) it appears to be tlie most reasonable source we have to look to for permanent success in raising crops, if success may come at all. Artificial manures, in favourable seasons, increase tlie growth wonderfully, and 1 do not see how we could get well on witliout using them extensively, both alone and along with farmyard dung ; but their efforts in our favour are only for a season, and, having a tendency to exert the land for the time being beyond its natural strength, after the effects of it are over, the laud is left in a poorer state than previous to using it. Nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia prove especially inju- rious to the following crop. Lime has long been, and to some extent continues to be, favourably estimated as a manure. I think it has many virtues, but I have never found it to have enriching qualities of much value. Some of the advantages of liming are — it brings into action for the nourishment of ulants vegetable matter already existing in the soil in a dor- mant state ; it loosens the clay soils, and enables us with an indifferent seed time to get a mould for tlie seed which other- wise could not be got ; and it saves a good deal of the cost of labour in preparing that sort of land in all kinds of seasons. Repeated limings, however, like repeated applications of arti- ficial manure, have a'tendency to exhaust the soil, and neces- sitate heavier manuring with farmyard dung, in order to keep it in that most desirable condition — good heart. Farmyard dung is made up principally of animal manure and straw ; the stable, feeding byre, and cattle court contribute the bulk of the heaps — the two former being the most valuable, while that made by wintering and young cattle is of less value. It is evident its value very much depends on the kind of food the stock receives ; we should therefore pay a good deal of atten- tion to the quality of the food, and instead of having the ma- nures worth 5s. or 6s. a ton, endeavour to increase its worth to 10s. or 12s. a ton. Our green crops are vastly increased when the land is manured with that made by feeding cattle. It is generally allowed that from two to three bolls of beans an acre more are grown with the same quantity of this kind of manure than from that made by wintering cattle, prepared and put on the land in the same state, besides the after crops being materially better. I think oilcakes, along with turnips and a mixture of other feeding substances, answer the double purpose best for producing beef and enriching the manure. By giving 3 ll)s. of cake daily to store cattle it helps tlie manure con- siderably. A great deal of waste and neglSct goes on with the way the manure heap is attended to. Our farm steadings are in general not well adapted for having it properly kept. The most of our cattle courts are by far too much exposed to pro- vide against this waste. Covered courts are necessary to keep out rain and drought. The warm manure from the stable should be regularly mixed with the colder and less fermenting kinds, which improves the whole, and makes it uniform in quality. The drains from the different hyres should, if pos- sible, run into the courts, and their contents thrown over the dung. This enriches the heap very much, and is the cheapest and most effective method of applying the liquid to the soil. Ashes and scrapings collected about the steading ought not to be put among the other dung, but by themselves, and put on extra to the other dung on bare parts of the fields. Notwithstanding that chemists tell us decay and loss almost immediately begin and go on in the heap, I find it better to suffer this, and apply it in a rotten state to the crops, especially to those kinds that are rapid in their growth and come early to maturity. Turnips and potatoes grow a better crop with short than with long dung. A braird of the former is sometimes got by using well-rotted dung, where it fails with that unfermented and recently made. Most kinds of crops thrive best when the land is dunged just before sowing. Beans are perhaps an exception. I think that though the land is dunged in November or December previous, and allowed to lie in that seemingly-careless state — spread on the surface, and ex- posed to all sorts of weather till ploughed in spring at sowing time — the crop turns out as good as the more-recently ma- nured portions. With turnips and other green crops it turns out quite different. It certainly saves labour at a very busy season, by dunging in autumn and winter ; but they never do so well as putting it in the drill before sowing, and allowing exposure in the heap and drill as short a time as possible. Mr. James M'Laren, Spittal : The paper now read leaves little to be said upon the subject, in the everyday or ordinary way that the farmers are accustomed to look at it. I, as well as most of my brother farmers, are quite unqualified to follow up the subject chemically. This, no doubt, is much to be re- gretted, as I am fuUy satisfied every one of us ought to analyse the manure heap by some plain and simple process, through which we should be able to discover the most profitable time for its application to the soil for the different crops. As has been justly remarked, the material that goes to a great extent to make up the manure heap is of little value as manure untQ it has undergone a certain amount of fermentation, and it is of still less value after it has been too sorely fermented, and when decomposition has done its part thoroughly the whole thing may be said to be lost. These are facts admitted by most practical farmers, so there can be no doubt upon the mind that it IS a matter of no small importance to ascertain the proper time to apply the means for keeping the manure-heap in that state of fermentation desired, until such time as the land may be prepared to receive it, or the weather suitable for carting it on. This may be accomplished to a considerable ex- tent by turning, and a judicious application of liquid; as to prevent over-fermentation tramping should be resorted to, and a liberal application of liquid. A good deal has been said upon the appUcation of liquid manure to fields and meadows. I at one time had an opportunity, under favourable circum- stances, of testing whether liquid manure of good quality would pay the expense of pumping and carting ; but I, like most otliers, after three years' trial, gave it up as an unprofitable speculation. Where liquid can be made available over mea- dows by natural gravitation, there can be no doubt of its utility ; hut where this cannot be done, I have found it profit- able to retain the liquid and return it back over the manure- heap frequently ; or allow the liquid to pass slowly over a tank or large ditch, occasionally coated over thinly with any waste substances, such as dried wreck or weeds, potato tops, or peat- moss, &c., &c. I have for years collected several hundred tons of good turnip manure from the last-mentioned plan. Mr. James Finlayson, I'endreich, said : The enlargement of the manure-heap on the farm is most important, and what- ever can be got off weeds gathered off the land, sawdust, or the like, should be collected and spread amongst it ; for, though these may be almost valueless apart and in themselves, all of them, and many things else beside, become valuable manures when mixed together and decomposed. It would be an im- mense saving, on dryfield farms especially, if the strawyards were roofed in, as where there are such dependence generally placed on the breeding and rearing of stock, all the straw re- quires to be used for fodder ; but, as matters stand, a little of the above-mentioned ingredients, or such like, spread under the cattle occasionally, will help to keep them dry, and aug- ment themanure-heap. I believe that sawdust is very much under han as a manure, but having used it so long as bedding for my feeding-cattle and milch-cow sheds, I find that it ab- sorbs a great deal of the surplus liquid in the byres, and be- comes, when mixed in the dunghill and decomposed, an excel- lent fertiliser, for potato, turnip, and cereal crops, and althougli I have not experienced it, I believe it will be more so for clay land. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 319 Mr. Charles Winsate, Corntown, said : It appears that lime and auimal aud vegetable substances have beeu applied to land for many ages, without any deliuite knowledge higher than the experience of repeated application producing similar results ; but chemistry has to some extent dispelled our igno- rance, by disclosing the component parts of animal, vegetable, and mineral substances. We are told that vegetables have carbonic acid, water, and ammonia as their chief aliment, in combination with certain mineral substances, as these are found in plants — namely, lime, potash, soda, magnesia, silica, sul- phates, and phosphates ; aud as these are taken from the soil, the quantity reciuisite for the growth and health of plants be- comes exhausted, or so much reduced, tiiat means are resorted to to supply the waste, and bring the various substances imme- diately essential within the reach of the roots of the grain and grass plants destined to provide food for man and beast ; that carbonic acid and ammonia, through the agency of the sun, are decomposed and assimilated by plants ; that potash is essential for cultivated plants, aud is supplied to a large extent from decayed clover and turnips ; that soda, which is usually in union with potash, is found in the dung-heap ; that sulphur is found in all plants, aud phosphoric acid is essential to their liealthy growth ; hence the increased and increasing demand for vari- ous sulphates and phosphates now so famUiar in commerce. The sulphates of magnesia and lime are useful in the produc- tion of turnips and potatoes, aud lime is held as the only reli- able substance for the cure of " fmger-and-toe" in turnips ; that nitrates and salts of ammonia also increase the growth of cultivated plants when accompanied with the suitable mineral substances already alluded to. Lime decomposes all vegetable matter in the soil, and corrects acidity in the organic matter : that it assists in the decomposition of certain salts whose bases form the food of plants ; in fact, it is an excellent solvent when applied in proper quantity and at the proper time. In regard to farmyard manure : this seons from every account to be the most important of manures to the farmer, as it contains all the elements upon which plants live. The richer the food is of the stock kept, the richer will tlic manure be. The loss sus- tained by the soil owing to the withdrawal to market of grain, hay, and dairy produce can only be supplied timeously by arti- ficial manures, which are happily so well understood. Farm- yard manure is required for the nourishment of potatoes and also of beans, and it is of the utmost importance iu the produc- tion of clovers and grasses. The question, however, before us is, what is the best mode of preparing this manure ? It may l)c difficult to decide it, as seasons and places may be so unlike each other. However, there is one mode which is recom- mended ; it is, that the liquids should be allowed to flow from the stables or byres into tanks or pits placed three or four feet ))elow the level of the ground, the solids being placed on the top, so as to admit of their absorbing the gases as they escape from the liquid. ON THE CULTITATION OF TRUFFLES. This plant is extensively cultivated in France and Italy, but has never attracted the attention of the agriculturist of England ; although the demand for it would, in all proba- bility, be large if the supply were more regular and indigenous. It wiU give an idea of the importance it has attained in parts of I'rance if we state that in the Departement of Vancluse alone the cultivators derive from it a revenue equal to £80,000 sterling a year ; and a book has been recently published in Prance by M. H. Bonnet, Vice-President of the Council of Apt in Provence, giving full directions for its artificial cultivation. We propose giving in this paper a short account of the plant itself, and of the methods employed in France for its pro- duction. The common truffle (the T. Cibariuiii of botany) is found in every country in Europe, in Japan, and in the East Indies. It is, we believe, indigenous in England, being found in the Downs of Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, Norfolk, and some of the southern counties. In Northamptonshire it was some years since discovered amongst the roots of some trees that had been brought thither from Languedoc, from whence it is supposed to have been originally imported into this country by that means. Such might have been the case in this one instance, but it will not account for its existence in so many widely- separated parts of England as the above list denotes. It flourishes best in a sandy soil or a sandy loam, on the sides of liills, and in plantations of oak, elm, lime, and other trees. It is wholly a subterraneous plant, without stem or foliage, or any other appearance above ground. It ripens in August, after which tlie sooner it is taken up the better, for it deterio- rates if left in the soil until the spring, when it decays and bursts, hberatiug the sporules of seeds (being a cryptogamic plant) for the reproduction of new plants. It is found at from six inches to a foot under the surface, and is generally dis- covered by dogs which are trained for the purpose, being guided by the scent the same as the pointer in the pursuit of game. We remember, many years ago, a man who wholly employed himself in hunting for truffles in Norfolk, in the woods and plantations. But the tenacity and jealousy gene- rated by the game question has long ago put a stop to the employment. It has recently been discovered that the Eng- lish species are more numerous than was formerly supposed, having lately been found in localities in the south of England where its existence was not known. The stirring of the soU in raising the ripe trulfle appears to increase its productiveness. Those taken up in autumn are of a variegated colour in the inside, and are called " marbled truflBes." The outer skin is blackish, and covered with warts, The whole substance is pervaded by a network of serpentine veins, which are the hymenium (or gills), and bear the sporule cases in minute cavities. A very severe winter will destroy the truflle, but it will survive an ordinary frost. The raising of the bulbs ought not to be delayed beyond March, but from August to Novem- ber is the best season, as they lose their fine flavour by a longer delay. We now tnrn to the work of M. Bonnet : "Truflles are, like champignons, hypogeous, gregarious, not parasites ; and from their iudeliiscent receptacle, belong to the tuberaceous family. Their meat, covered with a rind, is composed of three tissues : the first, dense, humid, transparent and coloured, gives birth to the sporules or reproductive bodies ; the second, white aud opaque, contains the sinus or ducts which convey air to the centre of the fungous mass ; the third, very dense, highly-coloured, deprived of air aud trans- parency, follows in their laminai the circumlocutions of the fructifying pulp, and may be considered as an intrusion of the cortex into the interior of the parenchyma. " The reproduction of the truffles is efl'ected by the germina- tion of the sporules, which are thrown out from the tissue that contains them ; and being lodged in some suitable soil, they develope themselves and constitute true seeds, which sprout and produce the mycelium, a clusterofcellidar filaments, which increase by inosculating themselves, and describing a circle, of which the sporule is the centre. The mycelium, which con- stitutes the truflle plant, is subject to the same natural laws as other vegetables ; killed by the rotting of the primitive fila- ments in order that it may return to life, whilst it finds in the soil certain conditions of vegetation suitable to its manner of living, as well as the proper quantity and quality of nourish- ment necessary. "Up to the present time no one has been able to grow truffles to any extent directly from the seeds. They are pro- pagated by indirect culture, by means of plantations of trees, which create a peculiar soil eminently adapted to the germina- tion of spores, which the wind (?) and rain carry into it. M. Talon, landowner of St. Saturnin, by chance became the first to grow truffles artificially. Having sown some acorns for the purpose of getting wood for firing, and riding through his plantation ten years after, he observed a considerable number of truffles. Tills induced him, and after him several other pro- prietors of Apt, to cultivate plantations of truffles, which have been for a long time in full bearing. The nature of the soil, as well as the choice of the species of trees, is a very impor- tant part of the cultivation of truffles. The most suitable are light lands, or flinty clay containing a small proportion of lime aud oxide of iron, rich in humus, and with a permeable subsoil. 320 THE FARMEE'b MAGAZINE, Witli regard to the specie;;, altlioiigli we have known hlacs, junipers, box, cedars, &e., produce trnttte grounds, it is no less true that oaks of any kind are tlie s)iecies most favourable to the production of trulHes, both as regards quantity and quality. " To make a trudle ground, acorus must be sown in strips, alternated and spaced in such a manner as that at the end of the third year the plants may be about three yards apart each way. It is not necessary to dig or dress the land deeply until the truflles are jjvoduccd, which usually happens about the fourth or fifth year ; but it is scarcely ever before the seventh year that their production becomes normal. They then in- crease from seven to fitfeen years, remain stationary from fifteen to twenty, after which they decrease, and at the end of twenty- five or thirty years have to be divided. After being cut, it is six or seven years before a fresh production takes place — that is, before the young sprouts are sufficiently strong. The dry- ness of the soil laid bare, together with the intense solar action, prevents the completion of tlie vital functions of the fungous jiiaut, which remains iu a torpid state, in order that the vege- tation of the shoots may be established under conditions indis- pensable to its proper development. "The leaves, like the roots, of the trees exercise great influ- ence over the growth of truflles. The former tend to preserve humidity, and consequently the action of humid oxygen upon the plant — a condition which is indispensable to its vitality ; the roots, keeping the soil up by their continual increase, fa- vour the absorption of humid oxygen, which cnn only take place through the soil, because cryptogamia, being destitute of green parts, cannot derive o.xygeu from the carbonic acid of the atmosphere. " The presence and decomposition of humus also play an important part in the development of truflles; it is by that means the soil gives to the cryptogamia water, carbonic acid, azotate of ammonia, carburets, &c." The principal species of truffles used in Provence are — the white (luhcr rcslioinn d^nii t iibcr mcscnfcrici'in) ,i\\e. black [fiihcr hnimuJc and lubcr mdonosporum) . Jl. Bonnet denies that each species corresponds with the species of oak producing, which constitutes the theory of oak truffle-grounds. He also refutes the opinion which attributes the production of tiie truffle to a puncture made in the root of the oak by a fly with blue wings. This theory is easily disproved when the constitution and vital action of the truffle, which has its spores, mycelium, paren- chyma, &c.,are considered. The harvesting of truffles in Provence consists iu the em- ployment of sows, who discover them by the scent. Tlie pro- duce audits commercial importance are described by M. Bonnet, who concludes in the language of M. Bedel, Inspector of Forests, at the scientific congress at Aix : " The truffle wifl perhaps do more for the replanting of the mountains of Vau- eluse than the fear of inundations, udministralive rules, or the laws of 1860." THE PRICE OF MERINO WOOL [TRAJVSLATED FllOM THE " l'eCIIO AGUICOLE."] The price of wool has fallen considerably this year, and this fact has occasioned great excitement in agriculture and the agricultural press. It has also engaged our attention. It is especially the fine wools — the merinos — that the prices have gradually given way for some time, and which this year have yielded suddenly to so important a reduction that it is doubt- ful whether merino wool can be grown any longer at a profit. Does this decline in price .take us by surprise ? or was this fact quite unexpected P Let us examine the first question we are called upon to consider. No one is ignorant — the breeders of merionos less than any persons— that for fifteen years the farmers of Australia par- ticularly come into our country and purchase merino ewes and lambs at enormous prices, paying for the latter as much as from five to six thousand francs (from £200 to i;2i0) per head. It is the breeders of the merino race who have profited by these advantageous sales. Germany also has come annually to take the cream of our finest flocks. No breeder has dreamt of complaining of these transactions ; at the same time they ought to suspect that if the foreigners agree to pay our breeders such high prices there is a reason for it, and that reason it was easy to guess — our purchasers of ewes and rams hope, under certain conditions, to produce merino wools at a cheaper rate than ourselves. "Without this they would not have given to our breeders prices that, since Daubenton's time, we should never have dreamed of setting upon them. When we sold at fabulous prices the reproducers— that is to say, the source of the production — of merino wool to the Aus- tralian and German farmers, we might have foreseen that the produce of those animals would one day return upon our markets ; and this, in fact, is what has happened. Ought we to attribute this decline, like some of our honour- able Protectionist deputies sent to the Chamber by Liberal electors, to free trade ? We will remark— first, that the low price of merino wool is ruinous to the breeders — the minority, and advantageous to the Prench consumers— everybody. Is it necessary, by a rigorous system of production, to prevent the introduction into Prance of foreign merino wools, which re- duces that of indigenous merino wool, and thus sacrifice Mon- sieur /o!'/ h mvnde (everybody) to a small number of growers, some of whom have already profited by the high prices ob- tained by the sales of their reproductive animals to the foreigners ? Certainly not ! In a country of universal sufl'rage such a privilege cannot be maintained, and no Government would dare to sanction such an injustice. Free-trade, which has existed for ten years, has never directly been able to produce the low prices that have taken place. That decline in price was foreseen long ago — " much before the Treaty of Com- merce was promulgated," said M. Lambeyat some days since at the meeting at Nancy ; and M. Yvart, the most competent man in matters relating to sheep, thus addressed the breeders, " Transform your races into sheep for the butchers ; become producers of meat, for wools will fall to prices you do not suspect." Twenty years have elapsed since our learned and venerable colleague pronounced these prophetic words. Have the merino breeders profited by them ? The breeders are men, and men rarely listen to the counsels of experience. In the meantime, M. Yvart lias not been the only one to provoke this evolution of the improvement of the merinos, Mhich is calculated to save the breed and the breeders from peril. Our learned and courageous fellow member, M. Sanson, has treated with great judgment in his books and elsewhere the precocious rearing of the merinos. He has forcibly raised them against the tendency which consisted in substi- tuting the precocious English races for the French races, and has demonstrated that it is as easy for the French breeders to render their merinos precocious and apt to produce excellent meat for the butchers, as it had been for the English breeders to attain the same object with their flocks. Upon the whole, the economic conditions of production in general are modified and transformed incessantly, and it is for the producers to follow attentively these diverse evolutions and endeavour to conform their production to tlie require- ments of consumption. This double economic phenomenon is quite natural, and is caused, not by the perishable laws pro- mulgated by the nations, but are the legitimate and irresis- tible development of human activity. Victor Bokie. THE i^ARMEK'S MAGAZINE. 321 AN ACT TO PREVENT THE ADULTERATION OF SEEDS. Whfireas the practice of fiilultcrating seeds, in fraud of Ilcr Majesty's subjects, aud to the great detrimcut of agriculture, requires to be repressed by more effectual laws than those whicii are uow in force for that purpose : Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Ma- jesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual aud Temporal, and Commons, in this ju'esent I'arliament as- sembled, aud by the authority of the same, as follows : 1. This Act may be cited as " The Adulteration of Seeds Act, lS(i9." 2. lu this Act— The term " to kill seeds" means to destroy by artificial means tlie vitality or germinating power of such seeds : The term " to dye seeds" means to give to seeds by any pro- cess of colouring, dyeing, sulphur smokiug, or other arti- ficial means the appearance of seeds of another kind. 3. Every person who, with iuteut to defraud or to enable another person to defraud, does any of the followiug things ; that is to say, (1.) KiUs or causes to be killed any seeds ; or, (2.) Dyes or causes to be dyed any seeds ; or, (3.) Sells or causes to be sold any killed or dyed seeds, shall be punished as follows ; that is to say, (1.) For the first offence he shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding five pounds ; (2.) For the second aud any subsequent offence he sliall be liable to pay a penalty not exceeding fifty pounds : Moreover, in every case of a second or any subsequent offence against this Act, it sliall be lawful for the court, be- sides iuflictiug upon the person guilty of such offeuce the punishment directed by this Act, to order the offender's name, occupation, place of abode, aud place of business, and particu- lars of his puuishment under this Act, to be published, at the expense of such offender, in such nesi'spaper or newspapers, or iu such other manner as the court may tliiuk fit to prescribe. 4. Any forfeiture or penalty under this Act may be recovered, enforced, and applied as follows : In England, before two justices of the peace in manner directed by tlie Act of the session of the eleventh and twelfth years of the reigii of Her present Majesty, chapter forty-three, intituled " Au Act to facilitate the perform- ance of the duties of justices of the peace out of sessions witliiu England aud Wales with respect to summary cou- victions aud orders," and any Act ameudiug the same : Iu Scotland, iu mauner directed by The Snmmary Procedure Act, 18G4, and any Act amending the same, or by any police or other Act for the time being in force in any place, and providing for the recovery of forfeitures and penalties : In Ireland, in manner directed by Tlie Petty Sessions (Ire- land) Act, 1851, and any Act amending the same ; and in Dublin by the Acts regulating the powers of justices of the peace, or of the po'ice of Dublin metropolis. Any jurisdiction by this section autliorised to be exercised by two justices may be exercised by any of the following ma- gistrates within their respective jurisdictions ; tli.at is to say. As to Eugland, by any metropolitan police magistrate sitting alone at a police court or other appointed place, or by tlie Lord Mayor or any alderman of the city of London, sitting alone or with others within the said city : As to Scotland, by the sheriff or sheriff substitute, or by any police magistrate of a burgh : As to Ireland, by any one or more divisional magistrate of police ia the police district of Dublin, and elsewhere by one or more justice or justices of the peace iu petly sessions. The term " court" shall include the justices, magistrate, or other person or persons before whom proceedings may be had for the recovery of any forfeiture or penalty. 5. Iu any proceeding for any offeuce against this Act, it shall be sullicient to allege that the party accused did the act charged with intent to defraud or to enable some other person to defraud, without allcgiug au intent to defraud any particu- lar person or an intent to enable any particular person to de- fraud any particular person ; aud on the trial of any such offeuce it sliall not be necessary to prove an intent to defraud any particular person or an intent to enable any particular person to defraud any particular person, luit it shall be sufli- cient to prove that the party accused did the act charged with an intent to defraud or with intent to enable some other per- son to defraud, or with the lutent that any other person might be enabled to defraud. C. In England where the person who is couvicted under this Act thinks himself aggrieved by the conviction, such per- son may appeal to the uext Court of General or Quarter Ses- sions held not less than twelve days after the day of such con- viction for the county or place where the conviction is had, in manner and upon the conditions in and upon which a person aggrieved by a summary conviction under the Act of the session of the twenty-fourth aud twenty-fifth years of the reign of Her present Majesty, chapter ninety-six, may appeal in pursuance of the one hundred and tenth section of the said Act. In Scotland and Ireland, in like cases as in England, an appeal shall lie in manner in that behalf provided by the law of Scotland and of Ireland respectively. A summary conviction under tliis Act iu England shall not be quashed for want of form or be removed by certiorari ; and a warrant of commitment on any such conviction shall not be held void by reason of any defect therein, if it is therein alleged that the person therein named has been convicted, and there is a good conviction to sustain the same. 7. Every complaint under this Act against any person in respect of selling or causing to be sold auy killed or dyed seeds shall be commenced withiu twenty-one days from the time of the commission of the offence complained of. 8. Whenever any complaint is preferred against any person under this Act, and the court upou the hearing thereof deter- mines that it is not bona fide made upon reasonable and pro- Ijable cause, it shall be lawful for the court in its discretion to direct and order that the prosecutor or other person by whom or at whose instance si.ch complaint has been preferred shall pay unto the accused person the just aud reasonable costs, cliarges, and expenses, to be settled by the court, of such ac- cused person and his witnesses, occasioned by or consequent upon the preferring of such complaint ; and upou nonpayment of such costs, charges, and expenses within fourteen days after the date of such direction aud order, it shall be lawful for the court to enforce payment of the same in the same manner as if such costs were a penalty incurred by the person liable to pay the same. 9. Nothing in this Act contained shall prejudice or afftcf; the power of proceeding by indictment or libel iu respect of auy offence herein provided for, nor shall any proceeding, con- viction, or judgment to be had or taken under the provisions hereof against any person prevent, lessen, or imjieaeh any remedy by civil process at law or iu equity whicli any party aggrieved by any offence against this Act might have had if this Act had not been passed. 10. This Act shall commence and take effect on the first day of May one thousand eight hundred aud seventy. 322 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. SHEEP FARMING IN AUSTRALIA. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SYDNEY MAIL. Sir,— There is nothing so much practised and so little understood as the proper management of sheep. There was a time — and that not a very long time ago — when most men tliouglit that if they hought any sort of slieep, and put them on any sort of country, they would soon make a fortune by sheep farming — even although they had, perhaps, to borrow two-thirds of the money to pay for the sheep and station. There were others that went more knowingly about it, as they thought, who went up to the cool, temperate regions of this colony — to Mudgee, for instance — and bought fine wooUed ewes and finer woolled rams at a very great figure, and thought to make a fortune by them by taking them down to the low- lying, hot myall country in the far interior. I need only say that the disappointment was as great in the last case as in the first. There was only this difference : the parties who bouglit the inferior sort of sheep lost less in the end than the parties who bought the superior sort of sheep, and for this reason — the expense of managing both sorts was the same, and, •itrange to say, the profits of both were the same, although iu the first instance the inferior sheep only cost about 12s. each and the superior animals cost about 30s. or £2 10s. per head. Here is a strange anomaly. In those days the inferior sheep of the myall country were as profitable as tlie most superior woolled sheep of the same parts, because, as I have already stated, the profits of their wool per lb. was the same, and the fat carcase of the inferior animal brought as much as the fat carcase of the superior sheep iu the markets. Indeed, to say the truth, in a competition of this kind the inferior animal beat the superior, because the first weighed raucli heaver than the last, and weight told in those days of 4d. or 5d. per lb. Hence it was that all sheep, good, bad, or iudiff'erent, paid alike then. One sheep farmer was as good as another. Sheep farming required no brains. Get the wool oft' tlie sheep any way, send it to market quickly, the English buyers were dying to secure it at a good figure, let it be half dirt, half wool, or all dirt or all wool, it was all the same, a good market awaited it botli here and in London. Breed from anything, get num- bers, no matter how, but get numbers. Never mind culling, one sheep is as good as another. Fatten the wethers and send them to market quickly — half-fat will do, the butchers are im- patient of the delay ; a pound a head awaits each sheep. This was the mode of sheep farming that prevailed in all the colonies between the years 1851 and 1867 ; but the crash in England in 1860-7, with other causes, altered all that. They have entirely revolutionized squatting in Australia ; another system must now prevail. In the long contest between the inferior sheep and the superior sheep, the superior animal has got the best of it at last. The wool off his back, if properly washed, sorted, and shorn, brings 30d. per lb. iu the London markets over the wool of the inferior sheep, if his wool is iuferiorly got up. Add to this (all other things are equal now) the price of the carcase is the same, and the expense of management is the same in each class. Again, on the other hand, if you take the superior sheep — Mr. N. P. Bayly's, for instance — and run them for a year or so on the myall country, wash them in the creeks or rivers of that country, after the old method, and take the inferior sheep from the same myall country, run them for a year or so on the cool, temperate regions of Australia, wash them as Mr. Bayly washes his sheep at Havilali, and mark the grand result in the English market : the wool oft" the superior sheep iuferiorly got up would bring about lOd. to 13d. per lb., or be passed over to the next sale ; whereas the wool- off tlie inferior animals superiorly got up would be knocked down to the highest bidder, after a severe contest, at about 28d. or 30d. per lb. Yes, believe me, the great secret of success in sheep farming now is in the wasliing, sorting, and shearing — not in any one of these, but in all these three com- bined. I have had Mr. N. P. Bayly's rams offered to me in Queensland at 10s. a head — rams tliat cost nearly as many pounds. This was when store wethers were bringing from 7s. to 8s. each there. How was this P Simply because the pro- geny of these rams had not tlie climate, the washing, sorting, or shearing which made their sires illustrious. Take the finest woolled sheep in the world from a Mgh, cool region to a low, hot one, and the wool of the increase of these sheep will be much coarser and lighter than their parents' wool when iu the temperate clime ; and this is the reason — nature in each case only supplies the animal with the necessary amount of covering to ward off the cold. In cold countries the sheep requires much wool to keep it warm, and nature gives it much wool (which is all the finer if the cold is not too rigid) ; vi^hcreas in hot countries, where the winter is very mild, the animal requires very little wool, and therefore nature gives it very little, and that little is harsh and dry, like the climate in nine months out of the twelve. In the year 1862, 1 bought 1,500 maiden ewes of good breed at 15s. per head from Mr. G. H. Cox, and took them to my station on the Merri Merri— to the flat, low, dry, hot myall country ; and, to keep up the good quality of the ewes, I bought at the same time about 40 of his young rams. What was the result? The progeny, excepting in size, was inferior to the parents. Of course both had the disadvantage of the system of management then iu vogue — they were badly washed, not sorted at all, and badly shorn. And, indeed, under the circumstances, takmg all things into consideration, it could not well be otherwise : the water of myall country is not fit to wash wool, it gives the wool a clammy, gluey feeling to the touch ; it leaves the fine particles of mud that are floating in it iu the wool, giving it a dull, dirty look ; it fails to remove the dirt of myall country out of the wool ; and, finally, makes the fleece lighter without cleaning it. Then tlie pulverised dust of myall country renders it impos- sible to keep wool clean before being shorn. The grass does not lie thickly on the ground there, like in the mountain dis- tricts. A flock of sheep is hid in dust the moment it moves. Therefore, if you could wash sheep clean, you could not shear them clean. Add to these two drawbacks, the old class of shearers were utterly unfit as a whole to shear sheep. They broke the fleece ; they left half the wool on ; they run ; they cut the sheep ; they would not trim properly — in a word, they did as they liked. If you dared to find fault with one of them, the whole lot would knock off shearing, and walk away, leav- ing you with, perhaps, ten or twenty tliousaud sheep unshorn ; and not likely to be for the next three months, as every one else was either shearing or about to begin ; and men were very scarce. This is no fancy picture ; but the sad sober truth, and well I know it. I say this with all seriousness, of all the ruffians I have met in Australia, the old class of shearers were the worst. I have heard it said you must cull your sheep, if you want good profits — they might have added shearers too. There is not a class of old ewes in the colony that requires culling more than the shearing class. There is no use in cul- ling one without the other. What is the use of having plenty of fine wool, if your shearers will not cut it off for you F Even as recently as last shearing a very great squatter in this dis- trict said to a friend of mine ; " I have a bad lot of shearers ; but I dare not say a word to them for fear they leave my shed. I have barely enough water to finish my sheep, so I must put up with them." This man gets first-class prizes iu Mudgee for his sheep ; and aljout the worst price in the London mar- ket for his wool — taking all things into consideration — al- though he deserves the best. I shall now point out how sheep might still be made pro- fitable ; but as tlie same mode of m.anagement is not applica- ble to sheep depastured iu the low-lying myall countries as that required by sheep running in free-stone, cool, high, thickly grassed parts, I shall divide my subject into two parts, viz. : 1st. Management necessary for " Myall country ;" 3nd. Management necessary for " Mountain country." As most of the sheep in Australia are now running (or were running before this terrible drought began) in the myall country, and moreover, as most of the inferior wool that went to England for years past came from there, I shall begin \vith No. 1 (myall country) ; and, I flatter myself, if my plan is adopted, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 323 there will be littJ^ tv no bad wool go to England next year, ■snd the prof.t of such wool will bo enhauced 100 per cent. To tMtiiu. this desirable end the foUowing ten rules must i>G ("tiopted : 1. CiiU all old inferior and light-woolled ewes and wethers, fatten these at once, or sell them at whatever they miglit bring, or cut their throats — get rid of them every year, some way or other. 3. Use fine loug-woolled rams ; and change them every third season. 3. Lamb in the winter ; and give Gd. a head for every lamb over So per cent. 4. Shear in August and in the grease. Have the wool properly sorted, or rather classed, and make the shearers shear as closely as they can. Then send it to the nearest and best wool-wasliiag establishment. The owner, if he can, should attend the washing of liis wool daily, for his presence would tend greatly to the well cleaning and drying of the same. By shearing in August carriage can be easily got, and shearers too ; besides the wool-washing establishments have generally plenty of water then which they are not likely to have late in the summer. And the more water they have the better and sooner the wool will be washed. By following out this plan there is a chance of the clip being at the next May sales in Loudon. 5. Sell in tiie colony, as a rule, if you get a fair offer. 6. Avoid commission agents, and money lenders, as you would the plague ; and buy and sell your own goods. 7. Live on your own stations. 8. Keep nothing but good men — a bad man, like bad sheep, is just as expensive as a good one ; but not half so profitable. All the watching in the world will not make a bad shepherd good ; and a good shepherd requires no watching. Give your men the full wages going in your neigh- bourhood ; and the best rations you can procure. If you take care of your shepherds, they will take care of your sheep ; for if yon do not, your stock will suft'er. Above all things never keep a bad man a moment longer than you can help. 9. Store abundance of water — either by wells or dams, or by both meaus. Travelling is ruin to the squatter himself, and hurtful to his neighbour. 10. Never overstock. One sheep to every four acres of myall ground is all you can safely put on — taking one season with another, good and bad. The only thing I shall add under this head is a hope that the Government will re- adjust the existing oppressive rate of assessment of runs ; or, if they would unite justice with mercy, knock it oft' entirely for the next three years — to enable the unfortunate squatter to re- cover from the losses and miseries of the present disastrous drought. Ilis bitter enemy has had his wish — the squatter is " down ;" and those who raised tlie cry are no better off, but only worse off to-day. Therefore, let the cry now be — Up with the squatter ! Wlien the squatter is down, everything is down ; when he is up, everytliing is up. Therefore, I say, let the cry now be — Up with the squatter ! To make sheep, even inferior sheep, pay in No. 2 (mountain country), nine of the above rules must be adhered to, viz., 1-2 (substituting " spring for winter") 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. To these I would add four more, viz., 1. Wash on the stations. The water is generally clear and soft in all mountain countries. If your creeks or rivers flow from freestone mountains, the water will require no soap, or very little at any rate, as it is soft enough without soap ; the lye off the sheep will supply all that is necessary. Use hot water and a spout ; the more spouts you have the more sheep you can wash in a day. If your creeks or rivers flow from or through limestone, ironstone, trapp, or quartz, the water is hard ; and, therefore, you must use hot water, plenty of soap, and a good spout. If you can- not afford hot water, 'you must have a spout and a good one; and not wash till November, and about 10 a.m., when the water is naturally warm. In any case there is no doing any- thing without a'good spout. After washing, keep your sheep from dusty places, black trees, and logs ; make your shearers shear slowly and closely. Sort your wool as well as you can, putting each sort into separate bales, and mark them accord- ingly. 2. Fence in your runs. Eour-railed split fence is the best, the cheapest is the common chock-and-block fence. Let the paddocks be small — the smaller the better — 1,500 acres is large enough. The waterholes, or dams, must be permanent, and at the rate of one waterhole, or one dam, for every 640 acres so fenced in. By this means the worst hilly country wonld carry at the rate of one sheep to every two acres in th« worst of seasons ; if you cannot afford to fence, run your dry sheep in flocks of only 1,000 each ; your lambing sheep not over 700 in each flock. 3. Poison right and left, exterminate the wil4 dogs. Buy out every ft'ce selector ou your run, wlieii he gets heartily sick of his bargain, which he is sure to be about the end of every three years; if not sooner. I am, sir, your obedient servant, Capertee, March 15M. G. R. Maclean CARRYING AND COOLING MILK. — Now that cheese factories have been established in many sections of the country, and are likely to prove of such great advantage to the farmer, iu enabling him to dispose of the pro- duct of his cows during the summer season, without tiic trouble of making his own butter and cheese, which would be so great an addition to the labour of the women folks as to deter him from keeping as many cows as his farm could pro- fitably sustain, it becomes a matter of importance to ascertain the best methods of carrying the milk to the dairy in such a way as to keep it perfectly sweet aud clean, and yet in vessels that can be easily handled. The best size for the purpose would probably be cans holding ten gallons each, made of tin. They can, when of that size, be easily lifted iu and out of the waggon by two persons. As the wear on the cans from con- stant handling is very great, they need to be strongly made, with handles tor grappling, that will bear the constant strain on them caused by the crane, where one is used at the factory for lifting from the vi'aggon to the second storey, or to the weighing machine ; and the tops should fit on easily, and yet so tightly that when tipped over no milk will run out, nor any dust get in during the time they are being carried to the fac- tory. Tiie cans should be strongly bound on the outside with iron hoops, and have double l)ottoms braced \x\t\\ iron outside. Metal is always preferable to wood, as it can be much more easily cleaned, and does not imbibe or retain any of the milk. We presume the factories furnish the cans, as they could pro- vide them all of uniforni quality and capacity, at a less espeuse than if each individual patron had his own made. But a very small amount of carelessness in keeping the cans perfectly clean and sweet, or in failing to deliver the milk at the proper time, may cause a serious loss to the farmer ; for let it be re- membered that the least taint in the milk will necessarily cause its rejection at the factory, as it would spoil the whole process of ciieese-makiug if one can of tainted milk were to get into the vats ; and the manager must, for the credit of the factory, be the sole judge of the fitness of the milk in each can, and cannot be justly accused of partiality if he often re- jects the milk of a patron who once shows an inchnation to be careless about its perfect purity. It is the manager's business to discipline them all into taking the best care of their milk, and bringing it to the factory just at the proper time set down in the rules. Those wlio cannot submit to his orders had better keep their milk at home. Let our friends in the coun- try, who are so fortunate as to have a cheese factory near enough to enable them to dispose of their milk to advantage, have patience, and endeavour to do their best to please tlie manager by furnishing an article that is always clean and pure from taint. Wash the cans thoroughly with boiling water, as soon as they return from delivering the mUk, afterwards rinshig them with pure spring water, and set them upside down to drain. To the manager we would say, be firm yet gentle in all your dealings with your patrons ; let no disputes arise, if you would l\ave the factory prove a succees ; yet at the same time be particular that every can of milk comes up to the full requirements of the rules necessary to be carried out to ensure a first-rate article of cheese being made, for much of the success of the factory will depend on being able always to make an article of cheese that will command a good price and ready sale. When the farmer has to cool the milk before taking it to the factory, it is usually done by setting the can containing the milk in a tub of cold spring water con- taining three times the quantity of water that there is of milk in the can. The water must not be higher than 53 deg., and if a stream of running water can be had, so much the better ; aud the time taken to cool the milk should not exceed fifty minutes. The top of the can is left open, to allow of the escape of the animal odour from the milk, while cooling. The mUk is to be stirred several times during the process. If ice can be had to put round the can in the water, the milk can be cooled more rapidly, and it is believed that the faster the cool- ing process is accomplished the better. When the night and morning's milk are to be delivered together, each should be separately cooled as soon as drawn from the cow, before mix- ing the one with the oXhex,— Canada Farmer, 824 THE rARMER'S MAGAZINE, THE CARE AND CARRIAGE OF STOCK Manifestly, the most unsatisfactory phase in the no\^ lengthy discussion which the appearance of the rinderpest created has been the very general inability to trace disease home to its origin. Now and then an outbreak may be reasonably accounted for, but far more frequently the actual antecedents of "a case" have altogether baffled inquiry. Moreover, these broken liuks in the chain occur not merely when attempting to follow out the contagion of cattle-plague, but yet more commonly upon any iuvestigation of the other ills to which beasts and sheep are liable. Of course certain theories have been advanced and maintained by certain authorities, chiefly, as it would seem, upon the plea that " What is impossible can't be, And very seldom comes to pass." The greater emphasis, however, with which any such pet argument is insisted on, the more are we, as a rule, ex- pected to take for granted. On the same showing as the boot-maker who having been in the business all his life ought to know a deal better than his customer whether the shoe pinches or not, so is your veterinary professor equally unwilling to allow his customer to have any opinion of his own. Although there may be no very clear proof of this, the disorder viusi have been communicated — must have come from here or there, from a foreign cargo or a London dairy. Such dicta, the more especially with the imposing V.S. attached thereto, is held to be indisputable, and thus we are taught to pronounce against animals in which no disease is discernible, and to anticipate causes only when we have arrived at results. Under these cir- cumstances, living as we do in so hazy an atmosphere, there is something very hopeful in the efforts of one of the profession to let in a little more daylight ; and this Mr. Fleming, of the lloyal Engineers, has very laudably attempted in the opening paper of the new number of the Veli'riiiarian. Tiie article is on "The Reciprocal Influence of Animals in the Production of Disease," as it comes to the point in this way : " The eftects of overcrowding of meu and animals are well known. [Ma- ladies of various kinds, oftentimes of a contagions cha- racter, become rife and fatal among them. Even when apparently healthy themselves, organisms which have been submitted to these influences have not uufrequently become agents in the transmission or generation of these diseases. Many instances are related ; but the following occurrence, told by Darwin, is a remarkable illustration. In the early part of the reign of George III., a prisoner who had been confined in a dungeon was taken in a coach with four constables before a magistrate, and although the man himself was not ill, the four constables died from a short putrid fever, but the contagion extended to no othei's. ' It would almost appear,' continues Darwin, ' as if the effluvium of one set of men shut up for some time together was poisonous when inhaled by others (and perhaps more so, if the men are of different races)'." This is well put and suggestive enough of some practical application, but Mr. Fleming drives the argument still closer home. Speaking of the cattle-plague, he says, this disease, " in tJie Steppe bovine race, sometimes ap- pears in such a mild form as to be nearly, if not quite, imperceptible ; and yet the introduction of the animals among the herds of other, and particularly western coun- tries, is attended with the greatest risk of a fearful mor- tality, from which the invading troops are largely exempt. Russian authors, as Lepechiu and Jcssen, have certainly stated that the cattle plague is primarily developed in the migrating droves, and several other authorities — amongst them Paulet, Huzard, and Rawitsch — have professed the same opinion. They quote repeated observations which show that cattle which left Russia or Hungary in perfect health and good condition were only attacked with the disease when they had been some time on the way, or even when in Germany or France. Hurtrel d'Arboval declares that a Hungarian ox, deprived of salt and heated by a forced journey, is, perhaps, the animal most to be dreaded amongst its own species. But though these fortuitous circumstances of hunger and fatigue are laid much stress upon by these veterinarians, there ai-e, nevertheless, men of high repute who believe that such cattle have infected those of other countries, particularly French and German beasts, without being themselves affected. Heusinger, remarking on this, thinks it very singular, ' and tends to prove that these animals develope a miasma which does not act on themselves, but on ani- mals of another breed.*" Here we have presented to ns with much force alike something of an explanation and a difficulty. Animals which are not diseased themselves shall still have the power of communicating disease. A beast which may have been very properly ])assed as show- ing no symptoms of, and suffering huuself, in fact, from no actual malady, may still be capable of infecting whole herds, wherever he may go. By such reasoning any system of inspection becomes absolutely valueless, and a separate market into which every foreign ani- mal shall be driven, and from which he shall never be driven out again becomes our only safeguard. But we must go yet further. At this very moment we are suffering not so much from diseases which have been developed in the migrating droves from Russia or Hungary, not from the mild form of rinderpest which scarcely shows itself in the Steppe cattle, as from ills with which we have long been familiar, and that may be almost I'ccorded as of our own creation. "I have no fear that the cattle-plague will ever again spread in England," says Mr. Brawn, of Sandhills, Staflbrdshire, in a letter to his own county paper. " This," he con- tinues, " has now about as many friends as a mad dog, and would share the same fate. But the apathy which exists with regard to diseases of a less fatal character is telling its tale, and plenro-pueumonia and foot-and-mouth disease, which have, during the last thirty years, deprived us of more animal food than we have imported, are spreading fearfully, and demand the immediate attention of local authorities and others whom it may concern." This is au old and o'er-true tale ; but the experience of thirty years or so had, until very lately, gradually habituated us to such losses, although, as has been proved, they could be stamped out, as they might have been averted. " Maladies of various kinds," says Mr. Fleming, " often times of a contagious character, become ripe and fatal from the eftects of the over-crowding of men and animals ;" and, again, in his official Report to the Government, Professor Simonds says: "The passage to Liverpool from Dublin occupies about 12 hours, and in rough weather many of the animals are lost from overcrowding, want of proper penning, «S:c., on board. No attempts are made to lessen these evils, nor is any proper care observed towards the cattle on debarka- tion. As quicklv as possible they are hurried into the railway trucks and sent on, without food or water, to places as far distant as Norfolk. The sudden trausitiou THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 32^ from the Iieat auJ couiincd air of the hold of a vessel to an open railway truck, aiul rapid passage through the country, is attended with serious eftects on the health of the animals. Nothing is more common than for a farmer to lose Irish eattle from pulmonary and other diseases shortly after purchase." And it is after this fashion that we generate disease ; that we come to account for spontaneons origin, and so forth. But where is the remedy for a dis- ease that cannot he detected, that has not attacked an animal when he is shipped, and that has not developed itself when he is landed? Mr. Brawn believes "that many who are deeply interested in this matter arc un- acquainted with the (in my opinion very satisfactory) regulations contained in the recent Order of Council with regard to isolation, removal, notice to be given by owners of diseased stock, &c., copies of which ought to be extensively circulated." As, further, he " feels thoroughly convinced that if the regulations now in force are con- tinned and strictly carried out all contagious diseases must, like cattle-plague, disappear." The Government, however, would seem to be not so easily satisfied even with the observance of these regulations ; as, in fact, iso- lation, removal orders, and notices only come into action when the enemy is amongst us, while the object should be to keep him out altogether. And this it is satis- factory to see is the great object of the Privy Council. A circular letter has been issued to the officers of the chief agricultural and sauitary Societies, calling at- tention to clauses 64 and 75 of the New Contagious Diseases of Animals Act, and asking for information and assistance in properly carrying out the following points : 1. The sufficient supply of food and water for all animals brought by sea to British ports, and all animals carried by railway in Great Britain. 2. The protection of animals from unnecessary suf- fering, whether in consequence of overcrowding or from otiier causes during their sea passage from ports abroad to ports in Great Britain ; as also on their landing, aud during their inland transit. Here we strike at the roots of most of the maladies of cattle and sheep. If animals are to be relieved from all unnecessary suffering in their travels by boat or by rail, if tliey are not to be overcrowded or suffocated aboard ship or on the line, we shall do our work a deal more efficiently than by isolation orders and notices of the appearance of disease. Of course on the very first blush of the thing numberless suggestions present themselves. There must be good comfoi'table waiting-rooms where refresh- ments will be provided for cattle and sheep just as there are for men and women. A truck or a boat must be liceused to carry so many and no more beasts, just as a second-class carriage or an Indiaman would have a complement of passengers. There must be no sliivering about in the cold, no smothering in the hold, and tlie stockman whose duty it is to look to the animals aboard ship or at the refreshment stations must be as readily recognizable and as answerable for his acts as a di'over or a cabman. So far as our own inland transit be concerned, we are inclined to think that a supply of good water will be the chief thing to provide, as few beasts eare to cat on any journey the duration of which is reckoned by hours. But to thoroughly carry out the in- tention of the two sections of the Act there is no question that some considerable improvement will be requisite in the accommodation as at preseut offered either by land or by water carriage. The Committee appointed is to report to the Lord President of the Council before the 1st of November, THE ARRANGEMENT, CONSTRUCTION, AND FITTING OF DAIRY BUILDINGS. In carrying out the work in any farm buildings, it is an essential principle ever to be had in the mind of the de- signer, that all the apartments should be arranged in such a way that the work shall be carried regularly on, so that there may be no going back from one poiut to an- otherand returning, thus involving loss of time and labour ; but that all the processes be carriedon in due sequence in a succession of apartments duly related to one another, and to the work which is to be carried on in each. If this is essential in a small building, it is still more so in the case of a large one, where the distances from one apartment to another, and the bulk of the material to be ojjerated upon are greater. This principle it has been the aim of the designer of the accompanying plans to carry out. Plans, of which it is only necessary here to state, that they xtmbody the results of a series of extensive investigations made into the processes ofbutter and cheese making, and of a series of visits made to the principal important dairies and dairy districts of the United Kingdom. These were made for professional purposes, and the results were applied to the plan of dairy bnildings on a very large :icale. Further, there were some peculiar features con- nected with the climate of the locality for which the buildings were designed, necessitating arrangements and constructive details which had to be specially provided for; aud some of which present features of novelty which may be worthy of notice. Although the plans as now given were thus designed for a large building, still it is obvious that the general principles and the details of construction are applicable to buildings of whatever size required. The paper does not, it is scarcely necessary to state, profess to be an exhaustive, or even an approximativcly exhaustive one on tiie details of dairy management ; that is obviously the province of another paper, which may be hereafter given in this Journal. At the same time it is only right to state, that inci- dentally, when bearing upon the arrangement, construc- tion and fittings of the building, many points of great im- portance in the management of a dairy are touched upon. These, in every instance, are the " outcome" of the prac- tical experience, either of the writer or of eminently practical authorities, many of whom he consulted spe- cially for the purpose of the present paper. Go/era/ pr/i/rip/c's of the urrangprnent of f lie various apartmeufs as illustrated in figs. 1, 2, and 3. — In carry- ing out the ])rinciple as already enunciated in general terms, two modes of arranging the apartments, making up the dairy building, were open to choice. The first of these, and which may be designated as arranging " in line," is illustrated in fig. 1, which is merely a rough type diagram. The lettering in each of the plans will sufiicienlly explain the arrangement of the various apart- ments, of which the constructive details and fittings will be described in succeeding paragraphs. This arrange- ment in line possesses the structural advantage of economy, as the roof can be of the simplest character, having no returns or angles in it. But it does not meet the requirements which secure the equability of temperature and degree ofshade necessary in all localities, but specially so in some. The plan, therefore, of arranging the npartmenta A A 326 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, as in figs. 2 and 3, or what may be called the " return" or "set off" system, is here given, which secures that the win- dows shall, as a rule, be on the north side, and in a large amount of shade. The reader has, therefore, in fig. 1, Cheese Press-room 23' X 20'. Vat-room, for curd, 23' X 14'. Scalding-room, for cheese. 22' X 12', Icc-hoiise, Storo Store 12' x8'. 12' xl2'. Bcakling or Wash- 2 "S room Steam Boiler. ■1 23' X 18'. t > Chiirn-room 23/ X 12'. Cream-room 23' X 11'. Milk-room ' 64' X 23'. Fig. 1. the plan " in line," comprising the butter-making and the cheese-making apartments of the dairy ; and in figs. 2 and 3, alternative plans of the second of these, namely, the " return" or " set-of." Of these modes we give the preference to that illustrated in figs. 2 and 3, not only for the reasons stated above, but for the following, which we consider to be of great im- portance in the working of a dairy, where a large weight of material is to be dealt with. Either of the plans in figs. 2 and 3 will enable the dairy farmer to have two distinct milk rooms (as for example, the cross part at the end in figs. 2 and 3 being separated from the longitudinal part by a partition, as at « ^ or at c d) . The dairyman will thus be enabled to have a morning's milk room, and an evening's milk room. This arrange- ment is strongly recommended by a very experienced dairy farmer whom the writer consulted, inasmuch as the introduction of so large a quantity of milk in the evening will materially influence the temperature of the dairy and of the milk, which has been put np in the morning, and exercise an injurious influence on the throwing or casting up of the cream ; and in hot wea- ther tending to taint the whole. This point is worthy of full consideration, and one advantage of the arrangement in figs. 2 and 3 is that it admits of this plan of working the morning's and evening's milk separately being carried out; and if tried, and given up at any future time, it can be given up without altering in the slightest degree the integrity of the arrangement. As before stated, the plans here given are for dairies on a very large scale, on the " fac- tory system" indeed. Thus, the accommodation in the milk room is for eight hundred gallons of milk; this being put up in milk coolers, which form two rows in the centre of the room, with passages of 3 feet 6 inches w www Checso press-room 31' X 21', Vat- room 21' X 18' Store 21' X 10' Ico-house here, Scalding- room 21' X 21'. Chiiming- room 21' X 12'. Cream- room 21' X 11'. !^ IM Milk-room 47' X 21'. A Steam W c« g boiler ^ house here. Fig. 2. between theni, a shelf 2 feet wide being placed at the sides to hold milk dishes of two gallons each. The cream room is designed to hold two days' cream, THE PARMEE'S MAGAZINE. 327 store -room 21' X 14' Vat-room 21/ X 14'. Cheese-press room 21' X 20'. vr Ice-house cs here. Scalding-room 21' X 21', Chuming- room. 21' X 12'. Cream-room 21' X H'. ^ ~ Steam-boiler here. Milk-room 48' X 21'. rig. 3. The Milkroom. — In designing this, two very important points are before us, very materially influencing, not only the size of the milk-room, but the disposition and nature of its fittings. These points were, first, whether it would be advisable to make the butter from churning the whole milk ; or, second, to make it from the cream. Although holding a very decided opinion that the best results are to be obtained by churning from the cream, not only in the superior quality of the butter, but from its better keeping qualities; and having, moreover, by far the largest weight of evidence from experienced workers in favour of this mode, it is nevertheless fair to state that inquiries which we have recently made have resulted in getting an opinion from dairymaids of large and extended experience, to the effect that better butter is made fi'om the whole milk than that from the cream ; while the making of it is more convenient. It is to be understood that the cream on the one hand, and the whole milk on the other is to be " soured," " churned," or " lappered" be- fore churning, a point of importance, and which of itself demands a specialty in the dairy hereafter to be noticed. So far as the use of the products of the butter making is concerned, the " skim-railk" and " butter-milk," and the " whey" it does not matter which mode of work- ing is adopted, seeing that neither, in the case, for which the ; plans were prepared were to be sold off the farm, but were to be consumed by the stock. But so far as the size of the milk -room and the churning- room is concerned, the point is one which brings with it very important considerations. First, as to the size of the mUk-room. Assuming that the milk is set up in vessels to be " lappered" or " soured," which experience points out as the best mode of working from the whole milk, these vessels will contain a very much larger quan- tity of milk than vessels which are used to contain milk from which to get cream. A much less space, therefore, in the milk-room will be required. And a cream " souring" room will also be dispensed with. Another advantage obtained would be the comparatively easy regu- lation of the temperature of the milk-room, especially in summer, when the whole milk in a soured condition would be churned from. We now come, however, to the arrangement of the churning-room and the labour connected with the churning. So large a mass and weight of material as would be the result of the system of churning from the whole milk soured, would obviously involve a much larger space in the churning-room, and much more complicated arrange- ments for churning, than would be necessary if the butter were made from cream. In the first place fi'om the increased size of the churns, increased space would be necessary, and, what is of much greater importance, greater power would be required to work the churns. In cases where steam-power was available this would not so much matter ; but in some cases working by hand is preferred. It is obvious, however, that hand-power working of chums would be quite out of the question, if the whole milk was used from which to make the butter. On the point under discussion, the results of very ex- tended inquiries convince us, as well as om* own experi- ence, that the finest quality of butter is made from the cream ; and so far, therefore, as the churning department of the dairy is concerned a greater simplicity of opera- tion will result if this mode of making butter is adopted. It is scarcely necessary to say, however, that a very con- siderable diversity of opinion .exists as to which is the best of the two methods here discussed ; and according as the one or the other is preferred so will be the arrange- ments of the dairy. The plans accompanying these re- marks are designed for carrying out the method of mak- ing butter from the soured cream. Having thus discussed the arrangements of the dairy so far as the butter-making departments are concerned, we are now prepared to take up the consideration of the points involved in their con- struction, and under this head the first point which comes up for discussion is The Position or Site of the Building. — An inspection of the plans will show that the building illustrated is de- signed to be isolated or distinct from the other parts of the farm buildings. Other things being equal there can be no doubt, in view of the importance of having the milk free from sources of tainting, that the isolated plan is the best. The aspect of the dairy should be due north : if this cannot be got, then a direction due east should be secured, or some point between these two points. It is scarcely necessary to say that a south aspect is quite in- admissible : hence the absurdity of setting down a dairy and arranging its apartments in such a way that its windows look to all sides of the compass, south as well as north. The nearer the dairy is to the " cow-house," " byre," or " shippon" the more economically will the place be worked, the milk being thus more easily trans- ported from the cow-house to the milk-room. The best position, therefore, so far as this point is concerned, would be where the door of the cow-house ranged with that of the milk-room. But where convenience of work- ing is not the only point to be considered, the known readiness with which milk acquires a taint must be pro- A A S 528 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. vided for, and every care taken to prevent taints arising from too near a contiguity to the byre. The milk-room, therefore, where perfect safety is desiderated should be furthest from the cow-house or byre. And to obviate the inconvenience arising from the distance from one place to the other, the milk should be run from the cow-house to the milk-room in truck-cans which run along a small tramway. In this arrangement the verandah — a feature hereafter to be alluded to — is to be extended from the dairy to the cow-house, thus providing a covered way for bad weather, along which the milk truck-cans will be pushed in on the tramway. Freveiii'ioii of Damp in (he Dairy Building. — A fea- ture of essential importance in the construction of a dairy building is the keeping of the walls and tloors thoroughly free from damp. This applies with especial force to the milk-room. The plans generally adopted to secure this freedom from damp, are little better than mere pallia- tives, and should only be looked upon as fairly good ad- juncts to that plan which alone is to be relied upon, but which has been overlooked hitherto to a very remarkable extent in building practice : we refer to the drainage of the site upon vMrh the building stands, and to the mode of erecting the foundation. The drainage here referred to is the same in principle as that of land drainage, and is essentially distinct from that of sewage drainage, which is also provided for. Provision for this site drainage should be made, circiJar drain-tiles being used. If these cannot be obtained, horse-shoe tiles mav be used, or stone- filled draius, but in any case the drains must be to the full depth to secure thorough drainage of the sile. These drains will follow the fall of the ground and lead out to any convenient drain. As a further precaution against damp a layer of concrete of 6 or 8 inches in depth is laid under the floor, and it is to be specially noted that this continues under the footings of the walls, and is carried up on the outside of the same to the level of the ground line. Floor of the 3Iilk-room.— The floor of the milk-room is 8 feet below the level of ground line, this being adopted in order to aid in equalising the temperature of the room. The lowering of the level of the milk-room has however this disadvantage, that it necessitates the use of steps to ascend to the cream-room, where the cream is set to "sour" or "tapper," and in view of this it might be ad- visable to dispense with the lowering of the milk-room floor, in which case it would be necessary to re-arrange the construction of the walls at the lower part. If the floor of the milk-room was not lowered it would facilitate the running off the milk direct to the piggery, &c. by means of a shoot. This plan of shoot has, however, some disadvantages, amongst others it would be very apt to become dirty and thus give rise to bad smells. The floor of milk-room (fig. 4) slopes from the walls to the centre of room, at which point there is a drain o.r gutter, open, but which may be closed with flat tiles or stones easily removeable. Water-pipes are laid along the walls under the milk shelves, and provided at short intervals with taps to which short lengths of hose and jet are attached. By these, water in any quantity and directed to any part may be used to clean the floor, the water flowing and being swept towards the central drain, which has a fall throughout its length and communicates with the sewage drain. Floor Su}face.- -The floor surface of milk-room and rooms throughout to be composed of (blue and red set iu simple pattern) hard burnt Staffordshire tiles. The water-pipes used for the above purjiose, as well as those under the centi'al ranges (hereafter described) of milk- coolers are placed imder the heating pipes and in contact with them, this arrangement tending to pi'event the water freezing in cold weather. IFalls. — The walls throughout at lower part to be of brick, hollow or cavity in centre, and to be caiTied up at least five courses of bricks high above the level of the groimd, the upper and outside course to be splayed or angled as in fig. 5 ; and where timber is abundant and / Fig. 5. cheap, the upper portions of walls may be made of it, with hollow or cavity space also in the centre, which may be filled with some non-conducting material which is not likely to decay and give out bad smells. The walls in milk-room to be lined, as also cream-room with white glazed tiles, or with plates of enamelled iron, which may be had of any dimensions, and will be easily fixed. This lining to extend to a height of 30 inches at least above the level of milk shelves. The whole of the corners of the milk-room and cream-room to be rounded off, to pre- vent as much as possible the accumulation of dust. Double Entrance-door : Windows. — The entrance door to milk-room to be doable, or what will be better a porch to be provided {p in fgs. 1, 2, 3), with self-closing door, the inner door also to be self-closing. The windows to the milk and cream-room to be double, with as wide a spare between them as the thickness of the wall will admit of. The windows to be in two halves, opening horizontally, as iu the diagram {Jig. 6). The correspond- Upper Sash. Lower. Fig. 6. ing halves in the outer and inner windows to be connected with swivel bars, so that when the inside half is opened or shut the corresponding half outside will be opened or shut also. By opening or shutting the lower or upper half of the windows the current of air may be directed above or below or horizontally as desired, and the venti- lation of the room much facilitated. Venetian blinds or jealousies to be provided to the outside of each window. Ventilation of Milk and Cream Rooms. — This is to be provided for by the combined operation of ventiducts for the admission of fresh and withdrawal of used air. No ventilation can be complete and satisfactory where these two provisions are not carried out. The system recom- mended for adoption is what has been called the " na- tural," as opposed to the " artificial," in which special means are provided to create currents. Natural ventila- tion we have always found to work well where judiciously carried out. The means which we propose are as follows: (1.) Appliances for supplies of fresh air. — Outside the building small wells are to be sunk in the ground part of wall of milk-room. These wells are to be lined with stone or brick, and to have their floors sloping from the wall outwards, and to be provided with small drain tubes leading to the main drain tube, to carry off any water THE FAKMER'S MAGAZINE. 329 which might collect there. The wells are to be provided at their upper part with a ledge to support the deodoris- iug boxes contaiuiug animal charcoal. This deodorisiug material has iu oue iustance where tried been applied with marked eftect in hot confined weather. We have consulted a practical chemist who highly approves of the l)lan, and who at our request is instituting a series of ex- periments on some points to which we have directed his attention. The deodorisiug boxes may be in extremely hot weather supplanted by ice-boxes, which would cool the air before entering the building. When neither the deodorisiug nor the ice-boxes are in use, a grating with small meshes or apertures should be used to cover the upper portions of the wells to prevent the ingress of vermin. The admission of the air through the apertures in the walls communicating with the fresh air boxes is regulated by a proper valve. A few of the fresh air venti- ducts may be taken under the floor to open out into gratings placed under the central ranges of milk coolers, dividing or diffusing by this means the supply of fresh air to the room. These central ventiducts to be regulated in supply by valves specially designed, but of simple character. (2 ) AppJianrcs for withdrawing the used air. — For these we have designed a form of roof-truss which admits of one outline of ceiling well calculated to facilitate the withdrawal of used air coming from below. The roof is made with double air-spaces, thus securing the equalization of the temperature to a large extent. The eaves should project at least three feet from external line of wall. To withdraio the used air a ventiduct or shift of timber is used with a valve for regulating the egress of the air. The chain is passed over pullies in the shaft •, and over a small pulley placed above an aperture made in the ceiling near the line of wall, and terminated at a point within easy reach by a weight. This weight is provided with a projecting part at the back, which slides in the slot of a face-plate. By sliding this weight up and down, the valve will be moved up and down correspond- ingly, the weight counterbalancing the valve. The valve is arranged to be fully open when its distance from the aperture of the shaft is equal to the diameter of same. * The diameter of the valve, aff/. 7, is considerably longer Fi(/. 7. than that of the shaft ; this is done to direct the currents of air so as to create a draught along as wide a surface of the ceiling as possible. An alteriuitive mode of withdravniKj the used air is by making in place of a solid ceiling, one composed of parallel strips of wood, or tetter still, with blocks between at intervals so as to form air spaces a afj. 8. These r f I a 1 1 a Fig. 8. spaces opcu into the air spaces in the roof, aud in this case the ventilating shafts will be cut off near the ridge, the arrangements for regulating the egress of the air beiag the same as already described. Arrangements Jor warming the Ajuirtmcuis and fur obtaining a Svpplg of v:arm Water for cleaning Pur- poses.— In this country it is not usual to adopt means for raising artificially the temperature of our milk and cream- rooms. The best authorities, however, believe that great benefits would arise from the system, as there would be means at ready command for regulating the temperature of the milk, aud thus facilitating the operations of the dairy. If artificial heat is decided upon, it is essential that the method adopted by which to obtain it shall be capable of such regulation in its working that any de- sired degree of temperature may be obtained. This fa- cility iu the regulation of the temperature can only be had by the adoption of one of two methods — namely, the use of " steam," or of " hot water." Hot-air stoves are, as a rule, incapable of being regulated so as to ensure ac- curacy in the degree of temperature they give to the air of a room which they supply. But with tlie use either of steam or hot water as the heating medium, an accu- racy of regulation can be secured to a great degree of nicety. Of these two modes of heating, hot water pos- sesses the greatest number of advantages ; but at the same time steam, while very available for the purpose of warming the air of tho buildings, is also available in an- other and extremely useful direction, in which the hot- water system cannot be made available. AVc refer to the use of steam in raising quickly and conveniently large bodies of boiling water for cleaning. Another use to which steam may be put, and which is we believe for the first time here described, is the purifying of vessels by subjecting them to a stream of steam. This can be easily done by making a special chamber, in which the vessels to be purified are put. The utility of this need not be here enlarged upon, in view of the advantages to be de- rived, in dairy operations, from the use of thoroughly- cleansed vessels, as churns and the like. In view of these considerations, the best and most efficient plan would be to have a " hot-water apparatus" to supply the heating- pipes for raising the temperature of the rooms, and a small boiler to raise steam for the purpose of creating supplies of warm water, and also for raising the tempera- ture of cheese-vats by being led into spaces made outside of them. Where a steam engine is on the premises, it may be said that steam may be obtained from the boiler of it. But it must not be overlooked that the boiler of the steam engine may not be in use, while steam may be required for the dairy ; and it would be a waste of re- sources to light a steam-engine boiler of large power to obtain a quantity of steam which might be obtained from a lesser-sized one. Arrangements for lowering the Temperature of the Rooms in hot Weather. — In hot weather the ventilation will have to be kept up to its maximum capability ; but it is just at this time that the difliculty is greatest in maintaining ventilating currents, these depending for their existence upon the dift'ereuce that exists between the temperature of the air in the room and that outside. In summer it often happens that the circumstances are reversed or nearly equalised. Hence the difficulty ot ventilating a building at this season. To aid the lower- ing of the temperature therein at this season, it is the practice in some dairies to have cold water running in troughs under the milk-shelves. As this expedient is founded upon the fact that evaporation produces cold, Mr. Horsfall, the great dairy authority, has very inge- niously extended its operations by wetting the calico blinds of the windows by projecting water upon them. We propose to place this method under more complete control, by having endless belts of calico stretching from floor to ceiling, behind the milk-shelves, and supported by and passing over rollers. These will afford large eva- porating surfaces, and which surfaces will be very 330 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZiKE. quickly wetted by having the lower roller to revolve in a trongh of water. Where water-troughs are used, in place of having them fixed, we would recommend them to be placed on brackets cast upon the pedestals which support the milk-shelves or coolers. Fittings of the Milk Roam. — The milk to be creamed is set up in two kinds of vessels — the ordinary milk dishes, which are placed on the shelves, and the milk coolers, which are fixtures. The cheapest form of efli- cient milk shelf is cast-iron grating, of a simple pattern. This kind of shelf has given great satisfaction where used. It is easily kept clean, contracts no taint, and the perforations admit of a free current of air under and around the milk-dishes. If this kind of shelf is not adopted, although we ai-e inclined to recom- mend its adoption, marble would be the best ma- terial, or slate : wood is not to be recommended. It might, by way of carrying out experiments in all directions, be advisable to fit up part of the milk shelves in various materials. But, whatever be the ma- terial employed, one point in erecting them we would most strongly insist upon ; and that is, keeping the whole line of shelving throughout at least two-and-a-half inches from the wall. The advantage of this is obvious, on con- sideration. Corners are always difficult to clean ; and the corner formed by the junction of the milk shelf with the vertical wall we have invariably found the most difficult to be cleaned, no matter how careful the dairy- maid may be. But by keeping the shelf clear from the wall the cloth used in cleaning can be passed completely round the edge of the shelf, and under it also. As re- gards the Materials of the Milk Dishes — of breakable materials, glass is the best, only, if not well annealed, it is liable to break in the scalding. Good earthenware, white glazed, Avill be found very good and serviceable. Of non- bi'eakable materials tin is the best ; but it must be of good quality. Lead we rank second, zinc third ; but such is om- opinion of it (zinc), that we think it should never be used. The Milk Coolers. — Were it not for the difficulty of finding room for and handling such a very large number in large dairies, as illustrated, we would recommend milk dishes to be used throughout ; but this is not easy to be done in so large a dairy. Coolers are, therefore, almost a necessity. The only material which we think available under all the circumstances of large daii-y working for the construction of the mQk coolers is the best tin, unless they can be made of enamelled iron at a moderate cost. The coolers must be rounded off at the corners, to facilitate cleaning ; the corners, or angles, in the inside also rounded ofl^. They must be provided with appropriately-arranged tubes, to draw off the milk and cream. The coolers are all to be placed in a trough, so as to admit of hot or cold water being passed alongside and under the coolers in water. All the details connected with the nulk shelves, milk coolers, and of the water troughs for both, may hereafter be given in future plans and sections. The coolers being fixtures, the most com- plete arrangements will be necessary in order to supply hot water for scalding them. This will be led by pipes from the upper boiler in scalding room, and which, being supplied at pressm'e, will enable the coolers to be thoroughly washed by means of jet and hose, if deemed best, or, if not, by the ordinary vessels, which will also be supplied from the boiler. It would be easy also to place pipes running along the length of the cool- ers, with taps to each cooler, from whi*ch both cold and hot water could be supplied. The coolers are iiot continuous, but have intervals of three or four inches between them. This will enable them to be cleaned thoroughly all round, as well as allow the trough- water to circulate round the ends. In place of a trough for hot water for heating the coolers, an alternative plaii may be adopted, of having the coolers double-cased, steam being admitted into the space behind. We prefer the trough system, as the simplest, and as being also available for passing cold water in summer. Cream or Souring Room. — This is a distinct apart- ment, fitted uj) very much in the same way as the milk room, but with shelves only. Remarks have already been made upon the heating of this. The room is ar- ranged for twenty-four seven-gallon crocks, in which the cream is set for som'ing. It may, however, be set up in vats of larger dimensions, although the crocks will be found the most convenient for the system of working adopted. But, in whatever way set up, it wiU be essen- tial to mark in some distinctive way all the vessels or the positions in the cream room of the vessels, so that each portion of cream set up wUl be known from another, and thus each be taken at its proper time for churning. The dimensions of the cream room will depend upon the mode adopted for working the dairy — whether the churning is done at long or short intervals. In the illustrations given with these remarks the cream room is arranged to hold the cream of two days, taking twenty-fom' crocks, of seven gallons each. As a safe rule for practice, the smaller the quantity of cream put up to som* the better, as the risk of loss arising from taint is lessened ; for if a taint attacks a crock, the less it contains the better, for the loss is the less ; and loss assuredly there is, or at least ought to be, wherever a taint exists in the cream. Where this is the case, it should not be used for butter- making. It is a frequent source of annoyance to the daii-ymaid to see how often and how mysteriously a taint affects the cream. As a rule, also, the smaller the dishes are which the dairymaid has to handle, the less risk there is in breakage, and the more quickly, too, is the work got through with. The Churning-room. — Little need be said of the fittings of this, as these will depend upon the mode of working adopted. The butter " making up" table will be placed in this ; it wLQ best be made of marble, hollowed out for a considerable length, and with rounded corners. The ends should be flat ; a full supply of the purest water obtainable should be supplied to the table; and means provided for running off the water when united with the milk proceeding from the butter making-up process. The Scalding-room, for Washing the Dairy Vessels. — In this room, we have adopted an arrangement of " cop- per" furnace with scalding vats combined. It consists of fwo coppers and two vats placed opposite to each other. The walls forming the central space between these are carried up some two or three feet above the level of the boilers and support a tank or open boiler. The two flues of the coppers unite in this central space and pass through the tank in the form of a cylindrical tube of iron. The tank is kept supplied at a regular level with water, and the heat from the flue is thus utUized to a large extent. Provision, however, should be made to use steam from the independent boQer already alluded to to heat the water in the tank when the coppers' furnace is not in use ; so that the vats, &c., &c., &c., in the mUk-room may be supplied fi'om it. Steam should also be supplied to the scalding vats in the scalding-room to obtain a supply of hot water independently of the tank. Means must be provided for carrying off the used water from the scalding-room. As a large amount of vapour is produced in this room, it is essential that the ventilating system should be complete in order to carry it away as formed. To do this, the same kind of roof, as already alluded to, may be used ; but advantage should be taken of the " draught -power" available in the chimney of the copper furnace. This will pass right through the roof, and if it be surrounded with an outer-cylinder as thus, a consi- derably powerful ventUatiDg current will be established THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 331 in the space a a (fig. 9) betwecu the outside of cbiimuey I b and tlie inside of ventilating tube c c; d d line of celling, e e line of roof. The upper ends of the two Tig, 9. lubes are provided with caps to prevent down-draughts. A good deal of heat will be created in the space a a, and a rapid current from the room will be the result. The air which passes from the room through the spaces iu the ceiliug should be withdrawn from the space in the roof by ventilators placed at intervals. Cheese-making -rooms: Vat-room and Press-room. — In the vat-room two vats are placed. These are made with jackets, or one vessel is placed within the other, leaving a space between them. In this space warm water or cold iced water may be put, according to the season and to the temperature of the milk in the vat required. Means must be provided for carrying oiF the water from the spaces or jackets, and the whey, &c. from the vats. The hot water for supplying the spaces or jackets and for scalding and cleaning the vats may be supplied from the tank in the scalding-room by a special pipe led from it, or from the coppers. Or steam may be used to boil the water in the vats themselves, the cold water being obtained through a special pipe. In place of fixed vats, Keevils, or other form of cheese-making apparatus may be used. Of the press-room arrangements little need be said. From this immediate access should be had to the store-room. The Ice-house. — The writer of these remarks has consulted a large number of experienced dairy-maids, all of whom have coincided with his view as to the importance of having an ice-house to form an essential part of every dairy. Experience in America, where an ice-house forms part of every farm building, shows that it may be made as efficiently above the ground as below its level, as in the old-fashioned way. The best form is that of an inverted prism, wider at top than bottom and of greater length than breadth. The walls of this are made hollow as well as the roof, and the hollow spaces well rammed in with some non-conducting material. The door is made double, with a wide space between the inner and outer-door. If the house is properly constructed no straw lining is necessary ; care, however, must be taken to provide means for withdrawing the water which arises from the melting of some portion of the ice, which under all circumstances will take place — the great object aimed at in the con- struction of the house being to reduce or keep this melting to the minimum. The ice-house should be constructed in as shady a space as possible, and with this view we have placed it in the jilan on the shady side of the; dairy buildings. The Butber -store and Cooling-room. — This may be made inside the ice-house. There is nothing to prevent this, the best possible position for it being obtained. A very simple constructive arrangement is all that is neces- sary to be carried out If this plan is not adopted, a separate store should be provided, means being taken to keep the temperature of this at a low point in summer by special means, as noted in another section of this paper, or by using masses of ice placed on tables in the room, or by having ice safes in it. None of these modes, however, wiU give such satisfaction as placing the butter-store within the ice-house. Another mode is to construct a special cooling-store, much on the same principle as the ice-house already described, with hoUow walls and roof filled with non-conducting material, and with a space in the floor, which is to be covered with a grating, and under which ice is placed ; or ice boxes may be placed in the ventilating boxes or shafts by which the cooling-room is supplied with air. On the advantages of a supply of ice for the various operations of the dairy it is needless here to enlarge. CONTAGIOUS DISEASES IN ANIMAL^. (From the London GaxeUc!) At the Council Chamber, Whitehall, the 1st day of Septem- ber, 1869. By the Lords of her Majesty's Most Honour- able Privy Council. The Lords and otliers of her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, by virtue and iu exercise of the powers in them vested under the Conta- gious Diseases (Animals) Act, 1869, and of every other power enabling them in tbis behalf, do order, and it is hereby ordered, as foUows : Preliminary. — 1. This Order extends to Great Britain only ; and words in this Order have the same meaning as in the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Order of August, 1869. Milch Cows in Vessels. — 2. Article 5 of the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Order of August, 1869, shall not apply to any milch cow brought from a port of any of the countries comprised in the schedule to that Order, provided the Com- missioners of her Majesty's Customs arc, on each occasion of the same being so brought, satisfied that the same has been taken from Great Britain to that port, and has not been landed at that port, or at any other port of any of those countries ; and in relation to the landing, on any occasion, of any such milch cow in Great Britain elsewhere than at a part of a port defined as a landing-place for slaughter, the condition secondly stated in Article 6 of the said Order, to the effect that the vessel has not, since taking on board the cattle imported, entered any port of any of the countries aforesaid, shall not operate, pro- vided the Commissioners other Majesty's Customs are, on each occasion, satisfied as aforesaid ; but, subject to the foregoing exception, all the provisions of Articles 6 and 7 of the said Order shall, on each occasion, apply to every such cow and the landing thereof and the vessel bringing the same. Landing-places for Slaughter.— 3. Where by any Order of Coimcil the regulations contained in the fourth schedule to the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, 1869, or any of them, have been applied, with any exception or modification, to any foreign cattle, every such exception and modification (as well as the regulations or regulation so applied) shall extend and apply to all other kinds of foreign animals for the time being within the same defined part of a port, so that all kiuds of fo- reign animals for the tim'e being within the same defined part shall be subject to the same regulations, -i. Where Regulation 6 (d the fourth schedule to the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, 1869, is in operation, the local authority and all consta- bles and police ofiicers shall enforce the same, and do or cause to be done all things from time to time necessary for securing, as far as may be, the effectual isolation of the defined part of the port in respect of the movement of foreign animals. Port of London.— 5. The Order of Council of the 10th day of August, 1869, defining the parts of the port of Loudon witliin which foreign cattle may be lauded for slaughter, shall be read and have effect as if in the paragraph thereof defining the landing-place (No. l),an Order of Council of the 11th day of October, 1867, instead of the 11th day of October, 1869, had been referred to. Akxhur Helps. 332 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. FOREST FARMING. Br H. M. JejVKINS, [fROJI the ^'EW number of the royal ACiinClLTURAL SOCIETY'S JOURNAL.] The site of the ancient forest of Shervfood furnishes some of the best examples ia England of successful farming under circumstances of great natural difficulty. The subsoil consists of a sandy conglomerate, and is covered by a very light sandy loam of poor and hungry character. Little is yielded by it alone ; and the farmer looks upon it more as a vehicle whereby he can convey fertilizing materials to his crops, than as a pro- ducer of their natural food. The Forest farms are therefore notably characterized by the extensive use on them of cake, boues, and other artificial manures ; and they mostly agree in possessing a very small quantity of permanent grass land. The Forest having been recently enclosed, the fences are very unilorra and neat ; they are planted in straight lines on the flat, and possess an even height of about 4^ feet. They measure 4< feet across at the base, and are neatly trimmed to an acute ridge, reminding one vividly of Eastburn in every particular, except that they are not so wide across the water- boughs. The trimming is done by the day, and the system is to dig the roots whenever the fields that tiiey bound come into fallow. As examples of Forest farming, I shall give an outline of the practice pursued by Mr. Enoch Hodgkinson at Morton Grange, and by Mr. T. Wilkinson at Kanby, both of these farms being very well known by repute, and the latter espe- cially as the home of the late Mr. Kogers. In addition to these farms, it will be interesting to describe the process whereby Mr. Ashtou of Ilodsock Lodge has been enabled to get useful grass-land on very unpromising soil, and to notice the salient points of his system, although his farm can hardly be said to come within the boundaries of the " Forest." Morton Grange measures 759 acres, only 30 of which are in permanent grass ; and llanby Green Mile farm measures 550 acres, only 20 of which are in grass. They arc fair repre- sentatives of the " Forest" farms and system of farming. Of the small quantity of grass-land at Morton Grange, all but 8 acres has been laid down by Mr. Hodgkinson. This was done 30 years ago, the seeds having been sown with barley, and the land afterwards treated with bones— as much as from 30 to 40 bushels per arce, in the aggregate, having been put on it. Large quantities of cake and turnips are eaten on it. Kanby Mas very heavily boned by the late Mr. Rogers in the earliest days of bone-dressing, when bones were cheap. He was not particular as to size or character, and as to Quantity he never was satisfied. Most of this farm has received as many as 80 bushels per acre ; and even to this day you may pick up at every other step one of " Mr. llogers' boues." It may be a split humerus S or 'J inches long, or a horse's tooth, or the mandible of a sheep ; but their abundance at this remote date testifies to the extraordinary profusion with which they were used. At Hodsock, Mr. Ashton has recently laid down 30 acres of grass, the seeds having been sown after turnips without a crop. After the turnips had been eaten off, the land received a lighter pre- ])aratioa than it would liavc done for barley. It was not ploughed so deep, but was rolled more completely. In April 8 bushels of mixed grass seeds, v ifh 6 or 7 lbs. of white Dutch clover, and from 4 to 5 lbs. of rape were sown per acre. The rape was eaten off by sheep with a good allowance of linseed cake. IS'o artificial manure was used previous to sowing, but 1 quarter of bones per acre was given annually for a few years afterwards, and on 20 acres that quantity was also applied at the time of sowing. Altogether Mr. Ashton has now more than a hundred acres of grass on a farm not more than 376 acres in extent ; but ouly the lighter portion of it is comparable with that on the Forest. This latter is grazed by home- bred stock, which are usually sold off at 2 years old ; hut the stronger grass is stocked with older beasts, fifteen of which are annually bought for the purpose. The sheep which the seeds will not carryare also turned into the pastures — generally she-hoggets, draft ewes, and some bought sheep. The great feature, however, in the management of the grass-land, is the extensive use of bones, which liave been applied to it at inter- vals during the last quarter of a century. They are used as half-inch and dust as they come from the mill, without any preparation whatever. December and January are considered the best months for boning pastures, and immediately after mowing the best time for meadows. The first dose given by Mr. Ashton was 20 bushels per acre, and in some instances a similar quantity was given again after an interval of two years ; and subsequently, after a greater or less lapse of time, smaller dressings, of about one quarter per acre, have been given oc- casionally, in some eases as often as annually for four or five years together. After this treatment one can easily credit the statement that the grass-land now produces more than twice as much as it did formerly. The quality also is better, white Dutch clover and plaintain having increased to a very marked extent, while oat-grass and cocksfoot have diminished in a corresponding degree. If any farmyard manure can be spared it is put on in February. The Norfolk 4-course shift generally prevails in tlie Forest, subject, however, to small variations, owing either to the lia- bility of the land to become "turnip-sick," the roots then getting anbury and " finger and toe ;" or to the paucity of the grass ; or, lastly, to some of the land being more adapted to growing wheat than barley. At Ranby, the first and last of these contingencies are thus provided for: — (1) wheat, (2) turnips or potatoes, (3) barley or wheat (a small portion), and (4) seeds. At Morton Grange the course is exactly the same, but owing to the scarcity of grass about 30 acres of seeds are kept two years, and on 9 acres of black peaty gravel nothing is grown, as a rule, except mangolds, cabbages, and an occa- sional crop of tares. This practice on soil of that character appears to be not unusual in and about the forest, as we saw the same thing at Ilodsock Lodge, and it is explained by the fact that this black gravel grows mangolds better tlian any other crop, and " mangolds do not tire like other things." On some very light gravelly land (about 40 acres) at Hodstock there is still another variation of the 4-eourse system, oats being taken after seeds, and wheat after turnips. 1. W Ileal. — The seeds are manured with from 8 to 10 one- horse loads of farmyard manure,* the practice at Ranby being to put it on a short time before ploughing, while Mr. Hodg- kinson has become a convert to the practice of putting it on in July ; but the former method is the one typical of the dis- trict. This variation affects the whole subsequent treatment. The seeds having been manured not more than a fortnight, and sometimes immediately before ploughing, the land is ploughed from 4^ to 5 inches deep, pressed and sown broadcast without delay ; indeed, at Ranby not more than one field is ploughed at a time, the seed almost following the plough, as forest laud sets quickly. Sowing is done during the month of Oct., from 9 to 10 pecks being used per acre ; the sort most in vogue is still Hunter's White (sometimes called Scotch Brown), as it was five-andtwenty years ago, when Mr. Corringhara wrote his Prize Essay on the Agriculture of Nottinghamshire. At Morton Grange, the seeds having been manured in July, the land is ploughed from 8 to 9 inches deep in October, and sowing commences at the end of the month with 9 or 10 pecks of Hunter's White, getting finished off by Martinmas. Turnip- land wheat is not sown so early, and the quantity of seed used is larger, being increased as the season advances to about three bushels at Christinas. " Chidhara" is a favourite sort on turnip-land. A usual top-dressing is 1^ ewt of guano, except after turnips eaten off by sheep with cake ; and from 4 to 5 cwt. of salt is also used iu the spring especially after turnsps, as it prevents canker (poppies) if got in before * When manure has run short, Mr. Wilkinson has used 7 bushels of bones as a substitute ; and Mr. Ashton, in such cases, uses either bones or rape-dust on the seed-land. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 33C they strike. The land is harrowed inimedialely after salting, and is always harrowed early in the spring, as soon as it is dry. Mr. Ashtou's practice nearly corre- sponds with that of Mr. Wilkinson, e\cept that lie likes to drill his turnip-land wheat, and is not quite so anxious to sow immediately after ploughing, the reason being that his land is not so light, llorsc and hand hoeing are either both done by day work or the lallcr is let at from ~s. to 36. per acre. It is not usual to hoe more (ban is absolutely necessary, but wheat after turnips generally requires a good deal, as it is liable to canker. Harvest at Kanby and Morton Grange is earlier than is general in the district, and in consequence a larger number of Irisli and other labourers can be easily obtained. Mr. Ilodgkinson often puts as many as ninety to one l\uudrcd men to work at once, at prices varying, for different crops and in different seasons, from 7s. to l-ts. per acre, including mowing, sheafing, raking, and cocking the rakiiigs. Carrying is done as day work by his own men, and thatching is also done by llie day, in consc(iuence of the ditliculty of getting it well done by the piece. About six years ago Mr. Hodgkiuson bought a reaping machine, but he has not cut 30 acres with it, in con- sequence of the abundance of labour at his harvest-time. Were that time delaj'cd a fortnight the conditions would be reversed, and labour almost impossible to obtain. Both wheat and bar- ley arc put in long stacks, measuring about 11 or 12 yards iu length, by !• to 5 in width ; they have gable ends, and hold about 10 quarters of corn, a quantity suflicient for one day's thrashing by a steam-engine. The stacks arc usually pared, and when thatching is done by the piece, as is sometimes tlie case at Ranby, thatching and paring cost from 8s. to 10s. per stack. Thrashing is generally done by means of a portable steam-engine, which, if hired, costs auoutSSs. per stack ( = per diem) ; the farmer finds everything except two men to drive and feed the engine, and he gives them their victuals. 2. Ruots. — In the forest a very large proportion of the roots con- sists of swedes, and a correspondingly small breadth of white turnips is sown. At Ranby, where the land available for this shift measures 130 acres, not less than 100 will be swedes, only 10 acres being white turnips, and the remaining 20 po- tatoes. At Morton Grange the course is 170 acres in extent ; about 110 are generally swedes, 30 potatoes, 18 mangolds, and only about a dozen white turnips. The system of tillage is to clean the stubbles by scarifying, as often as may be required, before wheat sowing commences, and to plough iu winter, af- ter wheat sowing is finished. At Rauby the land is then worked down by dragging and harrowing, and afterwards it is cross- cut with the plough. Dragging and harrowing is again resorted to, and sometimes a third ploughing is given. In the spring the land is ridged up, and about 8 loads of farmyard manure, or bought Sheffield muck per acre is put in the ridges ; and after they have been razed 2 cwt. of guano is sown broadcast. The ridges arc then split, and tlie seed drilled alone, at the rate of 21bs. per acre. A portion of the swedes are annually grown on the flat, both at Rauby and at Hodsocks, in which case the land is manured in tlie autumn, and the guano is sowu broadcast at the same time as on the ridged land. At Morton Grange the practice is somewhat different. The laud is share- dragged and got as clean as possible iu the autumn, and left for about a mouth ; after wheat sowing they half-plough (termed " baulking"), missing every other furrow, and throw- ing the furrow ploughed upon the one missed ; by the time the whole of the 160 or 170 acres are thus done, the first por- tion of it is ready for the succediug operation (known as " dou- ble baulking"), which consists of turning it back again, and thus both sides of the ridges are exposed.'' This practice is thought to keep the land more even than the crosss-cutlting, as there must be an inequality of tilth where the furrows cross. In the spring the land is dragged, harrowed, rolled, and thoroughly cleaned, being ridged up just beibre sowing, be- tween May 20th and July 10th. If the land has been ma- nured for wheat, little or none is given for turnips, but an ex- tra quantity of artificials is then used, namely, about 3 sacks of bones, and 'i to 5 cwt. of rape-dust. When the land has not been manured for wheat, from 8 to 10 tons per acre are used for turnips, and a smaller quantity of rape-dust. 22lbs. per acre of Skirving's swede are sown on ridges 26 inches apart, the plants being set out to 11 iuclics. Hoeing twice * Mr, Asliton also pursues this plan. and singling are done at Ranby for Gs. per acre, a lad foUow- iug the hoe to do the singling ; but at Morton Grange it is done by the day, at increased wages, as it is found to be more carefully done on this system, which is especially neces- sary, on account of the enormous (piaulity of grubs which in- fest the turnips there. Swedes are principally consumed on the land by sheep with cake; but about one-fifth are drawn off' for feeding beasts. Tlie tillage for white turnips is the same as for swedes, except that rather less seed is used. The kinds mo^t in vogue are the white globe, red and green round, and grey stone. For mangold, wliich are grown at Morton Grange and Hodsock, the land is prepared iu the same man- ner as for turnips, being done a little earlier, and given rather more manure. From -1 to 51bs. per acre of a variety of yellow globe mangold are sown near the middle of April, and the roots are ready to take up about the end of October or beginning of November. Mr. ilodgkinson prefers to draw only about one-half of his, the remain- der being eaten off on the land by female sheep, as he finds this root injurious to rams and wethers, by causing renal disease, and finally death. Mr. Ashton, on the contrary takes up the whole of his mangolds, has them topped and tailed, and put iu pies, the roots being covered, first with straw, then with fiora tliree to four inches of earth imme- diately, an open space being left at the top until hard weather begins. Taking up, topping, tailing, and covering with the tops costs about 8s. pci iiere. The covering is done by women ; and one woman will earn at this work as much as 3s. per day. It is the practice to begin using them in small quantities in September or October ; and they are always thoroughly cleaned before they are given to the cattle. Pota- toes.— The land is prepared in the same manner as for man- golds or turnips ; but the rape-dust is more liberally applied, reaching as much as 7 cwt. per acre ; and the same quantity of farmyard manure is given as for mangolds. Planting is done between the middle and end of March, with about 15 bushels of whole sets. Pink-eyed Regents are a favourite sort, though Scotch Rocks and White Regents are also used. The ridges are 26 inches apart, as in the case of swedes ; and the after-management consists of hand-hoeing where neces- sary, and then ridging np with the double mould-board plough. At Ranby the potatoes are forked up and got rid of during (he month of Jiily, when the tops are immediately ploughed in, and mustard sown for early autumn keeping. At Morton Giange, however, it is not usual to plough up until October, when the crop is sent to the Manchester and Sheffield mar- kets. 3. Barlei/. — As soon as the turnips are off, the land is cither scarified or lightly ploughed, to keep the manure from being washed off the surtacc. Spring ploughiug is done from, the middle of March to the first week in April, about 5 inches deep ; and as soon as the land is dry enough, it is drilled with from 9 to 10 pecks per acre of Chevalier barley, or " Poor Man's Friend" (at Morton Grange). On some land wheat is sown in- stead of barley in this course, as already described. Barley is harvested in the same manner as wheat, at a little less cost ; but on account of the redundancyofthcclovercrop in some instances, the Northumbrian system of setting it in separate sheaves is practised on some farms. 4. Seeds. — Formerly seeds were not sown until the barley was well up ; but of late years the practice has been to sow immediately after the corn is in, and cveu in some cases to sow barley and seeds together. Thi last, however, is not thought the liest plan, though sometimes it is the most likely to secure a good plant. When the barley is up, it is by some farmers rolled lightly if the seeds are in ; but, if not, the Cambridge roll is used, the seeds being sown and lightly rolled immediately after. Mr. Ilodgkinson, how- ever, seldom rolls barley, and never uses the Cambridge roller. For pasture the following mixtures are used : At Ranby lllbs. of white Dutch, 31bs. of trefoil, and \ peck of perennial ryegrass ; at Morton Grange 81bs. of white Dutch, 21bs. of plaintain, lib. of alsike, 21bs. of parsley, and 1 peck of dwarf ryegrass ; while at Hodsock the quantities are 121bs. of white Dutch, 41bs. of trefoil, and from 1 to 1^ pecks of rye- grass. The proportion of land sowu with red clover varies from one-half of the shift at Ranby to one-sixth at Hodsock, Morton Grange showing a medium system of from one-fourth to one-third. As a rule, not more than one-half of the red clover is mown. The mixture used at Ranby is from 12 to lilbs. of red clover, and \ peck of perennial ryegrass ; at Morton Grange it is 81bs. of red clover, 21bs, of trefoil, and 1 334 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. peck of ryegrass ; and at Hodsock it is 121bs. of red clover 21bs. of trefoil, and ^ peck of ryegrass. The description of sheep generally kept in the Forest is about half Leicester and half Lincoln, and the number of breeding ewes kept on farms where there is little or no permanent pasture must depend en- tirely on the success with which " seeds" can be produced. At llanby there are 300, from 50 to 70 being gimmers, and at Morton Grange there are 350. Lambing begins about the end of February, and the lambs are weaned on clover ed- dishes, with cake about the end of June or beginning of July. Seeds are the only summer food available for the ewes and lambs, and these are entirely depastured by them and the she-hoggs required for breeding next year. In the autumn it is the custom to buy in hoggets for feeding during the winter ; and in the beginning of September they begin to go on white turnips, which are given sliced with mixed (cotton and linseed) cakes, and sometimes maltcombs. The quantity of stock to be kept during the summer is always reduced to the smallest possible number ; and generally by the middle of April or beginning of May no sheep except breeding ewes and she-hoggs remain on the farm. At Ranby, during the winter, however, as many as 1,000 sheep are kept, the usual weight of the best hoggets being 201bs. per quarter, and the fleeces weighing lOlbs. each. No breeding herd is kept at ilanby ; but between twenty and thirty yearlings are an- nually bought to graze off the seeds, and are fed otf in stalls as two-years-old. In tlie autumn a sufficient number of stronger beasts arc bought to consume the straw : 81bs. of oil- cake per day is allowed them with other fodder, and they are sold, as they get fat, in the spring and early part of the sum- mer. Pulping roots for cattle and chaff-cutting are done by horse-power. At Morton Grange a breeding herd of 20 cows is kept, many of them having a place in the " Herd Book." In summer there wiU be from 50 to 60 head of cattle on the farm, aud from 80 to 100 in the winter, as the turnips and straw will keep considerably more stock in winter than the seeds and pasture will in summer ; thus arises the prevalent practice in the forest to buy largely both cattle and sheep in the autumn and sell them in the spring ; and it is generally preferred to buy rather good shorthorn heifers. The feeding beasts get cut straw, and sliced or pulped turnips (though Mr. Hodgkinson does not think pulping worth the trouble), with from 4 to 12 lbs. (according to circumstances) of mixed Un- seed, cotton, rape cake, and locust beans. About 50 pigs of a small white breed are kept at Ranby, and from 80 to 120 at Morton Grange. The usual practice is to sell them off at one year old, weighing over 20 stone, and the sows after they have had one litter. The food in winter con- sists of rotten and small potatoes, supplemented in the summer by cabbages and mangolds (at Mortoa Grange), especially if the potatoes run short, as well as by barley meal, rice meal, and Indian-corn meal, which are mixed with the steamed potatoes. The number of horses is not quite three per 100 acres; they are kept all the year round in stables, standing in pairs, except when they are turned out into the foldyards at night. In winter they get chopped clover, hay, and straw, with about one peck of a mixture of bean meal, oatmeal, and bran per diem. In the summer they are ttirned into the foldyards, and get tares as they are mown, with a little chopped straw, and a smaller quantity of corn. Farm labourers in the Forest get from 13s. to 15s. per week, and as a rule no privileges ;* the carpenter receives 3s. per diem, and the hedge-cutters 2s. 9d. The two cottages at Ranby are inhabited by the shepherd and foreman : the former gets lis. per week, a cottage and a garden rent free, and, as his garden is not very large, he gets an additional allowance of potatoes ; his otlier emoluments are £1 for helping in har- vest time, £1 for lambing time, two bushels of malt per annum, and some milk from the liouse every day. The fore- man at Ranby boards four lads, but several farmers on the Forest still adhere to the old system of having the lads in the house. The foreman gets his cottage and garden rent free, potatoes found him, and from 15s. to 18s. per week, with five bushels of malt, the milk of one cow, and the privilege of buy- ing 60 stone of bacon at 5s. per stone, seconds flour at 2s. per stone, and bread flour at 1 s. lOd. For boarding the youths he gets 6s. 6d. per week each in money, 15 stone of bacon, aud five bushels of malt per lad. A good many boys are em- ployed at from 8d. to Is. per day. The expenditure on artificial manures by most of the Forest farmers is very great ; for instance, Mr. Wilkinson spends at Ranby, on a farm of 550 acres, between £1,000 and £1,200 per annum on cake, notwithstanding that his tenant-right claim, which is the one general in the district, is not more than one-fourth after the first year, and one-eighth after the second. Bones are held in great estimation by both landlords and tenants, and their use is encouraged by a liberal tenant- right agreement all over the Forest — namely, first year the whole outlay, second year three-fourths of the cost, and third year one-third. An ingenious system of dissolving bones is carried out at Morton Grange, as follows : About 20 tons of shoddy from Dewsbury are bought annually, and mixed with the blood of animals slaughtered on the farm ; with this is put 20 qrs. of half-inch bones, and sulphuric acid is added at the rate of one cwt. per qr. The mixture is allowed to remain for two or three weeks, when another 20 qrs. of bones are added to it, and the whole thoroughly mixed together. It is then used as required for turnips. THE ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY'S SHEEP SHOW. The Royal Dublin Society held its second annual show of sheep in the Agricultural HaU,',Kildare-street. The success attending the Society's spring cattle shows for many years having induced the management to attempt an autumnal exhibition of sheep, and last year a capital entry of the most approved breeds was produced, though it was not so well supported by the public ; whOe in this, the second year, the show was fully equal, if not superior, to that of last season in the chief breeds — viz., Leicesters, Borders, Lincolas, Shropshires, and Roscommons, all of which were well represented. The several pens numbered last year 171, this year 143, which marks a deficiency of 38 entries, and would indicate a falling off, which, however, is balanced by the absence of Cheviots and the class for miscellaneous short-wooUed sheep, for which no section was now opened. The exhibition of the more prominent breeds was, on the whole, equal in numbers and of equal, if not superior quality, to last year's meeting. Still it is to be feared that this show is likely to be the last, for it waa badly attended j and the Society, from its limited iu- come, cannot afford to be at continued losses. Tli6 only way to prevent such a result would be to combine the sheep with the horse show, both of which could be held, and that successfully too, at the same time ; for it must be confessed that a mere show of sheep has not much attraction for the Irish sight-seeing public, while, on the other hand, a horse show is sure to be patronized to the fullest extent in Ireland. Everything has been done by the Society that was possible to insm-e a good meeting ; the spacious Agricultural Hall was admirably fitted up and arranged for the occasion ; and if the sheep show fails to insure patronage and support the blame must rest elsewhere. The several pens of Leicesters numbered 43, while last year there were 38, so that there has been an increase of five pens. The chief award in this class did not give quite satisfaction to the outside judges. Of one-shear rams * Mr. Hodgkinson allows each of his labourers seven sacks of potatoes every autumn, THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. 355 there were 14 entries : Mr. Tlios. MaiTis, The Chase, Ulceby, Lincolnshke, is put first and thii-J ; Mr. Wm. 11. IMeade, Ballymartle, Ballinhassig, Co. Cork, gets secoud and a commendation ; Mr, Owen, Blesinton, Wicklow, is put fourth ; and Messrs. Gould, of Poltunore, Exeter, get a high commendation and a commendation. Mr. Meade's second prize was the best in the section, being very compact and symmetrical in every point, as all Mr. Meade's sheep arc, but he is small. In aged rams there were 11 entries. Mr. Marris, who exhibits three, is put first for a great ram, bred by Mr. George Turner, Exeter ; Mr. Seymour, Mowbray, is put secoud for a grand ram, bred by Mr. Sandy, the second at the Manchester Royal and first at the Tralee Royal ; he is better in the rump than the prize ram, and unquestionably the best sheep in the yai-d, girthing 4 feet 10 inches. Mr. Mead is put third for a beautifully even and compact sheep, the second at Tralee Royal, and he gets a commendation for another sheep. The next section was a trying one on breeders, being for the best peu of three shearling rams. It numbered 8 entries, the Messrs. Gould taking the lead, Mr. Marris being put second for a very superior lot, and getting a commendation for another, which evidently they appeared the worse for all their extra travels. Mr. ^leade took ,the thii'd place for a very sweet and even lot. Five entries composed the section for shearling ewes, the English exhibitors bearing off the principal honours, the Messrs. Gould being first, Mr, Marris taking second for a nice pen, but not evenly matched as to the quality of the wool, bred by Mr. ReiUy, Kipling Cotes, Beverley, Mr. S. Mowbray was third, very good individually, but not of even quality ; and Mr. David Hewetson, Bishop's Hall, Waterford, a good breedei', got a commendation for a very neat well bred pen. Eour entries made up the section for pens of five each of ewes that had reared lambs in 1869, where Mr. S. Mowbray was first for a capital even lot ; Mr. Hewetson second for a good lot, but not even in the wool, with a com- mendation for a second pen ; while Mr. Marris came in third. Opening a section for ewes that have reared lambs in the same year of the show is very objectionable, inas- much as to have ewes in condition for exhibition tempts the breeder to wean the lambs too early, and those who have regard to the strength and quality of their lambs must not do so, and therefore cannot compete success- fully ; if the old plan of showing the lambs with the ewes was adhered to it would be more satisfactory ; as it is it would be better to abolish the section, and save the funds for a more satisfactory and useful purpose. It is well known that the best breeders object to it. Of Border Leicesters ten entries made up the section of shearling rams, all great useful sheep, with capital backs, loins, breasts, and rumps, but a tendency to great breadth across the fore ribs and smaUness of the rumps is observ- able in the young brood, which gives that peculiar pear shape to some highly-bred Leicesters, and which militates against the production of a good leg of mutton, and in our opinion is rather a deformity than otherwise. However, the ten under notice were really a good show in them- selves. Captain Cosby carried off the first honour with the grand sheep he got from Mr. A, Smith, Stephenson Mains, Haddington, who bred him, and which was the second-prize ram at the Highland Society's Show at Edinburgh, and the first at the Tralee Royal Irish Show, 1869. The second, third, and fomth piizes were carried off by Mr. Bland, Blandsfort, Abbeyleix, Queen's County, and the greater honour to him as he bred them all him- self. Earl FitzwUliam, CooUettin, Co. Wicklow, exhibited a very fine ram in this section bred by Mr. Ainsley, Cos- terton. In aged rams there were seven entries. Mr. L. Bland was put first for one by a ram of his own breeding, and second for a splendid ram bred by the Duke of Buc- cleugh, Dalkeith Palace, which was the prize yearling ram at the Higliland Society's Show held at Glasgow, 1867. Ca])taiu Cosby takes third honour for his good ram bred by A. Smith, Stephenson Mains, the prize ram and win- ner of the Cork Cup as thcDerry Royal Irish, 1868, and the prize ram at the Tralee Royal, 1867. There were five entries in the section for shearling rams in pens of three each, where Mr. Bland was put first, and Messrs. J. and G. Laing, Cornhill, Northmnberland, second and third ; two of those in the second-prize pen were first and second at the Manchester Royal meeting. Three entries made up the section for shearling ewes in pens of five each. It is quite apparent that, from some cause or other, the shearling ewes in this class are not quite so large as they used to be, although the few exhibited were very sweet and good. Mr. Bland is again conqueror, followed by Messrs, Jas. T. Riddle, Grange House, KUkenny, as second, and by Earl Fitzwilliam as third. Mr. Bland stands alone, and has a walk over in the section for pens of five ewes that had reared lambs in 1869. It is high time that such sections were abolished from the prize Usts; it is only a waste of money to retain them, as breeders will not hazard the future of their lambs to go in for a paltry prize. In the Lincoln classes the only exhibitors were Mr. Caleb Going, Traveston, Muagh; Mr, James Moffit, Ballyhighland, Enniscorthy, Wexford, the latter appear- ing in but two sections; Mr. Patrick Cogan, Leugh House, Kilkenny, and Richard ReyneU, jun., Killynon, Killnean,thetwolast appearing in only the aged-ram section, Mr. Going takes the three prizes for shearling rams, in which there were five entries ; the three prizes for aged rams, in which there were also five entries, the first and second occupying the same positions last yeai", and the third was the prize shearling of the same year. He also takes the prize for pens of three shearling rams, for shear- ling ewes, and for ewes that had reared lambs in 1869. .The next, or fourth class was opened for the exhibition of all long-wooUed sheep not qualified to compete in the foregoing classes, in which the fine Roscommon sheep had to compete against all comers having long wool, whether pui'e or cross-bred. In this Mr. Beale Brown shows some Cotswolds; Mr, Williams, Salisbury, what he calls Im- proved Leicesters; and Mr. Roberts, Improved Long- wools, whatever that may mean. This mixture is not fair as re- gards the Roscommon breeders, who aver that for many yeai's past they have bred by selection amongst their own flocks, and introduced no foreign cross whatever, and therefore have every right to a separate class to themselves. There is no doubt but that the pure Roscommon sheep are distinct in size, shape, and wool from all others; but they want a little more substance and compactness for their height and length. The mutton is first-class, as may be seen in the Dublin weekly market, from whence hundreds of them are eagerly bought up and sent to Eng- land. The wedder hoggets are preferred by the Leinster graziers for their rich land, and bought in vast numbers at the Great BaUinasloe sheep-fair, in October. And if a separate class was opened for them by the Irish Societies, the several rival breeders would soon produce results that would be astonishing. The wool is long, fine, and lustrous : it is in great repute in the foreign market, "its brightness, colour, strength, length, and fineness rendering it the best foundation for the lighi and beauteous fabrics so prized for female attire," Thirteen entries composed the shearling ram section. Mr, Thos. Roberts, Earn, Strokestown, was put first and third for two capital improved long-woolled rams, very substantial and compact, with an excellent coat of wool ; ]\Ir. Richard Cofiy, Newcastle, KUlucan, Westmeath, was second with a splendid Roscommon ram, bred by him- self, which haa a grand breast, loins, and rump, and a 336 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. heavy coat of long, fine wool. Mr. Coffy and Mr. Roberts have changed places since last year. Mr. David Lynch, Springfield, Elphin, came in fourth for a very fine Roscommon ram. Mr. Coflfy had another ram, not placed, which was rather better than the second-prize ram, and reported to have been sold at a very high figure. In aged rams there were nine entries, four of which were Mr. Roberts's improved long-wooUed sheep, and he takes the three leading prizes, the first being a famous sheep. Mr. Coffy got a high commendation, and Mr. Cox Cotton, Longford House, Castlerea, a commen- datiou. In the trying section for pens of three shearling rams there were six entries. Mr. "William Cotton, Longford House, Castlerea, took the lead, Mr. Cofl'y second, Mr. Roberts third, and Mr. Lynch commended. This was a grand class. Of shearling ewes there were but three pens of five each, Messrs. William Cotton and Cox Cotton taking the first and second prizes respectively, the third being withheld. Five pens of five each composed the entries for aged ewes that reared lambs in 1S6'J. Mr. Richard Flynn, Tulsk, the celebrated horse-breeder and rider was put first and third, the first being very fiuc ; while ]Mr. William Cot- ton was put second, and received a commendation for another excellent pen. The show of Shropshire Downs was composed of selec- tions from the flocks of Mr. C. AV. Hamilton, Hamwood, Co. Meath, who has been for many years engaged in breeding this sort ; Mr. Marris, Lincolnshire ; ]Mr. Bland, Colonel Tottenham, Woodstock, Kilcool, Co. Wicklow ; jVIr. Tuite, Culleen, Mullingar, and the execu- tors of the late Mr. Jonathan Richardson, Glenmore, Lisburne, one of the best and most painstaking breeders of stock in Ireland. Eight entries made up the section for shearling rams, Mr. Hamilton taking the first, second, and fourth prizes for very fine sheep, possessinggreat symmetry, quality,and evenness of type. Mr. Marris was put third, and the Executors of Mr. Richardson got a commen- dation for a really good and compact ram, bred by Lord Chesham, Buckinghamshire ; but a sheep (hat evidently had not undergone show preparation. Of aged rams there were eight entries. Mr. Marris was put first for a large symmetrical ram of much substance ; Mr. Hamil- ton takes the second i)lacc, a high commendation, and a commendation for the three rams he exhibited, which are all of very even type, of great symmetry and substance ; and the Executors of Mr. Richardson a commendation for a very superior ram; but Mr. Hamilton has the credit of breeding him ; he possesses such even shapes and quality that had he been prepared for the show he had a good chance of being placed higher up. In the section for pens of three each of shearling rams, there were but three entries, two of them by j\Ir. Hamilton, who is put first and second, while the third fell to the Ex- ecutors of Mr. Richai'dson. The three pens did much credit to the breeders, in shape, quality, and similarity of type. lu the two sections for shearling ewes and ewes which have reai'ed lambs in 1869, the Executors of the late Mr. Richardson were the only exhibitors ; in the former they had two, and in the latter but one pen ; and as a matter of course they had a walk over in both cases, but even so they were of very even quality and type, and would be hard to beat if put in top contition. It is much to be regretted that the Irish Societies have altogether ignored the sweet and savoury Southdown, to which so many short-woolled varieties of sheep owe so much. Of late years they were obliged to compete with all others in a miscellaueons class of shortwools, and have disappeared altogether from the Irish shows. This should not be: as a pure breed, they are still required, and should be kept up for crossing purposes. The classes for Cotswolds, Cheviots, and miscellaneous Shortwoolled sheep have been altogether cut out of the prize list for this show, which more than accounts for the entries being less numerous than they were; but all the other classes were fully represented. The show of the clip of wool of 1869 was as usual very limited, and such it must necessarily be as long as the Irish Societies oflcrbut a silver medal of about as much intrinsic value as a five shilling piece. The lots in each case should contain three fleeces. Of Leicester wool there were three entries. Lord Fitzwilliara got the medal, and Mr. S. Mowbray a high commendation. Of Border Leicesters' wool, not one of the great breeders brought forward a single fleece, although one entry was made by Mr. R. Cotton, Castlerea, but not brought forward. The same may be said of last year's show, two lots were entered but not exhibited. The show of Lincoln wool was confined to one lot by Mr. Goring, who of course got the medal. Of other long-wools there were seven entries, all of Roscommon wool, except one of Cotswold. It thus would appear that the Roscommon men are not afraid of their fleecy pro- duce. Mr. W. Cotton got the medal, and a high com- mendation ; and high commendations went to Mr. R. Flynn, of Tulsk, and to Mr. David Lynch Elphin. Of Shropshire wool there were but two entries, one by Col. Tottenham, the other by Mr. Robert Cotton ; the latter took a high commend, but it does not appear that the medal was awarded. None of the great breeders of this valuable variety of sheep exhibited any of their wool. The judges were : LsicESTERS. — J. Buckley, Tiie Cottage, Loughborough, Lei- cestershire ; L. Thunder, Kingstown Lodge, Navan ; A. Warburton, Kill, Naas. Border Leicesters. — G. Atkinson, Hall Farm, Seahara ; Col. Fisher, Castle Grogan, Rathdowney ; C. White, Er- kindale, Rathdowney. Lincoln and Long-woolled. — J. Irwin, Raheen, Elphin ; F. Flanagan, Cartron, Elphin -. P. P. Taaffe, Foxboro', Tulsk. Shropshire. — R. Chalouer, Kingsfort, Moynalty ; T. Hor- ley, jun., Tlie Fosse, Leamington ; R. Scot Skirving, Scot- land. Wool. — C. F. Dixon, Thoiras-street, Dublin ; J. Ganley, Usher's-quay, Dublin ; R. Milner, Queen-street, Dublin. LEICESTERSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. MEETING AT ASHBY-DE-LA-ZOUCH. At tlie first meeting of the amalgamated Societies known as the Leicestershire and Waltham Agricultural Societies and the Sparkenhoe Farmers' Club, the hunters and liacks, witli the exception of brood mares, were a first-rate entry. In the All-Eugland class Mr. Bennett, of Husband Bos- Worth, took the first prize. Mr. jMilward showed a bay mare of good appearance, and in the cob class he carried oil the second prize. The foals did not bring a very heavy com- petition. Altogether the cart-horse class was good in quality, tiut the number of the entries was comparatively small. A great feature iu the exhibition was the show of sheep. As was to be expected, the pure Leicester predominated, though tlie short-wools were in very good force. In the very heart of a great sheep-breeding county, it would have been strange if THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ^37 there had uot beeu a great display in tliis clabn. Cattle were a good class ; but the pigs were a poor entry, nor were the specimens of any extraordinary merit. A remarkable display was made in the poultry department, but some of the best fowls of tiie season were prevented from competing owing to the moulting process. The show of cheese was generally con- sidered to be inferior to the lloyal Agricultural Show at Leicester; but the butter was remarkable for its excellence of (juality. As regards the turnips and other roots, they were as favourably developed as the exigencies of the season would allow. The implements, though not extensive, were very creditable to the district. Judges : Hunters and Hacks. — Bland, Flawborough, Newark ; Captain Tibbelts, Barton Seagrave ; and T. Dawson. Cart Horses.— T. Wright, Wanlip ; J. WhattolT, Lubbes- thorpe ; W. Daniels, Misterton. Longwooiled Sheep and Pigs. — W. Inett, Asfordby ; J. Paynter, Nottingham. Shortwoolled Sheep and Roots. — Allen, Kuightley Hall, New- port ; and Brown, Wigginton. Cattle. — W. Sauday, llatclide ; and R. Johnson, Westborough. Poultry. — E. Hewitt, Sparkbrook, Birmingham. Cheese and Butter. — Crosland, Nottingham; and Barker, Derby. Implements. — M. Savidge, Sarsden, Cliippiug Norton. HORSES. IIUNTEKS AND HACKS. Hunter. — First prize, £20, J. E. Bennett, Husbands Bos- worth Grange, Rugby ; second of £5, S. Gale, Kelniarsh, Northampton. Highly commended : J. Drage, Moultou Lodge . Gelding or filly adapted for hunting purposes. — First prize, £1 5, John Drage, Moolton ; second of £5, R. L. Healey, Humbleton. Gelding or filly. — First prize, £10, T. Cross, Guadaloupe ; second of £5, G. Beales, Burton Hastings. Gelding or filly. — Prize of £5, J. Beard, Linton. Mare for breeding hunters. — First prize, £10, Countess of Loudoun, Donington Park ; second, J. Sharpe, Kettering. Hacks. — First prize, £7, Lord Berners, Keytliorpe Hall ; second of £3, T. Worthington, Exeter Chambers. Cobs. — First prize, £5, J. Whattoff, Lubbesthorpe ; second of £3, R. Milward, Thurgarton Priory. Highly commended: W. Green, Normanton-le-Heath. Pony. — First prize, £5, Lord Berners ; second of £3, A. Higginson, Ashby-de-la-Zouch. Highly commended : W. Green. CABT HOUSES. Gelding or filly. — First prize, £5, R. Tirams, Brauuston ; second of £3, R. Timras. Gelding or filly best adapted for agricultural purposes. — First prize, £5, R. Timms, Braunston ; second of £2, S. Bacon, Ratcliffe Culey. Highly commended: J. E. Bennett, Hus- bands Bosworth. In-foal mare. — First prize, £5, C. S. Pilgrim, The Outwoods ; second of £2, G. Dewes, Willesley. Stallion. — First prize, £15, J. Manning, Orlingbury. Foal. — First prize, £5, G. Dewes, Willesley ; second of £3, G. Fowler, Domsthorpe. SHEEP. Leicester shearling ram. — First prize, £5, G.Turner, jun., Alexton Hall. Leicester aged ram. — First prize, £5, George Turner, jun. Highly commended, George Turner, jun. Long-wooUed shearling ram. — First prize, £5, A. Hack, Buckminster. Highly commended, J. Lynn, Church Farm, Stroxton ; R. Johnson, TJpperfield Farm. , Long-woolled ram of any age. — First prize, £5, John Lynn. Pen of three, long-woolled fat wether sheep. — First prize, £5, T. W. D. Harris, Wootton, Northampton ; second of £3, Lord Berners. Pen of three long-woolled ewes. — First prize, £5, A. Guy, Eaton, Grantham ; second of £3, Robert Johnson, Upperfield Farm. Pea of five long-woolled theaves. — First prize, £5, T. W. D. Harris, Wootton, Northampton. Commended, R. Johnson. Pen of five long-woolled ewe lambs. — First prize, £5, T. W. D. Harris, Wootton, Northampton, Commended, R. John- Pen of twenty puro-brcd Leicester ewes or tiiraves for breeding purposes. — First prize, £10, R. AV. Cresswell, l\a- vcnstonc ; second of £5, S. Spencer, Gravestone. Commended, W. N. Berry, Stoke Golding. Twenty long-woolled breeding ewes or theaves. — First prize, £10, C. 13osworth, Disliley ; second of £5, A. Guy. CATTLE. Fat ox.— First prize, £10, R. Wood, Clapton, Thrapston ; second of £5, T. Pulver, Broughton. Highly commended, K. Ratclifl'e, Walton-on Trent ; Sir J. H. Crewe, Bart., Calke Abbey. F'at cow or heifer. — First prize, .£10, and a silver cup given by the butchers of Asbby, J. Lynn, Ciiurch Farm, Stroxton ; second of £5, W. T. Cox, Spondon Hall. Bull.— First prize, £10, the Earl of Aylesford, Packiugton Hall ; second of £5, R. Fenton, Harvey Villa, Leamington. Bull of any age. — First prize, £0, 11. Ratcliffe, Walton ; second of £3, the Earl Howe. Longhorn bull. — First prize, £5, R. H. Chapman, CJpton, Nuneaton ; second of £2, M. Taverner, Upton. Bull calf. — First prize, £5, J. Lynn. Highly commended. Earl of Aylesford. Commended, S. Birchnall. Cow in milk. — First prize, £7, W. T. Cox, Spondon ; se- cond of £3, R. Fenton, Harvey Villa. Commended, — Miles, Reynham ; W. Bradbrom, Wednesiield. Pair of in-calf heifers. — First prize, £5, Earl Howe ; se- cond of £2, J. G. Mitchell, Newton Mount. Best pair of stirks. — First prize, £5, W. T. Wakefield, Fletchamstead Hall ; second of £2, W. Bradbrom. Highly commended, W. T. Wakefield and R. Fenton. Pair of longhorn heifers. — First prize, £5, M. Taverner, Upton ; second of £3, M. Taverner. Heifer calf. — Prize of £5, — Miles, Reynham. Com- mended, W. T. Wakefield. Alderney or Guernsey cow. — Prize of £5, Earl Howe. Highly commended, — Cowlishaw, Barrow Hill Lodge. TENANT-l'AEMEES' CLASSES. Bull of any age. — First prize, £5, J. W. Faux, Coleorton ; second of £2, S. BurchuaU, Catton. Pair of cows in milk. — First prize, £5, Isaac Swinnerton, Thorpe Constantine ; second of £3, W. Bradburn. Com- mended, W. Heafield, Breech Farm. Pair of heifers under three years. — First prize, £5, Isaac Swinnerton ; second of £3, S. C. Pilgrim, The Outwoods. Commended, G. J. Mitchell, Newton Mount. Pair of stirks. — First prize, £3, J. J. Sharp, Kettering ; se- cond of £2, S. C. Pilgrim. Milch cow. — First prize, £2, Thomas Waterfield ; second of £1, A. Kendrick. PIGS. Boar of large breed- — First prize, £3, H. Tomlinson, Blythford ; second of £2, R. E. Duckering, Northorpe. Boar of a small breed. — First prize, £3, \Y. H. Salt, Kirby Frith ; second of £1, R. E. Duckering. Breeding sow of large breed. — First prize, £3, M. Walker, Stockby Park, Onslow ; second of £1, M. Walker. Breeding sow of small breed. — First prize, £3, R. E. Duckering ; second of £1, M. Walker. Three breeding pigs (one litter). — First prize, £3, M. Walker, Stockby Park ; second of i'l, F. Spencer, Clay brook Magna. Three breeding pigs of a small breed. — First prize, £3, W. Carver and Sons, Ingarsby ; second of £1, John Faulkner, Bretby Farm. CHEESE. Six cheeses, weighing 401bs. each or more. — First prize, £5, Thomas Oakey, Normanlon ; second of £3, Wm. Suialley, Bishop Meadow Farm, Garendon ; third of £2, I'rancis Spencer, Claybrook Magna. Six cheeses, weighing not more than ^Olbs., and not less than 301bs. — First prize, ±'5, William Browne, Snarestone ; second of £3, Wm. Oakley, Normanton, Ashby-de-la-Zouch ; third of £3, Matthew Walker, Stockby P.ark, Anslow. Six cheeses, weigliing under 30lbs. — Prize of £5, John Grundy, Packingtou, Ashby. BUTTER. 61bs. — First prize, £1, John Barry, High Street, Leicester ; second of 10s,, Alex. Hadden, Old Park House, Ashby. 338 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. WHITBY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. MEETING AT WHITBY. The annual show did not fall helow the average iu its merits as a test of North Riding breeding and rearing. Having regard to that feature of the show on which its reputation depended, the committee, departing from custom, gave first place in their catalogue to horses. This department was noteable for a splen- did display of the classes that have made the Cleveland district famous, the competition being' spirited amongst the coaching liorses and hunters. Mr. Philip Hoggarth's Bass Rock took the only honour offered for thorough-breds, and Mr. Wm. Poad, of Ruston, took the first place amongst four coaching staUions with Sportsman. The leading prize for coaching brood mares went to Mr. J. Porritt. Mr. Joseph Smith was first for agri- cultural brood mares, Mr. C. M. Palmer, the well-known Tyne shipbuilder, being second. In the hunting brood mare class Messrs. "W. and B. Muzeen were first, and Mr. Joseph Rohson Norton, with a chesnut mare obtained the principal award in the class for roadster mares or geldings. Mr. Norton was also first in the open class for hunting mares or geldmgs, and thus obtained the most valuable money prize that was offered. Amongst the cattle there were none of the leading animals that have carried all before them at most of the other York- shire shows, and the merits of district breeders were thus the more readily tested and compared. The principal bull prize was for yearlings, and carried away by W. C. Worsley's Duke of Roxburgh. A district prize for yearling bulls was gained by Mr. Cass Smith, while an open prize for buUs of the same age went to the Duke of Roxburgh. Notliing could be said against the quality of the sheep, but there was a sad lack of competition, and Mr. T. H. Hutchinson, Catterick, took nearly all the prizes offered for Leicesters ; and very much the same remark could be applied to Mr. Wm. Rudsdale, of Danby, as to the moor sheep. JUDGES. Coaching Houses.— J, Mewburn, Yarm; J. Robinson, Newcastle, Hunters. — J. DarreU, Ayton ; — Mayuard, Skinningrove. Cattle, Sheep, and Pigs. — G. Leighton, Osgodby ; J. J. Simpson, Bridlington. Moor Sheep.— Wm. Todd, Sylpho ; J. Wilson, Littlebeck. PRIZE LIST. HORSES. Thoroughbred stallion, PhiUip Hoggarth, Lythc, Coaching stallion, Wm. Poad, Ruston. Coaching brood mare with her foal, J. Porritt, Buck Rush ; second, Messrs. Wormald. Coaching foal, colt or fJly, Peter Campion, Overdale ; se- cond, Peter Campion, Rosedale. Yearling coaching colt or gelding, J. Weighill ; second, J. Jackson, Goldsbro'. Yearling coaching fiUy, J. Plews, Uggleharnby ; second, P. Stainthorpe, Newton. Two years old coaching gelding, T. Curry, Norton Carr ; second, T. Newton, Easiugton. Two years old coaching filly, J. Rudsdale ; second, Johnson Cross, Ruswarp. Three years old coaching gelding, Johnson Cross. Tliree years old coaching iilly, J. Helm, Ayton. Agricultural brood mare with her foal, J. Smith, Risebro' ; second, C. M. Palmer. Agricultural foal, colt or filly, J. Smith ; second, W. Sleiglit- hobn. Agricultural yearling, colt or filly, Wra. Sleightholm ; se- cond, Messrs. Wormald. Agricultural two years filly or gelding, N. Stonehouse and Son, first and second. Pair of agricultural horses, C. M. Palmer; second, W. Sleightholme. Hunting brood mare with her foal, W. and B. Muzeen, South Holme ; second, J. Bradley, Normanby. Hunting foal, colt or filly, Paul Shimmins, Whitby ; second, G. Richardson, Uggleharnby. Hunting yearling colt or filly, M. Leaper, Sledmere ; second, Dr. Sherwood, Whitby. Two years old hunting colt or filly, R. Brunton, Marton ; second, Jackson, Normanby. Tliree years old hunting gelding, J. Robson, Norton ; se- cond, E. Corner, Esk Hall. Three years old hunting filly, C. Richardson, Wliithy ; se- cond, Messrs. Wormald. Hunting mare or gelding. — First prize, J. Robson ; second, J . H. Allen, Hempsyke. Horse or mare which leaps the artificial fences in the bett hunting style. — Pirst prize, J. Bradley ; second, J. Wilkinson. Hunting mare or gelding. — First prize, J. Hindson ; second, J. H. Allen. Roadster mare or gelding, over U hands. — ^First prize, J. Robson ; second, R. Cattley. Pony, mare or gelding, not over 14 hands. — First prize, W. Clarkson, Wykeham ; second, J. Weighill. CATTLE. Shorthorn hull calf, over six and under twelve months old. — First prize, J. Hartas, Sinnington ; second, D. Hartley, Westerdale. Shorthorn yearling bull. — First prize W. C. Worsley, Ho- vingham ; second, C. Smith, Westerdale. Two years old or aged shorthorn bull. — First prize, D. Hartley ; second, J. Wilkinson . Shorthorn heifer calf, over six and not exceeding twelve months old. — Prize, C. Smith. Shorthorn yearling heifer. — First prize, I. Garbutt, Farn- dale ; second, T. Hutchinson. Two years old shorthorn heifer, in milk or calf. — First prize, C. Smith ; secoad, P. Shimmins. Shorthorn cow, iu milk or calf. — First prize, I. Garbutt ; second, T. Frank. Yearling shorthorn bull. — Prize, a silver cup, value £5 5s., W. C. Worsley (Dnke of Rosburg) . Yearling shorthorn buD. — Prize, C. Smith. Two dairy cows, with special reference to milking. — First prize, J. Weighill ; second, Capt. E. H. Turton. Two yearling steers. — First prize, F. Norman ; second, T. Beeforth. Pair of working oxen. — First prize, T. Watson, Sneaton Thorpe ; second, J . Mead, Egton. SHEEP. Two-shear or aged Leicester rams. — First and second prize, T. H. Hutchinson. Shearling Leicester Ram. — First and second prize, T. H. Hutchinson. Leicester Tup Lamb. — First prize, T. Frankland ; second, J. Wilkinson; third, E. Corner, Broadings. Pen of five Leicester ewes, having reared lambs in 1869.*— Prize, T. H. Hutchinson, Pen of five Leicester shearling gimmers. — Prize, T. H. Hutchinson, Pen of five Leicester gimn-^er lambs, — First prize, W. S. Gray ; second, W. and B. Muzeen. Three Leicester tup lambs, bred by the exhibitor. — First prize, T. Frankland ; second, E. Corner. Two-shear or aged moor tups. — First prize, W. Rudsdale ; second, C. Smith. Shearling moor tup. — First prize, W. Rudsdale ; second, I. Garbutt. Moor tup lamb. — First prize, W. Rudsdale; second, I. Garbutt. Pen of five moor ewes, having reared lambs in 1869. — First prize, W. Rudsdale ; second, C. Smith. Pen of five shearling moor gimmers, — First prize, C. Smith; second, W. Rudsdale. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 839 Pen of five moor wethers, two-shear or upwards, bred by the exhibitor, — First and second prizes, J. Peirson, Goath- laud. PIGS, Boar of any large breed, over six months old.— First prize, J. Windle ; second, J. Beal. Sow or gilt of any large breed, over six months old.— First and second prizes, G. Cliapman. Boar of any small breed, over six months old. — First prize, G. Earle, York ; second, 6. Chapman. Sow or gilt of any small breed, over six months old.— First and second prizes, G, Earle. BADMINTON FARMEKS' CLUB. The annual sliow was held on the Duke of Beaufort's estate at Badmiutou. The show was one of the best that had been held for many years. There, were from seventy to eighty entries of horses, and many of these were of very high-class character. The hunters were remarkably good ; but in the class of horses for agricultural purposes there was a falling off. The roadsters formed a capital class, amongst tliem being some very useful animals. The show of cattle was not quite so large as last year, but the quality was good. There was an excellent show of roots, and many of the specimens were of superior growtli. The judges were — Hunting stock and roadsters : Mr. J. Capel Croome, Bagendon ; Mr. G, Powell, Crickhowel ; Mr. Thomas D. Broad, Bath. Cattle : Mr. H. C. Organ, Tod- dington, Winchcomb ; Mr. James I'ry, Lacock ; Mr. H. Say, Lacock. Cart horses, sheep, pigs, and roots : Mr. Henry Howell, Coates ; Mr. Thomas Halsey, Whitmiuster ; Mr. Edward Little, Chippenham. Cheese: Mr. John Cole, Bristol. PRIZE LIST. HORSES. Special prizes given by his Grace tlie Duke of Beaufort. Brood mare and foal for hunting purposes, a piece of plate, value £5, H. Hewitt, Coalpit-heath. Yearhug colt or filly, for hunting purposes, a piece of plate, value £5, T. H. Butler, Badminton. Two year old gelding or fiUy, for hunting purposes, a piece of plate value £5, J. Powney, Lansdown. Hunter, mare or gelding, above four years old, a piece of plate, value £10, R. Gould, Didmarton. Roadster, mare or gelding, above three years old, a piece of plate value £5, M. Alway, Doynton. Brood mare and foal, for agricultural purposes, a piece of plate, value £5, James T. Barton, Cam ; 2nd, J . W. Alway, HiUsley. Two year old gelding or filly, for agricultural purposes, a piece of plate, value £5, W. Beard; 2nd, J. Arnold. CATTLE. BuU above one and under two years old. — Prize, R. Gould^ Didmarton. Bull calf, above three and under twelve months old. — Prize, D. F. Long, Oldbury-on-the-Hill. Cow above four years old, in-milk or in-calf. — Prize, J. Thompson, Badminton. Cow above three and under four years old, in-milk or in- calf.— Prize, R. Gould. Heifer above two and under three years old. — Prize, J. Thompson. Heifer above one and under two years old.— Prize, J. Thompson. Heifer calf, above three and under twelve months old.— Prize, J. Thompson. Cow above three years old, in-milk or in-ealf. — First prize, J. Goulter, Acton Turville ; second and third, R. Gould. Pair of heifers, above two and under three years old. — First and second prizes, D. F. Long ; third, J. Neems, Wick. Pair of heifers, above one and under two years old,— First prize, J. Goulter ; second, D. F. Long, SHEEP, Long-wool shearling ram. — First and second prizes, H. Arnold, Torraarton, Long-wooUed ram of any age.— First prize, J. C. Hatherell, Oldbury-on-the-HiU ; second, H. Arnold, Eight long-woolled ewes. — First prize, H, Arnold ; second, R. Gould. Eight long-woolled wether lambs.— First prize, R. Gould ; second, D. F. Long. Eight long-woolled chilver lambs.- First prize, R. Gould ; second, D. F. Long. Short-wooUed sliearling ram.- Firstprize, W.Minett, Acton Turville ; second, J. Arnold, Torraarton. Short-woolled ram of any age. — First prize, J . Arnold ; second, W. Minett. Eight cross-bred ewes. — First prize, J, Arnold ; second, J. Bennett, Tormarton. Eight cross-bred wether lambs. — First prize, R. Gonld. Eight cross-bred cliilver lambs. — First prize, R. Gould. PIGS. Boars, sows, and six pigs. — AU the prizes, J. Goulter. ROOTS. Mangold wurtzel, swedes, and turnips. — Special prize given by Messrs. Proctor, J. Bennett. Special prizes given bv Messrs. Bryant and Co. — Mangold, Mrs. M. Witchell ; swedes, J. M. Williams; common turnips, T. Goulter. CHEESE. Thick and thin 'cheese. — All the prizes — T. Goulter. THE OVER AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. This Society has held its thirteentli annual exhibition, when there was a good show of stock on the whole, and more especially in dairy cows and heifers, and horses for agricultural purposes. In the entries of single dairy cows ten were very fine specimens, Mr. Davies, of Eardswick Hall, taking the place of honour ; and his neighbour, Mr. Hornby, of MinshuU, the second. The two-year and one-year old heifers were well represented, as were also the bull and heifer calves. The cheese was first-rate. Tliere were nine dairies shown in the large class, and Mr. Nathaniel Tomlinson, Swanlow-lane, took the first prize ; and Mr. John Tomlinson, ofAVeaver Hall, the second. In the light weights the first prize was awarded to Joseph Wood, Town Fields; and the second to John Roberts, of Darnhall. The long-wools were not very well represented, but the short-wools were very good. The following is the prize list : CATTLE. Bulls above two years old. — First prize, R. Barnett, Wet- tenhall ; second, J. Hitchen, Rushton. Bulls under two years old. — First prize, T. Finchett, Rush- ton ; second, C. Hollinshead, Miushull, Vernon. Pairs of dairy cows in milk. — First prize, J. Barker, Rush- ton ; second, S. Davies, Eardswick Hall. Dairy cows. — First prize, S. Davies ; second, J. Hornby, Minshiill, Vernon. Pairs of two-year-old heifers. — First prize, J. Barker; second, R. Barnett. Pairs of one-year-old heifers. — First prize, — Moreton, sen,, Swanlow ; second, J. Barker. Bull calves, calved since 1st Januaiy last. — First prize, S. Allen, Weaverham ; second, R. Barnett. Pairs of heifer calves, calved since 1st January last.— First prize, T. Finchett ; second, T. Wild, Weaverham. HORSES. Pairs of horses for agricultural purposes. — First prize, J. Rigby, Little Leigh ; second, W. Moreton, Marton HaU. Mares or geldings for agricultural purposes. — First prize, J. Hornby, Miushull Vernon ; second, R. Barnett, Wettenhall Hall. Two-year-old colts for agricultural purpose. — First and se- cond prizes, C. Hollinshead, Miushull Vernon. One-year-old colts for agricultural purposes.— First prize, C, Hollinshead ; second, J. Hornby. 340 THE FARMEE'S MAGAZINE. Mares and foals of the cart breed. — First prize, Sir P. G. Egertou, J3art.,M.l'. ; second, C. IloUinsliead. Roadsters of any age. — J. Gandy, Acton Mills; second, J. Shaw, Weaver. Mares for breeding hunters or roadsters, with foals at foot. — First aud second prizes, J. Wright. Colts for hunting purposes, under four years old. — First prize, — Moreton, sen., Swanlow; second, J. Holland, Bark House. PIGS. Boars above twelve montjis old. — First prize, Sir P. G. Egerton, Bart., M.P. ; second. The Right Hon. Lord Dela- mere. Boar pigs, born since 1st January last. — First prize, — Davies, Eardswick Hall ; second, G. Cookson, Darnhall. Breeding sows, any age. — First prize, J. Shaw, Weaver ; se- cond, T. Rigby, Darnhall. Pairs of sow pigs, littered since 1st January. — First prize, J. Hitchen, Rushton ; second, J. Slater, Woodford Hall. SHEEP. Long-woolled rams of any age.-^Prize, P. Wright, Min- shull. Long-woolled tup lambs. — Prize, T. Trelfa, Weaver Wood. Short-wooUed rams. — Prize, Sir P. G. Egerton, Bart., M.P. Shearling short-wooUed rams. — Prize, Sir P. G. Egerton, Bart., M.P. Short-woolled tup lambs. — Prize, Sir P. G. Egerton, Bart., M.P. Three long-woolled ewes. — Prize, — Davie.s. Three shearling long-woolled ewes. — Prize, — Davies. Three short-woolled ewes. — Prize, J. Barker, Rushton. Three shearling short-woolled ewes. — Prize, Sir P. G. Egerton, Bart., M.P. Three short-woolled ewe lambs. — Prize, Sir P. G. Egerton, Bart., M.P. CHEESE AND BUTTER. Clieeses, new or old, each above 501bs. — First prize, N. Tomlinson, Swanlow Lane ; second, J. Tomlinson, Weaver Hall. Cheeses under 501bs. each. — First prize, J.Wood, Town Fields ; second, J. Roberts, Darnhall. Four dishes of butter. — First prize, J. Piatt, Darnhall ; se- cond, W. Robinson, Wimboldsey ; third, T. B. Moreton, Beach Hill ; fourth, Rov. N, Jackson, Over, THE TRANSIT OF STOCK BY SEA. The evils which afflict the various classes of stock during transit by sea are manifold. To begin witli the deck, the first serious evil that presents itself is the almost total want of shelter. During two or three months in summer, when the weather is warm and fine, the want of this may not be much felt ; but let anyone observe the appearance of animals as they are taken into the vessel, and watch the progress of the effects of exposure (intensified undoubtedly by the want of food and water) ; see how they first begin to look cold, and their coats stare ; gradually their backs begin to arch, and continue to rise, while their bellies are tucked up until their natural shape is almost lost ; their feet and legs become numbed, and, after two days of it perhaps, a more complete picture of misery it would be difficult to find ; while the discharge of mucous from the nose tells of mischief within, which may, and often does, lead to fatal consequences. Be it remembered that these animals are exposed to all kinds of weather, wind and- rain, frost and snow, and, what is often worse than all, the lash of the spray in stormy weather. I have stood on the bridge of a steamer and watched how, even in a small storm, each wave as it was met sent a shower of spray over the vessel from stem to stern, and with a force which only those who have experienced it can fully appreciate ; and the condition of the stock exposed to it was pitiable in- deed. This state of things may not occur in every voyage, but it does occur suflicieutly often to call for the application of everything that can be done to increase shelter ; and the following suggestions would perhaps help somewhat towards so desirable an end : 1st, Let the pens have light corrugated iron (galvanised) roofs thrown over them, sliglitly arched in the middle. The standards at present used for the boarding would be quite sufficient to carry tliem, if made of a suitable height, and a toprail added to receive it. 2nd. In windy or cold weather it is essential to protect the animals from the sweep of the blast, and tliis might readily be done by tying a tarpaulin along the side of the pen exposed to the wind. Along the bulwarks a light roof, as suggested for the peus, might be erected by increasing the height of the standards into which the planks already alluded to are fixed, keeping the inside higher considerably than the toprail of the bulwarks, to allow water to run oft'. Then, instead of a division plank, a light close-boarded partition might be inserted. These would break the force of the wind to the animals, and also keep them tolerably dry, and thereby greatly increase their comfort ; and as they might be constructed to be readily erected and taken down, there does not appear to be any very serious objection to their use. In the hold, the first, and perhaps the greatest, evil to the stock is exactly the reverse of what occurs on deck ; fresh air is the great desideratum. The want of ventilation in the hold, and consequent foul air, heat, and stench, produce results more disastrous than even the exposure of the deck, rapidly producing low typhoid fever, which is to be feared more fre- quently ends in pleuro-pneumonia than is generally supposed. The condition of a hold filled with cattle or sheep, a few hours after they liave been put in, must be actually examined to be fully appreciated ; aud the visitor must not be content with going merely down to the foot of the ladder, or even taking two or ti'iree steps towards the interior of the hold, as the stifling sensation experienced naturally suggests, but let him grope his way to the back corners, where nothing can be seen, but where the ventilation is worst, and where the quick breathing and constant moaning of the unhappy beasts only too truly indicate their sufferings, and we believe he will turn away sick at heart, and astonished that the animals can endure it. Then wlien a stom comes, and the hatches have occasion- ally to be closed for however short a time, these evils are a thousandfold intensified. The hatchway, and the sheet for increasing its ventilating power, have already been noticed; and, while these must be used to their utmost capacity, some other arrangements must be devised to bring these holds up to even a moderate state of ventilation, the absolute necessity of which is now recognized on all hands. The following method is suggested : Holds sufficiently raised above the water-line to be fitted with windows similar to those used in ordinary passenger cabins. Tlicse might be made suficiently numerous to thoroughly ven- tilate a hold, with the help of one or two opening through the deck, for the escape of foul air. Such an arrangement, in smooth water, would be very effectual: but, of course, tlie windows could only lie used in comparatively smooth water, and therefore some arrangement to effect ventilation in all weathers, iu these upper holds as well as in the holds which are below the water-line, must also be found ; and for this purpose there appears nothing so good as tlie multiplication of air-pipes, similar to those now used to ventilate the engine- room of a steamer. Tiiese pipes are about 13 inches in dia- meter, are raised about 10 feet high from the deck, and have bell-shaped mouths, which are curved forward so as to face the direction in which the vessel is sailing, tiius meeting the current caused by its passage through the air, intercepting it, and conveying it downwards. A row of these might be placed along the sides of the vessel, a sufficient number of which could be carried down to the lower holds by means of light wooden, moveable tubes, or gutta-percha ones, which, when not in use, would occupy very little space ; then, along the centre line of the hold, another row of similar pipes would be required to cany off the foul air; these would be in shape precisely the same as the others, but the bell-shaped mouth would be curved in the reverse direction, so that the action of THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 341 the external air on Il\pm would be to quicken tl'o (liy this means, and with ample capacity of tubes, the ventilation of the holds could at all times be completely regulated. Tlie next evils to be noticed atl'ect both the stock on deck and iu the hold — viz., the want of food and water. ior stock that are only to be on board the steamer for not more than eight or ten hours, the want of food is not of very much consequence, unless accompanied with severe exposure to cold or wet, and therefore the following remarks are intended to apply rather to stock which are to be a longer time ou shipboard : water, however, we are inclined to insist ou for all stock ou board a steamer at least ouce in every six hours. The consideration of how these are best to be supplied brings up again what has been already alluded to — the usual method of securing the animals, cattle aud horses, by tying their heads as closely as possible to a ring iu the side of the vessel, and by placing them so closely together that access to their heads is almost impossible. If such is to continue to be the arrange- ment of these animals on board a steamer, the supply of the necessaries of life to them will continue, as it hitherto has done, practically impossible ; but we believe the absolute necessity of supplying these will compel a change of arrange- ment, aud therefore, as a preliminary to the main question, we suggest a method of eflecting this. For the cattle ou deck, let the standards and plauks now placed along the buttocks of the aaimals be made a little stronger and more securely fixed than they are at present, and the animal's position may be re- versed, and its head tied to a ring in the plank, instead of to one iu the bulwarks. For the cattle iu the hold a similar erection might be used — such, indeed, as is at present used — to accommodate more animals than can be tied to the sides of the vessel. This ai'raugement would bring every animal's head within the most conveuient reach of the cattleman that is pos- sible, so that both food and water could be supplied with ease. As to the kind of food to be supplied, there may be differ- ences of opinion, but for general stock nothing appears to be belter than hay, the natural food (dried) of horses, cattle, and sheep, and which, to the recommendations of being cheap and easily obtained iu most places, adds this jiroperty, that its nature fits it for being supplied to the animals by an extremely simple means — viz., a net made of tarred cord, aud for cattle and horses iu the form of a bag capable of containing 5 or 61bs. of hay. For ponies or sheep iu a pen or hold the net would require to be made oblong, of sufficient length to stretch across, secured at the ends to the sides of the pen or hold, and supported by light stakes when necessary. For horses and cattle a bag-net should bo suspended alongside of each ani- mal's head, or, if made a little larger, one between each pair of animals might be fouud sutlicient. The use of nets in the feeding of animals with hay is perhaps less known on the north side of the Tweed than ou the south side ; but from personal observation aud experience, every confidence is felt that the net in one form or other is capable of being adapted for the purpose iu view, aud that it oilers greater facilities, when the requirements of a steamer are considered, than any other ajjparatus yet tried. Its chief advantages are these — it is very portable and cheap ; the hay, when once in it, is secure from the elfects of wind, so that it forms the best vehicle for conveying hay in a steamer from the store to the stock, and for preserving it when placed before them (hay might be put into the nets before shipment) ; it occupies the least possible room when not in use ; it won't become sour or injuriously dirty ; and it will allow the animals to consume the food with less'uaste than an ordinary rack, while its use, as suggested, would place the supplies withiu the reach of each animal ; and we therefore, without hesitation, suggest it as the host apparatus for supplying food to stock ou board steamers. The supply of water, fortunately, presents much greater facilities than food ; aud, bearing in mind the reversal of tlio animal's position, already suggested as a sine (jint iiuu, we oiler the following arraugcinout : Let a small service-tank be erected on some eh!vatcd portion of the steamer (such as the small portion of deck usually built over the bowsprit), if possible, sufliciently high to send water by gravitation along the deck, the supply of which alone requires the elevation of this tank above the main deck. This service-tank may be supplied from the general tanks (probably themselves requir- ing enlargement) liy help of the engine at any time, and from it let pipes be laid along the deck, near to tlie line of the heads of the animals arranged along the bulwarks and sides of the holds, having taps at intervals of 20 feet or so, to which a gutta-percha pipe can be screwed. One set of pipes would supply both the deck aud upper hold — the lower hold being supplied by a set of pipes laid in the floor above it. With such an arrangement as this, the watering of the stock would be made comparatively easy ; to elTect it, the cattlemen, keep- ing up the service-tauk supplies, and haviug screwed on his gutta-percha pipe (10 or 15 feet long), would take it iu one hand, and with a pail iu the other (light movable wooden troughs being used for sheep), would pass from beast to beast, supplying each in turn in probably not more, on an average, than one minute each, and this would iu general be quick enough for all practical purposes. The only objection to this system that occurs as likely to be made is ou the score of expense ; but even although it en- tailed increased storage tank-room, the whole apparatus for a large steamer could not cost a larger sum than would be re- paid tenfold by the benefit to the stock ; and when it is fur- ther considered that water might thus be supplied without iuterfering with almost any of the existing arrangements of a steamer, and that quickly and conveniently too, the matter of expense becomes very small, and does not appear as a very great objection to such a mode of supply, and we therefore suggest it as the best arrangement possible in the circum- stances. The only other evil of this mode of transit to which we can allude here, is the knocking about, the falls, aud conse- quent trampling, sufi'ocatiou, and strangulation, to which cattle and sheep are especially liable during rough weather, and which appears to be simply, as to the last-named results, the effect of over-crowding. The animals are packed toge- ther as closely as they will stand, and when an ox falls, through its feet slipping on the slimy boards, the chances are very great that the animals next it on both sides will be thrown down on the top of it. This is easily understood, when it is remembered that the animals standing together iu a row press mutually against each other ; the moment, how- ever, a vacancy is made by the fall of one, this pressure tends to fill up the space left, by pushing the adjoining beasts until they meet over the fallen one, which then has scarcely a chance to regain its feet, even when these dou't fall over it ; but when this happens, and in a storm, the confusion becomes in- extricable, and the lives of three or four animals are lost through such a small accident as the slipping down of one beast. So much is this felt, that almost the whole vigilance of the catlleraaii is directed, during the voyage, to the one object of keeping the beasts ou their feet, and the difficulties of achieving it can only be fully realised bj those who have witnessed the ctfeets of a storm on the occupants of the hold. As a remedy for this great evil, we suggest that, instead of a division plank to every tenth beast as is now usually allowed, a similar plank shall be fixed between each animal. The ad- vantages of this would be very considerable ; if a beast did get down it would prevent its being either trampled or strangled to death by its neighbours before it had a chance to get up again, while the support these planks would give to all would relieve the individuals from the swaying and crushing ed'cct now ex- perienced in the rolling of the vessel, and wiiicli is productive of much mischief to all except the strongest animals. It may be thought a disadvantage to the introduction of these B B ^42 THE PARMER'S MAGAZINE. planks, that such a system would fix the limits of the space allowed to each heast, and that a large animal and a small one would have precisely the same accommodation ; further, that these planks would occupy space which might be hetter em- ployed. To the first of these objections it may be replied, that as nearly all steamers are built with a view to tlxe require- ments of the particular station on which they are to be em- ployed, the descriptions and average sizes of the stock usually conveyed could be kno^u, and suitable grades of spaces pro- vided accordingly, and that as the fixing of the spaces would prevent overcrowding and all its attendant evils, a great advan- tage would thereby be gained ; wliile the greater comfort and security of the animals would more than repay for the extra space occupied, and which, after all, would be comparatively trifling, only an addition of three inches (the thickness of the plank) for each beast, while its cost would be very trifling. Mr. George Menzies in The Transactions of the Highland and Agricnltural Society of Seotland, CATTLE AT SEA. TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. Sir, — I was a passenger yesterday from Rotterdam to Lon- don by one of the General Steam Navigation Company's boats. The weather was perfect, and Nature's face full of smiles ; the captain, officers, and crew, vidth one exception, all that could be desired ; yet there was one fact and state of things in that ship so shocking and repulsive to every mind in a healthy state of common humane feeling that the pleasure of the voyage was destroyed and exchanged for feelings of pain, horror, and disgust. The passenger deck was a raised and agreeable one, while the main deck and lower deck were covered by a cargo of sheep, pigs, fowls, &c. Tliere were 1,380 sheep, 400 pigs, and a horse on board, besides the feathered species in boxes. The sheep were contained in large, rude, extemporized pens, and they were so closely packed that they represented a solid, heaving, struggling mass of ovine flesli, witli occasionally a weak element of the mass giving way and sinking beneath its fellows, to be trodden on and suffocated, untQ by a sort of life-or-death effort it broke through the troubled mass, and spasmodically recovered its standing. As the hours passed by these repeated accidents and painful struggles, together with the accumulated filth beneath them, kept in a fluid state by the smooth iron plates which constituted the floor on which they stood, had turned their fleeces into a dirty dark green, and filled the air with an odour that could not add either to the comfort or the benefit of the passengers. Paying a visit to the fore part of the vessel, a young sailor was seen amusing himself by setting a dog to worry the poor animals already so cruelly treated. Expostulating witli the young ruffian, his reply consisted in putting the slang question " How much ?" When the sailors required to pass along these decks they were obliged to leap down on the backs of the sheep, and they seemed to treat the living animal with the same kind of respect that other people would do the dead mat made from their prepared skins. Blows, kicks, and saltatory performances on their backs, heads, or anywhere, were made as if sheep possessed no nerves, and were already, in fact, merely a tough mat, callable of improve- ment by beating. The morning light found the sheep looking wretched indeed and unnatural, from the filth accumulated in their fleeces, from the fatigue of standing so many hours (get- ting on for 24), unable to lie down, and kept without food or drink. At Blaekwall the ship was brought to, an inclined plane set from the landing-stage, the pens were opened to drive the sheep out of tlie ship and up the incline. But now began the most revolting part of the painful scene ; the drovers, assisted by the crew, were armed with stout sticks, some termi- nating in a whip, and others in a goad, and they began knock- ing about the paralyzed crowd of animals in a way that can be described only by the expression " ferocious brutality." After standing so long and without food they were naturally stiff and weak, and the floor on whicli they stood being smooth iron, made very slippery by unctuous moisture, the consequence was, as they started from the blows they received, they slipped and fell, to be kicked or struck again until they struggled to their legs again, and somehow got away from the inhuman beings who adopted so bungling and cruel a method to accomplish their object. The young man I had noticed the previous even- ing worrying them with a dog, I again found active above all, holding his dog by a leash with his left hand, and urging him to do his worst, and with a stick in his right laying on right and left, as if he thoroughly enjoyed knocking about tlie defenceless and unresisting creatures. This time I appealed to the captain against the excessive cruelty ; and I am glad to say that he interfered to prevent it, and particularly when I pointed out a little later this same ruffian trying to kick a pig through a space too small for its body to pass, on which occa- sion the captain made him unship the obstructing beam. This scene of active torture must have occupied the last hour of the 23 hours, ending Sunday at 7 a.m., that these poor animals were under my observation. What might follow I cannot tell. The captain said they would be put into a field until Monday morning, when they would be sold ; but after such a sickening experience of the past, the future could contain no hope, but only sad forebodings. Sir, I am much occupied with other pursuits ; but it was on' my conscience to send to you this recital in outline of the barbarities inflicted on the lower animals in their passage from a foreign shore. This ship appeared to me so well conducted in other respects, and to have so excellent a captain, tliat I doubt not my experience is much less dreadful than it may be in other cases. The passage was short, and the weather was beautiful : what must it be in bad weather and in long passages P We all appeal to the Times as the most practical and eifective institution in the country to redress any great wrong or public grievance. I do hope, sir, that you will bring its powers to bear on this subject, and that the great minds now so engrossed in the Church and State question will soon find time to protect that large interest intrusted to our care, and responsibility which we refuse to recognise as fellow-creatures, though as regards the unreasoning and intuitive acts we too frequently make them our model, and are not ashamed to be more brutal and animal than they. We have found how great is the necessity for education ; but does not the existence of so much brutality in the world tell us also how much of moral training also is wanted P Is it possible that, if the young sailor who exhi- bited so much cruelty had been taught that the most unmanly and cowardly thing to do is to strike the fallen, the weak, and particularly the dumb and helpless, he would have disgraced the character of the British sailor by delighting in the suffer- ing of sheep P Or, if his mates had been so trained, is it possible they would allow such disgrace without seizing the offender and administering the punishment he deserved P In conclusion, 1 would beg to suggest that such cruelties are quite unnecessary to the work of conveying cattle. All that seems necessary is that the law should define the numbers of the cattle to be conveyed according to the superficies of the ship ; that the latter should be provided with suitable floor- ing, pens, and water-troughs ; that the drovers should adopt the method of leading rather than driving the sheep com- mitted to their custody. In this instance three or four strung in a line and drawn by a rope would, if quietly done, have led off all the remainder in infinitely less time, and with- out the revolting spectacle of kicks, blows, and dog-bites. I remain, sir, your obedient servant, Brook-street f Grosvenor-square, Sept. 5. T, H, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 343 THE SCOTTISH CHAMBER OF AGRICULTURE. THE CARRIAGE OF STOCK. A meeting was lield in September in Edinburgh, Mr. John Clay, Ke.-cliesters, President of the Chamber, in the chair. Mr. CuRROR, the secretary, said he had invited those mem- bers wlio took an interest in the subject of cattle transit to communicate to him their views on the matter. He had re- ceived letters from Messrs. Melvin, Swan, andReid, which he would read to the meeting. Mr. Melvin, in his letter, con- sidered from the experience he had had in sending sheep from this country to New Zealand, tliat animals could be carried as safely and satisfactorily as human beings long voyages, and that it is simply a matter of thought and arrangement which are necessary, with suflicient power in the authorities to secure this result. The method adopted, he remarked, would take a long time to describe ; but he would do this if so desired. Messrs. Swan & Son considered that in every case where cattle were trucked or untrucked there ought to be a plentiful supply of water, and the trucks to be properly cleansed, and tlie cat- tle, after being properly trucked, to be sent to their destination at a rate not less than eighteen miles per hour. They also thought that the railway companies should be bound, in con- structing their stock waggons in future, tliat they be built with spring buffers, and the waggons presently in use ought to be battened in the floor, and also padded round about one foot wide, at about a distance of from 4 to 5 feet from the floor. With regard to feeding cattle in transit they did not think it was practicable in any case. The watering of cattle during the journey could be 'effected by having watering stations where the trains could be run into a siding and sup- plied with troughs on each side, to be raised and lowered by means of some mechanical apparatus. With regard to transit by steamboats, they approved of Professor Simonds' remarks on this subject. A long letter from Mr. Reid was also read on the same sub- ject, in which he drew attention to his invention of the model truck for cattle traflic. The CiiAiRMAJJ remarked that this question of the transit of cattle was of the utmost importance, and was one to which this chamber had their attention turned to previous to receiv- ing the letter on the subject from the Privy CouncU. There was urgent need to have both cattle and sheep conveyed by rail and steamer in a different manner than at present. They might differ in opinion as to the mode in which the transit should take place, but there cotdd be no difference that when the animals were put into trucks and steamers they should have the best attention from the public companies carrying stock to the market. They had been too long negligent of their duty. Perhaps it was the owner's fault in not giving sufficient re- muneration for the accommodation required ; but stiU in travel- ling long distances cattle must greatly feel the want of water. One tiling, he thought, ought to be incumbent upon every railway company, and that was to have water troughs at all the principal stations, so as to provide in this respect for the wants of the animals. There was another thing which should be impressed on all railway companies — to have a more speedy transit, and also to have the trucks more comfortably fitted up with spring buffers. Everyone knew that steamboat arrange- ments had hitherto been anything bnt satisfactory, and he be- lieved that the mode in which animals were huddled on board was one of the most fruitful sources of pleuro-pueumonia that had ever existed. He would not refer to Continental friends ; but.he must mention that Irish importers had sent stock to this country in such a condition [as was suflicient to breed pleuro or inflammation, which had brought such loss on the buyers. They would be happy to hear any suggestions with regard to the improvement of the mode of transit, and he was confident the Privy Council would be gratified if some simple yet practical mode could be found. There were many modes which looked well in theory ; but they must have it practically. Every one must be thankful to Mr. Reid for the great trouble that gentleman had taken to secure trucks for the transit of cattle. There might be questions raised as to whether his truck met the case ; but still Mr. Reid had shown a great ac- quaintance with the subject, and his opiuions must have con- siderable weight with the Privy Council in arriving at their decision. He suggested that they should take the various opinions which had been stated, try to work out a plan, and give the Privy Council some practical hints as to the most practical mode of sending caltle by rail or by steamer. In answer to Mr. Sliepherd, Mr. CuiiROR said that this matter could not be delayed, 83 an answer to the Privy Council's letter would have to be re- turned by the 1st of November. Professor Williams thought the suggestion as to the watering of cattle at stations when they entered and left the trucks would not meet the question. In his opinion, cattle iu a state of excitement, if driven from a distance, would not feed or drink. To his mind, the truck invented by Mr. Reid, with the exception of the question of ventilation — which was a simple matter to overcome — met the question more fully. He had the pleasure of inspecting one of these trucks at the Highland Society's Show, and at other places during course of construction, and he looked upon them as exceedingly well adapted for the purpose:. The question of expense would be easily met when railway companies commenced to build these trucks ; for, if once taken in hand by the railways, the trucks could be built at very little more expense than the ordinary truck now in use. He had no hesitation in saying that, in his opinion, Mr. Reid's plan was the very best at present before the public. The watering of cattle at either end of the journey would not meet the difficulty. The Chairman did not mean to say that such an arrange- ment would meet the question ; but maintained that the rail- way companies should have the means for watering cattle at the terminal stations. Professor Williams said that supposing cattle had to travel 300 miles, and that by Act of Parliament they would have to be watered every 50 miles, they would find timt even then such an arrangement would not work. They would find that in all the main lines bye-stations came in at distances vary- ing from 10 and 20 miles, and upwards. Now, cattle that had only come 10 miles would not drink at the first watering- station, and would have to go on to the next, making the distance sixty miles. Cattle trucked twenty miles from the nearest watering-station would not drink on reaching it, and in this way the proposition of watering at stations on the line was objectionable. On the other hand, if they watered the cattle in the truck they would ensure that cattle would have water all the way. Cattle going from bye-stations would suffer very much, and besides this, they might have to be shunted for an hour or two to make way for an express train, and during all this time the animals would not have water. Mr. Shepherd said, independent of the question of watering cattle, there was the question of feeding them on the journey, which was a very important one. Professor Williams said the question of food was not of such importance as that of water. The Chairman was of opinion that the matter of food was not of nearly such importance as the other. Indeed, the matter of food could be dispensed with altogether, provided there was speedy transit of, say, eighteen to twenty miles per hour. Professor Williams suggested that an inspection should be made of Mr. Reid's truck. Mr. GooDLET thought there was something in Mr. M'Combie's objection to Mr. Reid's truck, that it was too much confined. After some further discussion. On the suggestion of Mr. Shepherd, a working committee was appointed to take up the letters and bring forward a practical answer to the letter from the Privy Council to the next meeting of the Chamber. The committee consists of the following gentlemen : — Mr. Melvin, Bonnington ; Mr. Hope, Penton Barns ; Mr. Davidson, Dean Park ; Mr. Thomas Elliot, Blackshields : Mr. M'Combie, M.P. ; Mr. Smith, West Drums ; Mr. Clay, Kerchesters ; Mr. Russell, Pilmuir, Eife ; Mr, Melvin, convener, B B 2 344 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. DERBYSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SHOW. MEETING AT DERBY. At the annual meeting of tliis association the sliow of horses, cattle, aud sheep drew a larf;e attendance. There was an absence of any such speciality as the Leicester sheep breeders produce, and one or two other points as regards the (piality of animals shown in which there was a slight inferiority to the meeting at Ashby-de-laZouch. Speakinggenerally, the show was as large, orevenlarger in point of numbers and exhibition, asinanyformer year,butthc quality was liardly sogoodin several classes. Several facts, however, ouglit to be mentioned wliich operated to pro- duce that result. It is, in the first place, a fact beyond dis- pute that the foot and mouth disease and ijleuro-pueumonia are very prevalent in the neiglibourhood of Derby, and one well-known exhibitor was on that acconnt prevented from sending his stock to compete. The milcli cows and heifers ef pecially were excellent, and among the bulls there were some remarkably fine animals. Cart-horses were a good class, and the stallions were in larger numbers than usual. The hunters formed one of the best features in the show. Some of tlie animals exhibited were really creditable to their owners, aud the judging in this class was a task of very consideraljle ditli- cnlty. There were some very excellent foals in the cart-horse class. As regards the sheep show it was not, in our opinion, equal to Leicester. Several capital pens of long-wools were exhibited, and some good specimens of the " Derby Rams." Vigs were a good show, both in quality aud quautity. JUDGES. Cattle. — Mr. Chas. Hellaby, Bramcote ; Mr. Brough, Alsop- le-Dale. Aguicui.tueal Horses — Mr. Geo. Woolhouse, Wel- lingore; Mr. AVright, Hollingtou. Hunters and Hacks. — Capt. Barlow, Woodbridge; Mr. Wright, Waulip ; Mr. Bennett, Hnsbands Bosworth. Long-Wool Sheep. — Mr. Johnson, Weslbro' ; Mr. John Lynn, Stroxton. Short-Wool Sheep. — Mr. Murray, Elvaston ; Mr. S. Wood, Clipstone ParU. Pigs. — Mr. K. Carver, Ingarsby, Leicester. Tiie list of awards is as follows : CATTLE. DAIRY COTTS. Four cows for dairyiug purposes. — Eirst prize, £10 and silver cup, J. Hodgkiuson, Allestree ; second, £5, J . Bryer, Vicar Wood ; third, £3, Mrs. Tatam, Little Eaton. Two cows for dairying purposes. — First prize, £5 and silver civp, J. Foster, Thulstou ; second, £3, J. Brough, Kirk Lang- .ley ; third, £2, William Cos, Brailsford Hall. Pure-bred shorthorned cow. — First prize, £5, J. Hodgkiu- son ; second, £3, William Cox ; third, £2, W. Bull, Egginton. HEIFERS. Pair of heifers under three years old. — First prize, £5, R. Ratcliffe, Walton Hall ; second, £3, W. Bull ; third, £2, C. Smith, Kirk Langley. Pair of heifers, most adapted for dairy purposes. — First prize, £3, R. Radford, Aston-on-Trent; second, £2, Jamse Foster, Thulstou ; third, £1, J. Hawksworth, Barton Fields. STIRKS. Pair of stirks, under two years old, adapted for dairy pur- poses.— First prize, £3, Thomas George, Littleover ; second, £2, E. Crofts, Staveley ; third, £1, Matthew Walker, Stockley Park. BULLS. Siiorthorned bull, two years old aud upwards. — First prize, £5 and silver cup, R. Blackwelj, Tansley ; second, £3, R. Crofts, Staveley ; third, £2, H. J. Meakin, Shobnall Grange. For the best yearling bull of the pure shorthorned breed. — First prize, £5, J.Porter, Weston-on-Trent ; second, £3, C. Bosworth, Dishley. CALVES. For the best bull calf not exceeding twelve mouths old. — First prize, £3, M. P. Walker, Stockley; second, £1, A. M. Mundy, Shipley Hall. For four rearing calves. — First prize, £2, W. Cox, Brails- ford Hall ; secoiul, £, J. Spalton, Mammerton. FAT STOCK. Fat ox or steer of any breed.— First prize, £5 and silver cup, R. Ratcliffe, 'Walton Hall ; second, £2, W. T. Cox, Spon- don Hall, third, £1, ditto. Fat cow or heifer of any breed. — First prize, £C, R. Eat- cliffe ; second, £1., W. T. Vo\ ; third, £2, W. II. Marbrow, Newton Solue.y. HORSES, Stallion horses for agricultural purposes. — First prize, £5, J. Bostock, Brcedon Lodge; second, £3, J, Bowers, Boy- leston. Brood mares and foals for agricultural purposes. — First jirize, £5, J. Hawksworth, Barton Fields ; second, £3, II. Thompson, Savvley ; third, £2, W. Hollingworth, Dale Abbey. Two-year-old geldings or fillies for agricultural purposes. — First prize, £4, II, Thompson ; second, £2, J. Porter, Weston- on-Trent ; third, £1, T, Rose, The Ash. Oue-yearling-old geldings or tillies for agricultural purposes. — First prize, £4', T. Rose ; second, £2, E. Thacker, Ambns- tou ; third, £1, Mrs. Tatam, Little Eaton. Pairs of liorses for agricultural purposes. — First prize, £5, J. Porter, AVeston-on-Trent; second, £3, R. Stevenson, Ashton- on-Trent ; third, £2, J. Rose, Brood mares aud foals best fitted for breeding hunters and hacks. — First prize, £5, J, Bostock; second, .£3, the Earl of Chesterfield. Hacks or harness horses above four years old. — First prize, £3, T. B. Forman, Derby ; second, £2, G, Rossell, Sandiacre. Geldings or fillies of the value of £50, not thorough-bred. — Prize, £5, W. J. Matthews, Repton. Geldings or fillies not thorough-bred, above two and under three yeiirs old, — First prize, £3, M. Audinwood, Weston Grange ; second, £2, Dr. E. S. BKand. Cobbs not exceeeding 14< hands, for riding or harness pur- poses.— First prize, £3, E. G, James, Thurlston ; second, £3, T. Cox, Pear Tree House. Hunters, four years old and upwards, following the hounds. —First prize, £10, J, Bostock ; second, £5, G. J.Mitchell, Newton Mount ; third, £2, T. Earp, Staunton Harold. A silver cup, value £5, was also awarded to Mr, Bostock, SHEEP. LONG-WOOLS. Five breeding ewes, having had lambs in 1869. — First prize, £3, A. Bryer, Quarudou ; second, £2, R. Johnson, Kirk Ire- ton ; third, £1, S. Wade, Littleover. Five theaves. — First prize, £3, A. Bryer, Quarndon ; second, £2, E. Johnson, Kirk Ireton ; third, £1, Mrs. Tatham, Little Eaton. Five ewe lambs. — First prize, £3, Mrs. Tatam, Little Eaton ; second, 61, R. Crofts, Staveley. Ram of any age above a shearling. — First prize, £3, E. Johnson, Kirk Ireton ; secpnd, £2, ditto ; third, £1, C. Mel- lor. At low. Siiearling ram. — First prize, £3, E. Johnson, Kirk Ireton ; second, £2, ditto ; third, £1, C. Mellor. SHORT-WOOLS. Five breeding ewes, having had lambs in 1S69. — First prize, £3, C. Smith, Kirk Langley; second, £2, J. Eose; tliird, £1, W. Baker, Moor Barns. Five theaves. — First prize, £3, W. Baker, Moor Barns; second, £2, ditto; third, £1, J. Eose. Five ewe lambs. — First prize, £2, W. Baker ; second, £1, J. Eose. Eam of any age above a shearling. — First prize, £3, W. Wood, Hollybauk; second, £2, VV. Baker; third, £1, C. Smith, Kirk Langley. The FAlfMEliVS MAGAZINE. U^: Shearling ram. — Fir^t prizp, £3, W. Baker; scconJ, £2, W. AVood, IJolbbaiik ; third, £1, AV. Baker. llani lamb. — First iirizc, £2, T. Hose ; second, £1, C. Smith, Kirk Langley. IVn of live fat wether sheoj), of any breed, not exceeding 32 months old. — First prize, £3 3s., J. Hose; second, £2, AV. Sale, Sraisby House. riGS. LARGE BREED. Boar of any age most adapted for general use. — First prize, £2, James llawksworth, Barton Kelds ; second, £1, AVilliam Toraiinson, AUestree. Sow of any age. — F'irst prize, £3, and second, £1, Matthew AValker, Stocklcy Park. Best tluec breeding pigs of one liKor, nut exceeding seven monllis old. — First prize, £2, M. AValker; second, £1, Mrs. Talam. SMALI, 13RKE1). Boar of any age best adapted for general use. — First prize, £2, Matthew AA^alker ; second, £1, Henry AA'ardlo, Burton-on- Trcut. Sow of any age. — First prize, £2, and second, £1, John Faulkner, ]5retby. Best tiirce breeding pigs of one litter, not exceeding seven months old. — First prize, £3, M. AValker ; second, £1, John Faulkner. Pig, bona fide the property of an agricultural labourer. — First prize, £2, George Marsii, Quarndon ; second, £1, John Moorley, Thulston ; third, 10s., AVm. Briggs. THE WARWICKSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. MEETING AT COVENTRY. For aged Shorthorn bulls, Mr. AA'alker's iOO-guinea purchase at AVillis's Rooms, Grand Duke 9th, from the Dawpool iierd, was first ; while Mr. G. Game was successful in the class for bulls under three years old with a Towneley-bred bull, with Mr. I. P. Evans second. In the young class Mr. Lynn's eleven months calf easily disposed of his older rivals, Mr, Canning taking second lionours. In a class of twenty cows Messrs. T, Game and Son and G. Game divided the honours, the latler's Pride of the Heath being first, the other winner being Penny Royal, from the Broadmoor herd. The heifers under three years old were exhibited in pairs, and Mr. T. Harris, of Stoncy Lane, was first with two daughters of Diplomatist; Mr. G. Game being second here, as also with yearling heifers. Game and Sou took first in this class with Nonpareil and Penguin, which have previously distinguished themselves. AA'^ith the exception of the class for yearling bulls, in which he stood second to Messrs. Feun and Harding, Mr, John Bald- win, of Luddiugton, bred all the first-prize Herefords, the aged bull exiiibited by Mr. G. H. Canning being a descendant of Battersea. An old cow, from the Monaughty herd, was shown by Mr. J. H. AAHiitehouse, of Ipsley Court, and obtained second prize ; similar honours being awarded to a pair of lieifers ex- hibited by him. Since the decease of Messrs. Stubbs and S, Umbers, and the establishment of a Shorthorn instead of a Devon herd at Pack- iiigton, the reds have gradually diminished at the county show, and were now only just sufHcient in numbers to secure for Messrs. Turner and A. Umbers severally a first and second prize. The fear of meeting Mr. Chapman's Longhorn bull Curzon deterred many persons from competing, as he he has hitherto proved invincible where sliown this season, adding here a walk over to his Manchester and Ashby victories, Coventry is almost a central point with the Longhorn breeders, and the cows of Messrs. Barbery and Godfrey liad a close contest, the former evciitually winnng in a good class. For the £25, given by the Corporation in prizes for the best pair of cows for dairy purposes, no fewer than si.xteeu entries, all Shorthorns, were made. After careful selection these were reduced to four, belonging to Messrs. AVakefield, AV. Bradburn, T. Hands, and E. Lythall, tiie former winning, with Mr. Brad- burn second, and the other two obtaining liigh commendations. Tlie sheep were weak in numbers. The prizes for Leiccsters went to Messrs. G. Turner, i'. Spencer, and AA''. Hnrlston ; for other Longwools to Messrs. Lynn, wjio took all the premiums offered for rams ; for Cotswolds to Mr. John Godwin, of Troy i'arm, Bicester, and Mr. Wheeler, of Long Compton. The Sliropshires were too variable m character. The first prize i'ell to Mr. Tidy for a fat backed shearling descended from the Grendon flock, and the second to Messrs. Fenn and Harding for a pretty sheep on a most diminutive scale. In the class for two-shears Mr. Pilgrim's lengthy ram displaced Mr. AV. Baker's Birke-jhead winner ; and tlie quality of the Moor Barns ewes easily secured them first prize in their class, Mr. R. Tanner running second. In Oxfordsiiire Downs, Mr. G. AA^allis took, as usual, all the four prizes oifered far rams. Mr. BuUer's Forester, a winner at the recent show at A\'^or- cester, obtained the £20, for the best agricultural stallion ; Mr. R. C. Naylor's Hadji was the only competitor for the £15 offered for thoroughbred sires, and a more lengthened inspection confirms our high opinion of Mr. John E. Bennett's five-year-old, iiy Orpheus, here repeated his Ashby victory. Mr. John King, of Rowingtou, won with an Irsh-bred four years old ; Mr. J. G. Ledsam, of Northfield, with liis mare Brown Duchess, with foal by Gemma Junior, and also with a two years old from the same mare by Solferino. The pigs iverc not in sufficient force to take all the prizes scarcely a pen failing to obtain honours. In the absence of Mr. Duckering's entries, Mr. John Wheeler was the jjj„ ^ successful exhibitor of whites, and Messrs. Joseph Srait/i, j j Spencer, and J. Stanley maintained the reputation of the jj„ 'fi shires. '*■ The prizes for implements were thus distributed : Amies, Barford, and Co., Peterborough, £5 ; Gillott, Coventry, £5 ; Matterson, Huxley, and AVatson, Coventry, £4 ; Glover and Sons, Warwick, £4 ; Corbett, Shrewsbury, £4; Barrows and Stewart, Banbury, £3 ; Robey and Co., Lincoln, £3 ; Woods, Cocksedge, and AVarner, Slowmarket, £2 ; Humphries, Per- sliore, £2 ; Glover, AVarwick, £2 ; F'uller and Simpsora, Lea- mington, £2 ; Powell, Coventry, £2 ; Richmond and Chandler, Salford, £2 ; Lewis, Shrewsbury, £2 ; Ball, Nortli Kilworth, Rugby, £2 ; Corbett and Co., AA^ellington, Salop, £1 ; Baker, AVisbeach, £1 ; Penney and ('o., Lincoln, £1 ; Ball, North- ampton, £1 ; TVuelove, Wolvey, £1. Three cheeses, not less than 70lbs. each, made in 1869. — Prize of £5, G. Gibbons, Tuiiley Farm, Bath. Highly com- mended : J. Harris, Fletcliampstcad ; J. S. Perkins, Leek AVootton. Three chee.ses, not exceeding oOlbs. each, made in 1869. — Prize of £5, T. J. Scott, Strecton, Baskerville. Highly com- mended : G. Gibbons. Commended : AV. Ward, Attleborough Grove, Nuneaton. Judges. — Agricultural horses : J. AV. Ladkin, Lutterworth; R. J. Newton, Campsfield, AVoodstoek. Huntiag horses : H. ThuriKill, Royston ; T. Percival, AVansford. Cattle: M. Savidge, Sarsden ; T. Duckham, Baysluim Court, Ross. Sheep and pigs : G. A. May, Elford Park, TamworlJi ; C. Howard, Bedford. Implements : J. Hicken, Duuchurch ; T. Johnson, Leicester. Cheese : — Scarapton, Coventry. Ploughing, draining, and donkeys : S. Burchnall, Catton, Burton-upon- Treut ; J. A. Beale, Brockhurst, Lutterworth. Hedging and thatching: II. Swinnerton, Nuneaton ; J. Berry, Ryton-upon- Duusmore. S46 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. WIGTON AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. At this meeting, open to all Cumberland, only three old biiUs were shown. Edgar, a winner at the Royal Show, got the first prize ; Mr. Head's Lord-Lieutenant the second ; and Mr. J. Scott, of Little Crosthwaite, with Lord Ellendale, a commen- dation. Nine bulls calved in 1867 were shown, the winner being Mr. Eox, the second Mr. Nelson, of Rash. Mr. Fox also got the first for his bull calved last year. The cows and heifers iu calf or milk, calved before 1867, numbered eighteen ; and their general merit can scarcely be extolled too highly. The winner was Mr. R. Jefferson's famous old Holly Bush, Mr. Parkin, of Leegate, being second with a white animal aged four years and seven months. These two gentlemen also carried off the prizes in the next two classes, Mr. Parkin being first and second with his heifer calved in 1867, and Mr. Jefferson being first and second for heifers calved in 1868. For Shorthorns there were two cups, besides a special prize of ten guineas given by Mr. Foster, of Killhow. One cup, valued at 30 guineas, and confined to Wigton district, was for the best bull of any age, age considered. Another, va- lued at 20 guineas, offered by Mr. Foster, was for the best cow or heifer belonging to a tenant-farmer. Mr. Foster's ten-guinea prize was for the best bull over one year and not more than three years old. The first cup was won by Mr. Nelson, of Rash, with the animal which was second for bulls calved in 1867 ; the second by grand old Holly Bush ; and Mr. Foster's money prize was won by Mr. Fox, of St. Bees, he being both first and second. The Galloways were not very numerous. The cart horses were a rare lot, perhaps the best as a class on the ground. Mr. R. B. Brockbank's six-year-old was first among half-a-dozen brood mares, Mrs. Hodgson, of Midtown, getting the second. In the show of sheep Mr. Jefferson, of Preston Hows, and Mr. Todd, of Mireside, exhibited some of the pick of their Leicester flocks ; and Mr. Norman, of As- patria, had only a single rival to his admirable long-wools. Judges: Shorthorns, Leicesters, Long-wools, and Pigs. — T. C. Booth, WaUerby, Northalerton ; L. Crisp, Hawk Hill, Alnwick ; J. Culshaw, Towneley Park, Beverley. Galloways, Short-wools, and Mountain Sheep. — J. Cunning- ham, Dalbeattie ; T. Chambers, Pelutho. Saddle and Harness Horses. — M. Tenan, Dumfries; J.Jobson, Beutland, Hexham ; G. Dixon, Mantle Hill, Bellingham. Cart Horses. — J. Foster, The Nook, Longtown ; T. Marshall, The Hows, Annan. PRIZE LIST. CATTLE. SHORTHORNS. Bulls calved previous to January, 1867. — First prize, £3, C. R. Saunders, Nunwick Hall ; second, G. H. Head, Rickerby. Bulls calved in 1867.— First prize, £3, W. Fox, St. Bees ; second, J. Nelson, Rash. Bulls calved in 1868.— First prize, £3, W. Fox ; second, R. B. Brockbank, Burgh. Bull calf calved in 1869.— First prize, £1, S. Graves, Mirk- holme ; second, G. H. Head. Cows or heifers in calf or milk, calved previous to 1867. — First prize, £2, R. Jefferson, Preston Hows ; second, J. Todd, Mireside. Heifers calved in 1867. — First prize, £2, and second, W. Parkin, Leegate. Heifers calved in 1868. — First prize, £1, and second, R. Jefferson. Pair of heifer calves, calved in 1869. — First prize, £1 10s., R. Jefferson ; second, W. Scott, Prior Hall. Pair of steers calved in 1868.— First prize, £2, J. Fawcett, Torpenhow ; second, J. Nelson. S\yeepstakes of 5s. each for the best cross-bred cow. — T. Robinson, Low Houses. GALLOWAYS. BuUs calved previous to Jan. 1st, 1867.— Prize, £3, J. Graham, Parcelstown. Bulls calved in 1867.— First prize, £3, J, Fisher, Knells, Carlisle ; second, Holliday, West House. Bulls calved in 1868.— First prize, £3, R. Peat, Seaville ; second, P. P. Farlam, Seaville. Bulls calved in 1869.— First prize, £1, J. Wills, Bowness ; second, J. Wills. Cows or heifers in calf or milk, calved previous to 1867. — First prize, £2, J. Graham ; second, J. Graham. Heifers calved in 1867.— First prize, £2, Wilson, Kirk- bampton ; second and commended, J. Graham. Heifers calved in 1868.— First prize, £1 10s., J. Graham ; second, J. Graham. Silver cup, 30 gs. value, for the best shorthorued bull of any age. — Prize, J . Nelson, Rash. Cup, 20 gs. value, for the best shorthorned cow or heifer of any age. — Prize, R. Jefl'erson, Holly Bush. Shorthorn bulls above 12 months and not exceeding 36 calendar months. — First prize, W. Fox, St. Bees ; second, W. Fox ; third, J. Nelson. HORSES. SADDLE AND HARNE.SS. Brood mares for saddle. — First prize, £3, T. Baxter, Brom- field ; second, Mr. Railton, Snittlegarth. Brood mares for harness. — First prize, £2, Mr. Jennings, Thornby Villa ; second, G. Moore, '\'\Tiitehall. One-year-old fillies for saddle. — First prize, £1, J. P. Fos- ter, Killhow ; second, R. E. Hetherington, Parkhead. Two-year-old fillies for saddle. — First prize, £1, Sir R. Brisco, Bart. ; second, R. Murray, Tarnrigghead. Two-year-old fillies for harness. — First prize, £1, Mr. Stamper, Waverton ; second, Mr. Graham, Wigton. Three-year-old fillies for saddle.— First prize, £2, T. Mil- burn, Grinsdale ; second, R. EUwood, Cannonby. Three-year-old fillies for harness. — First prize, £2, J. Barnes, Greenrigg ; second, J. P. Fuster, Killhow, One-year-old colts for saddle. — First prize, £1, Sir W. Lawson, Bart., Brayton Hall ; second, J. P. Foster. One-year-old colts for harness. — First prize, £1, T. Bax- ter, Bromfield ; second. Sir R. Brisco, Bart., Crofton. Two-year-old colts for saddle. — First prize, Mr. Nelson, Moorrow ; second, G. Smith, Papcastle. Two-year-old colts for harness. — First prize, £1, T, John- stone, Grange ; second, J. Todd, Mireside. Three-year-old solts for saddle. — First prize, £2, T. Hodg- son, Flimby Hall ; second, J. Wood, Howrigg. Three-year-old colts for harness. — First prize, £2, T. Cham- bers, Pelutho ; second. Sir Wilfrid Lawson, Bart. Four-year-old and upwards Mare or gelding for saddle or field.— First prize, £10 10s., Mrs. Thirlwell, Plumland ; se- cond, J. Patterson, Terrona ; third, J. Casson, Burgh. CART HORSES. Brood cart mare. — First prize, £2, R. B. Brockbank ; se- cond, Mrs. Hodgson, Midtown, Burgh. One-year-old cart filly.— First prize, £1 10s., W. Little, Whit- rigglees ; second, Mrs. Little, Bowness Hall. Two-year-old cart filly. — First prize, £2, G. Shadwick, Aik- tou ; second, G. H. Head, Rickerby. Three-year-old cart filly. — First prize, £2, R. Shadwick, Moorhouse Hall ; second, W. Harrison, Westfield House. One-year-old cart colt. — First prize, £1 10s., J. Taylor, Ireby ; second, J. Mitchell, Blennerhasset. Two-year-old cart colt.— First prize, £2, W. Harrison ; se- cond, J. Gate, Longnewton. Three-year-old cart colt.— First prize, £2, G. H. Head ; se- cond, J . Fawcett, Torpenhow. A sweepstakes of 10s., for the best pair, horse or mare.— • Prize, Mrs. Hodgson. A sweepstakes of 5s. each, for the best colt or filly foal for saddle.— First prize, W. Norman, Hall Bank ; second. Sir R. Brisco. A sweepstakes of 5s. each, for the best colt or filly foal for harness.— First prize, L. Potts, Wigton ; J. Nicholson, Bank. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 347 A sweepstakes of 5s. each, for the best cart colt foal. — Prize, Mr. Beswick, Raby Cote. A sweepstakes of 5s. each, for the best cart lilly foal.— Prize, Mr. Atkinson, Greenrigg. A sweepstakes of 5s. each, for the best pony of any age.— First prize, R. II. Watson, Bolton Park ; second, Mr. Hodgson, Plat, Kirkbanipton. A sweepstakes of 10s. each, lor the best hackney of any age. — First prize, J. Casson, Burgh ; second, J. Richardson, Dalston, SHEEP. LEICESTER. Leicester tups of any age. — First and second prize, R. Jeffer- son, Preston Hows. First shear Leicester tups. — Pirst and second prize, R. Jef- ferson. Pens of three Leicester ewes that have reared lambs this season. — First prize, J. Todd, Mireside ; second, R. Jefferson. Pens of three Leicester giramers. — First prize, £1, R. Jef- ferson ; second, Mj. Roper, Ling. LONG WOOL. Tups of any age. — First' and second prize, Mr. Norman, Hall Bank, Aspatria. Tups of first shear. — First and second prize, Mr. Norman. Pens of three ewes that have reared lambs this season. — First and second prize, Mr. Norman. Pens of three gimmers. — First and second prize, Mr. Norman. SHOKT WOOL. Tups of any age. — First prize, £1, Mr. Highiield, Blencogo ; second, Mr. Fothergill, Uldale Hall. Tups of first shear.— First and second prize, Mr. Fothergill. Pens of three ewes that had reared lambs this season. — First prize, J. Carrick, Wigton ; second and commended, Mr. Fothergill, Pens of three gimmers.— First and second prize, Mr. Foth- ergill. MOUNTAIN. Mountain tups, aged. — Prize, J. Smith, Branthwaite. Shearling tups. — Prize, J. Smith. Five mountain ewes. — Prize, J. Smith. A sweepstakes of 5s. each, for the best pair of gimmer lambs of any breed. — First prize, J. Todd, Mireside ; second, W. Norman, Hall Bank. A sweepstakes of 5s. each, for the best tup lamb of any breed. — Pirst prize, J. Todd: second, Norman. PIGS. Boars of the large breed. — Prize, T. Hodgson, Newton Arlosh. Boars of the small breed.— Prize, R. B. Hetherington, Park Head. Sows in pig or milk of the large breed. — Prize, J. Norman, Bridge MiU. Sows in pig or milk of the small breed. — First prize, R. B. Hetherington, Parkhead ; second, J. Mitchell, Blennerhasset. Boar pigs under twelve months old. — First prize, J. Wilson, Kirkbampton ; second, Pearson, Thomby. Sows in pig under twelve mouths old. — First prize, J. Hope, Syke Farm ; second, A. Ritson, Micklethwaite, MIDDLETON (LANCASHIRE) AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. At the eleventh annual show prizes of the value of £1,100 were awarded. Since its institution in 1859, the show has grown in popularity ; then the entries amounted to only 400, and the prizes to £159 ; in 1864 therewere 1,300 entries,and£400 were awarded in prizes ; and the entries amounted to not fewer than 4,100, and the value of the prizes amounted to £1,100. In the district competition for horned cattle, C. W. Brierley, ]\IidcUeton, took the first prize for bulls above one and under two yrs. Mr. Brierly also took the first prize in the general competition with his two-year-old roau buU, Bolivar, the first for three milch cows in the district competi- tion, and the first for two-year old heifers and heifer calves. In the district competition J. L. Becker, Foxdenton Hall, Chadderton, was first for bulls above two and not more than four years ; T. Slatter, jvin.. Stand HaU, for bulls of one year and under two, and for one-year-old heifers ; and R. Hurst, Spring HaU, Rochdale, for geld cows in milk. In the class of farmers' premiums, J. CoUinge, Crompton, took the first prize for buUs above two and not more than four years ; B. Parting- ton, Blackley, for dairy cows in milk or in calf; J. Morris, Heap, near Bury, for two-year-old heifers ; L. Heald, Rhodes, Middleton, for one-year-old heifers ; I. I. Marshall, i\Ioston Hall, Newton Heath, for three milch cows ; and J . Taylor, Boarshaw, Middleton, for geld cows in milk. In tlie general competition, S. Doming, Swinton, took the first prize for bulls of one year and under two ; J. Walton, Horncliffe, near Rawtenstall, for bull calves under 12 months old ; J. L. Becker, Chadderton, for dairy cows in calf or milk, and also for two-year-old heifers ; Crawshaw and Blakeley, Dewsbury, for one-year-old heifers ; R. Tanner, Dorrington, Salop, for heifer calves under 12 months ; and C. W. Brierley, for three cows in calf or milk. In drovers and butchers' premiums, J. and T. Ward, IMiddletou, were first for a fat ox, cow, or heifer, and also for a fat calf. J. Coates, Rochdale, carried off the premiums for four milch cows. The show of horses was good, especially of stallions and hunters ; the draught horses were also of good quality. In the district competition the first prize for a mare or gelding iinder 16 hands for agricultural purposes was awarded to R. Bently, Crumpsall ; to D. Partington, Unsworth, near Bury^ for a pair of plough horses ; to T. Statter, jim., for a brood mare for draught purposes ; to C. W. Brierley for a mare or gelding for draught purposes, and for a three-year-old gelding or filly for draught purposes ; to R. Lindsay, Pilsworth, for a two-year-old gelding or filly for agricultural purposes ; to Mrs. Kenyon, Bowlee, Middleton, for a yearling gelding or filly ; and to J. Wild, Hopwood, for a weaning colt or filly for draught or agricultural purposes. In the general competition the best stallion for agricultural purposes belonged to M. Strickland, Headley Hall, near Tadcaster. The other prizes in this class were : Brood mare for agricultural purposes, T. Statter, jun. ; pair of horses for agricultural purposes, C. W. Brierley ; mare or gelding under 16 hands for agricultural purposes, T. Statter, jun. ; three-year-old gelding or filly for agricultural purposes, T. Statter, jun. ; two-year-old gelding or filly for agricultural purposes, C. Perkin, Sharsden HaU Farm, Northenden ; year- ling gelding or fiUy for agricultural purposes, C. Perkin ; staUion for draught purposes, J. Edmonston ; brood mare for draught purposes, T. Statter, jun. ; mare or gelding lor draught purposes, Crawshaw and Blakeley ; staUion (roadster), J. Hadfield, jun., Copster HiU House, Oldham ; mare or gelding (roadster), C. L. Clare, Higher Broughton ; four-year-old gelding or fiUy for road or field, J. Greenwood, Glen View, Todmordeu ; three-year-old gelding or fiUy for road or field, C. Suthers, Riversvale, near Ashton-under-Lyne ; two-year- old gelding or filly for road or field, J. Hadfield, jun.; one- year-old gelding or fiUy for road or field, T. Statter, jun. : cob mare or gelding not exceeding 14^ hands, T. D. Pritchard, Eccles ; pony not exceeding 13| hands, W. Stephenson, Busby Hill, East Yorkshire ; pony not exceeding 13^ hands, J. C. Rogerson, Mauchester ; hunter, mare, or gelding, G. Var Wart, Edgbaston ; jumper, mare or gelding, 15 hands and upwards, W. Liimb, Rochdale; jumpers, mare or gelding, under 15 hands, B. Truman, Bluepits, Rochdale. Extra stock, R. Kay, Chamberhouse, Heywood. Of pigs there was a large coUection, and a sUver medal was given to P. Eden, Salford, for the best pig in the exhibition. There was but a poor show of sheep, and all the four prizes were taken by H, Neild, Worsley. 348 THE l-'AIiMEli'S MAG^iZlNfi. EAST CUMBERLAND AGEICULTUEAL SOCIETY. MEETING AT CARLISLE. The one feature of the show was the uuprecedeiited array of horses. The saddle and harness horses were tlie best lot ever sliown in Cumberland. Mr. Brown's thrce-ycar-old gelding got tlie first prize, that of Messrs. Thompson coniiug second. The hackney class was a line one, eleven or a dozen turning into the ring. Mr. Cassou's Red Cap was placed first ; second to which came a bay belonging to Mr. S. G. Saul, of Mill House. Mr. Casson gave a special prize for the best mare for breeding hunters; Mr. Baxter winning witli the mare which got Mr. Percy Windham's prize at 'Wigton on the pre- vious day. In the sweepstakes for cart horses ]Mr. Gibbous was awarded the palm. Of Shortliorns there were five classes, each with a considerable entry. Five bulls over two years old showed, tlie result being the same as at Wigton — Edgar first, and Mr. Head's Lord Lieutenant second. For buUs under two years Mr. J. Wright's Man's Estate got tlie first, and Mr. Cieighton's, of Scotby, the second. The class was generally excellent. Ten old cows and heifers exhibited, but Mr. .Jeilerson's JloUy Bush had again no rival. Eor heit'ers under three, Mr. Copeland won ; IMr. Jefferson got the prize for heifers under two years. The sheep pens were well filled. All the first prizes, save one, were obtained by IMr. Watson, of Gelt Hall, and that one vvent to Mr. Lee, of Haltwhistle. JUDGES. Bloou Horses. — Nichol Milne, Ealdon Side, St. Boswclls ; William Cattle, Dormont Grange, Lockerbie; William llavvdon, Wakefield, Staindrop ; and John Addic, 45, Eisliergate, Preston. Caut Horses. — Lawrence Drew, Merryton, Hamilton ; and Peter Crawford, Dunboyach, Strathblane. SiioRTiiORAs AUD SiiEEi". — Jacob Wilson, Woodliorn, Mor- peth ; and Marshall Stephenson, Eourstoncs. Gallowais a^d Pigs.— William Steel, Short ridge, Ecclc- fechan ; and James Gricrson, Brandedleys, Crocket ford. PRIZE LIST. BLAJIIRE PRIZE. The sum of £10 was offered as " the Blamirc Prize" for the year 180'J, to the East Cumberland Agricultural Society, for tlie best-managed farm in East Cumberland. — M. Thompson and Sons, Kirkhouse. Two entries. HORSES. EOR FIELD OR ROAD. Saddle mare with foal at foot. — First prize, £3, T. Baxter, Bromfield ; second, H. Railton, Snittlegarth. Saddle mare, in-foal. — First prize, £3, G. Smith, Papcastle ; second, B. Spraggon, KafFerton. One year old saddle gelding.— First prize, £2, Saul Steel, Leathes ; second, J. Carlisle, Tarraby. One year old saddle filly. — First prize, £2, J. Brown, How- gill ; second, J. W. J. Paterson, Terrona. Two years old saddle gelding. — First prize, £2, E. and T. Bell, Roscbauk; second, J. Dixon, Whinneyhill. Two years old saddle filly. — First prize, £2, Miss E. A. Aglionby, Esthwaite Lodge ; second, J . Milbourne, Wragmire House. Three years old saddle gelding. — First prize, £3, J. Brown, Ilowgill ; second, M. Thompson and Sons, Kirkhouse. Three years old saddle filly. — First jirize, £3, T. Milburn, Grinsdale ; second, M. Thompson and Sons. Harness mare, with foal at foot. — First prize, £3, T. Morton, Longburgh House; second, W. Norman, Hall Bank. Harness mares, in-foal. — First prize, £3, W. Beattie, Blennerhasset; second, T. Kitchen, Thomas Close. ^ One year old harness gelding.— I'irst prize, £2, T. Ba.\ter, Bromfield ; second, T. Kitchen. One year old harness filly.— First prize, £2, J. Richardson, Dr> Irsdale Gate ; second, K. Martindalc, Staintou, Iwo years old harness gelding.— First prize, £2, T. Nor- mn, Burgh; second, T. Jefferson, Hall Flat. Two years old harness filly. — First prize, £2, C. and J. Armstrong, Carlisle ; second, T. Little, Lazonby. Three years old harness gelding. — First prize, £3, T. Chambers, Pelutho ; second, J. Milbourne, Wragmire House. Three years old harness filly. — First prize, £3, R. B. Fauldcr, Tliursby ; second, T. Mark, Diirdar. Four years old saddle or harness gelding. — First prize, £3, J. Moffatt, Kirklinton Park. Four years old saddle or harness filly. — Prize, £3, T. Jefl'er- son. Hail Flatt. CART HORSES. Brood mare, with foal at foot. — I'irst prize, £3, T. Gibbous, Burnfoot ; second, G. Head Head, Rickerby. Brood mare, in-foal. — First prize, £3, J. Marshall, Howes ; second, T. Bell, Brampton Townfoot. One year old gelding. — First prize, £2, T. Milburn, Heads AA'ood ; second, Airs. Gibbous, Rosetrecs. One year old filly. — First prize, £2, J. Fisher, Knells ; se- cond, J. Graham, Parcelstown. Two years old gelding. — First prize, £2, J. Marshall, Howes; second, E. and T. Bell, Rosebank. Two years old filly. — J. Beattie, Newby House; second, G. Head Head, Rickerby. Three years old gelding. — First prize, £3, R. and J. Little, Guards ; second, J. Shepherd, Boustead Hill. Three years old filly. — First prize, £3, II. Waugh, Seat Hill ; second, C. and J. Armstrong, Carlisle. Four years old gelding or filly. — F'irst prize, £3, B. Sprag- gon, Naderton ; second, J. Gibson, Sommcrficld, Riithwell. £1, added to a sweepstakes of 10s. each, for one-year-old entire cart colts. — J. Mackie and Sons, Aiteheson's Bank. £3, added to a sweepstskes of lOs. each, was given for the best hackney of any age. — First prize, Joseph Casson, Burgh- by-Sands ; second, S. G. Saul, Mill House, Carlisle. £2, added to a sweepstakes of 10s. each, was given for the best pony of any age. — F'irst prize. Sir J. Heron Maxwell, Springkell ; second, R. Waugh, Seatliill. £10, with a sweepstakes of 10s., for geldings and mares up- wards of four years old. — Prize to Miss Fyler, Heffleton. Mare suitable for breeding hunters. — Prize, £5, T. Baxter, Bromfield. For the best leapcr. — Prize, £5, J. Casson, Burgh-by- Sands. CATTLE. SHORTHORNS. Bull above two years old. — First prize, £8, C. R. Saunders, Nunwick Hall ; second, G. Head Head, Rickerby. Bull under two years old. — First prize, £8, J. Wright, Greengill ; second, J. Creighton, Scotby. Cows or heifers above three years old, iu-calf or milk.— First prize, £1, R. Jefferson, Preston Hows ; second, W. Lambert, Elrington Hall. Heifers under three years old. — I'irst prize, £3, J. Cope- land, Mainsliead ; second, A. Ritsou, Mieklethwaite. Heifers under two years old. — First prize, £2, R. Jefferson, Preston Hows, GALLOWAYS. Bulls above two years old. — First prize, £8, W. Kerr, Whit- liangh ; second, J. F'isher, Knells. Bulls under two years old. — Finst prize, £8, J. Pattinson, Burnside ; second, R. Peat, Stone House. Cows or heifers above three years old. — First prize, £4, and highly commended, J. Cunningham, Tarbreoch. Heifers under three years old, in-calf or in-milk. — First prize, £3, George Laws, Chesters, Haltwhistle ; second, J. Kerr, Flatts of Cargen. Heifers under two years old. — First prize, £2, J. Graham, Parcelstown. SHEEP. i'irst-shear Leicester tup. — I'irst prize, £2, J. Lee, Halt- THE PARMER'S MAGAZINE. 319 \^liistle; second and commended, G. Green Lcc, Westlaud Ends, llaydon Bridge. Second-slu-ar Lcicrstci' tup. — I'ii'at prize, £'2, J. Watson, Gelt Hall, C'astleearrock ; second, G. Green Lee. Tliird-slicar Leicester tup. — First prize, £2, J. Watson ; second, G. Green Lcc. Ten of tlircc Leicester ewes. — I'irst prize, £3, and com- mended, J. AVatson ; second, G. Green Lcc. Ten of three Leicester gimnicrs. — lirit pruc, L2, J. Watson ; second, J. Todd, Mireside. PIGS. lioars under four years old. — First priz,e, R. and J. Little, Guards; second, W. N. Hodgson, Ncwby Grange. Sows under four years old, to be in-pig or iii-milk. — First prize, i~, J. Gibson, Dalsten Low Mill ; second, J. Graham, Parcelstown. HUNTINGDONSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. MEETING AT HUNTINGDON. At the annual show of this society there was a goodly number of horses shown. Mr. Brown, of Leighton, took a tir&t prize ; and Mr. J. B. Wilkinson, of Godmauchcstcr, the gold cuj), value £10, for his marc and foal for limiting pur- poses. Mr. W. Nix, Soinershain, also won a cup, value £10, for his roadster. The cattle stalls appeared well filled ; where Mr.T.ra\vlett's,of Bccston,Beds, bull, Baion Killerby, secured first prize, while his heifer was ticketed with the first prize. Mr. Wood's, of Clapton, near Thrapstone, took the first prize for his already famous steer. JUDGES. Agricultural Horses. — Messrs. Bedford (Abbotts Ixiplon), Ekiu (Woodhurst),and G. E. Daintree (Fenton). Cart Horses. — Messrs. Bedford (Wenningtou), and Plow- right (Manca). Hunters, Roadsters, a?jd Po>'ies. — Messrs. Bolton, (I'utnoe), and Woods (Barton Scagreave). Stock and Hoots. — Messrs. Howard (Biddenliam), and Wortley (Uppingham). Sheep xyu Pigs.— Messrs. Tiudall (Tyd St. Giles, Wisbech), and Plowriglit (Manca). LIST OF PRIZES. HORSES. Stallion for agricultural purposes (open to All-England). — First prize, £15. Mr. Manning, Orlingbury, AVelliugborough ; second, £7, J. Flinthain, Somersham. Cart mare and foal. — First prize, a cuj), value £'10, BIr. Ekius, Wennington ; second, £3, W. Triplow, Chatteris. Two-year-old cart gelding. — I'irst prize, £4', T. and S. Fyson, AVarboys; second, Mr. Newton, Buekworth. Two-year-old cart filly. — First prize, £4, Mr. Ekins ; second, £2, Mr. Sisman, Buekworth. Cart foal. — I'rizc, 2gs., Mr. Wood, Clapton. M.ireor gelding for hunting purposes. — Prize, a cup, value £-0, W.Brown. 3Iarc or gelding, five years old and upwards, for hunting purposes. — Prize, £10, S. Gale, Leighton. Mare and foal for hunting purpose, the foal to have been got by a thorough-bred stallion. — Prize, a cup, value £10, J. B. Wilkinson, Godraanchester. Marc or gelding, adapted as a roadster, not exceeding 15 hands 1 inch. — Prize, a cup, value £10, W. Nix, jun. Somersham. Mare or gelding, not exceeding 15 hands 2 inches, above 5 years old. — Prize, a cup value £5, F. Battcock, Hemingford. Pony, not exceeding 13 hands. — Prize, 2 gs., C. Golden, Beuwick. Mare or gelding entered in either of the above classes, which shall jump iu the best form. — Prize, a cup value £5, G. Arm- strong, Graffham. SHORTHORNS. Bull, not under two years old. — First prize, £8, T. E. Paw- Ictt, Beeston, Beds ; second, M; W. Wood, Clapton. Bull, one year old and under two years. — First prize, £6, J. llow, Broughton ; second, £3, J. Rust, Alconbury. Cow of any age. — First prize, £5, J. How ; second, £3, J. How. Heifer under three years old. — I'irst prize, T. E. Pawlett ; second, £2, P. Brown, Houghton. Heiler under two years old. — I'irst prize, £3, T. E. Pawlett ; second, J. How. Steer under three years. — First prize, £5, W. AVood ; se- cond, £2 10s., J. How. Steer under two years. — First prize, £3, Mr. Cranfield, Buckdeu ; second, E, Faux, Yaxley. Best animal exhibited in the first fite of the above classes. — Prize, a cup value 20 guineas, J. How. LONGAVOOL SHEEP. Pen of five theaves, under two years. — First prize, £5, J. 0. Daintree, Lolworth ; second, J. O. Daintree. Pen of five ewes. — First prize, £5, J. 0. Daintree ; second, J. O. Daintree. Pen of five wethers. — First prize, £4^, Mr. Newton, Buck- worth ; second, Mr. Armstrong, Little Stukeley. Pen of five ewe lambs. — First prize, £i, Mr. Newton ; se- cond, ]\[r. Armstrong. Pen of five tup lambs. — First prize, £!•, Mr. Cranfield ; se- cond, Mr. Cranfield. SHORTAVOOLS. Pen of three wethers.— First prize, £6, P. Tillard, Little Stukeley ; second, P. Tillard. Pen of five theaves, under two years old. — First prize, £3, P. Tillard ; second, P. Tillard. Pen of five ewes. — First prize, £5, 1'. Batlcock ; second, F'. Battcock. Pen of five wether lambs. — First prize, JEl, F. Battcock ; second, F. Battcock. To the breeder of the pen of sheep of the greatest merit, cxliibited in eithe: of the above classes. — Prize, a cup value £5, J. O. Daintree. PIGS. Boar of the large breed. — First prize, a cup value £5, G. E. Daintree, Fenton ; second, J. How. Boar, small breed. — Prize, £3. Mr. Deacon. Polebrook. Breeding or suckling sow, of the large breed. — F'irst prize, £3, Mr. Deacon ; second, j\lr. Sisman, Buekworth. Breeding or suckling sow of the small breed. — First prize, £3, Mr. Deacon ; second, Mr. Sijuire, Cross llall. Pen of three yelts, over six and under twelve months old. — First prize, £3, F. Battcock ; second, J. Flintham, Somer- sham. 360 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. NORTH SHROPSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. MEETING AT MARKET DRAYTON. Under the head of horned stock there were some good animals in all the classes, but the cattle were a falling off as compared with the show at WeUiugton. There were very few entries of Shorthorns. Judges. — Cheese and Butter : Burgess, Whitchurch ; and Gibbs, Worleston. Cattle and Extra Stock : T. Forrest, Spurstow Hall, Tarporley ; R. T. Heatley, Eaton Grange, Market Drayton ; and Cureton, Beam House, Shrewsbury. Sheep and Pigs : R. H. Masfen, Pendeford ; and J. Coxon, Ereeford. Leaping Horses : R. Corbett and Cecil de Trafford. Agricultural and other Horses : J. Lear, Stoke Grange ; and W. Madders, Wetwood, near Eccleshall. The following are the awards : CHEESE. Eirst and President's prize, Jane Eardley ; second, T, Simon, Ternhill, Market Drayton. BUTTER. Eirst prize, E. Bent, Moorhall, Aston ; second, S. Chadder- tou. Chapel Chorlton. AGRICULTURAL AND OTHER HORSES. Stallions. — First prize, G. H. Hooper, Kinnersley. Mare and foal. — First prize, W. Dickon, Market Drayton ; second, C. Felton, Wellington. Pair of horses. — First prize. Viscount Hill ; second, W. Dixon, Hawkstone. Single horses. — First prize, AV. Dixon ; second, R. Ogle, Wellington. One-year-old colts. — First prize, T. Goodall, Wistanswick ; second, Sir J. H. Chetwode, Bart. Two-year-old colts. — First prize, St. J. Charlton, Apley Castle ; second, Mrs. Sankey, Wellington. HUNTING HORSES. Mare and foal. — First prize, T. H. Briscoe, Whitchurch ; second, T. Furber, High Oflley. SADDLE AND HARNESS HORSES. Eirst prize, G. M'Knight, Wellington ; second, Dr. Saxton, Market Drayton. Two-year-old colts, — First prize, J. Taylor, Stanton-on- Hine Heath ; second, St. J, C. Charlton. One-year-old colts.— First and second prizes, W. Ford, Eccleshall. CATTLE. Bulls. — First prize, W. H. Kidson, Standon (Shorthorn) ; second, S. Barker, Bloore. Shorthorn. — First prize, E. Tunnicliffe, Eccleshall ; second, W. Rider, Crudgington. One-year-old. — First prize, R. Tanner, Dorrington ; second, J. Lynn, Grantham. Cows, pairs. — First prize, W. Bradburn, Wednesfield (Shorthorn) ; second, R. Tanner (Hereford). Cows, single. — First prize, W. Bradburn (Shorthorn) ; se- cond, R. Dickin, Aston (Shorthorn). Heifers, pairs. — First prize, M. Williams, Wroxeter (Here- fords) ; second, St. J. C. Charlton (Shorthorn). Heifers, single. — First prize, R. Tanner (Hereford) . Pairs of 1868. — First prize, W. Bradburn ; second, R. Tun- ner (Hereford). SHEEP. Rams. — First prize, W. Baker, Atherstone (Sliropshire) ; second, H. Griffin, Pell Wall. Rams of 1868. — First prize, Mrs. Beach, Brewood (Shrop- shire). Ram lambs. — First prize, R. Tanner ; seeond, W. Baker. Pen of ewes. — First and second prizes, W. Baker. Pen of 1868. — First prize, R. Tanner ; second, W. Fowles, Acton Reynold. Pen of 1869.— First prize, W. Baker ; second, H. B. Clive. PIGS. Boars. — First prize, T. Juckes, Tern ; second, W. Ford, Eccleshall. Sows. — First prize, C. D. Hudson, Cheswardine Hall ; se- cond, T. Juckes. Farrow of pigs. — T. Simon, Ternhill. LEAPING HORSES. First prize, R. Boote, Shavington; second, S. Davies, Shrewbridge, near Nantwich. Innkeepers' prize of £10, H. Bourn, Arbour Farm, Market Drayton. BORDER UNION AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. MEETING AT COLDSTREAM. The Border Leicesters were numerously represented, and in- cluded some of the best animals on the ground. For shear- ling tups, Mr. Torrance, Sisterpath, took the first prize with tlie animal whicli was first at Hexham. The Cheviots were not very numerously represented, but the animals were unex- ceptionably fine. There was a capital show of horses. Swine were not numerous, but several of the animals were of remark- ably good breeding. Judges : Shorthorns and draught mares. — Haddow, Honeyburn ; Lynn, Mendrum Mill ; and Swan, Bush. Hunting horses. — A. Turnbull, Cresswell, and Hope, Dud- dingston. Leicester sheep.— Thompson, Kyle ; Fletcher, Howden ; and Wood, Thoruborougli. Cheviots and half-bred sheep.— Henderson, Fowberry Mains ; and Borthwick, Cowbeg. The following is a list of the awards : CATTLE. SHORTHORNS. Cows not exceeding ten years old. — Prize, Atkinson, Byewell Hall Farm (Elegant 4.th). Queys one year old. — Prize, Bell, Linton, Kelso (The Nun)^ HORSES. Cart mares. — Prize, Laurie, Mitchelston, Stow. Colts and fillies for agricultural purposes, two years old.— Prize, Brown, Branxton Hill, Coldstream. Hackneys (geldings or mares). — Prize, J. H. Harris, Hun- dalee, Widdrington, Morpeth. Ponies (geldings or maYes) under fourteen hands.— Prize, The Duchess of Roxbnrglie. HUNTERS. Four-year-olds. — First prize, Paterson, Chapelhill, Hawick ; second, Patterson, Terrona, Langholm. Three-year-olds. — First prize. Usher, Gatehousecot, Hawick; second, Dove, Todshawhaugh, Hawick. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 351 Brood mares.— -First prize,' Hogarth, Eccles Tofts ; second, White, Rysaw, Dunse. Four-year-old hunting colts and fillies. — Prize, Smith, Millc- ington, Coldstream. Three-year-old hunting colts and fillies.— Prize, Taylor, Presson, Coldstream. One-year-old hunting colts and (lilies. — Prize, Calder, Kel- loe Mains, Edrom. Made hunters. — Prize, Jobson, Buteland, Hexham. PIGS. Boars of the large breed. — Prize, Colonel Hay, Dunse Castle. Boars of small breed. — Prize, Major Dickins. Brood swine of the large breed. — Prize, Colonel Hay. Brood swine of the small breed. — Prize, Major Dickins. Litter of pigs of any breed. — Prize, Hodgson, Carham. SHEEP. LEICESTERS. Shearling tup. — First prize, Torrance, Sisterpath, Dunse ; second, Hubback, SunlawshiU. Tups, two-shear. — First prize, Dinning, Nilston Ridge; second, Laing, CornhUl, Coldstream. Tups of any age not exceeding four-shear.— First prize, R. W. Bosanquet, Rock, Alnwick. Gimmers or shearling ewes. — First prize, Dinning ; second, Torrance. Ewes which have had lambs in 1869.--Prize, Nisbet of Lambden, Greenlaw. Gimmers or shearling ewes. — Prize, Hume, VVornierlaw. Ilighlaiid and Agricultural Society's Premiums. Tups, the silver medal. — Prize, R. W. Bosanquet. Tups of any age. — Prize, J. Angus, jun., Whitefield, Mor- peth. Shearling tups. — Prize, Foster, EUingham. Ewes not above four-shear. — Prize, Laing. Gimmers or shearling ewes. — Prize, J. Angus, jun. CHEVIOTS. Tups not above once shorn. — First prize, Elliot, Hindhope, Jedburgh ; second, Elliot. Tups not above five-shear. — First prize, Elliot ; second, Elliot. Ewe not exceeding five-shear. — Prize, Elliot. Gimmers. — Prize, Elliot. IIALF-BRED3. Tups not above three-shear. — Prize, Douglas, Riddletouhill, Tups not above one-shear. — Prize, Douglas. LYTHAM AND KIRKHAM AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. The Meeting was held at Kirkham. The show of horned cattle was generally good ; that of horses was one of wonderful excellence, even forjthe Fylde ; and pigs and sheep, though few in number, were of good quality. We subjoin a list of first prizes : FARMS. Most approved state of cultivation, exceeding 150 statute acres, J. Tuustall, Sowerby ; ditto, exceeding 80 and not ex- ceeding 150 acres, J. Thompson, Elswick ; ditto, from 30 to 80 acres, N.Cartmell, Westley ; laying down greatest quantity of land for three years grass on a farm of over 150 acres, Richard Cookson, Clifton ; ditto, farm 80 to 150 acres, T. L. Birley, Kirkham. HORSES. Pair for agricultural purposes, T. Stuart, Stockcsbridge. Brood mare ditto, T. Waring, Catforth. Two year old gelding or tilly ditto, T. Waring. YearUng ditto, R. C. Richards. Colt or filly foal ditto, R. C. Richards. Brood mare for breeding hunters, T. Fox, Singleton. Ditto roadsters, R. Porter, Clifton. Gelding for road or field, L. Wilding, Woodacre. Ditto for harness, James Stuart, Sowerby. Filly for road or field, J. Ward, Espriek. Two year old gelding, J. Cartmel. Yearling gelding for road or field, W.Jackson, Singleton. Colt or filly for road or field, T. H. MiUer, Singleton. Best animal among the horses, T. Fox, Singleton. Mare for breeding hunters, R. C.Richards. Gelding or filly entered for sale at Lytham, James Ward, Espriek. Gelding or mare for road or field, L. Wilding. Pony, between 13 and l-i hands, T. H. Miller. Ditto, under 13 hands, E. Birley, Clifton Hall. CATTLE. Bulls above 3 years, Geo. Butler, Preese Hall. Above 2 and under 3 years, T. H. Miller. Bull calf, under 12 months, J. Rawcliffe, Myerscough. Cow, above 3 years, having had a calf, Geo. Himt, Preston. Best heifer, above 2 and not exceeding 3 years. Rev. L, C. Wood, Singleton. Ditto, above 1 and not exceeding 2 years, J. Milner, Myers- cough. Heifer calf, R, C. Richards. Three cows, in calf or milk, R. C. Richards. Three heifers, 2 years old, G. Butler. Three ditto, 1 year old, bred by exhibitor. Rev. L. C. Wood. Three heifer calves, R. C. Richards. Best short-horned animal, any age or sex, G. Butler's white buU. Cottager's cow, J. Leach, Elswick. SHEEP. Best Leicester ram, J. Milner. Shearling Leicester ditto, J. Milner. Leicestershire ram lamb, T. Miller. Short-wooUed ram, T. L. Birley. Shearling Southdown ram lamb, W. Dodgson, Plumpton Hall. Pen of three long wooUed ewes, any breed, J. Milner. Three short wooUed ditto, T. L. Birley. Three long wooHed gimmer lambs, J. ]\Iiluer. Three short wooUed ditto, W. Dodgson. PIGS. Boar of large breed, H. Kirkham, Wrea Green. Ditto, small ditto, T. Strickland. Sow of large breed, Messrs. Kirkham, Warbick. Ditto small, G. Swintham, Thistleton. Cottager's pig, T. Birkett, Weeton. FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE is a light matter among stirks and lean cattle — they will be little, if any, the worse of it ; but it is very serious amongst heavy- feeding cattle and milch cows. If fat cattle are attacked, they should have their turnips sliced, with crushed oilcake and meal. There is no treatment of any avail iu the fever stages. When the fever is gone, there will be a beast or two out of a lot whose feet will require attention. The horn of the hoof gets loosened fi'om the flesh. The ani- mal may require to be thrown, and the dead horn cut away. It must be remembered that it will never attach, itself again. The veterinary surgeon should generally perform the operation, unless the owner is skilful himself. Cows require great attention. The disease seats itself in their udders, and unless they are most carefully milked out they may be rendered useless as milkers — losing one, 352 THE FARMEE'S MAGAZINE. two, or even all the quartets of the utlJer. The foot-and- mouth disease is very infectious. I recollect having car- ried it home fi'om a neighbouring farm, by merely hand- ling a bull which was down with the disease. I came straiglit home, and handled the first beast opposite the door in one of my owu byres ; in three days he was seized with the complaint ; and in two or three days there- after nearly every beast through the steading was down in it. Out of forty fat cattle thirty-eight had it, only two escaping. Upon inquiry I found that one of them had hud it before. I lost from £4 to £5 of condition on an average oft" every one of the thirty eight. From the same farm ami at the same time a veterinary surgeon had been called in. He went straight to another farm six miles distant, and in a few days every animal there was seized with the same complaint. It is the general belief that an animal will not take the foot-and-mouth disease twice. This is a mistake. I have a cow that took it twice, but there were seven years between the attacks. — Cattle and Cattle Breeders, hij W. MComhie, M,P. SHEEP SALES AND LETTINGS. LOTHIAN RAM SOCIETY.— The annual sliow and sale of this society took place at Edinburgh, but was not so successful as in previous years. Ou the first show day tliere were 2,056 slieep shown, being 30 above the number of last year. Tlie fear of foot-auJ-mouth disease is, however, said to have de- terred some breeders from bringing forward their stock after cutering them, and even lessened the number of entries. Lei- ccsters made a lair exhibition. The first prize was awarded to Mr. Sirasou, Blaiuslie, for tlie shearling which took the first premium against 63 others at tlie recent show of tlic High- landSoeiety. Mr. Watson,Espetston,carricdofthesccond prize, M'itli a ram which was one of the selected list at the Highland Society's Exhibition, though not awarded a prize on that occasion. The judges commended another ram exhibited by Mr. Simson. Cheviots were a uuinerous and excellent show, and the largest exhibitor, Mr. Moffat, Kinleith, carried, as he did last year, the first prize, with a ram which was afterwards sold by Mr. Buist to Mr. Grieve, Shelfhill, Hawick, at the price of £20. The second prize was awarded to Mr. Archi- bald, Blackhouse ; and Mr. Moffat received a commendation. Blackfaccd were a good show in point of numbers, although in respect of quality it did not equal tliat of last year. The first prize was awarded to Mr. GreeiishiclJs, West Town ; tlie second to Mr. John Archibald, Overshiels ; and a commenda- fiou was also given to Mr. Arcliibakl. After tlie prizes had been awarded, the sale took place, there being three rings. Tliere was a scarcity of buyers, and at all the rings bid- ding was stitr. The following is a synopsis of the sales cirectcd : KING NO. 1 — Mil. BUIST. Mr. Wilson, Wolfstar, 2 Cheviots, average £3 5s. Mr. Molfat, Kinleith, 60 Cheviots, average £5 3s. 6d. Mr. Pringle, Garvald, 16 blackfaced, average £1 18s. Mr. Bell, Sheriff Elats, 7 blackfaced, average £2 3s. 7d. Mr. Watson, Culterallers, 27 blackfaced, average £3 2s. ]\lr. Blacklock, Minnygap, 20 blackfaced, average £1 19s. Mr. Inch, Mitchelhili, 15 blackfaced, average £1 Ids. 2d. Mr. I'aterson, Glentaggart, 22 blackfaced, average £3 lis. Mr. Aitken, Howslack, 6 blackfaccd, average £1 12s. Mr. Aitken, Listonsliiels, 55 blackfaced, average £1 8s. 9d. Mr. IMurray, Spittal, 30 blackfaced, average £1 19s. lid. Mr. Melrose; AVest Loch, 27 blackfaced average £2 IGs. Mr. Jlurray, Eastside, GO blackfaced, average £2 13s. lid. Mr. ]?rydone, Burncastle, 15 blackfaced, average £3 17s. Mr. Wilson, Crossliouse, 73 blackfaced and 1 Cotswold, aver- age £2 19s. Mr. Hiekenson, Lougcroft, 30 blackfaced, average £2 •is. Mr, Murray, Eastside, 40 blackfaced lambs, average £1 5s. raNG NO. 2 — MESSRS. BRAND, OLIVER, AND TODD. Mr. G. W. Hunter, Thurston, 7 Downs, average £3 12s^6d. Mr. Durie, Barney Mains, 5 blackfaced, average £2 9s. 3d. Mr. Gibson, Woolmet, 21 Shropsliires, average £0. Mr. Gibson, Woolmet, 30 Cotswolds, average £4' 10s. 3d. Mr. Johnston, Arclibauk, 30 Cheviots, average £3 5s. 4d. Mr. Plenderleith, Moorfoot, 30 Clieviots, average £3 Is. 6d. Mr. Miller, Downreay, 15 Cheviots, average £4 15s. Mr. Stevenson, Mountlothian, 43 Clieviots, average £2 14f, Mr. Baillie, Tullerton, 4 Cheviots, average £2 4s. 9d. Sir G. Montgomery, 12 Cheviots, average £2 12s. lid. Mr. Ballantyne, Wliitehope, 20 Cheviots, average £3 17s. RING NO. 3 — MR. SWAN. Mr. J. Archibald, Blackhouse, 25 Cheviots, average £3 7s. 4d. Mr. Grecushields, West Town, 33 blackfaced, average £5 14s. 6d. Mr. John Archibald, Overshiels, 115 blackfaced, average £4 9s. Mr. Craig, Polquhcys, 16 blackfaced, average £4 2s. 3d. On Thursday, the stock exposed were confined to Leiccstcrs. The rams shown generally were a good average lot, and the bidding for the better class was sjiiritcd. The highest price obtained during the day was £38, for the animal belonging to Mr. Simson, Blainslie, which was commended on AVednesday. The purchase was made for Mr. Balfour, of Whittingham. The ram, also belonging to Mr. Simson, placed first ou Wed- nesday, and first at the Highland Society's show as a Border Leicester shearling tup, was purchased by Mr. Hunter, Dip- pie, for .£36. £35 was given for a ram belonging to Mr. Smith, Castlemains. The Glasgow prize ram of Mr. Smith, Stevenson Mains, was sold for £20. The following are the principal sales : RING NO. 1 — MESSRS. BUIST AND DODS. Mr. L. Dalgleish, West Grange, 7 rains, average £2 9s. 6d. Mr. Drew, Merryton, 25 rams, average £5 8s. 8d. Mr. Mills, Horsburgh Castle, 18 rams, average £6 4s. Mr. Ford, Uardengreen, 50 rams, average £5 14s. Mr. Ainsiie, Ilillcnd, 22 rams, average £6 2s. Blr. Watson, Espcrston, 24 rams, average £8 5s. 9d. Mr. Edgar, Edinburgh, 20 rams, average £3 14s. 6d. Mr. Elockhart, Annacroich, 25 rams, average £3 18s. BIr. G, Glcndinning, Dalmahoy, 30 rams, average £5. Duke of Buccleiich, 30 rams, average £7 16s. Mr. H. Maxwell Inglis, Glencorsc, 13 rams, average £5 17s. 6d. Mr. Wilson, Crossliouse, 38 rams, average £3 15s. lOd. RING NO. 2 — MR. BRAND. Mr. Stevenson, Halls, 40 rams, average £4 18s. Id. Mr. Barclay, Keavil, 14 rams, average £4 17s. lid. Mr. Sraitli, Castlemains, 38 rams, average £8 15s. Mr. Smith, Stevenson Mains, 70 rains, average .£6 8s. 3d. BIr. Lees, Blarvingston, 80 rams, average £6 17s. 6d. BIr. Eichardsou, Yarrow, 15 rams, average £6 13s. BIr. Blarshall, Eedshill, 14 rams, average £4 9s. 6d. Blarquis of Twecddale, 14 rams, average £6 12s. Id. Mr. Clark, Oldhamstocks, 40 rams, average £7 8s. 9d. BIr. Binuic, Setou Blains, 14 rams, average £4 18s. 6d. BIr. Balfour, Wliittingham, 24 rams, average £5 12s. 3d. BIr. Hope, Ecntonbarns, 50 rams, average £4 17s. 5d. RING NO. 3 — MESSRS. SWAN AND CAIRNS. Blessrs. Haig and Co., Cameron Brig, 16 rams, average £3 2s. Sir G. Dunbar, Ackergill, 25 rams, average £4 Is. BIr. Hill, Carlowrie, 35 rams, average £4 17s. 9d. BIr. Blelvin, Bonuingtoii, 100 rams, average £6 8s. 9d. BIr. Biuiiie, Eshiels, 25 rams, average £4 9s. 9d. BIr. Simson, Blainslie, 35 rams, average £8 3s. (id. THE TATHWELL EABIS were let by auction, by Blessrs. Briggs, with a fair amount of success. Fifty-one rams were penned, forty-eight of which were shearlings. Of the fitty- one thirty-eight were let, the remainder being passed. The gross amount made by those let was £380 10s., being an average of £10 3s. 6d. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 353 THE ASHBY-DE-LA-LAUNUE RAMS.— :,Ir. Chiiiles Clarke this year decided to have a sale :il home instead of dividing his sheep between Newark, Nottingliani, and Peter- borough fairs. The first 4'0 made the good average of £1'2 and something over, and the 80 or so let averaged very nearly £11. The following are details of the letting :" £ s. d. £ s. d. Mr. Pell H- 14. 0 Mr. Drury .. 8 18 G „ Shaw r. () 0 „ Richardson. . .. 6 G (1 „ Toynbee 31 10 0 „ Inthorpe .. 5 15 G „ Tinu H 8 f „ Holland .. 6 r; n „ Parks !l f) 0 „ Bullock 5 15 G „ Robinson (5 0 0 „ Birch .. 7 7 0 „ Maytield Si o 0 „ Fojie .. G G 0 „ Diidding 25 4. 0 „ Bayles .. 13 13 0 „ Sills (i 3li C 15 0 0 „ IVet .. 6 .. 7 G 7 () „ E. Paddison „ Darly 0 „ Wiles 13 2 6 „ Birtt 5 15 G „ Foster 8 8 8 18 0 6 „ HoUand „ Hunt .. 18 .. 7 7 7 G „ Slight 0 „ Birch 9 19 0 „ Drurv. .-. .. 7 7 0 „ Sarapey 17 17 0 „ Weigiitson... .. 6 16 6 „ Christian 15 15 0 „ Marfleet .. 11 11 0 Mrs. Toynbee 11 11 0 „ Graves .. 14 14. 0 Mr. T.W.Robinson 8 8 0 „ Garner .. 31 10 0 „ Richardson. ... 16 5 6 „ Marsden .. 6 G 0 „ Hunt 12 12 0 „ Robinsou.... .. 8 18 G „ Dudding 7 7 0 ,, Graves .. 31 10 0 „ Smith 9 10 9 10 0 0 „ Holland „ Wiles .. 18 .. 9 18 9 0 „ Sills 0 „ Tiptaft 6 IC 6 „ Jlarsden ,. 5 15 6 „ R. Howard .... 15 15 0 „ Patterson. ... .. 9 9 0 „ Allen 7 17 6 „ Hardy .. 11 11 0 „ Edworth 13 13 G „ Rylett .. 8 8 0 „ Green 7 7 0 „ Pope 0 15 G ,, Mitton 7 17 18 7 8 8 G G 0 „ Wildgoose.... „ Mackinder... . Mrs. Toynbee .... .. 7 .. 8 .. 5 7 18 15 0 „ Marfleet G „ Wild goose G „ Pope 6 C 0 Mr. Mackinder... .. 6 0 0 „ Sharps 6 C 0 „ Hunt .. 5 15 G „ Wildgoose 19 19 0 „ Robinson .. 6 G 0 „ Clay :.. 15 6 15 6 0 0 „ Ellwood .. 11 .. 7 0 7 G „ Sharp „ Hunt 0 „ Sills 5 15 6 „ Holland .. G 6 0 „ Ward G 16 G „ Holland .. 7 7 0 „ Daddiug 7 17 G „ Marisden .. 0 6 0 „ Tiptaft 0 15 G THE WOOTTON DALE RAMS.— The annual sale of this flock took place at the residence of the breeder, JMr. G. T, Havercroft, at AVoottou Dale. Tlie lots were : Mr. Harrison 10 „ Robert Walker .... 13 „ J. B. Swallow 9 „ J. S. Smith 10 „ William Hudson... IC „ John Davy 26 „ J.Humphrey 20 „ William Ellis 20 „ John West 9 „ W.Wood 12 „ J. Nelson 17 „ Wm. Guruell G „ Wm. Sergeant 12 „ Robert Walker 14. „ Wm. Hudson 14< „ W. Hall 10 „ F. Stephenson 13 ,, George Marris 10 Major Uppleby 11 Mr. Wm. Heseltine 21 Ciipt. J. C.Pettiugell... 9 Mr. F. Prankish 7 „ J. B. Green 10 ,, W. Cliapman 12 „ J. NelsoQ 16 The total ainonnt realized of£12 lis. each. OMr.Wyk.all 11 Thomas Cavill 10 George Moon 10 W. Sergeant 31 R. Walker 40 John Davy 15 John Davy 25 J.Nelson 18 10 G. Guruell 9 0 G. Gurnell 11 10 W. Wass 10 10 W.Dunn 9 0 PuUeiu 13 0 W.Dunn 10 10 Harrison 8 0 W.Wood 13 0 W.Dunn 9 0 Jackson 6 10 W. Hudson 9 0 J. Smith 9 10 John West 7 10 Joseph Danby 7 10 V/. Sergeant G 10 Charles Byron G 0 Thomas Cavill 5 10 was £637 lOs., being an average THE I'ANTON RAMS.— At this sale and letting Messrs. Dudding were honoured liy the largest company since the dis- persion of tlicir famous herd ofShortliorns. Mr. Dudding, ob- served at the luncheon that a sheep bred by him, and named " Old I'antou," has done more towards improving the breed of long-wool Lincolns tluui any baU'dozen slieep ever produced ; and it is therefore natural that the Hock sliould be looked up to by tile breeders in the county. Although, however, the JMessrs. Dudding declined to sacrilicc evcrytiiing for tlie sake of wool, the sheep showu by tliein on Ti\csduy exhilnted a marked improvement iu their fleeces ; and probably a lietter lot of rams were never offered for public comjietition. The first ten siiearlings and four aged sheej) were let, tiic total amount received being i;'2G7 10s., an avernge of £19 3s. Ifd. each. The remaining 66 sheep were sold, and realised .£1,149 10s., being an average of £17 8s. 4d. The 80 sheep thus made no less tlian £1,417, or an average of £17 14s. 3d. The following were (he purchasers and liirers of the slu^ep : SlIE.Mil.ING.'i. Ml R. Howard 16 Empson 10 Ncediiam 31 Marshall 30 Calthrop 15 E. Howard 18 Outrara 18 T. Boynton 20 £ Stevenson 16 10 Gilliatt 32 0 E. Howard 35 0 Swallow 13 0 Sharpley 16 0 Brooksbank 7 0 Ealand 19 0 Boynton 36 0 Swallow 10 0 Marshall 40 0 Coliingwood 14 0 Fieldseud 37 0 Crawshaw 18 0 lies 35 0 P.Brown 24 0 Walker 16 0 Gilliatt 40 0 Sharplev 18 10 Braraley 24 0 Bramley 14 0 Kemp 15 0 T. Trotter 24 0 H. Prankish 13 10 Bramley 14 10 Outram 15 0 Crawley 19 0 Coliingwood 21 0 J, Swallow 14 0 Ditto 13 0 Mr Crawley 20 „ Fieldseud 17 „ Abraham 36 „ Bieber 20 „ Child 35 „ Young 7 „ Kirmau 18 „ J. Borman 10 ., Bramley 13 10 „ Belts IG 10 „ Hedley 17 10 „ R. Woodall 23 0 „ Bramley 21 0 „ Sharpley 10 0 „ Bramley 11 10 „ Abraham 15 0 „ J. Ealand 17 0 „ Ealand 21 „ Battle 14 „ J. Ealand 17 Searby . 0 0 0 17 10 G. AA^alker 13 10 M'Vicar 17 0 W. Prankish 11 0 Ealand 10 0 Kemp 13 0 Chapman 13 10 Smyth 13 0 Lacy 15 0 loung 11 0 J. Borman 10 0 Borman 10 10 Raven 11 0 Cartwright 20 10 Ditto 13 0 G. Walker 11 10 Two-shear and upwards. £ s.l Mr Wright 21 „ Fra]ikish 25 „ T. Dudding 11 Mr Havercroft 18 0 „ Child 30 0 „ Wallis 11 0 „ Gilliatt 13 01 SHROPSHIRE SHEEP.— Mr. W. Baker, of Moor Barns, near Atherstone, has held his first anual auction sale of rams ewes. The attendance was not numerous, but the competion was good ; tlie highest price obtained being 20 gs. for a three- shear, which Mr. Baker reserved the right to exhibit at several shows in September. The same reservation was made in the ease of seven other rams, whereby the average was reduced to £11 19s. for tliirty-three ; four being let at from 9 gs. to 17 gs. each. Forty-five ewes sold at 58s. lOd. each. Mr. Lythall, of Birmingham, conducted the sale. FLITCHAM RAM SALE.— At the forty-fourth sale of long-wooUed rams, bred by Mr. George Brereton, jun., the ani- mals were disposed of with the following results : First teu £G3, second £93, third £70, fourtli £79 10s., fifth £73, sixth £06 10s., seventh £59 15s., eighth £55. 354 THE FARMEB'S MAGAZINE. THE BISCATHORPE RAMS.— At the letting of Mr. Kirkham's Lincoln rams the competition was not so vigorous as we have seen it at Biscathorpe, but No. G,the plum of the shearlings, fetched £65 ; Mr. Going secured him for Ireland. No. 20 was let to Mr. Robinson, Huttof't, for £40. Mr. Hesseltine, Beaumonte Cote, engaged No. 10 for £30. The highest figure of the day was made by an aged sheep. No. 119, for which Mr. Dudding, Panton, gave £66. No. 65, a two- shear, was let to Mr. W. lies, Wold Newton, for ^40. No. 76, a two-shear, was secured by Mr. Clarke, Scopwiek, for £38. No. 96 was let to Mr. Kemp, Thurlby, for £26, and No. 97 to Mr. Clarke, Ashby-de-la-Launde, for £22. The shearlings averaged about £12 4s., and, together with the aged sheep, £12 3s. 6d., the aggregate sum realised by the whole being £1,455. SHEARLINGS, No. £ s. 1 MrSowerby 11 0 3 Mr Whitlam 10 0 3 Ditto 10 0 4 MrSowerby 10 10 B Mr Mc Vicar 13 10 6 Mr Going (Ireland) 65 0 7 Mr Ward 17 8 Mr Calvert 23 9 Mr Barker 15 10 Mr Hesseltine 30 11 MrC.E.Robson... 20 12 Mr Brown 8 13 MrClapham 14 14 Mr C. Going 20 15 MrTowler 10 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 Mr J. Rinder 10 10 17 MrRndgard 9 0 18 MrClapham 10 0 19 Mr Nicholson 8 0 20 Mr St. P. Robinson 40 0 21 Mr Seels 20 0 22 Mr Budibent 16 0 23 Mr Meredith 13 0 24 Mr Nicholson 7 0 25 Mr Parker 18 0 36 Mr White 9 0 37 Mr Walesby 9 0 28 MrMcVicar 7 0 29 Mr White 11 0 30 Mr Ripping 11 0 TWO-5 No. £ s. 61 Mr J.Parker 5 10 62 Ditto 8 0 63 Mr Bennett 6 0 64 MrPieldseud 6 10 65 Mr W. lies 40 0 66 MrTombleson 7 0 67 Mr Bartholomew. . 14 0 68 MrS. J. Welfitt ... 7 0 69 MrFeldsend 7 10 70MrC. E.Bell 9 0 71 Mr W. Chatterton. 9 0 72 Mr Waddingham... 6 10 73 Mr H. Mackinder . 23 0 74 Mr J. R. Ealan ... 6 0 75 MrMiddleton 15 0 76 Mr Clarke 38 0 No. £ s. 31 Mr Brown 8 0 33 MrSowerby 14 0 33 Mr T.Bond 10 10 34 Mr Barker 8 0 35 Mr Bennett •... 7 0 36 Ditto 7 10 37 Mr CoUingwood ... 6 10 38 MrWilks 5 10 39 Mr J. Kirkham' ... 16 0 40 MrRiggall 11 0 41 Mr Adams 7 0 43 MrFieldsend 6 10 43 MrS. Kemp 6 10 44 Mr J. H. BeU 10 0 45 Mr Walesby 10 0 46 MrMcVicar 10 0 47 Mr Lacy 8 0 48 Mr Brown 6 10 49 Mr R. G. Norfolk 11 0 50 Mr Wagstaff 6 0 51 Mr Leeds 6 10 53 MrMcVicar 13 0 53 Mr Nelson 11 0 54 Mr Pears 8 0 55 MrRiggall 6 0 56 Mr Waddingham... 8 0 57 MrWilks 6 0 58 Mr D. G. Briggs... 6 10 59 Mr Whitlam 9 0 60 Mr Wagstaffe 8 10 HEAR. No. £ S. 77 MrRudkin 16 10 78 MrTombleson 9 0 70 Mr Nicholson 6 10 80 MrBayles 6 10 81 MrPaddison 16 0 82 Mr C. E. Robson. . 10 0 83 MrHevvson 6 10 84 Mr Needham 16 0 85 Mr Burkinshaw ... 7 0 86 MrRippou 6 10 87 MrHewson 7 0 88 Mr Nelson 15 0 89 Mr J. Kirkham ... 13 0 90 MrTowler 7 0 91 Mr Briggs 6 10 93 Mr J. Byron 9 0 THREE-SHEAR. No. £ S. 93 MrWilks .'. 5 15 94 Mr J. Nelson 6 0 95 MrEaland 13 0 96 Mr T.Kemp 36 0 97 Mr Clarke 23 0 98 Mr Grimes 13 0 99 Mr Salter 11 0 100 Mr Tombleson ... 7 10 101 Mr Walesby 9 0 102 Mr W. Cliatterton 16 0 103 Mr W. Kirkham . 10 0 104 MrWilks 5 10 105 Mr C. E. Robson 9 10 106 MrTowler 12 0 No. £ s. 107 MrRiggall 9 10 108 Mr Grimes 12 0 109 Mr Leeds 8 0 110 Mr Brocklesby ... 9 10 111 MrRudkin 6 0 112 Mr Woodruffe ... 12 0 113 Mr D. G. Briggs . 9 0 114 Mr C. Robson ... 9 0 115 Mr Grimes 8 10 116 Mr C. Briggs 117 Mr Mackinder 118 Mr W. Martin 119 Mr Dudding ... 130 Mr Mackinder THE BRANSTON RAMS.— Following the example of the other leading breeders of Lincolnshire long-wool sheep. Mr. W. F. Marshall, of Branston, determined this year to, hold a public letting of his rams, instead of disposing of them, as formerly, by private treaty. 40 shearhngs reaUsed £375 10s., being an average of £9 7s. 9d. The eight aged sheep made £131, an average of £15 3s. 6d. Altogether the letting realised £496 10s., or an average of £10 6s. lO^d. each. The following is the result of the letting : Shearlings. 6 10 15 0 10 10 66 0 11 10 Lot £ s. 1 Mr. G. Richardson 5 10 2 Mr. MeanweU 7 10 3 Mr. Barrow 7 0 4 Mr. T. Pechell .... 21 0 5 Mr.Roe 7 10 6 Mr. Melbourne .... 8 10 8 Mr. Fox 8 10 9 Mr. Barrow 8 0 10 Mr. Melbourne ... 7 10 11 Mr. Cartmoor 25 0 13 Mr. Middleton .... 35 0 13 Mr. Barrow 7 10 14 Mr.Tatam 6 10 15 Mr. Turner 7 0 16 Mr. Winn 7 0 17 Mr. R. Richardson 13 0 18 Mr. Middleton .... 10 0 19 Mr. Fox 7 0 20 Mr. WaUer 7 0 22 Mr. Briggs 8 10 0 0 10 0 0 Lot £ 23 Mr. Wagstaffe 10 24 Mr. Fox 7 26 Mr. Headland 5 28 Mr. R. Richardson 17 29 Mr. Kemp 15 30 Mr. Turner 7 10 31 Mr. Winn 5 10 32 Mr. Harrison 5 10 33 Mr. Dawson, 6 10 34 Mr. Harrison 6 10 35 Mr. Ghest 12 0 36 Mr. Marshall 8 10 37 Mr. Walker 5 10 38 Mr. Wiun 5 10 40 Mr.Tatam 8 0 41 Mr. Barrow 7 10 42 Mr. Brocklesby ... 6 10 43 Mr. Melbourne .... 5 10 44Mr.Barrow 7 0 45 Mr. Longstafife. ... 10 0 Two-Shear and upwards. Lot £ s. 46 Mr. Harrison 28 0 47 Mr. Luker 31 0 48 Mr. Marshall 25 0 49 Mr. Winn 11 0 Lot £ s. 50 Mr. Brocklesby.... 7 10 51 Mr. Stevens 6 0 53 Mr. AlUson 5 10 54 Mr. Wagstaffe 7 0 THE HUTTOFT RAMS.— Mason and Son let by auction 53 Lincoln rams belonging to Mr. Robinson. Every ram was let at an average of £9 19s. The following are the details of the letting : — SHEARLINGS. No. £ s. 1 Mr Brooks 10 0 2 Mr Stevenson ... 11 0 3 Ditto 8 10 4 MrRobiuson 9 10 5 Mr WilHams 15 10 6 MrMerrikin 7 0 7 Mr J. J. Clark ... 10 0 8 Mr Wood 7 5 9 Mr Williams 9 0 10 MrHoulden 13 10 11 Mr Wood 8 5 12 Mr Williams 10 0 13 Mr C. Budibent... 9 0 14 Mr J. Budibent ... 16 0 No. £ s. 15 Mr Weightman ... 8 0 16 Mr Abraham 6 15 17 Mr Bring 8 0 18 Mr Wood 8 0 19 MrDriag 10 10 20 Mr Brooks 7 0 31 Mr Hill II 0 23 Mr Mason 5 10 23 Mr Mason 6 0 34 Mr Wood 7 0 25 Mr G. Budibent 26 Mr Weightman 37 Mr T.Bond 6 38 Ditto TWO-SHEAR. No. 29 MrHoulden 30 Mr Cartwright ... 31 Mr Houlden 32 MrMerrikin 33 Mr Williams 34 Mr Hill 35 Mr G. Budibent... 36 Mr G. Cartwright 37 Mr Sargisson 38 Mr G.Oliver 39 MrBycroft 40 Mr Wells £ s. 10 0 8 0 16 0 8 0 17 10 1 7 5 II 10 5 15 9 10 8 10 7 0 7 10 1 No. 41 Mr Parker 43 Mr C. Parker ... 43 Mr Masou 44 Mr Bond 45 Mr Oliver 46 Capt. Catlin 47 Mr W.F.Robinson 48 Mr Oliver 49 Mr Kemp 50 Mr Young 51 Capt. Catley 52 Mr Simmons 9 0 6 5 6 5 8 5 £ s. 16 10 6 10 6 10 6 10 9 0 29 0 9 0 8 0 II 0 14 0 20 0 12 10 THE OWERSBY RAMS. — At Owersby there was the annual letting of Mr. John Davy's Lincoln rams. For the first nine sheep the biddings were somewhat slow, but No. 10 was secured by Mr, Harrison, of Branston, for £21 ; No. 11 to Mr. J. Clarke, of Welton, for £^0 ; and Mr. Parr, of Binbrook, secured No, 13 for ^21 ; THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. 355 No. 20, after a brisk competitlou, was knocked down to Mr. Byron for £40 ; Mr. Toder secured one for ^£28 ; and Mr. Minta, of Normanton, another for £26 ; the 80 shearlings realised £889 10s., being an average of £11 2s. i^d. each. No. Oi was hired by Mr. E. Davy for £30 ; the '11 two-shears made £391 10s.— an average of £9 10s. ll|d. ; the 13 three- shears made £158 10s., being an average of £11 Gs. 5d. SHEARLINGS. Lot. £ s. 1 MrWagstaffe.Hunts 7 0 2 Mr Watson 8 10 3 MrHiU 7 10 4 MrSharpe 13 0 5 Mr Holdershaw ... 10 10 6 Mr Calthrop 9 0 7 Mr Blew 6 10 8 Mr Little 10 10 9 MrHiU 8 0 10 Mr Harrison 21 0 11 Mr J. Clarke 30 0 12 MrPilley 12 10 13 Mr Parr 21 0 14 Mr Allison 15 0 15 Mr Parr 13 10 16 Mr Grantham 17 0 17 Mr Nicholson ...... 8 10 18 MriUlwood 12 10 19 Mr AYilson 10 10 20 Mr J. Byron 40 0 21 MrT. Dalton 17 0 22 MrWHson 10 10 23 MrHaU 10 0 24 MrTrafford IC 0 25 MrToder 28 0 26 Ditto 16 0 27 MrBurkiU 7 10 28 Mr Wells 6 10 29 MrTateson 13 0 30 MrBullivant 17 0 31 Mr Minta 26 0 32 Mr Allwood 21 0 33 MrStrawson 8 0 34 Mr J. Kirkby 10 0 35 Mr H. Prankish ... 8 0 36 MrR. BurkiU 7 0 37 MrBland 9 0 38 Mr Allison 6 0 39 Mr Overton 6 0 40 MrR. Howard ... 20 0 Lot. £ s. 41 Mr Overton 11 0 43 MrSwaUow 10 0 43 Mr C. Fieldseud ... 10 10 44 Mr AlUson 6 10 45 Mr Walker 11 0 46 Mr J. Kirkby 9 0 47 Mr Skip worth 6 0 43 Mr Hall 9 0 49 Mr Farrow 8 10 50 MrGoodson 8 10 51 Mr J. Kirkby 12 0 52 Mr Blackburn 6 0 53 MrSharpe 8 0 54 Mr Grantham 7 10 55 Mr E.Davy 11 0 56 Mr Minta 10 0 57 Mr E.Davy 7 0 58 MrT. Brooks 9 0 59 Mr Grantham 8 0 60 Mr Calthrop 9 0 61 MrMelbourn 13 0 62 MrS. Skipworth... 10 10 63 Mr T. Dudding ... 9 10 64 MrSharpe 10 0 65 Mr Upton 10 10 66 MrTateson 8 0 67 Mr H.Davy 7 10 68 MrRawlmson 8 0 69 Mr Stevenson 7 10 70 Mr Nelson 9 0 71 Mr Herring 5 10 72 MrBurkiU 5 10 73 Mr Herring 5 10 74 Ditto 8 0 75 Mr Skipworth 9 10 76 MrMachin 10 10 77 MrHiU 8 0 78 Mr Wilson 9 10 79 Mr Stern 8 10 80 Mr Watson 8 10 Two-shear. Lot 81 Mr T. Dudding 82 Mr R. Martin ... 83 Mr Allison 84 Mr RawUuson ... 85 Mr Sharpley ... 86 Mr E.Davy 87 MrR. Martin ... 88 Mr Skipworth ... 89 Mr Abraham ... 90 Mr Melboura ... 91 Mr P. Brown ... 92 Mr Dawson 93 Mr Allison 94 MrE. Davy 95 Mr Watson 96 Mr Burkinshaw . 97 Mr Abraham ... 98 Mr Westerby ... 99 Mr Swallow 100 MrGoodson 101 Mr Calthrop ... Theee- Lot 127 Mr Abraham ... 128 Mr Havercroft . 129 Mr Swallow 130 Mr Bartholomew 131 Mr X, yQftBg ,„ £ s. 7 10 8 0 6 0 7 0 14 10 11 0 17 0 8 10 7 0 16 0 10 0 10 0 8 0 30 0 6 0 9 0 9 0 Lot 102 103 106 108 109 110 111 112 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 Mr Gann Mr Swallow .... MrE. Davy ... Ditto Mr Nelson ... Mr Markby ... MrBurkUl ... Mr Smith Mr Taylor ... Mr Grason ... Mr Watson . . . Mr RawUnson Mr Watson .., Mr Bateman Mr Watson ... Ditto Mr Belton . . , MrT. Reed .. Mr Herring ., Mr Stern 6 0 123 7 0 134 12 0 126 9 0 I SHEAR AND UPWARDS. Lot 132 MrE. Davy 133 Mr Calthrop ... 134 l!fr Minta 135 Mr R. Fieldsend 136 Mr Calthrop ... £ s. 9 10 40 0 9 10 9 0 U 0 £ s. 7 0 6 0 8 0 9 0 6 0 18 0 6 0 6 10 8 0 6 0 6 0 26 0 11 0 9 0 7 0 6 0 7 0 6 10 5 10 8 0 £ 8. 7 10 6 0 21 0 11 0 6 0 THE CULVERTHORPE RAMS.— Mr. E. Law disposed of 55 out of the 60 penned, at the prices below ; 9 9 11 0 11 11 34 2 8 8 11 0 £ s. 7 7 Palethorpe . 16 5 W. Burkett. 7 7 Vincent 10 10 Hedworth ... 13 2 J. Green ... 8 8 Bagshaw Taylor ..., Copeland PUkington R. Godson Hickson EUis 10 10 BurrUl 8 18 Marriott ... 19 19 Chettle 14 14 MarshaU ... 7 7 Brackenbury 11 0 Bui-riU 8 8 Girdwood SUght .... Marriott , Sanderson . Sardeson . Freeston , Tomlinson Gooseman . J. Green . Lot 1 Mr. Challands 2 3 4. 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 38 14 14 10 10 15 4 9 19 10 10 10 10 9 9 7 7 Lot 39 Mr. Bagshaw £ s. 13 13 15 4 12 12 9 19 9 9 9 9 0 7 19 17 30 „ Downing .. 31 „ Mitcheson.. 32 „ Pick 33 „ J.Green .. 34 „ Hickson .. 5 „ Tomlinson 36 „ Freeston .. 37 „ G. Godson 38 „ R. Godson 39 „ Avery 40 „ Hunt 41 „ Garton 9 19 43 „ Searsou 6 6 43 „ H. CassweU 6 16 44 „ King, Retford 6 6 45 „ H. CassweU 6 16 46 „ W.Birkett . 6 16 47 „ Searsou 10 10 48 Messrs. CassweU 6 6 49 Mr. Clay 5 15 11 7 9 7 8 18 7 17 BurriU 6 6 Freeman ... 11 11 Moore 6 6 EUis 6 6 Lane 6 16 Selby 6 16 d. 0 6 0 6 0 0 6 0 6 6 6 6 6 0 6 0 6 6 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 6 The 55 rams, therefore, realized £559 2s. 6d., being an average of £10 3s. 4d. each. THE LATE JIRS. BAKER'S SHROPSHIRE FLOCK — This sale, owing to the decease of the proprie- tress, Mrs. I5aker, it included the whole of the rams, and the entire flock of ewes. No. 3, a two-shear, was sold to Mr. C. Eaton, of Stamford, at 20 gs. ; No. 3 to Mr. Dester at 16 gs. ; No. 4 to Mr. J. Bennett, Rugby, at 18 gs. The shearlings were then brought forward, and No. 5 made 56 gs. to Mr. KeeUng ; No. 6 going at 18 gs. to Mr. Hopkins ; No. 7 at 27 gs. to Mr. Kittow, CornwaU ; No. 16 at 18 gs. to Lord Combermere ; and the remainder at 15 gs., 14 gs., 12 gs., down to 6 gs., the average being £14 5s. 9d. The prices made for aged ewes were 120s. per head for No. 1 pen to Mr. German ; liOs. for No. 3 to Mr. Winterton ; 100s. for No. 4 to Mr. Walker, who also took No. 5 at 90s., No. 2 at 77s. 6d., No. 8 at 110s. Mr. Kittow bought two pens at 70s., Mr. Dester and Mr. Limber one each at 70s. The yearling ewes were of good size, colour, and quality, and sold at from 70s. to 130s. Mr. May gave the highest price for No. 1 pen, and took two other lots at 82s. 6d. and 73s. 6d, Two ^ pens were bought for Mrs. Beach at 110s. and 70s. respec- ' tively ; average £3 16s. 8d. The sale was presided over by Mr. Lythall. THE SHROPSHIRE SHEEP SALE AT SHREWS- BURY.— A greater number of both strangers and neighbour- ing breeders and farmers assembled than ever seen at any of the previous sales. Three hundred and thirty rams were sold and let at prices ranging from 8 to 51 guineas. Amongst the lots were forty belonging to Messrs. Crane, one of which was let at 51 gs., another at 30 gs., three others at 30 gs. eacU, and several sold at 15 gs. Mrs. P. W. Bowen's ranged from 9 to 23 gs. each. A sliearUng of Mr. Man- sell's was sold to Lord Penrhyn for 30 gs. ; and several of Lord W. de Broke's ran from 9 to 16 gs. each. Mr. Ilemy SmUli showed twenty sheep, some of which were let at 20 gs. Mr. T. Horton, exhibited very successfully. No. 1 being let at 20 gs.. No. 3 at 19 gs., No. 4 at 28 gs., No. 5 at 24 gs., and the others making from 17 down to 13 gs. each. Mr. Joseph Crane's fourteen rams made an average of about 13 gs. each. Messrs. Fenn and Harding exhibited much more favourably than at the first sale ; bringing forward their best animals they ranged from 10 to 20 gs. each, whUe Mr. Tanner made from 9 to 20 gs each ; and Mr. Pickering, of Alston sold one at 20 gs., and several others at good prices ; many others made from 7 to 21 gs. each, among which was a ram of Mr. Jones', of Agden. The 3,000 ewes sold ranged from 45s. to 115s. each, 1 the average being a good one, Mr, Preece was the auctioneer, 356 THE FAEMEE'S MAGAZINE. MR. R. H. MASFEN'S SHROPSHIRE SHEEP SALE. — The sixteenth annual sale took ])lace at Pende- ford. The Auctioneer was Mr. Preece, and tlie stock for sale consisted of 60 Shropshire rams and 120 stock ewes. Mr. T. Horley, Leamington, presided at the luncheon. The average price obtained for the stock of rams was about £16 Is. 6d. each. The prices realized for the ewes ranged from i-t 5s. to £3 lOs. each. The following is a list of the rams sold and the prices obtained, together with the naii:es of the purchasers of a few of the high-priced animals : Old Tom, a twin, 15 gs. ; Conrad, a twin, 11 gs. ; Grindle 2ud, a twin, Mr. Allsopp, Ilindlipp Hall, AVorcester, 46 gs. ; Will-o'-the-Wisp, 13 gs. ; Sir "Wil- liam, 12 gs. ; Barou Norton, a twin, 19 gs. ; Pendeford Buck, IMr. Rogers, of The Holme, 40 gs. ; Vulcan, a twin, 20 gs. ; Tubal Cain, a twin, 11 gs. ; Guardian, a twin, 18 gs. ; Game- ster, 17 gs. ; King Cole, a twin, 23 gs. ; Prince Teck, a twin, 20 gs. ; Pendeford Star, a twin, 20 gs. ; Pendeford Pet, a twin, Mr. Turner, 20 gs. ; Baron Pendeford, a twin, Mr. Minton, 35 gs. ; Knight of Pendeford, a twin, 17 gs. ; Prince Rupert, 19 gs. ; Eavourite, a twin, 26 gs. ; Pilot, a twin, 10 gs. ; Sailor, a twin, 10 gs. ; Nimble, 12 gs. ; Buck- skin, a twin, 10 gs. ; Gambler, 13 gs. ; Grateful, 10 gs. , Hotspur, 9 gs. ; The Foundling, a twin, 11 gs. ; Alexander, 20 gs. ; Commodore, 12 gs. ; Goliah, 18 gs. ; Brutus, 13 gs. ; Hercules, 11 gs. ; Plunting Horn, 13 gs. ; Gunboat, 13 gs. ; Lifeboat, a twin, 10 gs. ; Jasper, 9j gs. ; Highlander, 8h gs. ; Chrysolite, a twin, 10 gs. ; Hermit, 71 gs. ; The Viscount, 15 gs. ; Hector, 16 gs. ; Sunbeam, 15 gs. ; Robin Hood, 14 gs. ; Coxcomb, 18 gs. ; Snowball, 10 gs. ; Garuett, 10 gs. ; Canute, 10 gs. ; Piper, 85^ gs. ; Christopher, a twin, 9 gs. ; JLaguet, 8 gs. ; Sambo, 9-J- gs. ; Joker, 8^ gs. Three-shear ram : Pirate, Mr. J. Pritchard, 15 gs. Two-shear rams: Standard Bearer, Mr. J. Evans, 38 gs. ; Commonwealth, Mr. Hands, 28 gs. ; Pendeford Hero, 12 £;s. ; Bondsman, 7 gs. ; Lord Patent, 10 gs. ; Lee's Prince, 9| gs. ; Tlie Sprite, 9 gs. MR. WM. TORR'S LINCOLNSHIRE LONGWOOLS.— On the first Wednesday in September, according to annual custom, there assembled at Aylesby Mauor a number of gentlemen, albeit the attendance was not numerically up to the mark of former years. jMr. Torr had reduced the number of his rams to accommodate the lessening demand for pure blood; Major Taylor took one sheep at 20 gs. and another at JO gs. One was let by auction (by Mr. Thornton) to Mr. Maw at 20 gs., the opponent being Mr. Harrison, who then hired one at 12 gs. The highest price made was 35 gs., and the lowest letting at 10 gs. The average of seven was 20 gs., and the general average was about 14 gs. The total number let on the day was 29, and there were also applications by letter. THE ELMHAM HALL SALE AND LETTING.— There was a large gathering of sheep breeders and other agriculturists at the Elmham Hall annual sale and letting. Associating some pleasure with the business of the day, the noble owner, Lord Sondes, opened the gardens, conserva- tory, and aviary, to the inspection of the visitors. But the chief feature of attraction, for the time, was the animals to be offered for competition by Mr. Beck, consisting of 400 South- down sheep (of which 110 were shearlings, 50 stock ewes, 90 ewe lambs, and 150 wether lambs), and 20 red polled Norfolk (or Suffolk) cattle. In addition to these animals, which were for sale, there were 25 Southdown rams to be let. The highest pen of shearling ewes realised £6 16s. 6d. ; ditto, full- mouthed ewes, £3 12s.; ditto, ewe lambs, £1 13s. 6d. ; ditto wether lambs, £1 18s. The highest shearling ram was let to Mr. J. J. Column, for 36 guineas; highest two-shear to Col. Tomline, 33 guineas; highest neifer, sold to Mr. J. J. Col- nian, for 36 guineas; 110 shearlin ewes averaged 68s. 6d., 50 full-mouthed ewes 57s. 3d., 90 ewe lambs 32s. 7d., 150 wetiier lambs 34s. 3d., 16 shearling rams £15 14s. 3d., G two-shear ditto £16 9s., 17 heifers £17 9s., 3 bulls £14 10s. 6d. THE ATTLEBOROUGII STOCK SALE. — Messrs. Salters's sale of loug-woolled rams took place at the Attle- borough Hall Farm. There was an unprecedentedly good attendance of Ijuyers. Mr. Simjison offered 55 shearling rams, which made from £6 10s. to £35, the latier sum being given for lot 18, by Mr. II. Webb, of Camhs. Tlie average price was £8 5s. The 45 ram lambs realised £5 10s. each, the highest price given being £15. MR. RIGDEN'S SALE OF SOUTHDOWN SHEEP AND LETTING OF RAMS.— The annual sale of Mr. William Rigden, of Hove, near Brighton, took place on the farm at Hove, under the hammer of Mr. Edward Drawbridge, auctioneer of Lindlield. The following sales, &c., were etfected : Ewes : I'ive full-mouthed ewes, Mr. Stanning, Godstone, £4 15s. ; Mr. Taylor, West Ham, £8 ; Mr. Lane, St. Alban's-pluce, Cliftouville, £;5 10s. ; Mr. Gilles- pie, Bolney, £4 5s. ; Mr. Gillespie, Bolney, £4 5s. ; Mr. Gorringe, Kingston, £3 15s. ; Mr. Cook, Avery, Essex, £3 ; Mr. Ross, Luton-park, Beds, £3 iOs. ; Mr. Ross, Lulon-park, Beds, £3 5s. ; Mr. Ross, Luton-park,' Beds, £3 5s. ; Mv. Lane, Chftonville, £3 ; Mr. Hart, Beddingham, £2 IOs. ; Mr. Ross, Luton-park, £2 15s. ; Mr. Stanning, Godstone, £3 ; Mr. Cook, Avery, £3 5s. ; Mr. Cook, Avery, £2 15s. ; Mr. Cook, Avery, £3 ; Mr. Lane, Cliftonville, £2 15s. ; Count Bouille, £3. IIams roK Letting : Mr. Cooper, Norton, £15 15s. ; Mr. Cooper, Norton, £11 lis.; Mr. Humphrey, Steyning, £37 IOs.; Mr. Cooper, Norton, £15 15s.; Mr. Barclay. Headley, £40 19s.; Mr. Ross, Luton-park, £18 18s.; Mr, Boby, Alton Hall, Strutton, Ipswich, £10 IOs. ; Count Bouille, £69 Os. ; Count Bouille, £26 5s. ; Mr. Wodehouse, Woolraershain-park, Herts, £11 lis.; Colonel Boyer, Steeple llote, Oxfordshire, £10 IOs. ; Mr. Barclay, £11 lis.; Mr. Boby, Ipswicli, £15 4s. Od. ; Mr. Law, Cliftonville, £11 lis. ; Colonel Boyer, £10 IOs. Rams roii S.\iE : Two years old, by a sou of Reserve, £27 Gd., Col, Boyer ; one-year-old, by a son of Young Plenipo, £13 13s., Mr. Henry Webb, Com- bridgeshire ; one-year-old, by ditto, dam a Beddingham ewe, bought in at 10 guineas ; one-year-old, by do., dam do., £10 IOs., Mr. Page, Bradwell-on-Sea, Ilealdou, Essex ; one-year- old, by do., £10 IOs., Mr. Page, Bradwell-ou-Sea, Ilealdon, Essex ; one-year-old, by do , dam a Goodwood ewe, £10 IOs., Mr. Page ; one-year-old, by do., dam do., £17 17s., Mr. Page : one-year-old, by do., £11 Od. Od., Mr. Fox, West Hoathly ; one-year-old, by a son of Webb's 21, £10 IOs., Mr. Webb, Cambridgeshire , one-year-old, by a grandson of Arch- bishop, £12 12s., Mr. Wood, Essex ; one-year-old, by do., £10 IOs., Mr. Page, Maldon, Essex ; one-year-old, by 2nd prize ram at Battersea, £10 IOs., Mr. Fox, West Hoathly. I;ORD CHESHAM'S LIVE-STOCK SALE. — Lord Chesham, of Latimer, Bucks, had a public sale at his farm homestead on the Chesham Park estate. This was the first of a contemplated succession of annual sales for disposing of his superfluous stock. The sheep were seven two- shear and older sheep, and eight shearlings. The first made an average of £14 8s. each. JMr. Game bought one for ]\Ir. Marjoribanks, Bushy Park, Watford, at 26 guineas, and Mr. C. Mills one at 20 guineas. The shearling males made the average of £27 13s. 9d. each. Mr. Pulley, a Herefordshire breeder, gave 26 guineas for the first. The next made 13 gs. A twin-brother of the Manchester first prize then entered the ring, and after a very animated competition he was bought at 47 guineas, by Lord Lismore, for liis farm in Ireland. A better sheep then appeared, and spirited competition took place between Mr. Preece, of Shrewsbury, and the agent of Mr. Mu.sgrove, a Liverpool merchant and farmer ; Mr. Preece bid up to 51 guineas, and subsequently gave up the contest on 52 guineas being bid for Mr. Musgrnve. The last was bought for the earl of Essex, at 24 guineas. Some Channel Islands cattle were next disposed of. Daisy, a cow, was sold to Mr. Gaskell for 25 guineas ; Label, to Mr. Boord, for 23 ^ guineas ; Dot, to the Duke of Grafton, for 25^ guineas. Another was bought at 35 guineas by Lord Lismore. Of the in-calf heifers, Mr. Ross bought one for Mr. Leigh, of Luton IIoo, at 31 guineas, and another was bought for Mr. Jones Loyd, of the Westminster Bank, at 27 guineas. The yearlings made great prices. Mr. Ross houglit two for Mr. Leigh at 17a guineas each, and another was bought for Mr. W. 11. Smith, M.T., at 20 guineas. The sale was conducted by Mr. Alfred Sedgwick, of the firm of Sedgwick and Son, Watford. THE NORFOLK RAM LETTINGS.— Mr. Bradfield, who occupies the Prince of Wales's Bahingley Farm, has been a ram breeder for some years past, and his sales invariably at- tract flockmasters from a distance. Mr. Long disposed of 84 rams for £557 15s. The first ten realized £59 IOs. ; the se- cond ten, £85 15s.; third, £67 5s. ; fourth, £74; fifth, £71 5s. ; sixth, £63 5s. ; .seventh, £55 5s. ; eighth, £61 IOs. The average price realizctf was £6 12s. 9d., which is iu excess of last year by nearly a sovereign. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Sale op Shropshire sheep in bijimingham. ^Mr. LythaU's sale of Shropshire ranis and ewes from various breeders was lield iii Biugley Ilall, Birmiugliam. Mr. E. Lytliall's lot of 15 strong useful sliearliugs, with whicli tho sale commenced, averaged" £12 3s., and his ewes over 60s. her head. Mr. Yates's ranged from 7 gs. to 30 gs., the Ijest being purchased for Lord Zetland. The ewes from the Grindle flock averaged 4Ss. Mr. Nock's rams were in request, making from 9^ gs. to IS gs. each, or an average of £13 13s. Mr. Pilgrim's prize two-shear at the Coventry Show let at 13 gs., his other ram going at 10 gs. Lord Willoughhy de Broke's rams brought from G gs. to 10 gs. eacli. Mrs. Beach's sheep ■realised over £19 each; tliree were let, oue at 40 gs. for the Season to Mr, 11. Smith — tliis being the higliest price of the day ; others went at from 27 gs. and 25 gs. dovvn to 11 gs. The ewes from the Hatton's Hock ranged from G3s. to 100s., average nearly Sis. Mr. U. Smith's rams from Sutton Slad- dock made from 8 gs. up to 23 gs. Lord Sudeley's sold at about 9 gs. each, Mr. Timmis's averaged 7 gs., and Mr. Tidy's 10 gs. Major Wollaston's made £6 10s. each, aud Mr. Druce's Oxfords, with which the sale concluded, fetched slightly over £8 each. About 400 ewes were penned from Messrs. Glover, Jenkins, King, Hound, and others, which ranged from 40s. to 63s. ; the general average being as near as possible 50s. SALE OF SHROPSHIRES. — THE LEESE FARM FLOCK — The attendance was very numerous aud in- cluded most of the leading ram breeders. The ewes were sold first, aud ranged from 70s. to 200s., the highest price being paid by Mr. Masfen. The other principal buyers were Messrs. Allen, Firmstone, Bostock, Stubbs, Timmis, Beach, and \Y. Wood. The theaves followed, and made from 60s. to 2003., Mr. Firmstone taking the highest priced pen, and also another at 160s. per head. The other buyers were Messrs. C. Byrd, F. Byrd, Bostock, Griffiths, and H. Smith. The ewe rams went very high, 105s. down to 50s., Mr. Firm- stone taking three pens, Mr. H. Smith four, and Mr. Griffiths two. The wether lambs made froni 30s. to 37s. each, some being bought for Ireland. Mr. H. Smith took the best year- ling at 18 gs., and others went at from 10 gs. down to 3^ gs. Oue old sheep made 30 gs. The ram lambs were more sought after and ranged from 45s. to 20 gs. each, which Mr. F. Byrd gave for No. 3 ; no fewer than seven of the twenty-five making 10 gs. or over, Mr. Hamilton, of Ireland, taking one of the best at 13 gs. Five old rams averaged 18 gs. each, 16 year- ling rams £7 10s., 25 ram lambs £7 10s., 112 aged ewes nearly £5 10s., 80 shearling ditto slightly over £5 each, and 61 ewe lambs £3 lis. Mr. Preece was the auctioneer. THE NORMANTON RAM LETTING.— The Hock of Mr. Charles Minta were let by auction by Mr. George Spreckley, auctioneer, of Grantham. Seventy animals were brought into the ring, but only 59 were sold ; they realized £475, or an average of nearly £8 is. BEATTOCK RAM SALES.— The Cheviot rams belong- ing to Mr. James Brydon, Kinnelhead, fetched good prices. One five-year-old brought £37, one four-year-old realised £43, one three-year-old fetched £145, and one two-year-old £35. Tha averages were for five-year-olds £20 15s., four-year-olds £10 6s., three-year-olds £17, two-year-olds £8 9s. 2d., and year-olds £5 18s. SALE OF SHROPSHIRE RAMS AT BRIDGNORTH FAIR. — Mrs. Wadlow's (Haughtou) 19 Shropshire rams ave- raged £10 3s. each ; Mr. E. Wadlow's (Acton Round) 8, 68 14s.; Mr. Instone (Callaughton), 4, £8 18s. 6d. ; Mr. Pitt (Posenhall), 12, £10 3s. ; Mr. H. Smith (Sutton Maddock), 5, £8 12s. ; Mr. Wheeler (Eardington), 4, £5 9s. RAM SALES AT LINCOLN.— The Scothorne rams, total for the eight, £121 10s. ; the Ingleby rams total for the 22, £276 10s. ; the Nocton Rise Rams, total for the 18, £160 10s. ; the Nocton rams, total for the 40, £438 7s. ; W. Har- rison's Branston rams, total for the 13, £77 53. SALE OF SHEEP AT KEIGHLEY.— There was a sale of Lonks, Shropshires, downs, and cross-bred sheep here, selected from the stocks of Mr. J. M. Green, Black Hill, Keighley, and Mr. J. Jowett, Prospect Villa, Keighley ; and also of pure-bred Leicester sheep, selected from the stock of Mr. Wm, Laycock, WooJville, Keighley. Mr. Dodds, of Wakefield, was the auctioneer, and the sale took pl.ace in one of the fields in wiiich the Keighley Agricultural Show was held. The lonks ofi'ercd for sale were selected from Mr. Green's stock, a breeder aud exiiibitor well known. Lot 1, ram, two-shear, obtained first prizes in 1868, at Rochdale aud Burnley, Keigiiley, Skipton, Bingley, and Guiseley, was bought in at £5 5s. Lot 2, ram, two-shear, obtained second prizes in competition with lot 1, was sold for £5 15s. Lot 3, ram, one-shear, obtained in 1868 the silver cup at Keighley ; 1869, first at Accrington, and first prize of £20 at the R. A. "S. E., Manchester, was bought in at £11. The ram lambs, from the prize stock, were sold at prices varying from 19s. 6d. to £5 Is. For some of the ewes and gimmer lambs there was brisk competition, but for the cross-breds the sale was very dull. The Shropshire downs, selected from Mr. Jowett's stock, met with a moderate competition, but nothing like former years. For the Leicester rams, shearling gimraers, and lambs, the property of Jlr. William Laycock, an exhibitor in the West Riding of Yorkshire, there was a somewhat brisk demand, es- pecially when the rams were brought into the ring. Lot 1, Blair Athol, two-shear, which has won many prizes, was sold for £16. Lot 2, two-shear, obtained several prizes in compe- tition with lot one, was sold for £10 10s. Lot 3, Blue Cap, one-shear, won four first prizes this season, and sold for £10. Some of the ram lambs sold well, as also the lambs aud gim- raers at the commencement ; but these fell oif towards the cloS6 of tllG Stllc. THE EiVST KEAL RAMS.— At the annual show and letting of Mr. James Skinn's rams the business was not so brisk as in some former years, or the prices realised quite so high, yet the lettings were quite on a par with those of other flocks in the neighbourhood. Mr. Joseph Daulton took a shearling for £11, a three-shear sheep was taken by Mr. B. Ely for £13 10s., another by Mr. Kent for £7 10s., and a shearling by Mr. Fletcher for £8 12s. 6d. THE WOLD NEWTON LINCOLN RAIMS,— The sale of these rams took place at Caistor. The increasing atten- tion, it is hoped, will induce Messrs. lies to make the supply more abundant, as many farmers round the ring, who prefer making investments in rams under ten pounds, were disap- pointed in their expectations. No. 4 was bought by Mr. C. Nainby at £13 ; No. 5, by Mr. Empson at £20 (a ram, divid- ing honours in the opinion of eminent judges with No. 10), was purchased by Mr. W. Wright at £15. Mr. C. Wood bought No. 6 at £10 10s., and No. 12 at £11 10s. Mr. W. Hudson bought No. 14 at £15, and No. 19, a grand sheep, at £17 10s. No. 15 was bought by ilr. Gooseman at £15 ; No. 18 by Mr. Rannard at £12 10s. ; No. 13 by Mr. Dixon at £10 10s. ; and Mr. Lancaster secured No. 10 at £14. The average of the 24 rams reached £10 12s. 6d. HAMPSHIRE DOWNS. — Messrs. Ewer and Win- stanley, of Salisbury, submitted to* public competition the fiock of Hampshire Down sheep belonging to Mr. R. Dear, of Duruford, who is about to quit his farm. The sheep numbered altogether 740. The chilver lamlis realized from 40s. down to 30s. per head, the two-teeth ewes from 47s. to 40s., the four-teeth ewes from 50s. to 41s., the full-mouthed ewes from 45s. to 37s. per head; the ram-lambs from 14 gs. to 4 gs., some realizing lOJ gs., 9| gs., 7 gs., and 5 gs. ; the four two-teeth rams 11 gs., 10| gs., 8^ gs., and 5 gs. SALE OF MR. W. HEWER'S COTSWOLD FLOCK, AT NORTHLEACH. — Consequent upon the retirement of Mr. William Hewer from business, his flock of sheep was brought to the hammer by Mr. Villar. The sale com- menced with the ewes, which were ofi'ercd in pens of five, and for which there was a spirited competition. The first lot produced £6 per head, and other lots realized from £5 15s. to £2 12s. 6d., which was the lowest. The first pen of theaves brought £6 10s. each, and some ranging down to £2 10s. The average price for ewes was £3 12s. 6d., and for thcave-i £3 16s. 9d. The old rams realized the following sums : 28 gs., purchased by Mr. Smith ; 25 gs., Mr. Swannech ; 12i- gs., Mr. Holt; and ll|gs., Mr. B. Browne, being an average of £17 4s. 7d. The ram lambs were ne.xt ofi'ered, and prices ranging from 25 gs. down to £4 10s. were realized, Mr. Timms pur- chasing fhe highest priced animal. The average was i'5 10s. 5d. Mr. Canning purchased 10 of the highest-priced theaves, at £6 10s. each, for exportation to New Zealand ; aud Mr. Gnerrier, of London .purchased 15 ewes for Prussia. KIRTLINGTON PARK FARM SALE.— The annual sale of extra stock took place hy direction of SirH. W". Dash- wood, Bart., Messrs. Paxton and Castle being the auctioneers. 40 fat Oxfordshire Down ewes averaged 50s. 3d. ; 60 theaves, 49s. Cd. ; some wethers realized 84s. eacli ; the ewe and C 0 858 THE FARMER'S MAaAZINE. wether lambs averaged about 33s. 6d. ; some fat cows and Hereford osen made from £18 to £23 ; and 36 steers from £10 to £17 10s. each. The biddings for the pigs were very lively, the prices running from 33s. to 53s. each. LITTYWOOD SHROPSHmES.— Amongst the prices given for Mr. Charles Bryd's rams were, for one by Mr. Bradburne, 60 guineas ; Mr. Henry Smith, 44? gumeas ; Mr. Matthews, 35 guineas; Mr. Fetherstone, 43 guineas; Mr. Ford, 30 guineas ; and so on to 7 guineas, which was the lowest price. THE CADEBY HALL, LINCOLN, RAM SALE.— These rams are descended from the Biscathorpe and Old Flag- naby flocks, and Mr. J. W. Kirkham follows his father with the flock. The 31 rams now offered sold for £415 5s. Cd., being an average of i'12 8s. per ram. Nos. 1, 3, 4, and 8 realized the highest prices, viz. : No. 1, Mr. Wright, £31 ; No. 3, Mr. Williams, £22 Is. ; No. 4, Mr. Kirkham, £21 ; No. 8, Mr. Kirby, £19 19s. 6d. THE LINCOLNSHIRE RAM SALES AT PARTNEY FAIR. — There was a very large show of sheep at this im- portant Lincolnshire sheep fair. The trade could scarcely be called brisk in any department, although ewes, lambs, and giramers of good quality realized satisfactory prices. A few of the best pens of drape ewes sold as high as 64s., good gimmers were taken at 54s., and the choicest lots of lambs up to 40s. There was an increased supply of rams, this fair aifording a good opportunity for local breeders to dispose of their flocks. Seven lots, consisting of about 300 rams, were offered by auc- tion—the Huttoft, Thurlby, Langton Grange, and Holbeck rams being the most important. Messrs. Mason and Son (Louth) offered the Thurlby and Huttoft flocks ; the former, consisting of 37 shearlings of great size and excellent form, attracted considerable attention, and realized the satisfactory average of £11 12s. The Huttoft rams, bred by Mr. J. L. Needham, made an average for 32 shearlings of £10 7s. 6d. The 34 Langton Grange rams realized the highest average of the day— £11 15s. The Holbeck flock, the property of Mr. Betts, were also offered, and the Toynton rams ; but in neither instance were the averages so good. TUP SALES AT HAWICK.— There was a large attend- ance of purchasers, including flockmasters from both sides of the Tweed ; The Emerald Isle was also well represented. The demand for Leicester stock was brisk, and the various lots were quickly sold at prices considerably above the average of former years. The show of Cheviot rams, although up to former seasons in point of numbers, was uot of the splendid quality, which has been shown in bygone markets. Contrasted with the last three years' sales the bidding was somewhat sluggish. Leicesters : Mr. Selby, Hassendean-bank, 23,£4 15s. 2d. Mr. Brunton, Eastfield, 4, £7 Is. 3d. Mr. TurnbuU, Spit- tal, 29, £5 17s. Id. Mr. Tiirnbull, Eastmiddle, 50, £7 Os. Id. Mr. Gray, Ormiston, 31, £4 12s. Mr. Laidlaw, Bonchester, 12, £4 15s. Mr. Scott, Gilliestongues, 8, £3 9s. Id. Mr. Thor- burn, Headshaw, 6 lambs, £1 15s. lOd. Cheviots: Mr. Elliot, Hyndhope, 81, £4 lis. lOd. Mr. Mitchell, Kirkhope, 89, £2 17s. 4d. Mr. Aitchison, Linhope, 69, £3 9s. 6d. Mr. Borthwick, Hopsrig, 36, £4 2s. lOd. Mr. Turnbull, Falnash, 80, £4 Os. Id. Mr. Borthwick, Georgefield and Glendinning, 43, £4 Os. 4d. Mr. Simson, Bughtrig, 11, £2 4s. Id. Mr. Stevenson, Commonside, 13, £1 19s. 8d. Messrs. Ord,Lums- den, 19, £4 19s. Mr. Archibald, Glengelt, 37, £5 Os. 6d. Mr. Plenderleith, Moorfoot, 41, £3 9s. 5d. Mr. Jackson, Meg- dale, 13, £3 15s. 3d. Mr. Scott, Mervinslaw. 7, £1 18s. 7d. Mr. Scott, Langhope, 15, £3 16s. 6d. Mr. Douglas, Plender- leith, 15, £3 38. 3d. Mr. M'Gregor, Bellridden, 31, £3 15s. 9d. Mr. Armstrong, Effgill, 13, £3 15s. 3d. Mr. Gibson, The Shaws, 13, £3 4s. 5d. Mr. Scott, Hyndhope, Ettrick, 5, ^'2 15s. 6d. Mr. Mitchell, Singlee, 7, £2 13s. 3d. Mr. Riddell, Ramsaycleughburn, 3, £1 17s. 6d. Mr. Graham, Unthank, 6, £1 16s. 3d. Mr. Scott, Kinninghall, bought the Eastmiddle £11 tup. Mr. Douglas, Essinside, bought East- field tup at £8 5s. Mr. Beattie, Harwood, bought the Spit- tal £11 tup. The Hyndhope tup at £33, was bought by Mr. Smith, Sudlys ; the second, £35, was bought by the same purchaser. The Lindhope tup, at £30 10s., was bought by Mr. Ballantyne, Whitehope ; the second do., £13, Mr. Grieve, Southfield. The Hopsrig £16 tup was bought by Mr. Douglas, Swinsidehall ; the second, price £15, by Mr. Smith, Learmonth. The Falnash £12 tup was bought by Mr. Miller, Downreay; the second, £9, by His Grace the Dnke of Buc- cleuch. The Georgefield £12 10s. ram was bought by Mr. Bell, Billholm ; two tups at £11 10s. each, were bought by j Mr. Turnbull, Burnfoot, and Mr. Borthwick, Hopsrig. Mr. ! Aitchison, Linhope, bought the Lumsden tup at £14 10s. Mr. I Mitchell, Middlestead, bought tlie Glengelt tup at £15. Mr. ' Dodd, Hopehouse, bought the Bellridden tup at £9 _5s. : Average prices obtained for the pure-bred Leicester shearling ; tups :— Mr. Robeson, Springwells, 6, £4 13s. 6d. Mr. Bell, ; Linton, 10, £6 10s. Colonel Nisbet, of Mersington's trustees, i 30, £6 4s. 6d. ; Mr. Wotlierspoon, Spotsmains, 9, £5 13s. 2d. Mr. Hogarth, Eccles Tofts, 17, £6 3s. 8d. Mr. Thomson, Rutherford, 3, £5 13s. 4d. Miss Stark, MeUendean, 6, £6 3s. ' Mr. Simson, Conrthill, 7, £5 16s. Mr. Dickinson, Maiden- ■ hall, 14, £5 15s. 6d. Mr. Nisbet of Lambden, 13, £5 5s. 7d. ; ; Mr. Roberton, Harperton, 9, £5 16s. 3d. Mr. Hume, Wor- . merlaw, 3, £5 IGs. 8d. Mr. Torrance, Sisterpath, 26, £5 14s. lOd. Mr. Borthwick, Cowbog, 14, £5 3s. lOd. SALE OF LEICESTER RAMS AT KELSO.— The great j annual sale of Leicester and half-bred rams, under the auspicesof j the Border!] nion Society, commenced in the Inch Park, inBow- | mont-st., Kelso. There was a large attendance, including pro- j prietors and flockmasters from distant parts of the United | Kingdom, and from also Canada and Australia. There were i four rings placed at various points in the park, three being for I the sale of Leicester sheep, and one for the sale of half-bred I rams. Ring No. 1 was presided over by Mr. Donkin, Bywell ; j ring No. 3 by Mr. Brand, Dunbar, Mr. Oliver, Hawick, and 1 Mr. Atkinson, Brandon ; ring No. 3 by Messrs. Fairbairn and Peuny, Kelso ; and ring No. 4 (for half-bred), by Mr. David- i son, Melrose, Mr. Donkin, Mr. Oliver, and Mr. Atkinson. ' There were in all 64 lots entered for sale — 54 of Leicesters, I and 10 of half-breds— representing a grand total of 1765 ; | last year the number was 1813, so that there has been a de- ] crease this year of by 48. Of the rams sold, Messrs. Fairbairn . and Penny disposed of 685 ; Messrs. Donkin, 430 ; Mr. David- son, 80 ; Mr. Oliver, 334 ; Mr. Atkinson, 80 ; Mr. Brand 56. i The demand for good Leicester rams appeared to be as great as hitherto, and when the crack lots came on for sale, although • ^ some of them were late in the afternoon, the prices at which some of the animals were sold showed the great desire of flock- masters to enrich their stock with the best blood which the ' Borders can produce. In the majority of instances the aver- ages were considerably higher than last year, while the de- ! mand continued active duriuff the whole of the day. The lot i belonging to Mr. Foster, EUingham, sold well. One was sold j at £50 to Mr. Calder, Oxenrig ; one at £40 to Mr. Simson, ] Blainslie ; one at £37 to Mr. Smith, Stephouse ; and one at ; £36 to Mr. Angus, Whitefield. Mr. Robertson sold the ram | that was highly commended at the shov/ at Coldstream on the j previous day at £34, while the tup that got the second prize, i which belonged to another party, only brought £11 ; Mr. Ro- bertson also sold one to Mr. Ross, Newtonlees, at £11 one to Mr. Scott, Timpendean, at £16 ; and one to Mr. Laing, Bur- ; ton. Mr. Thompson, Rutherford, sold his highest-priced ram to Mr. Smith, Ancroft, at £17. The highest-priced ram in the | lot of Mr. Bell,Linton, was purchased by Mr. Bell, Fans, at £30. 1 Mr. Dinning, Nilstone Ridge, sold his highest-priced ram to : Mr. Lumsden, Northumberland, at ^31 ; and another to Mr. ' Foster, Curradon, at £34. In the Rev. Mr, Bosanquet's lot, the j ram which brought the highest price was sold to Lord Pen- j rhyn at £30 ; another was sold to Mr. Robeson, Springwells, j at £36. Mr. Wood, Thornborough, bought the highest-priced | animal in the lot of Messrs. Black, Coldstream, at £22. Mr. , Torrance, Sisterpath, sold his highest to Mr. Englis, Logan i Bank, at £41 ; and one to the Marquis of Tweeddale at £30. j The MeUendean sheep, which have long held a leading place | at this sale, came on for auction about sis o'clock, when the ; ring was surrounded by a large company. The highest price | obtained was £109, one of the highest figures ever obtained at j this sale. It was purchased by Mr. Collingwood, Lincolnshire. , Mr. Bruce, Aberdeen, purchased one at £40 ; Mr. Roberton, i Harperton, one at £36 ; Mr. Torrance, Sisterpath, one at J £31 ; Mr. Foster, EUingham, one at £36, and one at £21. I The average was the highest obtained at the sale. The rams | which are sold by Lord Polworth are generally regarded with i great interest by flockmasters, and the ring is generally crowded '. when the sale is going on. On this occasion, however, they were \ about the last on the list, when a great number of farmers had | left, and hence the average and highest price was not so high as ! last year, The top price was £43, purchased by Mr, Elliot, THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. 359 Hollybush ; Mr. Borthwick, Qowbog, purchased one at £33 ; Mr. Scott, Buckholra, one at £31; and Mr. Thompsou, Ru- therford, oue at jSSO. SALE OF THE LATE LORD RADNOR'S STOCK AT COLESHILL. Br Mk. Steapford. To the visitor at tlie Smith field Club Show probably no name would be more noticeable than the Earl of Radnor, of Coleshill, Berks, as an exhibitor of good cattle, sheep, and pigs. The sale consequently attracted a large gathering to Coleshill, where Mr. Strafford ccrameuced the business of the day by selling the pigs, which, contrary to the colour of the county, are white, and have been an established pure-bred for sixty years. On four occasions they have won the Smith- field Gold Medal and Sweepstakes, in challenge against the Berkshire. A few discrepancies, concerning age and de- scription, occurred between the appearance of the animal and the Catalogue, and although the lot was not considered so ex- traordinary as might be expected, still the 32 (nine boars) averaged £14 8s. each. None were offered under five months old, and only one had a litter. For sows, 31 gs. was the highest price for Manchester, bought by Major Stapylton, from Yorkshire, who got a good but lame gilt Windsor for 13 gs. Cousin made 20 gs., and Betty 19 gs. (Mr. John Lynn) ; these were the greatest prices for sows, for the competition was not very keen, Mr. Thornton, on the part of the Rev. W. Shipley, being the last bidder in most cases. Geranium, one of the handsomest and youngest, made 15 gs. from Mr. Wells, M.P., who also took the highest price boar, Cam- bridge, at 26 gs. Oxford made 24; gs., and Buscot 22 gs:, Mr. H. Dunn : Coleshill, Monarch, and Lavington, the three great old boars and sires of several lots, made respectively 10 gs. (Mr. Carter), 9 gs. (Mr. Sterne), and 8 gs. (Mi-. Wors- ley), whilst Birmingham went for 18 gs. to Mr. Tait, for Her Majesty. At the conclusion of this part of the sale the com- pany adjourned to lunch, with Mr. Bowly in the chair, when the usual speeches followed, and at one Mr. Strafford resumed the day's proceedings with the Shorthorns, which were cer- tainly not of the quality of the pigs, and, save for one or two purchased of Mr. Clayden and Mr. Stratton, no good price was obtained : even the noted Gold Medal 0 family had but tolerable specimens and few admirers. The ring was not near large enough, consequently many of the spectators heard little and saw less, and the people being so close and so numerous made a buzz that interfered a good deal with the auctioneer's and Mr. Moore's remarks. Oyster, the first cow, made 31 gs. (Mr. Gibbon), her two and three year old heifers 25 gs. each, and her two bulls, a yearling and calf, 18 gs. each. Con- stance, a Knightley cow by Mr. Booth's Sir James, was in Smithfield condition, and passed with a reserve of 50 gs., upon which there was no advance ; her daughter. Cucumber, a plain- headed two-year-old, went to Capt. Gunter for 52 gs. The prices then ranged between 23 and 35 gs., until Red Rose, of Wilkinson's Old Lancaster tribe entered, there was slow but longer competition for this three-year-old heifer, and Col. Lindsay, bidding in person, got her at 50 gs. He also took Happiness for 43 gs., and cheap at the price. Rosetta, also by Costa, again v/ent to Col. Lindsay at 71 gs., after op{.osition from several parties ; she was a particularly good rich roan- coloured heifer, and in-calf to Fawsley Baronet. The next lot, own sister to Littlebury, went to her breeder, Mr. Clayden, at 56 gs., whilst Amethyst, another good roan thick heifer, was of Mr. Stratton' s, purchased by Major Stapylton at 69 gs.; and with this the better prices ceased. There v/ere only two young calves. Fawsley Baronet, a hundred-guinea purchase at Havering Park, " Bates upon Fawsley," and the sire of many lots, only made 37 gs., to Mr. Foster, Cumberland, where he will stand for the tenants' use. He was a fair good buU, with nice quality, but very plain hind-quarters ; a more level bull, Ork- ney, made 39 gs. for Mr. Dangar, Australia, whilst Romulus was bought by Mr. Hugh Dunn for 60 gs. A little dispute arose after the sale with Col. Lindsay as to the price of lot 23, which was knocked down at 50 gs., but for which he only bid 48 gs. The sum total for the Shorthorns showed £1,803 IBs., or an average of £33 16s. for the 55 head. One peculiar feature of the sale was the number of leading breeders in each department of stock. Mr. Rigden, Mr. Geo. Williams, and many others were prominent among the sheep ; Mr. Bowly, Col. Kingscote, Messrs. Clayden, Rand, Game, and Hewer among Shorthorns ; and Messrs. Sterne, Humfrey, Crisp, and others for pigs. Mr. Waters, of Salisbury, thpn led the com- pany to another ring, and sold the sheep, but it was more dif- ficult to hear at this place than at the cattle ring. The names of the buyers were rarely beard, but the prices were not very high. Though the sheep were brought out in very nice condi- tion, and were of good quality throughout, in size they might have been larger : the public eye has of late increased for size in sheep, and they do not appreciate the small compact symmetrical Southdown. The prices of the old ewes ranged from 50s. to 73s. each per pen of five. Col. Kingscote giving the highest price, and one or two pens going to Mr. Clayden. The six-tooth ewes went from 57s. to 67s., whilst among the four-tooth the highest price was 83s., given by Mr. Fnlchej for Lord Sondes. SHORTHORN SALES. By Mr. John Thornton. THE KEAVIL HERD, FIFESHIRE.— It was pretty well understood at the time of the meeting of the Hijfbland Society at Edinburgh in July last that, in consequence of the sale of the estate, Mr. Thorutou would bring this herd to the hammer in September. The feeling was one of general regret, for its success at the Society's meeting last year at Aberdeen, where it carried off the first and third prizes for yearling bulls, and the first for aged bulls also, and this year the first and second for yearling heifers, showed that it was capable of pro- ducing fine young animals that would eventually, by their high breeding and heavy flesh, improve that great northern stock from which the metropolis obtains its best supply. The Aber- deenshire men seemed aware of this, and came down in large numbers, taking back with them many of the best and highest priced lots. The herd was in its twelfth year, for in 1857 Mr. Robertson Barclay, with his grieve Mr. Easton, crossed the Border as far as the Roman Wall, and carried off from Scaleby Castle a few of Mr. Fawcett's best, that brought them a fine lot of steers and feeding animals. Three years afterwards various herds in the midland counties were visited, the Mel- cote sale supplying a heifer and bull, and a trio of heifers went from Panton. The Scotch laird and his canny adviser then became a menace to the surrounders of a shorthorn ring, and woe betide him that opposed them. Even combined efforts failed at Holme-pierrepont, and Mr. Sanday's Faith, iu calf at the time with Fan-Fan, was borne away lor 225 gs. Bates and Booth each had a fair trial ; the Waterloo cow from Mr. Maynard's (Water Maid, illustrated in the " Herd Book ") went as the Kirklevington belle, as Faith had been the Warlaby Prima Donna. Northern Duke (22,431) was a private pur- chase from Mr. Bowly at 150 gs. ; and Baron Booth (21,212), from Mr. Bruere for 200 gs. The former ultimately found his way back again into Staffordshire for 40 gs., reserved from the block, and was shown, fat and burly, at Manchester ; the latter held sway to the end, and was dispersed with his numerous offspring. The Sittyton herd was stripped of its best five females at a long price ; the Babraham sales supplied Miss Burdett Coutts and other heifers, with Englishman (19,701). But the great fight was the last which took place at the Southcott ring in 1864, when Captain Oliver gave battle for Seraphina 13th, and the Scots were the victors at 240 gs. Then thinning, selecting, breed- ing, and selling took place ; young bulls went north, south, east, and west ; delicate cows and diffident breeders felt the butcher's knife — so that, notwithstanding regular breeding, only 27 animals found their way into the catalogue. The day before the sale some Englishmen and a party from Ireland made the old-fashioned inspection, and by early the next morning the Aberdeenshire men were astir. The mail coach from Edin- burgh never had a heavier load, and by noon the granary in the massive stone farm buildings had its tables filled and its good things eaten under the presidency of Mr. Andre w Mitchell, who was the judge of the roup. " The Royal," " The Host," "The Auctioneer," and "The Chairman" were the only and before the gale began at 1.30, Old 0 C ^ 860 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Seraphina, with her noted sou the prize bull Heir of Euglishman, her two heifers and bull calf, paraded the ring in Indian file, to the admiration of the company. Old breeders were wont to tell of Eden, its llolkau (4,041) and Braithwick Bird, or of the gallant Captain Barclay and his hosts of red, white, and roans ; but no grander sight could bo remembered or seen than this magnificent family group. They passed oxxt ; the judge spoke; the conditions were read; audLot 1 entered. Competition was dull, and the fine red cow Annie Laurie wen,; only at 29 gs., full of milk and calf. A stir ran round the ring when Seraphina entered ; Capt. Oliver had sent a com- mission ; Bolivar was desired as a mate for her or lier heifers, and the Scots looked with longing eyes. She was soon away at 100 from Lord Sudeley's agent, Mr. Organ ; 105 came from Mr. Young, of the Keir herd, and the Scotchmen smiled again ; but 110 was the closing bid, and she went to Lord Sudeley in Gloucestershire. Ean-Fan was put in at 100 gs^ and went away merrily to 150 for Mr.Chaloner (Ireland), five came from a comparative stranger, sixty was said for Mr. Chaloner, and five — the glass run out — and she went at 1G5 gs. to Mr. White, a tenant-farmer at Cliuterby, Aberdeen. Then fol- lowed some large good cows, which went like some of the heifers at comparatively low prices, the prevalence of the dis- ease having an effect here, as it did the week previously in the south. Seraphina Carrissiraa, 3 yrs. old, a lovely heifer, the image of her dame at the same age, brought forth more com- petition ; but Mr. Organ ^ot her at 120 gs. ; it was believed Mr. Brierley being the last bidder. Avery cheap lot of heifers for their goodness and quality followed; aud Mr. Booth's Seraphina, with her first prize rosette, entered ; she was put in at 30, and a 100 came from three Scotch breeders ; but she joined her mother and sister at 150 gs. in Gloucestershire, where his Lord Sudeley has a family of the tribe, bred from Sera- phina 15th, own sister to the 13th, bought for IGO gs. Baron Booth showed a little temper, and roared, which had an effect upon his sale ; and, considering the excellence of his stock, he seemed to go cheap to Mr. judge Mitchell at 61 gs. The prize bull Heir of Englishman, rosctted, followed, and was put in at 60, at which price a noted breeder, of the Society of Friends, thought to get him. The competition was all from Scotchmen ; Mr. Arklay, of Dundee, bid 98, and Mr. Maur, of Upppr Mill, Aberdeen, 100, at which price he went ; his younger brother being taken at half the sum by Mr. Maur's neighbour, Mr. Dutliie. Frederick Fitz-Booth, a handsome roan young bull, went slowly along to 90 gs., falling to Mr. Chaloner ; aud the other young bulls, of nice quality but not over fat, seemed to go at reasonable rates. The Border-Leicesters were then brought in, and went at ex- cellent prices. One gentleman from Banff had sent his factor for the lot. There was much competition, the ewes going into Banff, the giminers into Lancashire, and the lambs into Cumberland. The farm will be broken up into small pastures, and the Shorthorns thereof will know it no more. Summary. £ s. d. £ s. d. 19 Cows 59 6 0 1,136 13 0 SBuUs 57 15 0 463 0 0 27 Averaged £58 16s. 9d £1.588 13 0 49 Sheep averaged £4 18s. 3d. By Mr. H. Stratford. THE BRAILES SALE reached an average of £46 17s. 9d. for a draft of 35 head from Mr. Sheldon's herd. This took place on the 17th Sept., when a large local company attended. Mr. Drewry gave the highest price, 155 gs., for Lady Ellen Barrington, a pretty roan yearling of the Bates-Barrington tribe. Venetia — a i)lain coloured heifer, but of great sub- stance, out of Sir Charles Kuightlcy's llyampea — went for 130 gs. to Messrs. Levey. Old Surmise 3nd got as far as 67 gs., and fell to Mr. Claydcn ; whilst Mr. Cheney, disap- pointed here, took Johanna Southcott at 73 gs., and her heifer Joan of Arc at 41 gs. A. nice red heifer calf, out of Miss Knightley,- became Mr. Sartoris' at 57 gs., and Mr. Thornton gave 40 gs. for a thick Bates heifer for Major Hamilton. Duke of Brailes was reserved at 200 gs., and 55 gs. was the highest price for a Barrington bull calf bought by Mr. Ladds. Most ot the animals were brought out in good condition ; but -he competition for many very useful lots was dull, nad tliey went at comparatively cheap prices. THE FARNBOEOUGH SALE.— There was a selection of 46 head from the Rev. C. Ilolbeck's herd at Farnborough, Ban- burj', taking place on the same day as the Keavil sale. The blood was not of a highly attractive character, although the nth Duke of 0.\ford (19,632) had been used; still there was a good local company, who took most of the animals at an average of £26 15s. lOd. for cows and heifers, and £23 15s. 9d. for bulls, some of which were purchased to go to Denmark. THE FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE. Mr. J . Seaman reports to the veterinary department of the Privy Council the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the Safiron Walden district, at thirteen different farms where 160 cattle were kept. To the end of Sept. 10 there had been affected 152, unaffected 4, deaths 4. The disease was brought into the district by newly-purchased calves. A few weeks ago tliere was an outbreak of this disease in the neighbourhood of Wakefield, and it has now spread to such an extent that it would be far easier to enumerate the villages where it does not or has not existed, than where it does exist. Scarcely a village on any side of the town has escaped. The Greenock Adcediser regrets to learn that the foot- and-mouth disease has broken out amongst cattle in that dis- trict, and that on one farm uo less than eleven cows have been attacked. It does not seem to have been imported, but it is of the nature of an epidemic. As yet, there have been no fatal results. The disease manifests itself by inflammation in the mouth and a swelling at the foot joint. We understand that one farmer in Bute has lost (hirteeu cattle by the disease. At the Gateshead County Police Court, on Tuesday, Mr. Moore, late inspector under the Cattle Diseases Act, informed the Bench that Mr. Lawson, at Ryton, had five beasts suffering from the foot-and-mouth disease ; and, thinking it was neces- sary that steps should be taken to prevent the spreading of the disease, he had thought it his duty to inform them. Mr. Moore said there had been a slight case in the higher part of Gateshead. Mr. Ramsay thought the subject was of some im- portance, aud as Mr. Moore had been inspector under the Cat- tle Diseases Act, he thought they could not do better than appoint him. Mr. Moore was then appointed. It is icported that the disease prevails in the neighbourhood of South Shields, and has broken out to an alarming e;iteut in the neighbourhood of Bishop Auckland, where on many farms almost the whole of the herd have been attacked. Very few farms in the district within several miles around Bishop Auck- land have escaped being visited in a greater or less degree. On the farm of Mr. Proud, of Binchester, nearly the whole of the cattle have been affected, but happily without any fatal results, and the malady appears now to be abating. The farm of Mr. Gibson, of Bracks, has also suffered from the disease, a great portion of the cattle being attacked, and the disease is still raging at Thirkley. The disease is also being much felt, and Mr. A. M. Loades, who has been appointed inspector by the Commissioners under the Contagious Diseases Act, which only came into operation on the 11th of Angust last, states that there is scarcely a farm in the district within several miles around but has been visited by the disease. It appears that the disease, though in very few cases fatal, has a very wasting effect upon the condition of the animal ; and it is very infec- tious, having in several instances been carried from field to field on the boot of a person walking over the land from a field where diseased cattle were pasturing by stepping on the matter de- posited from the mouth of the animal. A despatch has just been received at tlie Foreign Office from Her Majesty's Ambassador at Vienna to the effect that a disease resembling the cattle plague exists in the western districts of Vildeget and towards the Danube, and the foot- and-mouth disease towards the Black Sea. In consequence of this, additional precautious will be taken in the importatiou of hides through Austria. The disease is dying out fast in Prussia. In the province of Brandenburg special jirecautions have been abandoned in the districts of Lebus, Laudsberg, and Sternberg, with the exception of two or three small localities. lu the province of Prussia proper, as uo new cases have appeared for weeks, the Vistula has been reopened for the transport of cattle, whicli lias also been resumed at all the stations of the Osl balm. On Thursday last a meeting of the coviucil of the North l^Hfi FAEMBR'S MAGAZINE. SOi Riding of Yorkshire Chamber of Agrieulture was held at York, to consider the questions eontaiued in a cireiUar from the Privy Council with respect to tiic treatment of imported animals, and also to consider tlie state of Yorkshire at the present time witli reference to cattle diseases, and the hest metliod of prevcntina- their spread. Tlie questions propounded by the I'rivy Council were referred to a committee, who are to report in a fortnight, and the secretary was afterwards in- structed to address a memorial to the quarter sessions callin largest ever known. Mach more busi- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 267 ness done on Taesday than the preceding day, although for some descriptions of horses the trade was still rather slow. Good hunters sold well. Purchases have been made by seve- ral gentlemen for the Leicester and Melton Mowbray hunting district. Most of the best carriage-horses changed hands, browns and bays being most inejuired for. Nags of good breeding met with ready purchasers. But few coaching colts have been shown. Prime four-year-olds are much enhanced in value : those worth £G0 a few years ago will now sell for £80 to £100. Many of the local farmers have got good figures for their horses ; live were sold by one for £400, and still higher prices have in some instances been obtained. The majority of the best horses bred in the immediate neighbour- hood of Howden are, however, bought through the local agents of the principal dealers before the fair begins. A sale was held by Mr. Calthrop, the eminent Lincolnshire auc- tioneer. The first ten horses offered for public competition were from the stock of Mr. J. W. Drinkrow; several of the blood stock and hunters fetched good prices. A black year- lidg filly, by Cathedral, was knocked down for 40 guineas ; a very handsome pony was bought for 50 guineas ; two brown geldings at 40 and 51 guineas respectively ; and a chesnut gelding (five years old) by Colsterdale, 63 guineas. KNARESBRO' FORTNIGHTLY MARKET.— There was an average show of fat stock, at 73. 6d. to 8s. per stone. Only a moderate supply of sheep and lambs, which sold readily at 8d. per lb., fat calves 7d. Buyers numerous, and a good clearanee effected. LEWES GREAT SHEEP FAIR. — The following are some of the sales : Mr. Hart, of Beddingham, sold a pieked lot of prime ewes to go to France at 608. The highest prices made were by Mr. Humphrey, of Ashington, and Mr. Hamp- ton, of Applesham. The largest lot was sold by the latter gentleman, who made 4Ss. for 200 ewes, intended for exporta- tion to Australia. On the day before the fair he sold a still finer selection of his flock at 55s. Mr. Hampton made 483. for a choice lot of 100, and refused 34s. 6d. for his lambs Many good ewes were sold at 29s. It may be taken gene- rally that ewes ranged from 24s. to 48s., tegs 30s. to 40s., and lambs from IBs. to 30s. At the latter figure Mr. Cooper, of Eastbourne, Mr. Lively, of Ringmer, sold 100 each, and that was the highest price made. LOUTH FAIR.— Ewes for breeding fetched from 40s. to 5Is., and lambs 28s. to 34s. Only a small show of mutton, which averaged 7id. to 8d. per lb. Good grazing bullocks £18 to £21, and drapes, which were in good demand, £20 to £22. Cows and calves were in good demand, at prices va- rying from £23 to £24 10s. MORETON GREAT MARKET.— There was an abundant supply of fat bullocks, cows, calves, and steers ; the former 12s. per score, cows and calves £12 to £16 each. Much busi- ness done ; great demand for wethers. NORTHAMPTON FAIR was pretty numerously attended with store cattle, both beasts and sheep. Good useful young ewes made considerably over 403. per head ; lambs were more moderate in price, prices ranging from 22s. up to 30s. and upwards. Good runts, steers, and Herefords sold well, and there was a very large attendance of graziers present, and, on the whole, a large business done. The horse fair was well supplied, and some useful ones sold. PARTNEY FAIR.— The show of sheep was very large, and many of them were of a superior character. Business commenced shortly after daybreak, and for the best animals was carried on with considerable activity, so that before 10 o'clock a large number of animals was disposed of. Inferior sorts hung longer on hand, and sales effected with difficulty. The ,best lambs made 40s. per head (Mr. Gresswell's made 42s.), others, useful and full of wool, 34s. to 39s. Mr. Wright, of Ashby, made 39s. Drapes 50s. to 60s., at which latter sum a pen (having brought up lambs this year) belonging to Mr. Morrison, Ashby, were sold, as were Messrs. Wright's and Overton's, of the same place. Shearling ewes and wethers were in request, and sold readily. In the beast fair there was a large show of really superior animals, which sold at good prices. Mr. Grime, of East Keal, sold 10 two-year-old roan bullocks at £22 per head ; Mr. Dawson, Raithby Grange, sold 7 three-year-olds for £26 per head. Good store beasts made fair prices, but inferior animals were a drug. The best cart foals made good prices. READING FAIR.— Unfortunately, owing to the prevR- lence of the foot-and-mouth-disease amongst homed stock, the number of cattle was exceedingly small, and scarcely any busi- ness was transacted. Horses of good description realised high prices, and a larger number than usual exchanged hands. ST. AUSTELL MONTHLY MARKET.— Fair supply of fat cattle, at £3 53. and £3 10s. per cwt. Moderate supply of store cattle, at 45s. to 47s. per cwt. Sheep were not over plentiful, but sold at 6j[d. per lb. Cows and calves found buyers at high prices. THE SHOW OF COTSWOLD SHEEP.— We are twitted on all sides with the fact that at agricultural shows the Cots- wolds, instead of maintaining their usual reputation, are chiefly " conspicuous by their absence," and that even at our own show, where the breed is at home, there were more don- keys than Cotswold rams. Well, that is true ; we have not shown up well lately, but it does not therefore by any means follow that we are to cry " lehabod ! our glory is departed." Our sheep are where, and what they always were ; our breed- ers have not been asleep any more than their neighbours ; but, as Mr. Beale Browne very plainly puts it, they do not choose to show their fine healthy animals against mere "manufac- tured articles," blown up with spiced food and condiments of all kinds that will pile up a diseased, unnatural flesh ; for, be it remembered, an undue proportion of fat is disease and no- thing else ; and it is absurd to give prizes for mere E^onstrosi- ties. Let lionest animals be shown in a healthy natural state, and our Cotswold men will take their old place in the front again ; but they decline to ruin their breeds because the fa- shion of the moment happens to be for shams ; and we are much mistaken if the day does not come when their wisdom will be seen. — The Wilts and Gloucestersliire Standard. [Nothing could well go more away from the facts than this excuse. The main body of Cotswold breeders only declined exhibiting when the sheep-shearing restrictions were im- posed at the Bath and West of England meetings ; that is to say, when they were prevented from trimming and mo- delling, and coddling their animals, as no sheep have ever been exhibited in a more artificial condition than were some of these Cotswold rams. — Ed. F.M.] THE NOBLE CHAIR-WOMAN. Hurrah for the Duchess of Beaufort 1 A lady just fit for her place ; Each rustic who munches a loaf ought To cheer her illustrious Grace. She goes to the Gloucestershire dinner Wiienthe Duke cannot scheme to be there, And shows the good folk what is in her, By readily taking the chair. She makes them some capital speeches — As women can do when they will— And to stout agriculturists teaches Their duty with wonderful skill. Each farmer will swear that he never In Gloucestershire — no, nor elsewhere- Encountered a lady so clever, As the Duchess appeared in the chair. And Kingscote — tlio' well he dissembled. And very stout-hearted appeared. In his innermost heart must have trembled, When he heard how the Duchess was cheered. For when ladies in splendour and bounty, The hearts of the farmers bestir, They have sometimes an eye to the county, When once they get into the chair. But suspicion impertinent such is. And I cast it, indignant, away ; All hail to the Somerset Duchess, Will) in Gloucestershire carries the sway ! And when next she presides o'er a meeting, I'll go there, I vow and declare ; And give her a rapturous greeting. As her guerdon for taking the chair ! VanUy Fair. 368 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. REVIEW OF THE CORN TRADE DURING THE PAST MONTH. The month of August closed with brilliant warm weather. September began cold, but dry; then came a close muggy week, presaging the storms which rapidly followed, accompanied with a deluge of rain, and a fearful hurricane, which did im- mense damage by sea and land. Trees of long standing were blown down, stacks stripped of their thatch, with much local harm ; but as vegetation had been previously suffering from drought, the rain, on the whole, has been welcome, though where the potato-disease was showing itself we may expect an increase, while the tubers which commenced a new growth will be further stimu- lated, and their quality suffer yet more. Prices have been fluctuating as opinions have been for or against the new crop, but the fact of its inferiority seems more decided by the samples exhibited and the disappointing yield of many farms ; yet the heavy supplies expected from the Mediterranean, and the fear that many farmers would be forced to make early sales, has left the balance against prices about 2s. per qr. ; but large as was last year's produce, consumption seems to have pretty well cleared it off, and if the deliveries hitherto noted are to be taken as an indication of a reluct- ance to sell on the part of growers, we do not seem likely to be over-done, or have the rates depressed much below the present standard. By the Returns of the Board of Trade, the number of acres used for wheat last season was 3,695,030. If we take these at '6^ qrs. per acre, we have as the result 12,003,850 qrs., or an increased growth of 42,905 acres, leaving the yield still 269,816 qrs. below the average of the last three years, which v/as 12,278,606 qrs. This will make our foreign requirements from tbis September to September, 1870, 8,683,128 qrs. ; and, be it remembered, that scarcely any old stock was left, so that it must be chiefly the surplus of this year's growth in foreign parts that must come to meet our ordinary consumptive demand, while our population is rising, as well as that of the con- tinents of Europe and America. The state of prices ai;road is relatively so near to our own that either we must rise to encourage imports, or they must decline to meet our markets ; and as there seems but little probability that this will be the case, any interruption to successive imports must send our prices up. Russia was our chief dependence in Europe, but now we hear she has signally failed in seven corn-growing districts, and some in the south have been greatly injured by rain. Hungary has less than usual ; and though America has done well in the yield of wheat, there is such a heavy failure in Indian corn that we think it must event- ually tell upon their home consumption of wheat. We think, therefore, that farmers who can hold will not lose for their firmness, and it is very pos- sible that between now and next harvest we may see prices 10s. higher. The following rates were quoted lately at the several places noted : White wheat at Paris 52s. 6d., red to 51s. 6d. ; red at Nantes 47s.; white at Bordeaux 51s.; old red at Brussells 55s. 6d., new 51s.; new red Holstein at Antwerp 51s.; old at Louvain 57s. 6d., new 51s. ; old white Zealand at Rotterdam 60s., new 48s. 6d. ; old red at Hamburg 54s , new 50s. 6d.; red at Cologne 47s. ; old high-mixed at Datizic 60s. (cost, freight, and insurance included), new 54s. to 55s.; Saidi wheat at Alexandria 37s.; soft at Algiers 45s. ; native wheat at Leghorn 47s. ; fine 65lbs. at Pesth in Hungary 40s.; Ghirka at Ta- ganroc 36s.; white at San Francisco 45s. per 480lbs. ; red spring at New York, as well as red winter, 39s. 3d. per 4S0lbs., white Michigan 43s. 6d. per 480lbs. The necessities of the press requiring the omis- sion of the fifth Monday in August, we commence with that day as the first Monday of this cereal month. The English supplies were then small, and those from abroad only moderate; but with a continuance of fine harvest weal her, a general de- cline in the country, and the fear that large sup- plies of new would come to market shortly, it was found impossible to sell without submitting to a reduction of ] s. to 2s. per qr., both in nevr samples and old. Though there was a good attendance from the country, it seemed more for observation than business, so little was passing, and the retail trade transacted was at a similar reduction. Car- goes afloat were but little in request, but held at the previous week's rates. The continued reduc- tions of London were partially resisted this week in the country, an advance being noted of Is. to 2s. at Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, Leeds, and Wakefield; and Liverpool on Friday was 7d. per cental dearer, and some few m.arkets on Saturday were up from 3s. to 6s. per qr. on the belief of an inferior yield ; but, on the other hand. Bourn, Gainsford, Newark, Sleaford, and Lynn noted the same decline as London. Glasgow and Edinburgh made no change in wheat, and the Dublin market was dull. On the second Monday the English supplies were still small, but those from abroad were multiplied three-fold. With but a small show during the morning from Kent and Essex quite a reaction was experienced, the best qualities, of which there were but few, advanced 2s., and inferior parcels were up Is. There was also a free demand for American red, which went oflT at Is. per qr. im- provement, and the same advance was held for on other descriptions of foreign. With large arrivals reported off the coast, buyers were waiting to see samples, and know the value set on them. Louth and Gainsborough this week followed the London rise of Is. to 2s. At the following places it was fully 2s., viz., Bourn, Bury Sr. Edmunds, Bristol, Ipswich, Market Rasen, Lynn, and Leeds; while Sleaford and Melton Mowbray called the advance 2s. to 3s. ; but Liverpool on Tuesday was 3d. per cental cheaper, having probably found out the previous Friday's market too strongly excited. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 563 Glasgow was Is. per qr. dearer, but Edinburgh found only a quiet trade. Dublin was only up for Irish wheat to the extent of Is. per brl., but foreign was firm. On the third Monday there was an improved supply of English wheat, and very heavy arrivals of foreign. More samples, also, were exhibited on the Kentish and Essex stands than previously, but the condition and quality were anything but first- rate, A few fine samples were taken early at the previous currency, but business afterwards went on slowly, and to sell inferior sorts less money had to be taken. Though there was yet a good demand for American and Russian qualities at former rates, the tendency for other sorts was downwards. There were large arrivals off the coast, but holders insisted on former prices. The check to the upward movement in London was this week felt in the country, and markets for the most part were equally dull. Boston, Sleaford, and most of the Saturday's markets were Is. down, and Louth quoted a reduction of Is. to 2s. At Edinburgh there was a good demand for wheat, but dulness prevailed at Glasgow, Dublin noted a decline of 6d, per brl, on home-grown qualities, though foreign was unaltered On the fourth Monday the English supply was moderate, the foreign liberal, though not so heavy as on the previous week. The show of fresh samples from Kent and Essex was not large, but the general dulness of the country markets was not without influence, and millers early in the morning would only buy at a decline of Is. to 2s., which was at first refused, but factors eventually found it was only on these terms that they could sell. The foreign trade was very limited, and though choice Australian white was sold at former rates, Ameri- can and other descriptions of foreign were also down Is, to 2s, per qr. Some large sales of float- ing cargoes were made in the week, but there was then less demand, with a tendency to decline. The country markets this week were all dull, and most of them lower, fully Is. per qr., while Ipswich, Lynn, Monmouth, Wolverton, Boston, Louth, and Leighton Buzzard declined Is. to 2s. per qr. The arrivals in the port of London for four weeks were 21,784 qrs, English and 141,957 qi's. foreign, against 37,935 qrs, English and 57,918 qrs. foreign at the same period in 1S68. There has been no wheat exported. The imports into the kingdom for four weeks were, 3,919,691 cwts, wheat and 596,254 cwts. flour, against 1,876,293 cwt. wheat and 147,952 cwt. flour in 1868. The London averages commenced at 57s. 2d., and closed at 51s. 8d, The general average began at 53s. Is., and closed at 49s, lOd, per qr, There have been good supplies of flour all through the month, both of country and foreign. Trade has been dull, and prices about Is. per sack lower after several fluctuations ; but town millers have kept up the top price to 47s, Norfolks, with difficultly, brought 35s, at the last market, and French sacks 38s, and barrels 25s. to 26s., ex- cepting for anything choice. The Paris markets are now too high for imports, and those of New York leave little chance of any profit, yet liberal ghipments continue to be made upon the chance of improvement. The imports into London for four weeks were, 74,220 sacks country sorts and 11,837 sack 63,624 brls. foreign, against 82,241 sacks country and 6,024 sacks 3,464 brls. foreign in 1868. The new crop of barley as yet has but scantily ar- rived in London, and the foreign imports have been on a very small scale, yet these latter, influenced by the relative cheapness of maize, have given way fully Is. per qr., so that useful grinding can be had at 26s, As respects fine malting sorts, prices commenced much lower than last year, say from 36s. to 42s., and have lately rather hardened, making the best quality worth 43s, The quantity of malt left over from the general distress among the poorer part of the population, is against much advance in prices, but we think not much, if any, reduction is to be expected from the present rates. The imports into London for four week were, 1,363 qrs, English and 5,231 qrs. foreign, against 5,326 qrs. English and 27,025 qrs. foreign for the same pedod last year, the diflTerence probably arising from the early harvest of 1868. The malt trade ail through tho month has been very heavy, and prices have given way fully Is, per qr., with great difficulty in sales. The imports of maize have been moderate, and the expected arrival of a large fleet from the Mediterranean at first influenced prices downwards fully Is. per qr. ; but on its appearance the reports of a failure in the American crop were so com- pletely confirmed, quotations at New York being equal to those in London — say, 31s. 8d., that there was a reaction in favour of this grain, with a brisk trade, and the probability seems that rates are likely to become yet higher, as it is still so much cheaper than beans or peas. The imports for four weeks were 17,490 qrs., against 23,002 qrs, last year. The London market has almost been exclusively supplied for four weeks by arrivals of Eiiglish new and Russian old oats, the portion from other foreign ports being very scanty, and some of them new. The heaviest supplies coming early in the month, Russian qualities at first gave way fully Is. perqr, ; but as arrivals fell off this was speedily recovered, leaving their value unaltered — say, 23s. to 24s. per qr, for average qualities ; but new oats and swedes have declined from Is, to 2s., as they had been out-of-the-way dear. As we have scarcely any old to depend on but the arrivais from Russia, it seems unlikely that these can be permanently depressed ; but other sorts of new corn when shipped freely from the Baltic may decline yet in value Is. to 2s, Not much, if auy, can hi expected from Scotland this year. The imports into London for four weeks v/ere 9,899 qrs. Enghsh, 1,200 qrs. Irish, 144,502 qrs, foreign, against 6,852 qrs, English, 105 qrs. Scotch, 12,660 qrs, Irish, i84,977 qrs. foreign for the same period in 186S, The supply of English beans has been limited, but of foreign fair for the time of year. Prices have generally been maintained, and Alexandrian have been worth 40s. to 41s.; but we apprehend on the appearance of new .samples in greater plenty there will be a decline in prices, Indian corn being 370 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. now extensively used for horses, and found to answer well. The imoorts into London for four weeks were 91 6 qrs. English, 8,263 qrs. foreign, against 1,858 qrs, English, 10,844 qrs. foreign for the same period last year. English peas have come to hand in moderate quantities, and so have foreign supplies. The trade has ruled steady and without alteration. White boilers we think may possibly advance, the crop here being deficient and size small ; but hog peas being relatively dear, there seems more prospect of a decline than otherwise. The imports into London for four weeks were 2,007 qrs. English, 4,913 qrs. foreign, against 1,681 qrs. English, 4,767 qrs. foreign last year. The arrivals of linseed have been moderate; but with prices still high they have given way is. per qr., and cakes 5s. per ton. The seed trade has been in a quiet state, there being no quantity of cloverseed on hand to specu- late with ; but trefoil has risen, and seems likely to be dear, from the badness of the crop. New winter tares are scarce and high priced. White mustardseed 13s. per bushel. CURRENT PRICES OF BRITISH GRAIN AND FLOUR IN MARK LANE. ShllHngs per Quarter. WHEAT, Essex and Kent, white... old 60 54 new 43 to 51 „ „ red old 47 60 new 40 47 Norfolk, Lincolnsh., and Yorksh. old 47 51 new 41 BARLEY 31 to 34 Chevalier new 38 Grinding 28 30 Distilling 34 MALT (nominal), Essex, Norfolk, and Suffolk 64 Kingston, Ware, and town-made 61 Brown 49 RYE. OATS, English, feed 21 to 28 Potato., Scotch, feed 00 00 Potato., Irish, feed, white 19 Ditto, black 19 BEANS, Mazagan ...39 Harrow 43 ,31 ,26 ,00 , 23 23 39 22 Fine, 22 Potato, 41 Ticks., 45 Pigeon 46 PEAS, white, boilers. 40 44 Maple 44 to 46 Grey, new 39 FLOUR, per sack of 2801bs., Town, Households 40 Country, on shore 34 to 36 „ 37 Norfolk and Suffolk, on shore 33 FOREIGN GRAIN. Shillings per Quarter. WHEAT, Dantzic, mixed 49 to 50 extra 53to55 Konigsberg 43 49 extra 50 62 Rostock 43 49 fine 51 53 Silesian, red 45 46 white.... 48 50 Pomera., Meckberg., and Uckermrk. ...red 46 60 Russian, hard, 43 to 44... St. Petersburg and Riga 44 47 Danish and Holstein, red 46 43 American 45 47 French, none Rhine and Belgium 00 00 Chilian, white 52... Califomian 52 ... Australian 51 53 BARLEY, grinding 23 to 26.... distilling and malting 30 33 OATS, Dutch, brewing and Polanda 23 to 28 feed 17 23 Danish and Swedish, feed 22 to 24.... Stralsund... 22 24 Canada21to22,Riga22to24,Arch.21to24,P'8bg. 23 26 TARES, Spring, per qr small 44 large — — BEANS, Friesland and Holstein 40 Konigsberg 38 to 43.. .Egyptian 39 PEAS, feeding and maple. ..38 41. ..fine boilers 40 INDIAN CORN, white 29 FLOUR, per sack, French..85 American, per brl 22 30.. .yellow 28 38... Spanish, p. sack 00 23. ..extra and d'ble.24 AVERAGES Foe thk iast Six Weeks : Aug. 14, 1869 , Aug. 21, 1869 Aug. 28, 1869 Sept. 4, 1869 Sept. 11, 1869 Sept. 18, 1869 Aggregate of the above ... 5he same week in 1868, Wheat. Barley. Oats. B. d. s. d. s. d. 52 0 30 10 27 11 53 1 33 7 26 3 64 2 32 7 28 2 51 11 36 8 26 8 49 10 37 10 25 11 60 6 38 3 25 6 51 11 34 11 26 9 64 4 44 0 28 6 COMPARATIVE AVERAGES. WHEAT. BARLEY. OATS. Years. Qrs. B. d. Qrs. B. d. Qrs. s. d. 1865.. . 69,988| ... 42 0 14,367i ... 30 2 7,7964 ... 20 10 1866.. . 68,689| ... 49 8 ll,477i ... 37 10 2,284^ ... 24 1 1867.. . 64,0261 ... 62 11 8,038f ... 40 7 3,151i...27 0 1868.. 91,0751 ... 54 4 25,2651 ... 41, 0 4,006| ... 28 6 1869.. 67,5931 ... 50 5 5,394i ... 38 3 2,391i ... 25 6 BRITISH SEEDS. MusTAED, per bush., brown 148. to 16s., white 128. to 13a. CANAEY,per qr 64s. 683. CLOVEBSBBD.red 628. 70s. CoBiAKDEB, per cwt 21s. 24s. Taees, winter, new, per bushel 12s. 133. Teefoil 228. 258. Ryeqeass, per qr 268. 30s. Linseed, perqr., sowing 70s. to728,, crushing 60s. 638, Linseed Cakes, per ton £11 6s. to £11 lOs. Rapbseed, per qr 64s. 743. Bap£ Cakb, perton £6 15s. to £7 Os. FOREIGN SEEDS. CoEiAKDBE, per cwt 2l8.to22s. Caeeaway , 488. 60s, Clovbeseed, red 46s. to52s white... 66s. 80s. Hempseed, small 39s. per qr., Dutch... 42s. 44s. Teefoil 20s. 248. Byegeass, per qr 248. 25d. LiNSEED,perqr., Baltic 58s. to 623. ..Bombay 62s. 638. Linseed Cakes, per ton £10 Os. to £11 Os. Rapesebd, Dutch 66s. 688. Rape Cake, per ton £6 108.to£7 Os. HOP MARKET. New Mid and East Kent ... £5 10 £6 10 £7 10 „ Wealds 4 10 „ Sussex 4 5 „ Farnhams 5 13 „ Country 5 0 Yearlings 2 0 5 5 5 0 6 10 6 0 2 10 6 15 6 6 7 10 7 7 3 10 POTATO MARKETS. BOROUGH AND SPITALFIELDS. English Sliaws 60s. to 70s. per ton. „ Regents 70s. to 95s. „ French 60s. to 65s. „ COUNTRY POTATO MARKETS.— Doncaster (Satur- day last) : A large show of potatoes, but only a slow trade, at reduced prices . Rocks sold at 5s. 6d. to 6s., Scotch regents 6s. 6d. to 7s- 6d., and English regents 7s. 6d. to 8s- per load.— Manchester (Saturday last) : new Ormskirks 9s. to lis., Cheshire 5s. to 8s. per load, Y^ovkshire 9s. to lis-, Scotch 63. to 9s. per 2521bs — Maxton (Saturday last) : There are aamerous sellers of potatoes. Prices seemed to settle down wholesale to 8s. per tub for rounds and 10s. for flukes, equal to 2s. and 2s. 6d. per bushel of five stones ; retail, lOd. per stone. The crop is rather below average, and disease is here and there showing — York (Saturday last) : The supply of potatoes was much increased, and the quality was excellent. The wholesale price was 8s. to 9s. per tub of 2801bs., and 9d- per score of 21 lbs. retail, though Is- might be realised iu a few instances. POULTRY, &c., MARKETS.— Turkey Poults, 4s. to 7s. ; Geese, 3s. to 7s. 6d. ; Ducks, Is. to 3s. ; Surrey Fowls, 3s. to 5s. ; Sussex ditto, 2s. to 3s. ; Boston and Essex, Is. 9d. to 2g. 6d. ; Irish, Is. to 2s. ; tame Rabbits, Is. to Is. 6d. ; wild ditto, 6d. to Is. ; Pigeons, 6d. to Is. ; Partridges, Is. to Is. 6d. ; Hares, 2s. to 3s. Gd. ; Black Game, 3s. to 4s. each. English Eggs, 12s. ; French ditto, 9s. per 120. ENGLISH WOOL MARKETS. CUEEBNT PeICES OF ENGLISH WoOL. Fleeces— Southdown hogs per lb. Half-bred ditto ,, Kent fleeces „ Southdown ewes and wethers ... ,, Leicester ditto „ SOEIS— Clothing, picklock „ Prime ,, Choice „ Super ,, Combing, wether mat ,, Picklock ,, Common 8. d. a. d. 1 1 tol 2 1 4^ 1 6 1 3 1 3^ 1 1 1 H 1 24 1 3^ 1 4^ 1 54 1 2i 1 3 1 1 1 2 1 0 1 Oi 1 4J 1 6 1 1 1 2 0 11 1 0 Printed by Rogerson and Tuxford, 265, Strand, London, W.C. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. OCTOBER, 186 9. CONTENTS. Plate I.— T HE LITTLE QUEEN; a Prize Sow : the property of mr. r. b. DUCKERING, OF NORTHORPE, KIRTON-HNDSEY, LINCOLN. Plate IL— "THE DAY AFTER THE FAIR." PAGE. 277 277 280 2b2 233 288 289 290 292 293 296 293 301 302 303 304 305 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 Description op the Plates .... The Sea Coast of Devon, and its Harvests,— By Cuthbert W. Johnson, F.R.S. Sheep Farming on Strong Land The Modern "Breeds" of Sheep Echoes from the Autumn Meetings The Irish Land Question and the Farmers' Club The Transfer of Land .... Large and Small Farms .... The Lung Disease ..... The Condition of the Agricultural Labourer The Sanitary Principles of Cottage Improvement The Breeding and Rearing of Ayrshire Dairy Stock . The Irish Tenant-right .... North Lancashire Agricultural Show WiRRAL Agricultural Society: Meeting at Birkenhead Craven Agricultural Society: Meeting at Skipton BoYAL Agricultural Society of Ireland : Meeting at Tralee "Worcestershire Agricultural Society: Meeting at Henwick Whitworth and Rochdal Agricultural Society: Meeting at Rochdale North and East Ridings Agricultural Society: Meeting at Scarborough The Halifax and Calder Vale Agricultural Society : Meeting at Halifax . West Riding of Yorkshire Agricultural Society : Meeting at Wakefield The Bath and West of England Society and Southern Counties Association. A Ground Game Consultation (poetry) ..... The Cleveland Agricultural Society: Meeting at Middlesborough . The Agriculture of Ireland .;..... Foot-and-mouth Disease in Cattle ..... 317, 351, 360 Farmyard Manure ........ 318 On the Cultivation of Truffles ...... 319 The Price of Merino Wool ....... 320 An Act to Prevent the Adulteration of Seeds .... 321 Sheep Farming in Australia ....... 322 The Care and Carriage of Stock ...... 324 The Arrangement, Construction, and Fitting op Dairy Buildings . , 325 Contagious Diseases in Animals ...... 331 Forest Farming — By H. M. Jenkins ...... 332 The Royal Dublin Society's Sheep Show ..... 334 Leicestershire Agricultural Society : Meeting at Ashby-de-la-Zouch . 336 Whitby Agricultural Society: Meeting at Whitby .... 338 Badminton Farmers' Club: Meeting at Badminton .... 339 The Over Agricultural Society ...... 339 The Transit of Stock by Sea ...... 340 Cattle at Sea ........ 342 The Scottish Chamber of Agriculture: the Carriage of Stock . . 343 Derbyshire Agricultural Show: Meeting at Derby .... 344 The Warwickshire Agricultural Society: Meeting at Coventry . . 345 Wigton Agricultural Society ...... 346 Middleton (Lancashire) Agricultural Society .... 347 East Cumberland Agricultural Society: Meeting at Carlisle . . 343 Huntingdonshire Agricultural Society: Meeting at Huntingdon . . 349 North Shropshire Agricultural Society : Meeting at Market Drayton . 350 Border Union Agricultural Society: Meeting at Coldstream . . 350 Lytham and Kirkham Agricultural Society: Meeting at Kirkham . . 251 Sheep Sales and Lettings ...,,., 352 Sale of the late Lord Radnor's Stock at Coleshill, by Mr. Strafford . 359 Shorthorn Sales, by Mr. John Thornton ..... 359 By Mr. H, Strafford ....... 360 Calendar of Agriculture ....... 362 Calendar of Gardening ....... 364 Agricultural Reports ....... 365 Review of the Corn Trade during the past Month .... 368 Market CurrbncieSj Imperial Averages, &c, . • . . 370 [gll^yTDlF'yiLILY flLLM^Ti^^TlllG). rr\ Price FIVE SHILLINGS, bound in crimson Cloth. Uniform with " Post and Paddock," and " SiUc and Scarlet." PUBLISHED BY EOGERSON AlTD TUXFORD, 265, STRAND. TWENTY. SECOND EDITION. WARREN'S FARMERS' ACCOUNT BOOK. Pi-Jce — Folio, for lai'ge farms, 8s. ; Quarto, for small Farms and for Schools where Youths are trained for Af^ricultural Pursuits, 5s. Also, Folio, with pages for a weekly instead of a daily account of labour, 7s. Royston : John Warren. London : Simpkin, Marshall, and Co. ; Whittakcr and Co. ; Longman and Co. ; Ridgway. Now Ready, Cloth, in two Volumes, 782 pp., with four steel Portraitr, Price 10s., uniform with " SCOTT AND SEBRIGHT," " SILK AND SCARLET," &c., FIELD AND EERN, OR SCOTTISH ELOCKS AND HERDS, BY H. H. DIXON. With Steel Engravings of Mr. Hugh Watson, Professor Dick, Mr. Nightingale, and the late Duke of Richmond, &c. The Volumes, "North" and "South" (of the Frith of Forth) may be had separately— Price FIVE SHILLINGS each. Copies Avill be sent by Post on application to the Author. PUBLISHED BY ROGERSON AND TUXFORD, 265, STRAND. CHEAP SUNDAY AND WEEK-DAY READING FOR THE PEOPLE. Now Publlgliing, C!)t €i)nvci) of Ciiijlnutr JMajyajtiif, A VERY CHEAP RELIGIOUS PERIODICAL, Containing origmal contributions by several of the Bishops and many other distinguished Divines ; Narratives ; Sketches of Katural History ; Biography, Missionary Proceedings, Juvenile Beading, Poetrj', &c., with a Register of Eccle- siastical Intelligence ; the whole combining amusement with instruction, in a stj'lc suited for all classes of readers. A series of Parish Chm'ches, with Illustrations of a superior kind is in course of publication. This series, which will be of a very extended character, will bo found of particular interest. Intending subscribers are requested to send their orders without delay, as the back volumes and parts are now becoming veby scaece. As the Magazine enjoys a circulation far exceeding that of any other church periodical, and is read by all classes of society, it will be found a very eligible medium for Adver- tisements, which are conspicuously printed, and inserted at the most reasonable rate. Vol. LXVI., Imperial 8vo., Embossed Cloth, 480 pages, with highly-finished Illustrations of Parish Churches, price 6a. 6d. London ; Published in weekly numbers, price Ijd., and in monthly parts, price 9d., by S. EWINS & SON. 9. Ave Maria I;ane; ROGERSON & TUXFORD, 265, Strand, W.C. ; and sold by all Booksellers, CHEAP SUNDAY AND WEEK-DAY READING FOR THE PEOPLE. Now Publishing, Sj^f €l)ntfi) of ^itifflanti ^agaitne, A VERY CHEAP RELIGIOUS PERIODICAL, Intending subscribers are requested to send their orders witliout delay, as tlio back voluraea and parts are now becoming vbby scabce. As the Magazine enjoys a circulation far exceeding that of any other chiu'ch periodical, and is road by all clas.scs of society, it will l30 found a very eligible nieiUiun for Adver- tisements, which are conspicuously printed, and inserted at the most reasonable rate. Containing original contributions by several of the Bishops and many other distinguished Divines ; Narratives ; Sketches of Natm-al History; Biography, Missionary I'roceedings, Juvenile Reaiiing, Poetry, &c., with a Register of Eccle- siastical Intclhgence ; the whole combining amusement with instruction, m a style suited for all classes of readers. A series of Parish Ohmxhes, with Illustrations of a superior kind is in com'so of publication. This scries, which will bo of a very extended character, will bo found of particular interest. Vol. LXVI,, Imperial 8vo., Embossed Cloth, 480 pages, with highly-finished Illustrations of Parish Churches, price 5s. 6d. London : Published La weekly numbers, price l^d., and in monthly parts, price 9d., by S. BWINS & SON, 9, Avo Maria Lane; ROGERSON & TUXFORD, 265, Strand, W.C. ; and sold by aU BookseUers. Now Ready, Cloth, in two Volumes, 782 pp., with four steel Portraitr, Price 10s,, uniform with " SCOTT AND SEBRIGHT," " SILK AND SCARLET," &c,, FIELD AND EERN, OR SCOTTISH ELOCKS AND HEEDS, BY H. H. DIXON. With Steel Engravings of Mr. Hugh WatsoB, Professor Dick, Mr. Nightingale, and the late Duke o Richmond, &c. The Volumes, "North" and "South" (of the Frith of Forth) may be had separately— Price FIVE SHILLINGS each. Copies will be sent by Post on application to the Author. PUBLISHED BY ROGERSON AND TtJXFORD, 265, STRAND. POPULAR MEDICAL WORKS, PUBLISHED BY MANN, 39, CORNHILL, LONDON. Post Free, 12 Stamps ; Sealed Ends, 16 Stamps. DR. 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 life, founded on the result of a successful practice of 30 years. — By Dk. J. L. CURTIS, M.D,, 15, Albemakle Street, Piccadilly, London, W. And, by the same Author, for 12 stamps ; sealed ends, 20. MANHOOD : A MEDICAL ESSAY on the Causes and Cure of Premature Decline IN Man ; the TJreatment 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). 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. " The book under review is one calculated to warn and instruct the erring, without imparting one idea that can vitiate the mind not already tutored by the vices of which it treats." — Naval and Military Gazette, 1st February, 1856. " 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." — Sim, Evening Paper. Manhood. — " Dr. Curtis has conferred a great boon by publishing this little work, in which is described the source of those diseases which produce decliue in youth, or more frequently, premature old age." — Dojihj Telegro/jph, March 27, 1856. Consultations daily, from 10 to 3 and 6 to 8. 15, Albemarle Street, Piccadilly, London, W. EMULATION, in whatever pursuit, where general utility is the object kept in view, is one of the immutable privileges of Genius ; but it requires no slight degree of perspicuous attention to distinguish Originality from Imitation, and the exercise of Caution becomes of more than usual importance, where the effect of a remedial application (both as regards health and personal appearance), is the subject of consideration ; these observations are imperatively called for from A. Rowland & Sons, of London, whose successful introduction of several articles of acknowledged and standard excellence for the Toilet has given rise to fertility of imitation, perfectly unprecedented: they would have deemed observation unnecessary were temporary deceptions unaccompanied by permanently injurious effects — it is with reference to Rowland's Kalydor for the Complexion, that the Public are particularly interested in the present remarks. This preparation eminently halsamie, restorative, and invigorating ; the result of scientific botanical research, and equally celebrated for safety ipr 'application, as for unfailing efficacy in removing all Impurities and Biscolorations of the Skin,\ has its " Spurious Imitations of the most deleterious character," containing mineral astringents utterly ruinous to the Complexion, and, by their repellant action endangering health, which render it indispensably necessary to see that the words '* Rowlands' Kalydor " are on the wrapper, with the signature in red ink, " A. Rowland 8/- Sons." Of the numerous compounds constantly announced for promoting the growth or repro- duction of the Human Hair, few survive, even in name, beyond a very limited period ; whilst Rowland's Macassar Oil, with a reputation unparalleled, is still on the increase in public . estimation. The unprecedented success of this discovery, either in preserving the hair in*] its original strength and beauty, or restoring it when lost, is universally known and appre- ciated, and is certified by numerous testimonials and by the highest authorities. It hasj obtained the patronage of Royalty, not only of our own Court, but those of the whole ofl Europe. From its exquisite purity and delicacy, it is admirably adapted for the hair of j children, even of the most tender age, and is in constant use in the nursery of Royalty, and] by the families of the Nobility and Aristocracy. It is alike suited for either sex j and, whether employed to embellish the tresses of female beauty, or to add to the attractions of j manly grace, will be found an indispensable auxiliary to the toilet both of ladies and! gentlemen. How often do we find the human face divine disfigured by neglecting the chiefest of its ; ornaments, and the breath made disagreeable to companions by non-attention to the Teeth, i Though perfect in their structure and composition, to keep them in a pure and healthy state ] requires some little trouble ; and if those who are blessed with well-formed teeth knew how | soon decay steals into the mouth, making unsightly what otherwise are delightful to admire, ] and designating unhealthiness by the impurity of the breath, they would spare no expense to ■ chase away these fatal blemishes. But although most ladies are careful, and even particular j in these delicate matters, yet few are sufficiently aware of the imperative necessity of ■ avoiding all noxious and mineral substances of an acrid nature, and of which the greater \ part of the cheap tooth-powders and pastes of the present day are composed. It is highly ' satisfactory to point out Messrs. Rowlands* Odonto, or Pearl Dentifrice, as a preparation J free from all injurious elements, and eminently calculated to embellish and preserve the ■ dental structure, to impart a grateful fragrance to the breath, and to embellish and perpetuate ■ the graces of the mouth.— Cowr^ Journal, No. 5, Vol. XXXYL] NOVEMBER, 1869. Thibd Sbkies. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, AMD MONTHLY JOURNAL OV THE AGRICULTUEAL IlfTEREST. TO THE FARMERS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. LONDON : PUBLISHED BYROGERSON AND TUXFORD, 265, STRAND. PRICE TWO SHILLINGS. EOGBRSON AND TUXFORD,] [PEINTERS, 265, STRAND. IMPORTANT TO FLOCKMASTERS. THOMAS BIGGr, Agricultural and Veterinary Chemist, by Appointment to His late Royal Highness The Prince Oonsort, K.G., Leicester House, Great Dover Street Borough, London, begs to call the attention of Farmers and Graziers to his valuable SHEEP and LAMB DIPPING COMPOSITION, which requires no Boiling, and may be used with Warm or Cold "Water, for eflfectually 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 im- proving 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 Manu- factory as above, and sold as loUows, although any other quantity may be had, if required :— 41b. for 20 sheep, price, jar included £0 61b. 30 „ 81b. 40 „ 101b. 50 „ 201b. 100 „ 301b. 150 „ 401b. 200 „ 601b. 250 „ 601b. 300 „ 801b. 400 ,. 100 lb. 600 „ (cask and measure included) 0 10 0 15 1 0 1 3 1 7 1 17 2 6 Should any Flockmaster prefer boiling the Composition, it •will be equally effective. MOST IMPORTANT CERTIFICATE. From Mr. Heeepath, 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 mixture neutral. If it is used according to the directions given, I feel satisfied, that while it effectually destroys vermin, it win not injure the hair roots (or "yolk ") in the skin, the fleece, or the carcase. I think it deserves the numerous testimonials published. I am. Sir, yourg respectfully, William Hekapaih, Sen., F.C.S., &c., &c.. To Mr. Thomas Bigg, Professor of Chemistry. Leicester House, Great Dover-street, Borough, London. He would also especially call attention to his SPECIFIC, or LOTION, for the SCAB or SHAB, which wiU be found a certain remedy for eradicating that loathsome and ruinous disorder in Sheep, and which may be safely used in aU cUmates, and at aU seasons of the year, and to aU descriptiona of sheep, even ewes to lamb. Price FIVE SHILLINGS per gallon — sufflcient on an average for thirty Sheep (according to the virulence of the disease) j also in wtae quart bottles, IMPORTANT TESTIMONIAL. " Scoulton, near Hingham, Norfolk, April 16th, 1855. "Dear Sir, — In answer to yours of the 4th inst., which would have been repUed to before this had I been at home, I have much pleasure in bearing testimony to the efficacy of your invaluable ' Specific for the cure of Scab in Sheep.' The 600 sheep were aU dressed ia August last with 84 gallons of the 'Non-poisonous Specific,' that was so highly recom- mended at the Lincoln Show, and by their own dresser, the best attention being paid to the flock oy 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 Specific proved itself an invaluable remedy, for ia three weeks the Sheep were quite cured ; and I am happy to say the young lambs are doing remarkably well at prasent. In conclusion, I believe it to be the safest and best remedy now in use. " I remain, dear Sir, " For JOHN TINGEY, Esq., " To Mr. Thomas Bigg," •' R. RENNEY, 1^" Flockmasters would do well to beware of such pre- parations as " Non-poisonous Compositions :" it is only necessary to appeal to their good common sense and judg- ment to be thoroughly 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 Ufe. Such advertised preparations must be wholly useless, or they are not what they are represented to be. DIPPING APPARATUS £14, £5, £i, & £S. THE ROYAL FARMERS' INSURANCE COMPANY, 3, NOEFOLK STEEET, STEAND, LONDON, W.C. CAPITAL. — Persons insured by this Company have the security of an extensive and wealthy proprietary, ae ^Yell as an ample Capital always applicable to the payment of claims without delay. LIFE DEPARTMENT.— BONUS.— Insurers of the participating class wiU be entitled to four-fifths of the profits. FIRE DEPARTMENT,- Ist Class — Not Hazardous Is. 6d. per Cent. 2nd Class — Hazardous 2s. 6d. „ 3rd Class — Doubly Hazardous ,,. ... ,,, ,,. 4s. 6d. „ BUILDINGS and MERCANTILE Property of every description in Public or Private Warehouses.— Distillers, Steam Engines, Goods in Boats or Canals, Ships in Port or Harbour, &c, &c,, are Insured in this Office at moderate rates. SPECIAL RISKS.— At such rates as may be considered reasonable. NEW INSURANCES.— No charge made for Policy or Stamp. FARMING- STOCK.— 5s. per cent., with liberty to use a Steam Thrasliing Machine without extra Nearly FIVE MILLIONS Insured in this Office. SEVEN YEARS' INSURANCES may be effected on payment of Six Years' Premium only. LIGHTNING and GAS.— Losses by Fire occasioned by Lightning, and Losses by Explosion of Gas when used for Lighting BuUdings wiU be allowed for. RENT. — The Loss on Rent while Buildings remain untenantable through fire may bo provided against. HAIL DEPARTMENT.— (Ceops and Glass.) Policies to protect parties fi-om Loss by the destruction of Growing Crops or Glass, by Hail, are granted on Moderate Terms. LOSSES.— Prompt and libei-al eettlement. AGENTS WANTED. Apply to JOHN EEDDISH, Esq., Secretoy ftod Acttiaiy. ^m&iMMk^^M^ THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. NOVEMBER, 18G9, PLATE I. BOLIVAR; A Prize Shorthobm Bull. THE PROPERTY OF MR. C. W. BRIERLEY OF RHODES HOUSE, MIDDLETON, LANCASHIRE. Bolivar, roan, calved 5th of April, 1867, and bred by Mr. Joseph Meadows, of Thornville, Wexford, Ireland, is by First Fiddle (19749), out of Blossom 5lh by Duke of Bedford (11378), her dam Blossom 2nd by Suffolk (9694) — Blossom by Napoleon (2349)— Bloom by Satellite (1420) -by Farmer (251)— by Cato (119)— by Charles (127)— by St. John (572)— by Chilton (136)— Nymph by The White Bull (42 1)— Lily by Favourite (252)— Miss Lax by Walton Duke (180)— Lady Maynard by R. Alcock's Bull (19)— by Smith's bull (608) —by Jolly's Bull (337). First Fiddle (19749), red, calved 18th of May, 1862, and bred by Mr. Jefferson, Preston Hows, Whitehaven, is by Cherry Duke 4th (17552), out of Hollybush by Welcome Guest (15497), her dam Heartsease by Ploughboy (7338) — Lively by Pearl (4668)— Lively 4th by Rockingham (2550) — Lively 2nd by Rolla (2557)— Lively 3rd by Mac Grejjor (2236) — Lively 1st by Major (2255) — by Yorkshireman (5699) — by Northumberland (464)— by Styford (103) -by BoUingbroke (86). In 1863 First Fiddle was shown as a yearling at Wigton, where he took the first prize in his class, and during the same year he was entered at the Cumberland and Westmoreland Show, at Cocker- mouth, when he took the first prize in his class, the Society's Challenge Cup of £20, as the best Shorthorn bull within the district, and also the silver Cup, as the best Shorthorn in the field ; while he finished the season by taking the first prize in his class at the West Cumberland Show, at Whitehaven, together with the siver Cup, as the best of all the prize animals. In 1864 he was second to Royal Butterfly, at the North Lonsdale Show, where the competition was so close between the two, that the judges, who were divided in opinion, found it necessary to call in an umpire to decide which was the better animal. At the West Cumberland Show he took the first prize in his class, and the silver Cup, as the best of all the prize animals. Hollybush, First Fiddle's dam, was a Qld Series.] well-known prize taker at the Cumberland and Westmoreland shows, in I860, and the two follow- ing seasons, as a calf-yearling and two-year-old ; while in 1864, at four years old, she took the first prize at North Lonsdale, in a capital class of cows. Blossom 5th, a white cow, calved in 1855, was bred by Mr. R. S. Fetherstonhaugh, of Rockview, Ireland; she produced twins at two years old, and has been very ^/rolific in the herd ; her earlier days having been passed in the possession of Mr. Armstrong. In 1868, at the Dublin Royal Spring Show, Bolivar took the fisrt prize and Towneley Challenge Cup for the best Shorthorn exhibited. At the Leicester Meeting of the Royal Agricul- lural Society of England he took the first prize of as the best yearling bull. On August 19th, at Whitworth and Rochdale, the first prize as best yearling and piece of plate for the best beast in the yard. On August 20th, the Cup of for the best year- ling bull, at Burnley. On August 21st, at Keighley, first prize of £5, best yearling, and £10 best bull above 12 months. On August 27th, at Clitheroe, first prize. Cup of £5 5s., as best tenant-farmer's bull of any age. On August 29th, at Halifax, first prize £3, as best yearling, and Vice-President's Cup, £5 5s., as best male beast in the yard. On September 1st, Manchester and Liverpool first prize £12, as best yearling. On September 5th, Great West-Riding, Wake- field, President's Cup, £6 6s., as best male beast in the yard. On September l7th. at Middleton, first prize £2, as best yearling. In 1869, at the Royal Meeting at Manchester, BoUvar took the first prize, £25, as best bull above 2 and under 3 years. At Haslingden, first prize; £6, as the best bull of any age above 2 years. D ^ [Vol. LXVI.— Ko, 5, 372 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. August 18th, at Whitworth and Rochdale, first prize of £6, as best bull of any age not being: eligible for the piece of plate, having won it in 1868. August 20th, at Keighley, Cup of £5, for the best bull above 2 years, and one of the three animals awarded the £20 Cup, for the best three Shorthorns. August 26tb, at the Royal North Lancashire, Burnley, Cup of £10, as best bull above 2 years. August 27th, at Craven Agricultural Society, Skipton, the Cup, £5, as best bull above 2 years ; and one of the collection of Shorthorns awarded the 20-guinea Cup, the property of one exhibitor. August 28th, at Halifax, the first prize £ , and Cup, for the best made animal in the yard. September 2nd, at the Great West-Riding Show, at Wakefield, the first prize of £4, as best bull above 2 years, and President's Cup, £6 6s., as best bull of any age. September l6th, at Middleton, first prize £10, as best bull of any age. These are the only occasions on which Bolivar has been exhibited On first seeing Bolivar at the Leicester Royal meeting in 1868 we thus wrote of him: "The best Shorthorn bull in the show was the best of the next class, the Irish yearling Bolivar, the best of all the bulls at the last Dublin Show, and of wonderful qualitj-, with the finest silky coat, a long level frame, and so forth. In fact, there is scarcely anything against him but his colour, so dingy and rusty, as to really detract from his otherwise handsome appearance." The judges at Lei- cester subsequently reported in the Society's Journal, that Bolivar was " an animal perfect in form, with a wonderful coat ; the only fault to be found with him being the faded colour of his hair." Mr. Bowly, the steward, also designated him " a splendid yearling," and Mr. Brierley gave 300 gs. for him, no doubt " a cheap purchase." At Manchester, in July last, we said "The best two-year-old is the Irish-bred Bolivar, at this writing about the best bull out. If not quite so blooming as at Leicester, he has gone on well in his new home; and, with the exception of his still somewhat rusty-looking coat, which tells against him at first, he is almost everywhere excel- lent, the texture of his hair being as nice as the colour is bad. Bolivar placed himself, but it was a near thing for second between his half-brother Charlie, also bred by Mr. Meadows, and Lord Sudeley's white, which did so well at Southampton. Charlie, a red bull, was first as a yearling last year at the Royal Irish Show at Londonderry, and first at the more recent Dublin Spring meeting. He is a lengthy, stylish, capitally framed bull, with a rare back and middle, very wealthy in his touch and free in his movements, but rather spoiled by a light weak neck : and hence some discussion as to the relative merits of the two next best. Mandarin, as we said when we last saw him, is long and straight in his frame, square in his ends, mellow in his touch, and with a capital coat. He was, how- ever, so very fit at Southampton, that it was doubt- ful whether he would wear on so well, but he was if possible in even better condition here. These three prize bulls were three of the youngest in the class, and they were in reality the only three in it." The judges subsequently reported that this " first prize (two-year-old) bull was of good size and form, whilst his quality and flesh were undeniable ;" and Mr. Wells, the steward, added that "there seemed to be but one opinion, that had there been a prize for the best male Shorthorn, Bolivar must have taken it," PLATE II, BRIGANTINE; a Thoroughbred Filly. THE PROPERTY OF SIR FREDERICK JOHNSTONE, BART, Brigantine, bred by Mr. Cookson at Neasliam in 1866, is by Buccaneer out of Lady Macdonald, by Touchstone, her dam Fair Helen, by Pantaloon- Rebecca, by Lottery — Cervantes — Anticipation, by Benintjborough. Buccaneer, bred by Lord Dorchester in 1857, is by Wild Dayrell out of Cruiser's dam, by Little Red Rover. Buccaneer came out in Lord Ports- mouth's colours, winning as a two-year-old the Mottisford Stakes at Stockbridge, the July, and the Molecombe, and consequently wintering as a leading favourite for the Derby, for which he finished well up only. In the year following he won the Royal Hunt Cup, and some other per- formances went further to show that he should have been about the best horse of his year. In 1S63, Buccaneer stood at Lord Portsmouth's seat at Hurstbourne Park, in Hampshire, and in 1864 and J 865 was with Mr. Cookson at Neasham in the north, where and when, from being a terrible savage, he was sold to the Austrian Government, before ever we had a taste of his quality. His stock came out in 1866, with five two-year-old winners— Captain Kidd, The Miller's Maid, Pirate Chief, Plunder, and Tortuga. In 1867, the list was much extended with Albatross, Banditto, Beatrice, Brenda, Cuckoo, Formosa, Michael de Basco, Paul Jones, Retirement, Seesaw, aud Yard- arm. In 1868, his winning horses ran on to Arkadi, Black Flag, Bretby, Brigantine, The Pre- vention filly, Fleetwing, King of the Rovers, Lady Allcash, Minna, Montbar, Mother Neasham, Non- sense, Perfume, Pirate King, Retirement, and Ventnor. Thus, in something over three seasons since his stock first started. Buccaneer figures as the sire of one St. Leger and two Oaks winners, of a winner of the Two Thousand and Thousand Guineas Stakes, of winners of the Ascot, the THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 373 Royal Hunt and the Chester Cups, and of the Cambridgfeshire Stakes. This success in so short a period is, we believe, altogether unprecedented in the annals of the Turf, and well may the country mourn his loss. Lady Macdonald bred by Mr. J. Johnstone in 1858, made no mark on the turf, having only started twice — once as a two-year-old and once as a three-year-old — when Mr. Cookson got her for the stud. In 1862, she missed to Cannobie; in 1863, threw Queen of the Isles to Weatherbit; in 1864, Kingsboiough, by Voltigeur; in 1865, Boucan, by Buccaneer; in 1866, Brigantine ; in 1867, Tom- tom, by Rataplan ; and in 1868, a chesnut colt, by Kettledrum, So far it will be seen that Lady Macdonald's produce includes nothing of much account beyond the Oaks filly ; but then Mr. Cookson has a kind of patent for breeding Oaks winners : — Regalia in 1865, Formosa in 1868, and Brigantine in 1869 — that is three in five years, being from his stud, as these had been preceded by Mincemeat in 1854. At the annual sale of Mr. Cookson's yearlings in the Doncaster race week of 1867, Brigantine was knocked down for 200, the purchase being for Sir Frederick Johnstone, and the filly was trans^ planted forthwith to Woodyeates. Brigantine is a hard yellowish bay filly, standing a good fifteen hands two inches high. She has a very neat blood-like head, with a fine but muscular neck, and beautifully laid shoulders. She is, in fact, although a light mare, well made throughout, with a good depth of girth, and especially remark- able for her powerful quarters, running somewhat straight from the whirl-bone down to the ground. She is not big in the bone, but has capital sound wearing legs, and if a somewhat deceiving mare to the eye at the first glance will well bear looking into, as she improves still more when set going. The Times has styled her "mean looking," but then, according to the same high authority, " the mares of this year are probably a stone behind the colts !" It would be amusing if not edifying to hear how this argument could be carried out, for the Oaks winner was about the best of her year; as was proved by her running a fortnight afterwards at Ascot for the Cup, when she beat Blue Gown and Formosa, winners of the Derby, Oaks, and St. Le^er. Brigantine ran all behind for the Goodwood Cup, in which race, according to some accounts, she broke down ; and the probability is that she will never run again. SEEDS. BY CUTHBEBT "W. JOHNSON, J.B.S. There is perhaps uo portion of thq labours of the agriculturist more difficult thaa the management of his seeds. Here, indeed, he has to encounter not only Nature herself but also the insect world, and last, but not least, the frauds of the unprincipled dealer. To protect the cultivator from the injuries of the two first — Dame Nature and the insects — no efforts of the legislature would avaU ; against the frauds of the adulterator, our Parliament in its last session has passed an Act, the profitable result of which only time can determine. It may be useful if we refer to these things at this period of the year, when the great wheat crop is preparing. The interference of Dame Nature is the most constant and universal. The agriculturist prepares his land ; he cleanses it from weeds ; he sows his seeds. These in due course germinate, and the crop appears ; but with this also come to the surface a variety of little plants — weeds that the landholder did not invite, but whose seeds Nature strewed over the soQ ; in many cases, too, in a manner which uttei-ly puzzles us to explain. Thus, in most soils, if bone dust, or some other phosphatic manure, is copiously applied to the land, or on the site of a fire of wood, a mass of white clover speedily makes its appearance. In other cases, after a fire, as in the great fir woods of America, the poplar springs up in abundance. After the Fire of London the sites of the ruins became tenanted with the London rocket (Skymbrium Iriq). " In the spring succeeding that calamity the young plants were seen everywhere rising up among the ruins, and in the summer the crop was so luxuriant that it was sup- posed the whole of Europe did not contain so many specimens of the rocket as were then crowded over the surface of London." — Pratt's Flowering Plants. In the Hundreds of Essex the earth obtained from the bottom of their deepest wells, some two hundred feet from the surface of the London clay, is speedily covered with the wild mustard. Now in these, and in very many other cases equally mysterious, these weeds all come from seeds — seeds which there is no doubt sweet Dame Nature's fingers showered over the land ; but how and where is rather above our finite comprehension. These phenomena, however, present one great reason why the farmer's profession is so difficult and laborious. But even here these everlasting weeds are not without their advantages — they keep alive the spirit of inquiry and invention, and they stimulate that energy and skill which have raised our agriculturists to their present very honour- .ible position. Then, again, the seeds we sow have to encounter the ravages of the insect world — vast tribes — against which the cultivator is ever at war. The seed, in fact, is hardly in the soil before we find it attacked by one class of insects ; another variety of these awaits it in the ear ; other predatory insects attend it in the granary. The loss from the attacks of these no doubt is very serious, and sometimes to an extent of which we are not always aware. The varying germinating power of the seeds of different years is another source of difficulty. In the valuable evidence recently given before a committee of the House of Commons this was alluded to by more than one great seedsman. Mr. G. J. Alexan^ei', of Dublin, stated (3/M«<^f*, p. 36) ;"The average germinating power D D 8 374 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. of flax seed is from 80 to 90 per ceut. — some years it will rise to 95 — the average is about 80. The average of turnip seed is about 90 — that is of net or unadultei'ated seeds. Red clover seeds will range from 70 to 90 per cent." la raising our own seed many things occur^over which the grower has little control. Some of these were alluded to by Mr. D. Nash, of the firm of Minier, Nash, and Co. He observed (ibid, p. 65) " Different places in the same year may produce seeds of different growth, more especially upon heavy lauds ; last year (1868) upon heavy lands onion seed grew better than I ever knew it in my life, 90 and 95 per cent. This year in all probability the seed will not ripen till the month of October, when we often get autumn frost, and it may not grow 26 per cent. Three years old seed will not germinate iu the same time as one-year-old seed ; but two-year-old seed and three- year-old seed will not differ much in that respect. It depends on how the seeds were ripened ; I have known mangold seed grow well when it was a dozen years old, and brocoli. Seed it very apt to lose some germi- nating power in six months, that is to say, from autumn to spring. It depends upon how it has ripened ; take late ripening seeds, like radish seed ; I knew seed the growth of 1868 thrashed the same autumn, which grew very fair when it came in, but in the following spring it grew very badly. So much depends upon how they ripened, and fifty different things. You may get a heavy frost in the month of October ; that seed does not show it very much at the time, but it does show it after you have kept it three or four or five months." When Mr. Nash was asked as to the possibility of his eminent firm guaranteeing the germinating power of their seeds, he very clearly stated the difficulties of such a course; he told the committee {ibid, p. 06) : " Supposing that a complaint came iu that some seed which we had sold did not come up to the standard, we should say that we were quite ready to test it. But guaranteeing is another thing. I could not be certaiu that a man would use proper discretion in sowing that seed and growing it. One man will get a crop from seed, and another will get a total failure vv'ith seed out of the same bag sowu on the same day. I have this from a market gardener within a fortnight with regard to carrot seed ; and that is one of the most difHcult seeds that we have to manage. He said that he was not going to drill it; I said, 'Why not r' He said, ' Because last year he had almost a total failure in that which was drilled, and just where it happened to be oa the headlands and to be trodden down it came as thick as grass.' lie said, ' If it had not been that I saw it grow, as it did, on the head- lands, I should have believed that all the seed which you gave me was bad.' " I could not guarantee it. How could I guarantee it ? I could only say that, according to my books, my seed would grow so and so ; but I would not guarantee for you to make it grow. Ask any gentleman's gardener how he makes seed grow one time and not another. Give lialf-a-dozeu people samples out of one lot of seed, and I have no hesitation in saying that yon will find a difference of 10 or 15 per cent., according to the different seeds that are sown from the same sample. It is a most difficult thing, and the seed trade is one of the most diffi- cult trades that I know." Then, again, the seeds are often killed by careless har- vesting. One common iustance was alluded to by Mr. Nash {ibid, p. 67). He remarked : " It is difficult to distinguish artificially killed turnip seed from turnip seed that has become naturally dead. Seed may get a nasty sweat on the barn floors. That is where it is more injured than in any other way ; par- ticHlarly where large quantities of turnip seed are grown, and they have very little barn room, that seed does get damaged more in that way than in any other. If you go to Romney Marsh, there are hundreds, and, perhaps, thousands, of acres grown, and iu that whole district you hardly see a barn." We have also to contend with the miserable result of grow- ing seeds on land abounding with weeds. Plants which ripen their seeds and are harvested with the cidtivated crop. It is some time since the editor of the Agricul- tural Gazette, on the authority of Professor Buckman (vol. 1857, p. 570), gave the number of seeds of weeds contained in a pint of various specimens of various crop seeds submitted to him. These are stated in the follow- ing table : Alsike clover 7,000 Cow-grass clover 13,000 Ditto 6,400 Broad clover 7,840 Ditto 1,040 Ditto 8,400 Ditto 39,440 White Dutch clover 26,560 Trefoil 1,920 Lucerne 880 Vetches 32 Peas as thrashed and planted 1,550 Vetches 10 Canary grass 520 Perennial rye-grass 800 Ditto 3,200 Ditto English 3,840 Ditto Pacey's 1,120 Italian rye-grass 3,200 Ditto imported 7,040 Ditto ditto 1,600 Ditto ditto and hop and red clover mixed 4,880 Hop and red clover mixed 7,200 Yellow oat-like grass 560 Meadow fox-tail grass 1,320 Cock's-foot grass 9,200 Hard fescue grass 4,600 Oat-like grass 800 Duclylis glomerata ") Lolium perenne > 8,400 Lolium Italicum mixed j Sheeps' fescue 2,020 Phleum pratense and 5 others mixed ... 3,840 Linseed 4,600 Another sample 15,520 Mangel wurzel 320 Indeed, as Professor Buckman remarks (Jour. Hoy, Aff. Soc, vol. xvi., p. 359) : " One of the most fertile sources of the continuation of weeds is, that of allowing them to seed on the land. The euonrmous increase which may result from seeding can be gathered from the following table of observations made upon a few of the common species. This contains an estimation of the pro- bable number of seeds on a single plant : Senecio vulgaris (groundsel) 6,500 Stellaria media (chick weed) 500 Agrostemina githago (corn cockle) 2,590 Lychnis dioica (campion) 25,137 Papaver rlioeus (red poppy) 50,000 Sinapis arvensis (charlock) 4,000 ,, nigra (black mustard) 1,200 Galium tricone (corn bedst raw) 200 „ aparine (clivers) 1,100 Sonchus arvensis (corn sow thistle) 19,000 Carduus nutans (musk thistle) 3,750 iEthusa cynapium (fool's parsley) 600 Ervum tetraspernium (tare) 180 Daucus carota (wild car rot) 1 ,200 Pastinaca sativa (wild parsnip) 1,200 " The number of seeds iu a bushel of various seedings is about : THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. -87S Wheat, Hunters white 731,850 „ Talavera 475,000 Rye, winter 1,198,125 Barley, Chevalier 420,000 Oats, potato 4.97,200 15eans, Mazagau 33,600 Pcas,grey 219,337 Tares, spring 078,400 Clover, red 770,000 „ white Dutch 1,050,000 „ cow cfrass 612,500 trefoil 700,000 Grass, perennial rye 301,000 Italian rye 371,000 cocksfoot 826,000 foxtail 1,190,000 „ sweet vernal 770,000 Evidence was produced before tlie same committee against as well as in support of the Bill. Mr. Henry Cutler, of the firm of Culler and Barker, was opposed to the danger to which his firm, one of the largest in the seed trade, would be exposed by selling adulterated foreign seeds in utter ignorince of their composition. Only a solitary witness, however, stood forth to defend the adulterators. He was warmly in favour of the use of adulterated seed ; he thought it prevented the ill-effects of thick sowing ; he told the committee {ibid, p. 74), in answer to the question : " Then from your experience as a farmer, you think it is an advantage to compel the farmers to sow thiu by adulterating the tm-nip seed, do you?" — " I think that there is a great deal of money wasted by thick sowing. In the case of the farmer, what has been the custom of his father and his grandfather is still carried on. There is a great difference of opinion about thick sowing and thin sowing. Mr. Mechi will say that a teaspoon to an acre is almost sufficient, where another man will say, ' Give me two bushels.' I say that a great deal of money is wasted by thick sowing." A dealer in adulterated guano, which contained 77 per cent, of Epping Forest clay, once adopted the same line of defence. He told a friend of mine " My guano is far better than the genuine Peruvian ; the farmers use too much of that, it burns up the turnips, which my guano never does !" The last and most readily avoided source of injury to the farmer's seeds is by the professed adulterators. The operations of these were well detailed by an extensive dealer in seeds, Mr. C. Sharpe, of Sleaford. He thus described the mode adopted by these worthies {Minutes, p. 2). It was in reply to the question, " Will you be so good as to explain to the committee what this system of adulteration of seeds is, and how it is carried on, and generally what its effects are ?" that he observed : "With regard to the system of seeds, the principal evils consist in these, that rubsen, or small inferior samples of rape, are killed by a process cJf steaming, and then kiln-drying for mixing with English-grown turnip seed ; and the in- ferior samples of clover seeds are dyed and coloured for adulterating clover seeds of a much higher value ; and trefoil, a cheap and inferior quality of clover, is killed and dyed for adulterating red clover and cow-grass ; these constitute the principal. For the Brassicas, which in- clude all the various cabbages and round seeds, the same process is carried on as with turnip." The practice it seems is not of modern origin, for Mr. Sharpe added : " The firm which I belong to has been in business for more than 50 years ; and I think during the whole of that period it has been the practice of the trade to mixed killed seeds with genuine turnip seed." The trade, however, evidently appear to understand each other, for Mr. Sharpe continued : " In turnip seed, aud in nil the garden seed ti'adc, everything is done, I may say, by a system of confidence ; there are no samples shown. At this time of the year generally, or about the month of June, travellers are sent round for the purpose of collecting the accounts of last year, and taking orders for the forth-coming season, and I believe that it has been generally the practice that, unless there has been any stipulation, seeds have been sold of a reduced growth, that is seeds (as the term is used in the trade) ' as the trade use them.' If any parties have had any wish to have seeds genuine (which has not been known except only in ths case of some of the very best and largest houses throughout the kingdom) they probably may have stipulated for net seed ; and of course they have got net seed; but the general business of the trade has been to supply seeds of reduced growth if it has not been stipu- lated to the conti'ary. In the clover seed trade it is usual to sell by sample ; in rye-grnss also, and all that branch of the agricultural seed trade, it is usual to sell by sample." The amount of doctored seed, and the object ivhich is attained, was thus described by Mr. F. Kennedy, of the firn\ of Thornton, Kennedy, Co., seed and hop merchants, of the Ikrough of Southwark {ibid, p. 17) : " There are tv/o modes principally, in which cloverseed is adultei'ated, the one is by first destroying the vegeta- tive power, and then colouring seeds of a cheaper and dif- ferent variety, to represent finer and more valuable seeds ; the other is to take old seeds, of a low quality, and colour them up to improve their appearance, and then mix them with seeds of their own description. " I think that the colouring is 1he oldest practice; so far as I am aware, the dyeing of trefoil is quite a recent innovation. " Before the trefoil seeds are coloured they are first killed, if not it would show in the crop. " So far as I am aware there are only three towns in England where it is carried on to any considerable extent; it is sent out in that adulterated form very largely from London, from Hull, and from Liverpool. " The technical trade term for the process is doctor- ing." As to the amount of cloverseed sold in the United Kingdom, Mr. Kennedy could only make an approximate estimate; he thought it might be about 15,000 tons, aud that from 1,000 to 1,500 tons of this is doctored in London by two establishments. He added that when he estimated 15,000 tons — " You must understand that the quantities that I speak about just now include Scotland and Ireland. I believe that neither in Scotland, nor in Ireland is there any ma- chinery for doctoring clover seeds, but that the whole of the doctored clover seeds used in Scotland aud Ireland comes out of the English market, chiefly from the three towns of London, Hull, and Liverpool." The estimate of Mr. Kennedv is probably rather under the fact; for in the year ISGS", 264,878 cwt. of foreign clover seed were imported; of flax and linseed, 1,635,528 qrs., and of rape seed 356,884 qrs. On the I'Jth of July, 1869, the committee made their report, and the Bill having passed, the Act is entitled, " An Act to prevent the Adulteration of Seeds ;" and its preamble declares that — " The practice of adulterating seeds, in fraud of her Majesty's subjects, and to the great detriment of agricul- ture, requires to be repressed by more effectual laws than those which are now in force for that purpose." By this Act (which comes into operation May 1, 1870)— " The term * to kill seeds' means to destroy by artifi- 376 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. cial means the vitality or germinating power of such seeds : "The term ' to dye seeds,' means to give to seeds by any process of colouring, dyeing, sulphur smoking, or other artificial means the appearance of seeds of another kind. " Every person who, with intent to defraud or to enable another person to defraud, does any ot the following things ; that is to say, " Kills or causes to be killed any seeds : or, " Dyes or causes to be dyed any seeds ; or, " Sells or causes to be sold any killed or dyed seeds, shall be punished as follows ; that is to say, " For the first offence he shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding five pounds ; " For the second and any subsequent offence he shall be liable to pay a penalty not exceeding fifty pounds. " Moreover, in every case of a second or any subse- quent off'eace against this Act, it shall be lawful for the Court, besides inflicting upon the person guilty of such off'eace the punishment directed by this Act, to order the offender's name, occupation, place of abode, and place of business, and particulars of his punishment under this Act, to be published, at the expense of such offender, in such newspaper or newspapers, or in such other manner as the Court may think fit to prescribe." To avoid the necessity of averring Avhat it would be difficult commonly to prove by legal evidence, the Act pro- vided that — " In any proceeding for any offence against this Act, it shall be sufficient to allege that the party accused did the act charged with intent to defraud or to enable some other person to defraud, without alleging an intent to de- fraud any particular person or an intent to enable any particular person to defraud any particular person ; and on the trial of any such offence it shall not be necessary to prove an intent to defraud any particular person or an intent to enable any particular person to defraud any par- ticular person, but it shall be sufficient to prove that the party accused did the act charged with an intent to de- fraud, or with intent to enable some other person to de- fraud, or with the intent that any other person might be enabled to defraud." To protect the fair dealer from vexatious charges, the statutes also provides that — " "Whenever any complaint is prefered against any per- son under this Act, and the court upon the hearing there- of determines that it is not iond fide made upon reason- able and probable cause, it shall be lawful for the court in its discretion to direct and order that the prosecutor or other person by whom or at whose instance such com- plaint has been preferred shall pay unto the accused per- son the just and I'casonable costs, charges, and expenses, to be settled by the Court, of such accused person and his witnesses, occasioned by or consequent upon the preferring of such complaint ; and upon nonpayment of such costs, charges, and expenses within fourteen days after the date of such direction and order, it shall be lawful for the Court to enforce payment of the same in the same man- ner as if such costs were a penalty incurred by the person liable to pay the same." The Legislature has, therefore, made a law, from which my readers will, I trust, derive material benefit. But it is idle to conclude, that any act of Parliament can en- tirely prevent the results of careless seed growing and of rascally dealers. Against purchasing seeds mixed with the seeds of weeds, the farmer can, to a great extent, guard himself. Prom acquiring adulterated seeds, how- ever, there is but one safe course, viz., to stipulate for net seeds, and to deal with only first-class firms. If the fanner will be tempted with seeds or manures, because offered at a far lower price than at which an honest dealer can purchase them — why, then, he must be pre- pared to reap the reward of his thoughtlessness. CARELESS FARMING AND COMFORTABLE TENANTS. BT THE NORTHER?? EARMEK. It seems to be an invariable rule that where Nature is profuse in her bounties, giving a liberal return for the slightest exertion, and requiring neither the exercise of ingenuity nor forethought, man becomes impatient of sustained labour, is perfectly contented with the world as he finds it, feeling no desire to improve his position when improvement is attainable through his own efforts only. On the contrary, when Nature is chary of her favours, giving them only in response to hard and untiring industry, man becomes equal to the occasion, and by per- severance and skill compels the most stubborn and apparently intractable soils to yield sustenance for man and beast. AVhen comparison is made between the farming of two such districts of country — the one highly-favoured by Nature, and the other deficient in those qualities which ai'e required in the production of rich corn crops and the growth of nutritious herbage, the balance is almost sure to be in favour of the latter. The occupants of the land are more energetic ; their working animals and implements of husbandry are the best that can be procured; every adaptation that -will save or lighten labour is at once availed of and the teachings of science eagerly followed. Men reared on land possessing per- mauent resources, which are comparatively inexhaustible, and which yields a large increase, even when the cultiva- tion is feeble and rude, are prone to suppose that others farming inferior land are much less fortunate than them* selves, and that their lot is a hard one and unenviable in the extreme. To be compelled to invest large sums in the purchase of expensive implements ; to spend annually as much money on artificial manures and concentrated food as the landlord receives in rent and about the same amount in labour, seems to them to be typical of all that is wretched and miserable. Further, the very attention required to work a large staff of men, and the personal supervision necessary, appears in their eyes a burden which no man would willingly undertake, but by all means to be avoided — the early rising and punctuality of habit in general which the presence of a number of work- men entails, being looked upon as a positive infliction. We thus find that in most districts highly favoured by the possession of a genial climate and fertile soil, the breeding and rearing of stock is the leading object of the occupiers of the land, labour is cut down to the lowest possible limit, and everything involving trouble or expense is rigidly excluded from the arrangements of the homestead. That this view of an active and energetic life is not correct, every one will admit who is placed in a position which calls forth these qualities ; he feels that he makes a good use of his time, employing his capital for the good of his humbler fellow-men ; and the very anxieties inseparable from his business at the various seasons of THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. Z11 the year give a zest to life which is neither felt or en- joyed by him whose latent energies are never called forth, and the calm and even tenor of his evcry-day existence never disturbed. The man who farms well, employing his capital in developing the resources, it may be of poor land, is useful, not only to his own neighbourliood but to the country at large. Ilis example is sure to be followed by others similarly situated, money is put in cir- culation, population is attracted and increases, pi'oduclion is augmented, manufactures are encom-aged, and the nation benefited. The loss of such a man becomes almost a public calamity ; he is mourued for with sincerity ; his memory is revered ; and the improvements he introduced in the culture of the soil and the breeds of domestic animals arc ci'edited to him ; while their advantages are being reaped by succeeding generations. The contrast which we have thus endeavoured to portray was forcibly pnt before us when recently passing a few days in one of the richest districts in Ireland, situated in the counties of Tipperary and Limerick, well known by the designation of " The Golden Vein." Here, in the widest acceptation of the term. Nature has done wonders, the climate being so mild as to permit of cattle being grazed in the open fields all the year round, and those, too, of the very best breeds ; while the soil is so fertile that a high rent can be given and a comfortable living made with scarcely an effort on the part of the farmer. But little cultivation is to be seen here, it being looked upon as a sign of poverty to break up a field for the purpose of raising a corn crop, or growing potatoes. There are but few men who do not desire to stand well in the estimation of their neighbours, more particularly so in a pucuniary point of view ; and it may be very readily conceived, where such a feeling exists, with what aversion a man will contemplate the carrying out of an arrangement which will draw upon him the attention of his fellows, and expose the necessitous condition to which extravagance or misfortune may have reduced him. Although this district of country is considered to be better adapted for stock than for tillage, yet cultivation, unless on exceptionally fertile spots, is highly remunerative. Potatoes for instance, may be grown for two consecu- tive years on land newly broken up from grass with great success, without receiving a particle of farm-yard manure or any other fertilizer. The usual mode of growing the potato here being on ridges, there is no difficulty ex- perienced by having this as the opening crop, no work- ing being required further than reversing the sod, hack- ing or cutting it to pieces with a heavy hoe-like instru- ment, sticking the potatoes, and covering with the shovel from the furrow, the earth in which having been pre- viously softened with the plough. With no other pre- paration the land is freely taken by labourers and others at £15 for the Irish acre, the crop when it escapes the disease being for the most part so productive as to amply repay them for their outlay, the lessee at the same time getting in the above sum a very handsome payment over and above his expenses. So rich is this land that the first crop of corn taken after this treatment is apt to run nearly altogether to straw, especially when the season turns out moist, the yield in corn bearing no comparison to the appearance of the crop when growing. The second and third years, however, bring up whatever deficiencies there may have been in the first, five hundred stones of corn being not unfrequently reaped from the Irish acre, and this the produce of twelve stones of seed. The time of our visit being the end of September of the present year, thrashing was going on in every di- rection, all in the open field, and invariably with that most primitive of implements, the fiail. The entire ab- sence of out-offices made it compulsory to thrash in the open air, but not so the mode of perfoi-ming the opera- tion, which could have been equally well done in the middle of a field, by either horse or steam-power. Still wc did not in an immense circuit of country see thrash- ing done by a tenant-farmer in any other way than by the flail, a fact which will be surprising to many, as in numerous districts the use of this implement is almost unknown, the laborious work which it entails, and the time consumed having put it out of date most completely. Simultaneously with the thrashing, the carrying of the hay was being proceeded with, this in the more exclusively pastoral districts being the most important business of the entire year. I'cw or no turnips being raised, the only winter food available for cattle is hay, and on every farm a considerable breadth is grown, the fields requiring to be shut up but a few weeks to secure a full crop. Instead, however, of attending to what might very reasonably be considered a most engrossing business, following the example of less favoured districts by making hay while the sun shines, and eagerly seizing on every opportunity afforded by the weather for getting it together in prime condi- tion ; the farmers of the Golden Vein let it remain in cock all over the field, exposed to all weathers, much of it being irretrievablv injured, and but little of it possess- ing the delicate colour and delicious flavour ever the characteristic of hay which has been attended to in the saving, and got together without rain. The bulk of the crop was still in the fields at the time of our visit, in cocks of from a ton to a ton and a-half each, and the drawing was just beginning to engage the serious atten- tion of the farmers. The whole is stacked in the fields, mostly in the corner of that on which it was grown, and being used there, it follows that there is no necessity for taking it farther. Such is the benignity of the climate and kindliness of the soil that the cattle pass the entire of the year in the open field, never receiving the shelter of a house, shed, or yard, the getting up of such erections not being even thought of. As spring advances and the grass begins to get bare, the hay is supplied to the stock on the field, the horse moving on while the man on the top of the load scatters it about. To those unaccustomed to this mode of supplying provender to cattle it appears both wilfully careless and wantonly wasteful, but such is not really the case. The animals never having been fed in any other way follow the cart eagerly picking up the hay as it falls within their reach, and lick up every bit in a very few minutes. It is most extraordinary what severe weather cattle will stand with perfect impunity when food is given in abundance, and when, as in this district, they have never been accustomed to shelter. On the approach of winter Nature provides a coat of hair almost impenetrable to the most drenching rain and cutting wind, enabling even the most delicate breeds to remain out, and yet thrive and do well. It does not fol- low that because this mode of wintering cattle is successful in the counties of Tipperary and Limerick it could be followed sixccessfuUy elsewhere. On the contrary, where attempted in districts not possessing the natural advan- tages of this, loss and injury is sure to be the result, and any one trying the experiment must speedily revert to an arrangement in the wintering of his cattle which includes food and shelter, or make up his mind to get ruined. Here, when the spring happens to be severe, and the cutting winds unusually protracted, checking growth, and causing an unavoidable scarcity of food, the cattle may lose condition, and even be hungry for a few weeks; but when soft weather comes on, and growth really sets in, it does so with a vigour almost unknown elsewhere, and with a recuperative power which enables the animals to recover loss of condition in an inconceiveably short time, and not only regain condition, but become fit for the butcher. So full of virtue is this grass, that in a mode« 378 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. rately favourable season the markets become filled with beef so early as to seriously interfere with the profit of stall-feds, which have been held on in the expectation of a scarcity in June and July. Young cattle purchased from iuferior land thrive here iunnensely fast, and those full grown fatten amazingly, so much so, that the buying in must have been most injudiciously conducted, nay, in fact been altogether wild, if the feeding does not pay. It is quite impossible for farmers occupying even very good land in the neighbouring counties to compete in the spring fairs with the Limerick men in the purchase of cattle for grass-feeding purposes. "With the latter they both grow and fatten, doubling the money they originally cost, not uufrcquently ; while, with the former, the same animals would be in the same time but little better than good stores, paying three or four pounds, or in some ex- ceptionally favourable instances, perhaps, live pounds over prime cost, the occasional recurrence of a dry summer, very probably leaving no profit at all for that season. The dairy is a branch of husbandry well understood here, and managed like everything else in the locality in the simplest manner possible for the owner, who, if he is at all extensive, in general prefers to let his dairy at so much per cow; thus saving himself and family all trouble. The men who make a business of taking a dairy in this way are in the main independent, possessed of considerable capital, and have the knack of making money out of what might be, to another unacquainted with the business, a very hard bargain. In the privileges accorded lies the chief profit, the remuneration from these being of the two more certain, than that from the actual produce of the dairy. These consist in a portion of potato ground, handed over free of all expense, the quantity more or less according to the extent of the dairy, keep for a horse or horses, liberty to feed whatever number of pigs he has food for ; fuel, and a fixed price for each calf on its attaining a certain age and being handed over to its owner. So exceedingly anxious are parties to embark or continue in this branch of business, that numbers of persons will always be found quite willing to pay the amount of the whole year's produce beforehand, and payments of £14 a-head for herds of 50 or 60 cows in this manner ai'e of regular occurrence. The cows are of large frame, and the pastures on which they graze, providing a continuous supply of the richest and most succulent food, enable them to give a great quantity of milk, and keep it up far into the season. Shorthorn blood is largely diffused through the whole extent of country known as the Golden A'ein, and cer- tainly they have soil here able to sustain them, the grass alone being able to preserve the grandest specimens of the breed in noble condition. Shorthorns, however, are not the only breed prized, as the old-fashioned cow of the country with long horns, and a white strip along the back, is still kept up, and is much prized for her admi- rable milking qualities, general hardiness, and the large amount of her butter-produce. The Ayrshire is of no use here, being too small, and when introduced, losing the distinctive qualities which render her valuable on medium land, the small, tidy-looking frame being com- pletely lost in a couple of generations, her warmest ad- mirers being scarcely able to recognise herself or her progeny as belonging to their favourite breed. In con- nection with the working of the dairy, the total absence of house-room for the produce of the farm, or the do- mestic animals kept on it, becomes very apparent. The milking has all to be done in the open field, a mode of management one would think which entails a considerable amount of hardship on the milkers, from their having to face all weathers twice a day, with not the slightest chance of shelter; but probably from custom they appear to think nothing at all of it. Any passer-by may see the herd collected for the purpose of being milked ; the girls busy, while attendants wait on them to carry the milk to the cart which is in waiting to convey it to the home- stead. "When the herd is small the produce is taken thither by the maids themselves, the mode of carriage adopted being eastern fashion, viz., on the head. A pail of milk, whicli requires assistance to raise it to the head of the bearer, is carried with perfect ease without the hand touching, and poised so deftly that not a drop is spilled. No attention is paid to the fences, which are mere banks of earth, utterly unfit for the purpose for which they were intended, and scarcely in any part offering the slightest obstacle to the occupants of the fields which they surround. Carelessness in this very important matter gives the whole face of the country a neglected look ; the trim, neat appearance of other parts less favoured by Nature, but more attended to by man, being sadly missed and remarked upon by the most unobservant when they see it for the first time. Enthusiastic agriculturists ex- claim : how happy they could be if they but held a por- tion of that land, however small, what a living they could extract out of its inexhaustible fertility ; and how dif- ferent it would look after a year or two ! The present occupants are happy, and in their own way comfortable, and those who are to the manner born would not exchange their easy-going, uneventful existence for the most bril- liant career. On the soil they were born, on its produce they live, and there it is their wish to die, bequeathing in turn to their children what before was bequeathed to themselves. Quiet and inoffensive these men appear when engaged in the duties and business of their every-day life ; but let any ill-advised person interfere with what they consider, and have been taught from childhood to look upon as their prescriptive rights, the very worst passions of the human heart become aroused, and dread- ful is the vengence taken. Could the Legislature at its forthcoming sitting, devise such a land-law as would meet the aeknowledged difficulty between landlord and tenant, it might do much to remove a foul stain from a large and respectable class, and rid the country for ever of this vengeful feeling — one of the last existing relics of barbarism. THE DAIRY FARMS OF STAFFORDSHIRE. Dairying, or cheese-farming, is carried on more or less in almost every part of Statford'shire. It is the mainstay of its fanning, except on the small extent of land which is too light for grass, and it is pursued eVeft on the tops of the hills which are too lofty for wheat-growing and too exposed for the growth of trees, or for ordinary cultivation. Tirst-rate pasture land IS worth i'SO or £90 an acre, and the same land, in arable, would be worth only £50 or £60. The cows were originally the large coarse description of Shorthorns with yellow skins, great rough tails, and ragged appearance at the quarter where that appendage is set on. They have been greatly improved by crossing with the improved breed. Many of the herds boast a large mixture of pedigree blood, which has had the usual effect on the quality and appearance of the animals ; and occasionally the effects of too much " breed" have obliged the dairy farmers to retrace their steps, or at all events to weed out animals that show a greater fitness for the shambles than the dairy. As a rule, pedigree and pail are opposed, but the THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 8?9 lialf-bred cows, properly selected, are very good milkcvs, and " blood" adds £5 to their value when they are turned out to fatten. The demand for improved half-bred bulls is supplied by local breeders, who resort to the pedigree herds, and frequently give higli prices for pure-bred males. There is a good demand for bull calves out of dairy cows witli short pedigrees at £5 to 10 guineas each. By such means the im- provement of the breed of dairy cattle has been gradually advanced, and will doubtless be carried still further. The famous Longhorn, once the pride of the midland counties, is almost extinct. At the county show the number of animals exhibited dwindled till they were not worth the amount of the prized offered, and the class was therefore discontinued. There are few remaining specimens ; the only representatives I met with were at I'radley and at Thorpe Hull, where there are four or five survivors of a herd formerly noted. Dairy farmers breed their own stock and keep up their herds by drafting in the young animals in succession. They sell all old, barren, or draft cows in the autumn clearing fairs. In ordinary seasons, when the root crop is good, these cast cows, in fair order, fetch about £14', to fatten in other districts, where provender is abundant; and it is more prolitable to sell than to finish them at home. But on farms where the quantity of ploughed land is considerable, or where there is some good feeding turf, the practice is different. Cows from a superior dairy are brought to market sufficiently fat for summer beef about July, and in late years they have sold at £21 or £25. Heavy high-bred cows are seldom sacrificed in this way, their owners preferring to keep them on till December, when the little mountain of beef, called by courtesy a heifer, is generally worth £-10 or £-io. Cast cows, condemned to become beef on next summer's pasture, are wintered moderately on about 3 lbs. to 5 lbs. of cake, with roots and " chop" (straw chaff), and in the neigh- bourhood of Bnrton-ou-Trent three-quarters of a bushel of grains instead of roots, which are reserved for the milking- stock. Store animals are wintered on " chop" and roots (or grains), and are turned out to grass hardy, and with the rough hair of their coats unshed, ISlilking-oows are tied up in sheds during the winter months, from November till early in May, when the grass-fields are again ready for them. A dairy- farmer regards his ploughed land as merely subordinate to the requirements of the dairy^yielding food and litter for the winter months. By tying the cows in sheds, one-half the litter that would be required in open yards is saved. In the neighbourhood of Burton spent hops are used for litter, at 3s. 4d. a ton. Hops absorb the urine, and are fit for immediate use ; they have the best effect when applied fresh. The long straw from horse stable is picked over for littering calves. Large herds — fifty or sixty — should be divided into two lots, as tliey do better and do not trample the pastures so much on coming up to be milked ; a weak cow is less driven, nnd the danger of infection reduced. The usual time of calving is early in April ; for breeding purposes February would be pre- ferred, as early calves get strong, and are more easily wintered ; but April is the period most desirable on checsc- farras, because the cows are then in full profit at the best time of year, when the best cheese is made, and when the natural supply of sood is greatest. Cows receive no artificial food during the summer, except in bad seasons, when the best farmers allow cake. In large dairies, where there must always be a certain number of cows that calve irregularly, the process of cheese-making is continued all the year, but superior cheese can only be made on grass. A first-rate cow will yield £1-1 worth of cheese, at 60s. a cwt. of 120 lbs., and the year's pro- duce of the cow will be : Cheese Whey butter Calf Whey for pigs 18 10 0 Cheese-making is occasionally continued all the year round ; but in general the winter's milk is disposed of by suckling or butter-making. An eminent cheese-farmer informs me that his average price in the past ten years has been 743. per 120 lbs. ; his highest and lowest prices of the year's make have been 80s. in 1866 and 1868, and 653. in 1861. His average yield of cheese in the same period has been 2 cwt. (120 lbs.) per acre of land summer-grazed, and 4 cwt. per cow. £ s. d. 14 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 10 0 The sales are made three times a-ycar — in August, November, and April. Cheese loses weight rapidly. Another farmer, who makes cheese all through the winter, gives 4^- cwt. per cow as his average. The average yield of wheat on these two farms is rather under 4 qrs. per acre. Cows are not generally milked for ten or twelve weeks previous to calving. The best cheese from regular good pasture is made after the middle of May. The common size of cheeses is from four to six to the cwt. of 120 lbs. ; the large cheeses of 50 lbs. to 150 lbs. arc made chiefly on the Cheshire side of the county. The size is to a great extent a matter of fancy and custom on the part of masters and servants ; at the same time cheese on strong soils is liable to " heave" (ferment) during the process of drying, and in some cases it is considered necessary to remove a portion of cream, instead of using " whole" milk. The flavour of cheese is affected by artificial food. Over-slocking is a temptationand a mistake, which has given occasion to a saying, " It' you want more milk, sell a cow !" The only stock allowed to pasture with the cows arc a few horses ; they eat close, and are not objectionable. Sheep feed with the young stock on the inferior pastures, aud should never mix with the dairy. One ewe, with her progeny, to three acres of grass is considered a sufficient stock of sheep. Ewes wintered ou the best system are fed on hay and straw chaff, malt-dust, oats, &c., and run on the store pastures in the day-time ; the dry food keeps them in health, and is necessary to their well-doing even when grass is plen- tiful. On rich land, uear Burton, where grains for winter- feeding can easily be obtained, a liberal feeding is practised; the head of stock kept on a farm of 120 acres of arable and 180 of good grass is as follows, during the summer : 50 cows ; 20 two-year-old heifers, to calve next spring ; 30 yearlings ; 20 calves ; 60 ewes. About 27 acres of hay are mown. Mr. Meakin, the tenant, fattens his cast cows in July and August, giving them cake on the pastures. During the drought of last summer all his neat stock had about three-quarters of a bushel of grains a-day. For the year ending 5th April, 1869, his outlay on food was £500. The price ot grains varies, 2d., 3d. and 4d. to even 7d. per bushel, according to demand and season. The usual system of wintering young stock is to give them one bushel of man- gold a-day, with straw-chaff and no corn. This food is said to cotne off' (he farm. But ou the heavier clays meal is cheaper than roots. On the poor heavy clays, worth only 20s. an acre to rent, bare fallow is considered a safe and inexpensive system. On such land a common rotation is — Bare fallow ; AVheat ; Seeds lor two or three years ; AVheat or oats. Or tares are eaten off on the fallow, or removed for horses, cows, and pigs. The strong-land farmer, ou t/ood subsoils, begins the fallow with a 10-inch furrow before winter with three or four horses. As the horse and manual labour on dairy farms can be concentrated, when desired, on the limited extent of ploughed land, a rotation of crops need not be adhered to so carefully as ou arable farms, where a little irre- gularity disturbs the adjustment of labour; the cropping is often very irregular and severe. Good deep marls, into which the plough may go any depth without change in the character of the soil turned up, may, with good treatment, be cropped successively with corn, without apparent exhaustion. Deep- ploughing is then essential, and helps to prevent corn from be- coming laid. Heavy clays, with interior subsoils, are seldom ploughed more than 6 inches deep. The first ploughing is given in spring. Three ploughings follow during the summer : it is considered necessary to plough very heavy land five times. The width of the lands is 9 feet to 12 feet ; these are drilled at one bout, and in some instances the wheat is sown and ploughed in. Two bushels is a common seeding for fallow wheat. The fallows are seldom touched with the harrow till the time of wheat-sowing. When roots are grown, the heavy- land farmer ploughs in autumn, having first broadshared the land and made every effort to clean it. Seeds, after lying several years, are often followed by oats, wheat, beans, wheat ; or fallow is followed by wheat, barley, beans, wheat. Stubbles, to be followed by spring corn, are ploughed early in autumn, 380 THE FAHMBR'S MAGAZmE. worked and cleaned, dunged and ploughed again late in ■winter or in spring. Wheat after oats is dressed with 3 tons to 4< tons of lime, which costs 10s. 6d. per ton at the kiln. Lime is applied on fallows in April and May previous to sowing turnips, or in the autumn after tares, or on seeds previous to sowing wheat. The usual dressing is 3 to 5 tons. The universal use of lime may be partly attributed to the necessity of a corrective after several years' seeds. It acts as a medicine, not as a manure ; it checks slugs, and prevents club in cabbages. Land is found to lie better for wheat on the 9-foot ridges than on the flat, however well the land is drained and tilled. When wheat follows oats, the stubble is broadshared — the land cleaned be- fore plougliing ; a three years' lea followed by wheat receives a half-fallow, and should be ploughed before Midsummer, in which case an outgoing tenant is entitled to two-thirds of the crop of wheat, as in the case of bare fallow. With a good seedsman, corn is often sown broadcast by choice. Horse- hoeing corn is not practised. Seven quarters of oats are a large crop, only obtained when artificial manure is used, and perhaps the general average does not exceed five quarters. Many farmers look too much to their cheese for profit, and to their corn-crops as merely supplying food and litter for cows. Leas are ploughed once only for oats. In case of an old lea, tlie land is ploughed about Christmas, so that it may settle and the grass rot ; a one-year-old lea is ploughed and sown as wanted. The principal root-crops are swedes and mangold. They are cleaned and hoed by the milkers and odd hands, working by the day. The scarifier used in spring is usually drawn by four horses, walking in the furrows. The cultivation of the cabbage is greatly extending. It comes into use when other tilings begin to fail, and it is by far the best succulent vegetable for milking- cows — keeping up the yield of milk, and preserving better than any other food some portion of the quality which cheese loses when the cows quit their natural pasturage. Cows fed on cabbages are always quiet and satisfied, while on turnips they often scour and are restless. Cabbages are given whole on the pastures, and later in the season are either pulped or placed in the trough whole. When frosted they are liable to produce hoven, unless kept in a warm shed to thaw before being used ; 56 lbs. given at two meals are as much as a large cow should have in a day. Frequent cases of abortion are caused by an over-supply of green food. Cab- bageare excellent for young anima Is, keeping them in health and preventing black leg." A calf of seven months may have 20 lbs. a-day. The seeds, sown in corn to lie three years, are a mixture, costing about 28s. an acre, and containing some of the perennial grasses as well as the clovers. For permanent pas- ture, sown in June without a crop, after spring fallow and 3 tons of lime, the seeds used are one quarter per acre of pur- chased Yorkshire hay-seeds, to which are added about 6 lbs. white clover, 3 lbs. alsike, 3 lbs. trefoil, 1 lb. cow-grass, 3 lbs. rib-grass, and 1 peck Italian rye-grass. The application of bones to pastures, exhausted by years of depasturing with dairy cattle, has been generally resorted to, and in the case of worn- out cow pastures the effects upon the herbage have been mar- vellous. They are not found to answer on dry light land, but they seldom fail on the moister heavier soils which have been underdrained ; 3 or 4 cwt. per acre are applied, and occa- sionally heavier dressings for more permanent improvement. Rough pastures are greatly improved by grazing them close with ewes in winter when they are receiving dry food. By giving grazing ■ animals corn, the herbage is gradually im- proved and made to yield good crops of hay. Old turf-fields of poor cold wet clay, producing but little grass, and that of an inferior description, may by this means, after draining, be made to yield sweet grass, thick at bottom and full of good herbage. — The Agriculture of .Staffordshire. Prize Essay, by H. EvERsnED, in B. A, S. Journal. WENLOOK FARMERS' CLUB. At the quarterly meeting at Wenlock, Mr. RAiNrOETH read the following paper on Covered Farm-yards : Having been frequently requested, and hitherto as frequently declined, to read a paper before the Wenlock Farmers' Club, on covered farmyards, and the benefits to be derived from their adoption, I do so now with, reluctance, as I am not able to speak from actual experience of their advantages ; but, being thoroughly convinced of their practical utility, and as no other member of the Club has come forward to advocate their merits, I trust that the necessity for their more general use may be made apparent by my remarks, although I am sorry the sub- ject has not fallen into abler hands. And, as I am not able to speak from actual experience of the benefits arising from covered yards, I can as certainly speak of the loss and incon venience occasioned by the want of them. And now that the facilities for effecting improvements on landed property in the shape of draining and building, are so numerous, through the instrumentality of the " Lands' Improvement" and other com- panies, I think it would be wise if those companies would ad- vance loans for the purpose of constructing covered yards, and thus enable the farmer to produce at the least possible cost to himself, and to the general advantage of his farm, the largest amount of beef and mutton for the market which his land is capabls of supporting ; and the improvement effected by drain- age and the use of artificial manures in the growth of root and other crops, has made their adoption almost a matter of necessity, where previously these crops could only be partially grown, and therefore the want of proper feeding accommo- dation was not then so much felt. And I feel quite confident that the advantage which the farmer would derive from the erection of suitable covered yards for liis stock would enable him to pay a handsome percentage on the outlay, and would be advantageous to the proprietor, the tenant, and the community at large. The proprietor would secure a good re- turn on his investment ; the tenant would derive benefit from the earlier maturity of his stock, from the economy in feeding and feeding-stuffs, whether as regards corn, cake, or straw, and from the saving in time, care, and attention required when the cattle are exposed in open yards ; and the com- munity would be benefited by the increased supply in the meat market. The cattle would derive comfort from the shelter, and less provender would be required to keep up the animal heat so requisite for their growth and preparation for the market, and cart-horses might be advantageously fed on green food after the cattle were disposed of. The increased value of the manure, both in quantity and quality, by the adoption of this plan being very apparent. I will take the case of a farm of 400 acres, half grass, half tillage, growing 50 acres of roots yearly. Suppose 10 or 13 bullocks or cows commence to oc- cupy one of the yards at night, in October, and entirely so in November, and are fed on cake, corn, and cut hay and straw. They are more comfortable than when lying under a fence in the open field, and these animals are kept in the yard till ready for the Christmas markets, and then other lots in succession supply their places till May or June following. See what a saving of food alone would be effected during seven or eight months of the year, from the animals being kept dry and warm, and what an extra quantity of food they would have consumed had they been exposed in wretched open yards, often not even fit for a bullock to walk across, much less to stand and feed in, and with, perhaps, not even a shed for shelter during the cold nights of winter, and the best of the manure being washed into the nearest ditch or brook, if it cannot be conveniently thrown over the grass land. Should the yard be at liberty for the shepherd, with his 140 or 150 ewes, to occupy in the cold, blustering nights, what a saving of lambs might there be, and what comfort and strength the ewes would derive from the shelter ! Take, again, the case of a farm with a large proportion of good grass land. Consider what a benefit a lot of barren cows, driven home from a fair at a great distance, would experience from a covered yard. Instead of having to stand upon the causeway, under the eaves of the buildings — the open yard being so wet that they are not able to lie down there — they are comfortably resting in the yards, and safe from wind and weather. Some may say that this method of treatment will make the beasts THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 381 too tender and nesli, and that they will suffer in consequence when turned out to graze. I say " No," if you have lofty and well-ventilated yards, and so constructed that tlic cattle will not be exposed to cold draughts. How often — as many of you gentlemen know from experience — do we see barren cows crowded together in sheds, and confined in places where the stench is so suffocating as to cause them to he unhealthy, and become liable to cold and disease when driven to fairs, and ex- posed in the markets, or when conveyed in railway-trucks, and no covered yard for their reception on reaching their destination. When summer feeding is not practised, the yards may be occupied with 4, 8, or 10 cart-mares from June till October, and fed on vetches, clover, and grass, and this will effect a con- siderable saving in food alone, and the animals vvill be saved from the heat and annoyance of flies ; and instead of standing under trees or fences stamping off their shoes or rambling and hreaking fences to get to the neighbouring horses or into the nearest cornfield, tlicy will he secure at home, where the waggoner knows he will find them, and be saved his present tramp night and morning, and by this arrangement ad- vantage will be gained both by man and horse. I now come to one very important question, and which I am not able to solve for want of practical experience, and that is the value of the beautiful, well-made manure. I was going to have said " home-made " or permanent guano. I had a letter a few days ago from Mr. Abbay, steward to H. S. Thompson, Esq., of Kirby-hall, near York, who has had boxes for 10 or 13 cart-horses, and covered yards for cattle 15 or 16 years, and he states that the increased value of the manure made in covered yards, and which hs considers of twice the value of manure made in the ordinaiy way, would more than pay the per centage on the amount required for their construction. He also states that were he a young man and required a farm, he would not be willing to enter upon one that lacked these requirements ; and in reply to my enquiries he states that neither the eyes nor feet of horses suffer from confinement in boxes. Mr. Abbay further states that all covered yards re- quire tanks for the urine, and which is produced in greater quantities than the manure will absorB. This he considers to he of the greatest value, and it is used for decomposing vege- table matter, or for mixing with bones and ashes for the turnip crop. This is the experience of a gentleman who lives in a much drier climate than we do, and where a larger quantity of straw is usually grown, heing quite a tillage district and but a small portion of the land in permanent grass. The experiments which I have made with straw converted into manure under a shed not so favourably con- structed for the purpose as covered sheds should be, fully con- firms Mr. Abbay's opinion. This manure, if made in the open yard, would have been, as a gentleman described it in the Shrewsbury Chronicle, little better than washed tea-leaves. Now you all know, gentlemen, the value of drawing 10 or 14 loads per acre to a distance of half a mile or so from the home- stead, and this I take to be about the average distance ; and if five or seven loads will produce the same result, see the saving in labour alone, and the expense of converting the straw into manure by this method is much lessened, and the manure saved will be of more than sufficient value to remunerate the landlord for any expense he may have incurred, and the tenant will be enabled to manure more land with home produce, and save to some extent his guano hUls. Less straw also will be required for litter, and thus increased provision is made for the production of more home-made feeding stuffs, and the saving thus effected will naturally effect an increase in the number of cattle kept on the farm ; and which, in winter, will be under cover, and be fed with a little cut straw, flour, or cake, and arrive at early maturity ; instead of wandering, as at present, over and damaging the grass land, or standing near the gateways wait- ing to be taken home to be fed on wheat, barley, or oat-straw, by which means they will deteriorate, and remain on the farm for a considerable time longer than necessary. The pre- sent system being, as I conceive, as injurious to the proprietor as to the tenant farmer and the meat-consuming public. Per- haps I may be allowed, before concluding, to quote from a published report of the results of experiments carried out by Lord Kinnaird to ascertain the value of covered and uncovered dimg, and which are thus stated by Dr. Anderson. A field was manured partly with covered and partly with uncovered dung, and the produce of potatoes determined, the whole then sown with wheat, and dressed in spring with 3 cwt. of Peru- vian guano. The potatoes produced 7 tons 12 cwt. with un- covered dung, and 11 tons 15 cwt. with covered dung, being an excess of 4 tons 3 cwt. The wheat grain produced 54 bushels from covered dung, and 42 bushels from dung made in open yards, being an excess of 12 bushels, and the wheat straw from the uncovered dung exceeding the other in weight by 8151bs. The Rev. H. "Wayne had no doubt money might be borrowed as suggested, from some of the societies ; but yet it was a very serious affair, for they would have to pay about £7 Is. per cent, for 25 years upon whatever they borrowed. It therefore re([uired considerable calculation as to the cost before they entered upon any such work, Mr. TiiUKSFiELD thought they could put up covered yards at very nearly as small cost as open yards — they did with so much less walling. Mr. Rainfortu said he had a yard 15 yards square, and he estimated the cost of covering it at £120, It would keep twelve or fourteen cattle, and would therefore cost about £12 per head. Mr. Evan Davies, the chairman, thought it would take more stock than that. Mr. Burton (Bridgnorth) differed with Mr. Rainforth as to cleaning the boxes out only twice in twelve months. He believed if that were the practice the horses would soon be- come " stone blind." Mr. Rainforth pointed out that the gentleman he had referred to had tried it for 15 or 16 years with no such results. Mr. Trevor thought if they could only manage to induce their landlords to put up such sheds, farmers would soon be unanimous as to the benefits to be derived from them. He was sure their stock would be improved and so would the ma- nure ; labour would be lessened ; and the yards would be ad- vantageous in other ways, particularly to himself, who lived, as one of their auctioneers had styled it, at " the healthy high- lands of Weston." If he had such yards, he very much doubted whether the meadows of his friends, who lived on " the rent- paying farms" below, would, after being deprived of the wash- ings of his foldyards, be so " rent-paying" as they are described to be at present. Mr. Morgan concurred in the desirability of having such yards, but thought the difficulty of getting them very great. The Chairman said he thought if they could satisfy the landlords that such yards are really useful they would in most cases erect them. Mr. Morg.vn : But we shall have to find the money. Mr. Rainforth said he had provided for that, as they would see in the beginning of his paper. Mr, Morgan said many landlords had a great objection to the borrowing system. Mr. Rainforth said the same difficulty did not exist now as seventy years ago. Mr. Rhoden also spoke strongly in favour of covered sheds. Referring to the objection of Mr. Burton, he said it might be that the compression of the manure by the horses' feet pre- vented the escape of ammonia ; that he could not say, but they had the opinion of an eminent agriculturist that no harm re- sulted, and they could not well disbelieve it, without some evidence to the contrary. Mr. Thursfield said Lord Forester had had a small co- vered yard for some time as an experiment, and a friend of his (the speaker's) was now having a large one erected which would be the most complete in Shropshire, but certainly not altogether at the expense of his landlord. Lord Forester's opinion was that the great difficulty with them was to make the straw into manure, and he (the speaker) was rather sur- prised to hear that tanks were required in them to collect the liquids, for his experience was, there was not sufficient to wet the straw. At Willey it was true they had tanks, but there a large quantity of pigs were kept, and wthout them the straw would be too dry for manure. One of the tenants, who had such a yard, complained of this difficulty, and actually said he woidd put no more stock in it, tiU he (the speaker) advised him to keep pigs. Mr. Evan Da\ies (the chairman) said: The subject for our consideration this evening is one of very great importance, and to no part of the county is its import more applicable than the district of the Wenlock Farmers' Club. The principal portion of this district is of high elevation, consequently our climate is severe, our rainfall heavy, our winters long and almost un- 382 THE FARMER'S MAGAZm:^. manageatile, making the proper housing of stock a matter of absolute necessity, and many attempts to solve this problem have been devised. I am old enough to remember when the greatest portion of the stock were left in the fields during the winter, and it was not an unfrequent occurrence for cattle and sheep to be dug out of the snow which had buried them be- neath its accumulated drifts. The first improvement was fold- yards, without shed or shelter, as Bloomfield refers to them — Giles strewed you, Still mindful of the unsheltered head, Burdens of straw, the cattle's welcome bed. Tlien carac the open sheds, and, as far as the health and well- being of young store stock is concerned, I am not sure that this system has yet been improved upon. But going more particularly to our subject, the question arises — What is the object souglit by covered fold-yards ? This might be divided into two portions — first, the comfort and well-being of the stock ; secondly, the preservation of the manure. There is no doubt that warmth is highly conducive to the fattening of stock and economising of food, a.s a great portion of the food consumed is appropriated to keeping up the heat of the body. This is a truism which, practically, none know better than the members of the Wenlock Tarraer's Club. I have again and again heard my brotlier farmerssay that unsheltered sheep do not progress in the least during the winter months in this district ; indeed, a gentleman who bought my yearlings for several years, assured me I should fail to recognize them after they had been a short time in the warm midland counties. His observation was, " They grow as big as donkeys." Again, we are told by those who liave elaborated the e.xperiment, that 1 ton of roots given to stock under cover will produce as much beef and mutton as a ton and a-half will produce where stock is unprotected from the pitiless pelting of the storm. Surely this should point out to landlords and tenants the desirability of taking means to prevent such fearful waste of food, something like one-third of the root crop. Again, with covered fold-yards, the con- centration of stock elfects great economy in the attendance on tliem. Lord Kinnaird, in his paper on Covered Homesteads, says that one man will feed one hundred cattle in a covered yard with as much ease as he would thirty in open detached fold-yards. Secondly, in the husbanding and manufacturing of manure, the covered fold-yards are invaluable, at least on heavy stock-producing farms. Mr. Bowen Jones's admirable paper on farm-yard Manure, so recently read before us, and the club has put into the hands of every member a copy of that elaborate paper, so that all who have read it, and read it intelligently, must be convinced of the fearful waste that takes place with manure made in open fold-yards Mr. Jones's paper clearly shows you that many of the most fertilizing por- tions of the manure are highly soluble, consequently carried away by every shower of rain that falls upon it, and conse- quently its deterioration is fearful on this point. Let us again refer to Lord Kinaird's paper, in order to ascertain the relative value of uncovered and covered manure. His lordship caused to be planted a 20 acre field with potatoes, the one half of the field was manured from the open yards, and the re- mainder from the covered yards, 20 cart-loads to the acre in both cases. The uncovered manure produced 7 tons 14 cwt. 491bs of potatoes per acre; the covered manure produced 11 tons 14 cwt..671bs., being an increase of 4 tons 2 cwt. 481bs. The field was then cleared and sown with wheat ; getting a dressing of 3 cwt. of guano per acre. The uncovered manure produced per acre 41j bushels 281bs. of wheat, and 1 ton 10 cwt. 721b3. of straw ; the covered manure produced 54 bushels 261bs of wheat and 2 tons 2 cwt. 21bs. of straw, showing au increase in the wheat crop of 12 bushels 29lbs. of wheat and 2 tons of straw per acre. These experiments speak for them- selves, and strongly confirm the opinions expressed in this room of the necessity of our heavy stock district of using every means to prevent the washing of the manure, and these ex- periments of Lord Kinnaird are the more valuable as having been carried out by a landlord. Then the question arises, should all farmsteads be covered in ? I think not, and herein great mistakes have been made, and the advantages of covered fold-yards damaged by failure in unfavourable localities. Let us, then, particularize. Take Pattou Parra, for instance, with its large amount of permanent pasture, and consequently heavy cattle stock. To be brief, I estimate the amount of straw produced to be 200 tons annually ; three-fourths of this I assume will be eaten by the stock, leaving 50 tons for litter and to absorb the liquid manure from the stock. I find that one ton of straw will absorb 640 gallons of liquid ; therefore the 50 tons of straw would require 32,000 gallons. I esti- mate that tlie stock upon Patton Farm, that is, cattle, horses, and pigs, would void, during the winter months, 34,000 gallons of urine. Consequently there is sufficient liquid on this farm to convert all the straw that is likely to be forthcoming, with- out a spot of water. Take another farm, of equal size, void of any permanent pasture. I estimate the crop of straw on such a farm at 400 tons. Assuming that 25 tons of this would be consumed by the stock, we have 375 tons to be converted into manure m the yards, which would require 242,000 gallons of liquid. Take the stock on this farm at 20 cattle, 20 horses, and 100 pigs ; these would void, during the winter months, 22,000 gallons of urine, leaving 220,000 gallons to be supplied by rain water. Consequently, in the first instance, covered yards would not only be desirable, but absolutely necessary, to prevent a fearful waste of manure. In the other case, covered yards would be undesirable, and obstructive to the reducing of the straw into manure. JMy estimates may not be strictly correct, but near enough to form a data to show where co- vered yards are [necessary and where not. Mr. Lawes, in summing up his admirable paper on farm-yard manure, makes this pointed remark — " The worst method of making manure is to produce it by animals kept in open yards, since a large proportion of valuable fertilizing matter is wasted in a short time." The usual votes of thanks to Mr. Rainforth and the chair- man were then proposed, and the proceedings terminated. CHIPS. SECOND SEMES. — CONCERNING STOCK. (1.) Feeding Value of Cattle Foods. — Careful experi- ments on the results of various foods have shown that while it takes one hundred and fifty pounds of turnips (swedes), mangolds, and carrots to produce one pound of flesh, it takes only from five to six pounds of linseed cake, four-and-a-half pounds of a mixture of linseed cake and peas-meal in equal parts, six pounds of barley, seven of oats, eight of beans or peas, six of rape or cotton cake, and twelve pounds of clover hay. It is scarely necessary, we should think, to state, however, that these theoretical values, as they may be called, will be much modified by circumstances— such as, first, the breed of the animal fed upon them ; secondly, the amount and character of the woody and indigestible fibre contained in the food ; thirdly, in the bulk of the food ; fourthly, in the way in which the food is given to the animal ; fifthly, by the mechanical effect it may have upon the digestive organs of the animal ; sixthly, by the physical condition of the food; and lastly, by the health and pecu- liar idiosyncrasies of the animal partaking of it. It is also worthy of note that the different animals of the farm do best with different kinds of food. Thus the horse does with beans, while they are not so valuable for cattle ; cattle, again, will do with large quantities of straw, upon which horses and sheep would not live long. Mangold wurtzel, again, for example, is excellent for THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. 383 cattle, but not for sheep. Still further, the purposes for which the animal is kept influences the fccJinji ; thus fat- tening footls are uot so good for dairy cows, while a horse iu full work requires food of a difl'ereut quality from one not in full work. Enough in this brief note has been stated to show how -comparatively complicated a business the feeding of farm stock is, and to indicate the value of thought being expended in. the process, so that the maxi- mum effects shall be obtained from the minimum supplies of food. The "rule of thunib" system is not always, if indeed it ever is, the'most economical, as it certainly is not the most reasonable mode of treating stock. (2.) Winter Management of Cattle. — The following is a brief detail of a mode of management which has been fouud very successful on a farm on which swedes' arc chiefly grown as the root crop, with a small quantity of mangold ; and on which the produce of hay and clover is but limited. The cattle are' brought in from the fields pretty early iu autumn, before the rough and cold weather sets in; as for allowing them to be "pastured," if the term is at all allowable under such circumstances, in cold frosty weather, with the snow on the ground, as the case may be, this pi-actice is never thought of, the truth being thoroughly well understood, in the case iu point, that warmth and shelter are equivalent to certain supplies of food, and arc essential to the maintenance of the health and therefore of the feeding qualities of the stock. As stated above, the hay and clover grown on the farm being limited, these are chiefly devoted to the calves, the cows which are out of condition, and to those which are suck- ling. The herd generally is fed chiefly upon straw, turnips, and bean-meal, barley, oats, and oilcake. Each animal gets daily from two to four pounds of ground beans, barley, or oats, or a mixture of these and of oilcake, or the latter only, in quantity to be equal in feeding value to the other food (see No. 1). A plentiful supply of straw is also put into the racks, from which each animal can take what- it likes, it being found that he eats more heartily than when helped to it. One feed per day, consisting of cut straw, is given at the time when the ground meals above-named are being used, the meal and the cut straw being well mixed together. When the roots are plentiful tlicy are given pretty freely, but in reduced quantity when the 0])posite is the case. The quantity of ground meal given is regulated by the abundance, or otherwise, of the roots. As the time for turning the herd out to pasture ap- proaches, a little extra food is given to tlie animals; so that they are in good condition, or fresh, when put to- grass. This is fouud to be very beneficial. (3.) Importance of Cleanliness hi Stock as a Precen- tive to Disease. — Any one who will consider the important functions which the skin performs, will see at once the importance of attending to keeping the animal in a con- dition of jjersonal cleanliness — if we may be allowed the expression. This is greatly aided by the care which is taken to have the stall kept perfectly clean — if stall-fed. It is indeed surprising how indift'erent some are to the way in which the animals are housed. Dairy cows of great value will be allowed to live in a- condition of what may be called " perennial filth." Brushing or curry- combing the coat of the animal is a process'of great value, uot only in removing all loose and extraneous filth, &c., adhering to the coat, but in the healthy action of the pores of the skin, which it increases aud aids by the friction of the brush or currycomb. Many animals are seriously in- jured by being allowed to lick oft" with the tongue the loose hairs which adhere to the coat ; these being taken into the stomach, where they are frequently arrested — not passing oft" with the manure — and form hard indigestible lumps of matted or felted hair. As to the mode of brushing or currycombing stock a few ■words which we have givea elsewhere may he permitted. In all " departments of work there are two ways of doing the work, a right way and a wrong way ; and when cattle do not take to the brushing and currycombing kindly, it is because it is not properly done. When the operation is performed roughly, the comb being dug iu with savage energy, or . brought smartly and frequently in contact with bones and pro- jecting joints, it is no wonder that the animal becomes restive, and shows by unequivxical signs that it disapproves of the rough and painful process ; but let the ' spiriting be done gently ;' then see how pleasantly and gratefully the animal receives the combing or brushing. We say ' gratefully,' for it is quite impossible to mistake the pleasing evidences of gratitude given by an animal kindly treated. Those who are harsh, if not positively cruel to their animals little know the loss they sustain by it — a loss which tells in more than one way." It is in every way worthy of the work to be done with the "eye of the master" to see that his animals are kindly treated. Those " put off" their food by cruel treatment will soon show whether or not they are paying for the process. (4.) Fer centage of Water, Starch,- and Oil in various ainds of Food. Kind of Food. j Water. Starch. Oil, Wheat I 14 Flour ' li Barley -. Barley Meal ' li Oats Oatmeal 13 Eye 13 Beans U Peas U Indian Corn Indian Meal ; •..".. l-i Buckwheat •. l-t Lentils 14 Rice 13 Turnips •. 87 Mangolds 85 Carrots 86 Parsnips....; 79 Cabbage ;..... ^ -93 Potatoes ....I 75 59 48 39 51 36 37 GO 50 35 74 10 13 11 17 4 15 1.2 0.3 5.7 1.0 2.0 2.0 7.7 1.0 3.0 0.7 0.3 EROG-HOPPER.— The insect in its larval state is known as the " cuckoo spit." It appears in the early part of the year as a -soft, yellowish larva, with no power of jumping, but. having the faculty of exuding frolnits body a frothy substance, which no doubt is necessary, like the slimy exudation of the snail, for its protection. As suihmer advances they shed their skins, aud assume the jumping form, being then well protected by horny coverings, insomuch that when they jump the action is accompanied with a clicking sound. In every stage of their existence they are destructive to vegetation. In the i"rothy state 'they subsist by sucking the juices of .the plant; iu the jumping state they eat holes in the leaves, aud ply their calHug vigorously. There is no off-hand or wholesale w'ay of dealmg with this pest ; it must be caught and. killed in detail, and it is most desirable to attack it wherever it appears concealed by its frothy covering, as it is then literally helpless ; whereas, when it takes to jumping, it can so well take care of itself that it is only on cold mornings, while vegetation is still wet with the dew, that it can be caught, except by the most eSpert aud nimble fingers. It is classed by entomologists with the He- raiptera, which differ from the true beetles in having neither jaws nor mandibles, and in being but slightly different in form and construction in their several stages of larva, pupa, and imago. In every, even the mo^t elementary, work on ento- mology some account of the Tettjgonia will be found. — 'JVie Gardener's Magazine, 384 THE FABMER'S MAGAZINE. THE HEEEFORD SHOW, SALE AND FAIR. The exhibition of the Herefordshire Agricultural Society- was this year encountered under difficulties of no ordi- nary description. That is, the visitor who paid the best price of the opening day saw as little, or rather less, of the show than those who followed him at a more moderate figure. According to the advertisement, the public would be admitted at niue o'clock on the Tuesday morning, on the payment of two shillings and sixpence each, a charge which at two o'clock would drop to a shilling. Of course those who paid the higher entrance fee naturally assumed that this would insure the opportunity of witness- ing the examination of the stock at the hands of the juilges; but it was not so. When we tendered our half- crown, at a few minutes past the appointed hour, it was only to find that we were too early and too late. Too early for the catalogues, which had not yet ai-rived, and too late for the judging, which was more than half over. As it turned out, this business had commenced at eight o'clock, and as the meeting was by no means a large one, the sheep, pigs, horses, and the more interesting classes of the cattle were all disposed of previous to the public being admitted. The few half-crowns so gathered in to the coffers of the Society were accordingly obtained under something very like false pretences ; and it would certainly be better for the future, either to fix the fee for admission at one common charge, or to give the greater advantage to those who are induced to pay more money for such a privilege. Indeed, we are not quite sure but that the half-price customers had altogether the best of it ; for there was no visible sign in the way of colours as to how an award went, while there was an unpardonable delay in placing up the prize placards ; so that, unless he possessed some interest at court, the half- crown stranger would wander about in utter ignorance of anything that had been done ; — or, at any rate, of much that had been done, for when we left, about mid-day, many of the prize animals had not even then been an- nounced. But this was not all. Tuesday was a cold day, and a Hereford would seem to be rather a delicate beast. "With- in an hour or so after the exhibition opened it began to blow a bit, with some threatening of rain, and so, straight- way, tarpaulins and other coverings were produced, and the half-crown public either carefully shut out or shut in something like utter darkness. As the stock, moreover, were often as well clothed as race-horses, and as there had been no chance of seeing the best of these out, we can only say again that the exhibition of the Herefordshire Agricultural Society was this year encountered under difficulties of no ordinary character. Still, it must be by no means concluded that the show is the all-and-all of the Hereford week, as many people who come from long distances never see the show. Their business is the rather in the streets or the fair ; al though this would seem to have had its best day. "With increasing opportunities for customers running about on the quiet and picking np the young things at home, the cattle fair is losing much of its pristine importance, and never were more moderate beasts " pitched" than those which we looked out on from the Dragon on Tuesday. As The Hereford Times says, honestly enough : " Hereford October fair has for some years past been growing ' smaller by degrees and beautifully less,' and there seems every probability of its continuing to do so until it be imposible for us to recognize it as one of the ' good old things ' on which we have been wont to pride ourselves. The exten- sion of railway communication, the vast increase of our weekly market, and the modern practice of bringing large quantities of stock under the ' hammer,' have virtually sealed the fate of our fairs ; and we can have no hesita- tion in venturing the prediction that Hereford October fair will never again be what it has been. The fair of this year, as regards the supply of stock, was the smallest perhaps that any one can remember. There were few cattle in the streets on Tuesday, and on Wednesday the number was not large enough to occasion much incon- venience to locomotion ; and from that statement our readers will be able to come to a correct conclusion. As to prices, it was essentially a ' dear ' fair ; the demand was good, and business was readily transacted at rates in advance of those which have been lately obtained. There were few lots of very good three-year-old steers on offer, the highest price obtained being, we believe, about £35. The supply of fat stock was unusually small, and much below the demand; prices realized from 7 ad. to 8d. perlb." Bat, if the fair is failing, another branch of trade is about to be more thoroughly developed. Mr. Thomas Duckham, the editor of the Hereford Herd Book, has just turned auctioneer — a vocation which he inaugurated by a sale in the show-yard on the Thursday. Not tiiough, as we hear, wiU Mr. Duckham confine himsel iin this way entirely to the white-faces. Mr. Straffoid and Mr. Thornton may make it the point of their profession to sell Shoi'thorns, as Mr. Preece does Shropshire sheep ; but, while Mr. Duckham will of course be as directly identified with the Herefords, we believe he wLU cultivate a more general business : " The varnish'd clock that click'd behind the door j The chest contrived a double debt to pay, A bed by night, a chest of drawers by day," may all come in turn under his hammer, and enjoy the advantages of his eloquence. By right, possibly, of his appointment as director of the show, he had the sole use of the yard for his sale on the day after this was over, when many of the animals exhibited were offered. The catalogue ran up to more than a hundred lots, made out from many herds of repute ; but the prices realized were on an average by no means extraordinary, almost all the good biddings going to confirm the awards of the judges. To these it may be better now to turn, as the proceed- ings of one day may act as something of a key to those of another. The show was not large, but in places it was very good; and this was precisely the character of the opening class of bull, cow, and offspring, where Mr. Huugerford Arkwright's entry was beaten, although this included the famous Sir Hungerford. For some time past this well known bull has been considered the best Hereford out, as, in fact, his appear- ance has lately tended to quite spoil competition. Never- theless, Mr. Aaron Rogers was here the best at all points ; he had clearly the best cow and calf, and to our thinking, as decidedly the best bull. Stanway, however, although a five years old, was never exhibited until last week at Ludlow, where of course he won, and hence the lead which Sir Hungerford has been permitted to retain. ' The Rodd bull is not a big one, or, more properly perhaps, not an high upstanding one ; for he is very true and thick all through, compactly furnished, without being cloddy, as he is stylish in his appearance, with a capital coat, and a THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 886 firm touch. Indeed, at a year older he has worn better in use than his more renowned rival has on show ; while the clev^er old cow associated with him spoke as strongly by her healthy looks to good management as a very smart promising calf completed the excellence of the trio. It will be found that at the sale Stanway made the top figure of the day, 190 gs., at which price he was booked to Mr. ChQd. The Hampton Olive, in couples with Sir Hungerford, did uot show to advantage, looking light and narrow, uor was the " oifspring" much to their credit. The third lot was from Frodesley, and an odd lot they were, as there is a pretty general coarse- ness and want of fine Hereford character about this stock. Nevertheless, it is only fair to say that Frodesley Fa- vourite was the best yearling at Ludlow last week, as he previously had been the second prize calf at the Royal Manchester meeting. We were not at Ludlow, but of the Royal award we ventured to express a very strong opinion at the time, when we said : " The best filled class of the Hereford males was that of bull calves, and this was too much for the judges, as they left out Mr. Evans' Prince of Wales, a very admirable youngstei-, as indis- putably the second, if not the very best of the lot. He was certainly reserved, but not commended, which makes the slight only the more marked and inexplicable." The only possible excuse for such a mistake was the fact that the Prince of Wales was not quite himself at Manches- tei', as he was placed early in the week under the care of Professor Simonds. Since then he has only appeared twice — at Cirencester, where he was first, and at Hereford on Tuesday, where in far away the best filled class of the day he was as far away the best of his class, in which Frodesley Favourite was never no- ticed ! Thei'e is no doubt that Prince of Wales has " gone on" since July; but to look at him at Hereford, so stylish and handsome as he is, so straight and true all through, one can only marvel the more how he was over- looked at Manchester. Then, he is equally if not even better to touch, wealthy but not soft, thick in his flesh but not coarse, and so one comes to see how much condi- tion has to do with public judging. The Prince of Wales is all of Mr. Evans' own sort, by his Chieftain 2nd, and going back on the other side to the Stately s. He made the second best price at the sale, 96 guineas for Australia ; while, at his age and with his promise, he was about the cheapest lot in the catalogue. Mr. Evans' highly com- mended yearling, a half-brother to the Prince, also reached to one of the top prices, 60 guineas; but Mr. Turner did not offer his nice thick high-quality yearling, Trojan, here exhibited for the first time ; but enriched the catalogue in his stead with Jupiter, also by Franky, a bull that has done much for the Leen herd. Jupiter, who by some in- explicable accident was second to Frodesley Favourite at Ludlow, made 85 guineas, being the third on the price- list ; whereas IMr. Hill's President, the third pi-ize year- ling at Hereford, and with really very little to like about him, made only 49 guineas, Wellington topping him by 11 guineas, as uo question but both the highly commended bulls of the class were better animals. Mr. Williams, of Kingsland, Mr. Tudge, the Rev. Archer Clive, and Mr. Bradstock were also exhibitors in this good lot of twenty yearlings or so ; and some of their entries, as will he seen, also came to the hammer. There was a very moderate but largish class of two- year-olds, where Noble and Leominster changed the places they had occupied at Manchester ; and the sale went to confirm this decision, as Noble, who certainly now looked to be the better animal, reached to 60 guineas, while Leominster did not command a purchaser. The judges tacked on sundry commendations to their award here, mainly, as it would seem, to " please the people," as there was ia reality very little showing for any such additional compliment. Old Tambarine, at nine years old, was far more deserving of the notice which he received in the next class, where the Royal bulls. Sir George and Stowe, divided the honours ; but there was only one other to beat, and with Batten Hall away, tried anywhere the entry was of no very remai-kable merit. By the return the cow classes were very strong, and the judges paid some compliment to each of the five lots of breeding cows, always a strong feature at these meetings. Mr. Walker's small party, however, were by far the most comely in appearance, and despite the commendations so liberally bestowed it struck us that we have seen this class better filled. Amongst the two-year-olds, Mr. Tudge found a very good match for the Royal Silver Star in Constance, and the pair fairly placed themselves; whereas with the pairs of yearling heifers it was a very close thing between the first and second, and for choice we should take Mr. Fenn's two as promising to grow into the most money. They are more roomy, and have quite as much fashion as the Bicton couple, one of which is ter- ribly narrow in her frame ; and the award here was no doubt a mistake, many even giving the preference to Mr. Tudge's merely commended entry. As times go, and look- ing to the market outside, there was a capital if small show of three-year-old steers, where Mr. Robinson, a new man who has lately settled at Kington, won with two very handsome, almost noble, beasts ; while Mr. Turner's were also very good rich steers. Amongst the two-year-olds there was no competition beyond the first and second, the winning pair being bred and exhibited by Mr. Price, of Pembridge, a son of the well-knowni Hereford fancier of that name. Mr. Arkvs right, who had not been very successful so far, took the companion premiums for the best fat cov/ and fat ox ; but the Hampton heifer, otherwise a very neat one, stands so terribly bad on her hind legs as to prevent her making any mark at the great Christmas shows. The best steer, on the contrary, with plenty of size is so fuU of style and breeding that he has only to ripen to do as well elsewhere. There have, no doubt, been thicker and more massive Herefords, but it is seldom that we have so handsome a butcher's beast. These two classes were generally commended, and Mr. Walker's cow, with her coarseness as a set-off unites great weight with level feeding. The Herefordshire Society's meeting is becoming more and more a show of Hereford cattle ; for in six classes of sheep there was no competition in two, and no entry whatever in another. Still, some of the sheep were good, especially jSIr. Downing's sorty pen of Rysland ewes, which should sm'ely have been placed before Mr. Tan- ner's odd lot of Shropshires ; but then it is, of course, all a matter of fancy when you have white faces and grey faces opposed to each other. In fact, the judges went altogether for the Shropshires, and Mr. Jonathan Davies' good longwools had no chance in such com- pany, although of truer character than their conquerors. Mr. Kearsey won a prize with a pretty Berkshire sow, and Mr. Clive was fairly commended for a lengthy white of some quality ; but otherwise the dozen in all entries of pigs were more noticeable as curiosities than for any par- ticular merit. Colonel Fielding for one exhibiting an animal he called " Quality" that utterly belied her title in her appearance. The horse show was simply beneath notice ; and when we say it was the worst we ever saw, we feel that we cannot properly convey an impression of the miserable spectable here presented. With admirable tact, the prize cards, so far as our experience went, were never put up ; and as for once the horses were deservedly the most insignificant part of the exhibition, this omission must be placed as quite a credit to the management. There was certainly not an animal amongst them which deserved a prize, It will be seen from what was said at 886 THE FAEMEE'S MAGAZINE. the dinner that an attempt will be made to improve upon this section of the show ; as, in truth, the meeting pretty generally has a somewhat declining appearance. There were sundry premiums for hops, cider, and perry ; a five-pound note to be divided amongst the im- plement exhibitors, and another five-pound note, which must or should have taken "a deal of doing" on the following conditions : " A sum, not exceeding £5, will be placed at the discretion of the judges to be awarded as they may think fit, amongst cattle, sheep, pigs, horses, agricultural and other machinery, and miscellaneous articles sent for exhibition only, and not for competition in any of the foregoing classes." PRIZE LIST. JUDGES. Cattle : H. Haywood, Blakemere ; W. Taylor, Thingehill. Sheep, Pigs, Hokses, and Agricultural Implements : G. Bedford, Milton, Pembridge ; 11. H. Coats, Cirencester. Cider and Perry: U. C. Beddoe; J. Bosley. Hops : C. Watkins. CATTLE. Bull, cow, and their offspring. — First prize, £10, Aaron Rogers, The Rodd, Kington (Stanway and Purity) ; second, £5, J. Huiigerford Arkwright, Hampton Court, Leominster (Sir Hungerford and Hampton Olive). Bull, calved on or after 1st July, 1868.— Eirst prize, £10, Henry R. Evans, jun., Swanstone, Dilvvyn (Prince of Wales) ; second, £5, Philip Turner, Tlie Leen, Pembridge (Trojan) ; third, :£2, Richard Hill, Orleton Court, Ludlow (President). Highly commended : Thomas Rogers, Coxall, Brampton Bryan (Ponsonby) ; Henry R. Evans, jun. (Wellington). Commended : Richard Tanner, Prodesley, Dorrington (Frode- sley the Second) ; John Williams, St. Mary's, Kingsland (Belladrum). Bull, calved on or after the 1st of July, 1867. — Eirst prize, £5, John Harding, Bicton, Shrewsbury (Noble) ; second, £3, Thomas Edwards, Wintercott, Leominster (Leominster 3rd). Highly commended : Richard Chitson, Lawn's Earm, Llan- warne (Sir Richard). Commended: W. S. Powell, Eglwys, Newydd, Taibach (Viceroy) ; Wm. Taylor, Showle Court, Ledbury (Triumph Second). Bull, calved previous to the 1st of July, 1867. — First prize, £5, Jolm Williams (Sir George) ;'second, £3, John Morris, Town House, Madley (Stowe). Commended: Wm. Taylor, Showle (Tambarine). Lot of beasts, irrespective of sex, bred by a tenant farmer, under 2 years and 6 montlis old, in proportion to the extent of land occupied. — First prize, £5, Henry R. Evans, jun. Pair of heifers calved on or after 1st July, 1868. — First prize, £5, J . Harding, Bicton, Slirewsbury (Dahlia and Miss Severn) ; second, £3, T. Fenn, Stonebrook Housa, Ludlow (Duchess Bedford 6th and Leonora the 2nd). Commended : W. Tudge, Adforton, Leintwardine (Lady Brandon and Sul- tana) ; R. Tanuer, Frodesley, Dorrington. Pair of lieifers calved on or after 1st July, 1867. — First prize, £5, W. Tudge, Aldforton, Leintwardine (Silver Star and Constance) ; second, J. Williams, St. Mary's. Commended : J. Morris, Madley (Jessamine and Bones 2ud). Pair of steers calved on or after 1st ot July, 1868. — No entry. Pair of steers calved on or after 1st of July, 1867. — First prize, £5, J. Price, Court House, Pembridge ; second, £3, J. Morris, Madley. Pair of steers calved on or after 1st of July, 1866. — First prize, £5, Stephen Robinson, The Moor, Kington ; second, £3, Philip Turner, The Leen. Highly commended : H. Gib- bons, Bishop, Hereford. Commended : H. Gibbons. Lot of breeding cows or heifers, not under three years old, that liave had a calf witliin six mouths, or shall be in-calf at the time of showing. The occupier of not exceeding 100 acres to show two beasts ; 150 acres, three beasts ; 200 acres, four beasts ; and in the same proportion for every additional 50 acres up to 500.— First prize, £10, J. Walker, Westfield House, Holmer ; second, £5, Tliomas Edwards. Highly commended : Philip Turner, The Leen ; II. Gibbons. Com- mended : J. Harding, Bicton. f»t cow or heifer.— Prize, £5, J. Hungerford Arkwright, Hampton Court, Leominster. Highly commended : Edward Tanner, Stanton Lacey, Bromfield. Commended : J. Walker, Westfield. Fat ox or steer. — Prize, £5, J. Hungerford Arkwright. Highly commended : T. Dew, Almeley, Hereford ; J. Spark- man, Little Marcle, Ledbury. Commended : Lieut. -Colonel Fielden, Dulas Court, Hereford (for two beasts) ; J. Williams, St. Mary's. SHEEP. Pen of 20 Shropshire Down or short-woolled breeding ewes, under three years and eight months, and not having more than six teeth fully grown, that have suckled lambs to 1st June, 1869. — Prize, £5, Ricliard Tanner, Frodesley (Shropshire Downs). Highly commended, Thomas Davies, Burlton Court, Hereford (longwools) ; commended, J. B. Downing, Holm Lacey, Hereford (Ry eland). Pen of 20 long-wooUed breeding ewes, under three years and eight months, and not having more than six teeth fuUy grown, that have suckled lambs to 1st June, 1869. — Prize, £5, Jonathan Davies (long-wooUed). Pen of five yearling wethers, long- wool. — Prize, £5. No entry. Pen of five yearling ewes, long-wool. — ^Prize, £5, Jonathan Davies. Pen of five yearling wethers, short-wool (cross-breeds not excluded). — Prize, £5, Joseph Pulley, Lower Eaton, Hereford (Shropshire). Highly commended, J. B. Downing (Ryeland). Pen of five yearling ewes, short-wool (cross-breeds not ex- cluded).— Prize, £5, Richard Tanner, Frodesley (Shropshire). Highly commended, J. Pulley (Shropshire) ; commended, Thomas Davies (long- wool). PIGS. Boar pigs under two years of age. — Prize, £3, Col. Feilden. Commended, Charles Kearsey, Glewstone, Ross. Breeding sow. — Prize, £2, Charles Kearsey. Commended, Rev. Archer Clive, Whitfield. HORSES. Stallion best calculated to produce good hunters. — Prize, £5, J. Price, jun., Burringtou, Ludlow (Jack o'Newbury). Cart staUion. — Prize, £5. No merit. Three-year-old colt, gelding, or filly, suitable for hunting purposes, bred in Herefordshire. — First prize, £10, William Smith, The Farm, Tarrington j second, £5, Charles Hxmt, Widemarsh Moor, Hereford. Nag mare with foal at foot. — Prize, £5, Ed. Russell & Son, Cholstrey, Leominster. Cart mare with foal at foot. — Prize, £5, Henry R. Evans jun., Swanstone. IMPLEMENTS. Collection of agricultural machinery and implements. — First prize, £3, Richmond & Chandler, Salford, Manchester ; second, £2, Marshall, Sous, & Co. (Limited), Britannia Iron Works, Gainsborough. CIDER AND PERRY. Dozen of cider, made by the exhibitor, from fruit grown on land ,jn occupation. — First prize, a£2 10s., G. Palmer, BoUi- tree, Ross ; second, £1, W. H. Apperley, Withington, Here- ford (Foxwhelp). Commended, T. Davies, Burlton Court Hereford. Dozen of perry, made by the exhibitor, from fruit grown on land in occupation. — Prizes withheld. HOPS. Hops grown in tlie county of Hereford. — £5, T. S. Brad- stock, Cobrey Park, Ross. Commended, W. Taylor, Thinge- hill Court, Hereford. EXTRA PRIZES. Ann Davies, Chipps House, Iviugton, Leominster; bull (Young Paragon), 20s. Chns. Nott, The Berry House, Wigmore ; bull (Harting- ton) 20s. J. Williams, St. Mary's, Kingsland, Leominster; heifer (Rose of the Vale), 20s. E. Page and Co., Victoria Iron Works, Bedford, 5s. Thomas Bradford, Cathedral Stejjs, Manchester, 10s. Herefordshire Manure Company (Limited), Holmer, near Hereford, 15s. James Dickson and Son, Newton Nurseries, Cliester. 10s. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 387 GRASS SEEDS. At a Imeeting of the members of the Wiufrith Farmers' Club, Mr. T. LiLLiNGTON, of Burton, read the following paper on " The Best Rotation of Grass Seeds, and the means of securing a good clover plant." Perhaps there was no feature on a farm which so unmistakably conveyed the assur- ance of good husbandry as that presented in an even, clean, and luxuriant crop of clover and grass seeds, and to obtain that object would always be a matter of anxious thought and endeavour on the part of farmers who hoped to gain a return for their investment in the land. Upon the extent and quality of tlieir crops very materially depended the healtli and condi- tion of the flock. The grass and clover crop was the main- stay of the arable farms in that district, whether they con- sidered the money returns directly obtained from it, or the in- direct benefit accruing from the increased quantity of corn derived through its influence ; and he thought he need not point out to practical men the great advantage that a good clover layer was to succeeding corn crops. They w'ere all con- versant with these details, and hence the committee of the club had shown their anxiety by placing the subject again upon their card — to obtain, as far as possible, by " comparing notes," such information as might lead to greater certainty of successful result than at present attended their efforts in the growth of artificial grasses. He would here briefly state that, although he had at tlie request of the committee under- taken to introduce this matter for discussion, yet he wished it to be understood that he was induced to do so cliiefly through a desire to bear his share of the duty which devolved upon members of the club, and he made no pretence to authority in the matter. He asked them, therefore, to accept his observa- tions rather as " reminders" or texts, which he trusted would be enlarged upon, and much information elicited in tlie re- marks of after speakers. The artificial grasses from which they selected their " rotation" were — broad clover, cow-grass clover, March grass clover, alsike, Dutch or white clover, tre- foil or hop trifolium, sainfoin or French grass, white ryegrass, green Devon ryegrass, and Italian ryegrass. Experience had declared that tliese grasses should be sown in rotation — i. e., a certain period of time should elapse before the same kinds of grasses were repeated on the same land, otherwise the result of plants and crops could not be depended upon. Eight years were considered to be the minimum of time necessary to bring land round to be what was termed " fresh," for clover, and al- though the same degree of difficulty might not be experienced in the growth of the other kinds of grasses he had enumerated, yet it could not be doubted that the longer was the rest given to the land, so in proportion would be the increase of yield and the quality derived. The difference between broad clover, " cow-grass," and March grass was that broad clover came earlier to the scythe, produced a fine and better hay, and moreover, it made a rapid second growth which might be again cut, either as hay or for seed, or used as sheep feed, at the option of the farmer. The two latter kinds made only one growth, and when seeded must be taken from the first cut ; its advantages, however, was that it came to hand much later than the broad clover, it produced a heavy burthen, and was found of great use and profit for horse food, after the first cut of broad clover had become too ripe for this purpose. Many farmers were in the habit of sowing small proportions of their seed course yearly, and to considerable advantage. He had called their attention to cow-grass and March grass, as it seemed doubtful whether they were not one and the same, though known under different names. In treating of the course of rotation crops, he proposed to classify these three clover grasses as No. I. No. 2 would comprise alsike, Dutch or white clover, and trefoil, or hop clover. These plants dif- fered entirely from the broad clover in their habits, and very much so in the uses to wliich they were applied. On deep, good lands, with the advantage of warm climate, a good burthen of first-rate hay was often obtained from the first cutting ; after this it produced sweet feed for sheep, but not sufficient for an after cutting. On really good lands he thought no rotation of grasses would be found more advan- tageous than those he had mentioned : on such lands the four-course shift was almost universal. The clover layer was allowed to remain but one year, when it was followed by wheat, and no preparation was more favourable to the growth of the latter crop, free as it would be from the baneful in- fluence of ryegrasses. Thus half the seed course would be laid down with No. 1 and half with No. 2, and after the lapse of four years the same land would be in course for seeds ; the positions of No. 1 and 2 would then be reversed, and by this method the same grasses would only be repeated in eight years. But they had also to consider the subject under less favourable circumstances than those to which he had referred, when the land was neither deep nor warm, where it was difli- cult to secure a plant of the finer descriptions of clover grasses, and, moreover, when other circumstances rendered it imperative that the land should lay in grass for two years instead of one ; in other words, when the five-course shift was found necessary for profitable cultivation. He was inclined to be- lieve that, even in the properly managed soils of that neigh- bourhood, where the four-course shift was adopted, they could not depend upon a profitable yield of artificial grasses unless ryegrass was used to a certain extent. It did not follow, how- ever, that a change in the rotation should not be made so far as the clovers were concerned, instead of following the practice now generally adopted of mixing broad, Dutch, alsike, and tre- foil with ryegrass on each occasion when seeds were sown. One-half the course might be sown with broad clover and rye- grass, and the remainder with Dutch, alsike, trefoil, and rye- grass, and then in the succeeding sowing, at the four [years' end, the kinds of seed might be reversed. When the grass was intended to remain but one year, tlie white ryegrass was pre- ferable ; but as it was an annual it was not adapted for two years' layers, and, when the latter object was sought, the De- von or green ryegrass should be substituted. Italian ryegrass produced a much larger quantity of feed than the other descrip- tions, and this fact had induced farmers to use it in preference in some localities. But its baneful influence on the succeding corn crop bad deterred farmers on light lauds from using it in their regular course. The sowing of Italian ryegrass had, consequently, become small except on such lands, which were generally sovni in the autumn with trifolium, for the purpose of securing a green crop, to be followed by roots, when its use was very beneficial. On stiff clays the objection to the use of Italian ryegrass was lessened, and on lands recently brought into cultivation — more particularly those of a peaty nature, when rotation of cropping was not expected or sought for — it might be employed with much advantage. Sainfoin could only be grown on lands having a chalk or limestone subsoil, and when farms rested on tliese formations it should become a re- gular portion of the rotation of grasses. Taken either as hay or green food it was invaluable to the flock, and the charge often brought against it of fouling the land was the fault of the farmer and not of the plant, for often lands were not thoroughly cleansed and prepared when sown down. Further than this, inferior descriptions of seed were sown, and were often allowed to remain too long in the ground ; the latter was the greatest evil, and in no case should sainfoin remain more than four years. Generally speaking, more advantage would accrue to the occupier if he limited its duration to three years. Three years old sainfoin might be brought into corn out of layer with- out risk of wire-worm ; but if allowed to remain longer the land became very foul, and then it was necessary thoroughly to clean the land before it could be safely entrusted with a corn crop. He might pass over trifolium as not being a grass eligible for rotation crops, though it was most useful as a green forage plant, sown, as he had before alluded to, in the fall of the year, with or without Italian ryegrass. Some people had an idea that its use in this way interfered with the fresh- ness of the land for the clover plant ; but he had reason to dis- sent from such a view of the case. He had never observed any deterioration in the clover plant when sown on the lands where trifolium had in previous years been grown as a forage plant. There were two kinds of trifolium — scarlet and E E 388 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. wMte, the latter of which came to bloom some 14 or 21 days later than the scarlet, which tlms renders it useful as a successional food. Supposing all to be done that possi- bly could be by a judicious rotation of artificial grass crops, he thought they had exerted their utmost to secure a good clover plant. Still there were other matters that re- quired attention, such as the condition of the land, the quan- tity and quality of tl\e seed, the time of sowing, and after- management. Though clean and generous management was necessary for successful clover-growtli, too often they found clovers sown on land very imperfectly cleaned, even from couch grass ; and it was a vain expectation to believe in a crop raised under such circumstances. If the plant remained in the land, it was puny, and gradually weakened day by day in an unequal battle with a stronger enemy, until at length it was fairly routed from the soil, when the farmer rfften de- clared the land to be " clover-sick." Enough to make it, he thought. From ten to twelve pounds of broad clover should be sown per acre, and, where necessary, from one to two pecks of ryegi-ass in addition ; and it might be beneficial on their high lands to increase that quantity. It was usual to put in the seed at the time of sowing their Lenten corn : he thought, however, it was better to be regulated by the time of such sowings. The young clover plant was very delicate ; and if subjected to sharp frosts in its infancy, it would suffer consi- derably. He therefore recommended waiting till the season was sufficiently advanced to warrant the belief that such a visitation would not occur. No detriment was felt l)y the corn plant, if the clover was put in after the former was above-ground : it might then be done by means of the harrow, or raked in with the horse-rake. The advantage of employ- ing the latter implement was that they had the power of regu- lating the depth, which was a matter of the utmost importance in dealing with small seeds. In the selection of clover seeds great care should be taken — first on account of the enormous amount of weeds frequently mixed with them, and which were in this way conveyed to the land, and secondly, because they had clover seeds in the market from different countries, as well as those of home-growth, producing under similar treat- ment very difl'erent results. The principal foreign seeds offered for sale were French and American. The produce from the latter was invariably of stunted growth, and conse- quently the burthen was light. Seed from the North of France produced better results, but it was often very foul. English-grown seed was much to be preferred, though obtained at a much greater cost. He had heard also of unprincipled men in the seed trade, who employed various methods of " doctoring" seeds— turning old and worthless qualities into new, so far as appearance went. In such cases only a portion of the seeds vegetated, and failure was the inevitable result. Under all circumstances,both with clover, turnips, and such-like seeds, it was prudent to have in the quantity intended to be sown a sufficient time to test their soundness, by planting a portion of each before the main crop was sown. The practice of feeding young seeds in the fall of the year, after the corn was re- moved, had been considered by some farmers to be injurious to the clover plant. After some dry seasons, when the plants were weak, common-sense would tell them this would be the case ; but when the plants were strong and good, he conceived that no injury was thereby done, provided the feeding was continued without intermission, and, when fairly fed down (not to the bare earth), allowed to remain unmolested. He meant that one feeding only sliould be taken, and tliat a fair and not severe one. RoUing in the fall and spring was also advantageous in giving solidity to the land. Having thus briefly introduced the subject entrusted to him, he concluded by expressing a hope that a full and free discussion would follow, and tliat some useful information might be adduced in the remarks which might fail from other practical members of tlie club. Mr. T. H. Sattnders expressed himself in favour of sowing clover in the wheat, and remarked that the failure of the clover crop was often to be attributed to a want of solidity in the soil when the seed was put in. He also preferred sowing it witli wheat rather than barley, as tlie straw of tlie former was stiffer, and consequently not so liable to be beaten down by the influences of the wind and weather. lie entirely con- curred with Mr. LiUington as to the manner in which grass seeds should be selected, and said he had never found broad Clovers fail m wheat, though iu barley he had frequently found an_ inadequate crop. Speaking of trifolium, he said the great object to be secured was to get the crop forward as soon as possible, and it ought to be a strong plant before the autumn came, as often the early frosts were very damaging to the crop. The land should be very clean before sainfoin was sown down, and there could be no doubt that the evil of which Mr. Lil- Hugton had spoken, by the ground not being properly cleaned, was very often experienced. But, however great might be the care he took in this respect, he invariably found a quantity of " rug" or black grass amongst his sainfoin ; last year he had a great deal of this in his wheat, and he found it very difficult to get rid of it. It was an expensive plan to buy sainfoin seed for sowing every four years, although he could scarcely get it to stand more than three years. Every farm should, in his opinion, grow a certain quantity of sainfoin, more particularly where a large number of sheep were kept. It came after the broad clover, which they did not want if they gave the sheep hay ; and when the turnips came in the sainfoin was too old, and the clover was then found valuable. When the old sain- foin was made into hay it should be cut into chaff. He did not much like the giant sainfoin to be grown in large quan- tities ; a little of it might be useful, as it came earlier after the scythe ; but the general crop was not so good as the other kind. There was one advantage however, it would come to cut a second time for seed, which the common sainfoin would not. He urged upon farmers to be particularly careful in the selec- tion of sainfoin seed, and remarked that American and French qualities were worse than useless. He had often experienced a failure after sowing foreign seeds, and it was invariably found it would not stand more than one year. Mr. J. Sly said the nature and management of the soil must be taken into consideration before sowing clover and grass seeds. He related an instance, which caused a little amuse- ment, of sowing Italian rye-grass many years ago in some boggy land on his farm, and, though he never reaped a crop, the roots were still in the land, being grown long and tough and almost impossible to get rid of. He spoke iu favour of American marl grass on his land, from which last year he cut four loads per acre. lie iiivarialily cut his broad clovers a second time, and what he did not require for hay he saved for seed. He agreed with sowing clover in the wheat, and gene- rally speaking a good crop was thus ensured. Different ma- nures also produced different effects upon the crops ; he usually found farm-yard manure beneficial in good soils ; but if the land was not quite so good, lie put a little guano with the barley, about one cwt. per acre, and found a benefit to the clover crop. The white clover was most suitable to his farm, and he had succeeded in saving his own seed for 27 or 28 years with very satisfactory results. Mr. J. Reader remarked that, whilst agreeing with the general tone of Mr. LiUington's remarks, he must differ from lum on one or two points. He thought that in places where broad clover was sown once in eight or nine years, they did not require rye grass afterwards. He sowed his broad clover every other rotation, and he found there was not so good a crop succeeding rye grass as after clover ; therefore if they adopted the practice of sowing every other round they should do away with rye grass. He recommended a little Dutch to be mixed with the clover, which unproved its strength. A neighbour of his some years ago bought some French seed, and he remarked it was the best foreign quality he had ever seen. The first year after it was sown, the gentleman called his (Mr. Reader's) attention to the beautiful plants produced ; but in the second year it was an utter failure. If farmers grew sain- foin they should endeavour to know from whom they might obtain really good English seed. With some of the best Eng- lish sorts he had kept it down four or five years ; but he found that after sowing it again to sainfoin after ten or twelve years, the plants would not stand, and he did not get so good a crop as tbe previous time ; he had therefore arrived at the conclusion that they ought not to sow it oftener than once in 15 or 20 years. If sown oftener than that, be it ever so good a seed, it would go out of the ground in two or three years. With regard to the giant sainfoin, it was well to liave a small quan- tity, as it would come to cut a second time for horses or seed, but it would not stand in the ground so long as the common kinds. It was well, however, to have a small portion to come in before the common sort, as they could cut it for hay first, and feed it afterwards, if the land was moderately good. If he obtained a good plant ou poor land, which he did not reciiiiro THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. 389 otherwise, lie generally kept it down four or five years. He now had a piece that had heen laid down three years, and had ft great deal of black grass amongst it. Mr. W. BuDDEN wished to be informed as to the growth of alsike. He once tried it by the side of a piece of broad clover ; but his sheep did not take to it readily, for whereas tliey fed down the clover quite close they refused to eat the alsike till they were almost driven to it, and on that account he had not tried it since. Speaking of Italian rye grass, he thought it was most advantageous, as he could get three times as much from that as from tlic green or white rye seeds. Last year he put in wholly Italian rye mixed with other small seeds, and the crop was looking more forward than he had known for many years past. Tliis of course must in a measure be attributed to the season, and the crop would come to cut with the broad clover. As a rule, green ryes ripened before the broad clover was fit to cut. Mr. Longman confirmed ^vhat had fallen from Mr. Reader with respect to sainfoin. AVhen he went to his farm eighteen years ago, there were about forty acres of sainfoin that had been down seven years. He broke up two pieces extending over ten or twelve acres ; but after sowing some French seed he could not produce a single plant that would fetand over tlie first year. He had sonto two pieces of chalky laud, which might be thought suitable for sainfoin, but with very indifi'ereut results. He liad tried to grow alsike, but had abandoned it as it did not satisfy him as to the result. Mr. Majrke had been in the habit of sowing sainfoin, more or less, every year, and he had found that foreign seeds could not be grown to advantage. He could generally obtain a good crop from English seed the first year, but by some means he could not get it to stay in the ground ; only in a few excep- tional cases he had obtained a crop the second year, and after that he was obliged to plough it down. The most advanta- geous way was to mix it with other sorts, say tliree or four pounds of broad clover witli the same quantity of hop and Dutch, and about ten or twelve pounds of milled sainfoin, which would make very good feed, giving a good yield of hay first, and a substantial feed afterwards, whilst probably there miglit be a little feed the second year. On the hiUy land in his neiglibourhood (Chaldon) the soil was not adapted to sow- ing entirely sainfoin, and even when mixed with Dutch it pro- duced only a puny crop the second year. Of course they must provide a little keep for the sheep, and they were anxious when they got a good plant of Dutch to keep it down a second year ; but it did not answer generally. He had sown alsike twice on difi'erent soils, and he could not say whether it was good, bad, or indifferent, or whether sheep would eat it or not, for he had never seen a single plant. Therefore he did not mean to try it again. Ho thought the Italian rye was the best grass they could grow upon their hUls. It seemed to be hardier than some sorts, and came on earlier in the spring, thougli it exhausted the properties of the land to a greater extent than the Devon ryes. Still it was satisfactory to know tliat, as it made them endeavour to put in manure to supply the deficiency thus caused. When a large quantity of sheep were kept it was necessary to grow the best sort of feed tliey could, and he thouglit the Italian rye suited tliat part of the country, or his farm at any rate, better than any other kind. He found it was much more advantageous to grow foreign seed than English, and he could stock the foreign Ita- lian rye a fortnight earlier than the EugUsh grown, which was a great advantage upon his poor cold soils. It was a g reat object to get as early a supply of feed as possible, and he could not too strongly recommend sowing foreign Italian seed if they had the land well cleaned and in a higli state of cultivation ; but it was not so advantageous on poor land. ' Mr. Ellis thought the crop of sainfoin depended greatly upon the management, and he should never allow the sheep to " pick back" alter the crop had been folded. When this was done the crop was greatly deteriorated. He knew of an in- stance where some slieep got into a neiglibour's sainfoin, and where they had eaten the crop was much inferior to that part whicli had not been interfered with. Mr. Marke did not chink sainfoin ought to be fed till after the scythe had been used. Mr. J. J. Bates (the Chairman) said: Prom what had fallen from practical men with respect to sainfoin, it had been shown that it was not safe to grow it oftener than once in 15 or 20 years upon the same land. The expense incurred in making these experiments precluded their risking the trial fre- quently, though it was evidently an importaut green crop, as coming in to make a succession of other feeds ; and he thought it was a very striking instance of the value of such discussions when they could meet together and hear the results of expe- riments made by so many practical men. He trusted that when subjects were brought forward in such an able manner as the one now before them had been, members would not sit still under tlie impression that it had been exhausted by the paper introduced, as they might always elicit something that would be beneficial, though different experiments had pro- duced different results. There was no subject more varied or important tlian that which they had just discussed, and by comparing notes togetlier they might obtain much valuable information. He concluded by proposing a vote of thanks to Mr. LiUington. Mr. Lillingtoa briefly replied, and the proceedings terminated. THE MANURE OF OUR FARMS. BY JUDGE FEENCH, Tie a piece of muslin over a tumbler kept filled with water, and put upon the mushn a half-dozen peas so that they will rest on the water, and suspend the tumbler in a sunny window by three or four strings, and the peas vriU not only vegetate, but will grow a foot or two high and blossom with thrifty stems and leaves. Proljably they wiU not produce peas, but as to the rest I will bear witness from personal observation. It is common in propagating houses to start plants, as grapes from single eyes or cuttings of various kinds, by placing them in shallow beds of pure sand, and with water, heat, and light they speedily strike root and send up leaves and stems, and form a plant fit to set in open ground for ordi- nary culture. Experiments often repeated have shown that a plant may be raised in a flower-pot from a seed, and receive no nourish- ment but pure water, and yet shall far exceed in weight all the soil in which it grew. In all these eases the plants receive aU they want from the ordinary essentials of plant growth, air, hght, heat, moisture. To mature a profitable crop, however, we find practically that something hesides m, light, heat, and moistvire is essential, and thai something is not pure silex, however well silex may answer for the first process of germination. Besides our processes which change the physical character of the soU, as drainage and pulverization by ploughing and the like ; besides, what may be called amendments of tlie soil, as when we mix sand with clay or peat — we must systematically add something which we call Manure, or the richest soil will by-and-by be exhausted. It is not my purpose to advance any new theory ; I wish merely to make clear to the mind what a Uttle reflection might make manifest to anyone. The air and heat and light and moisture wiU usually do their part with no artificial help. And again, most of our soils contain enough of sand, so that we do not haul on forty loads, more or less, of compost to each acre, to supply either of these essentials. The want of manure is the limit of our cultivation on most New England farms. VYe might readily double and quad- ruple our crops if we had only manure enough. Chemists no doubt tell us correctly what elements make up the matured crop, and the chemist knows better than we how many em- barrassmeats Nature iaterposes to liis investigations, how the e B 2 390 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. life-principle modifies chemical processes in the soU and exerts influences which he cannot measure. In general we know what we want to add to the soil, by knowing what we take from it, as sliown hy chemical analysis. I shall not attempt to deflue what kinds of fertilizers we should apply to our land, but I desire rather to impress on the farmer the folly, or at least the wastefulness of much of his labour m applying to his farm what he caUs manure. With many farmers quantity seems to be the great object, and their manure-heap seems valuable in proportion to its size. Tliey liaul from the fields the liead-lands and the middle furrow, and all they can scrape of ordinary soil, into their barn-cellars to the amount of Imudreds of loads annually, and in a few months haul it out again upon the same fields mixed with manure from their cattle. Again, it is quite common to team wet swamp mud a mile or two to be used in compost. So far as dry material is needed to absorb the liquids of the cellar, any dry soil may be useful, and a reasonable amount of sand even may be used as a divisor to render manure fine and convenient of application ; but it is well to remember that soil from the field hauled into the cellar and out again, is not by that process rendered valuable. Peat and swamp-muck contain usually valuable elements of fertility ; but we often fancy that our teams are loaded with manure, when in fact they are toiling all day to haul water upon farms already too wet. The true value of some of the substances which we are in the habit of using in our compost heaps, is well expressed in a valuable essay by Dr. James R. Nichols, published in the Agriculture of Massachusetts for 18G8. He thus disposes of two of our favourite articles, leaves and peat. A bushel of well pressed dry leaves, as they fall from the trees in autumn, weighs about four pounds ; by further dry- ing they part with a little more than 30 per cent, of water held in the cells of the leaf structure. A cord of absolutely dry leaves will weigh about 325 pounds, reckoning 100 bushels to the cord. In weight then, a cord represents about one-twelfth of a cord of wet barnyard manure, and if they contained the same amount of fertilising material in the same condition, would be equal in value to that amount of manure. But this is far from being the fact. The dried leaves I have found to stand relatively to the leached organic matter of manure as 10 to 30 in ash value, and when the saluble salts of manure are taken into account, the comparative value is as 10 to 60, vi'eight for weight. A cord of dry forest leaves, made up of the usual deciduous varieties, maple, beach, oak, &c., has an actual ma- m/rial value of not over f/yy cents., reckoning stable manure at eight dollars the cord. Will it pay to collect them ? Certainly not for the amount of fertilizing material they contain. As litter or absorbents in the stable, leaves have some value, but much less than straw, inasmuch as they lack the reedy character of straw, and because they are far more difficult and slowly decomposed. A pound of good, thoroughly formed peat, taken fresh from the meadow upon my farm, lost of water in drying, a little more than 14 ounces. A farmer drawing from his meadow a cord of peat weighing 4,000 pounds, has upon his waggon 3,500 pounds of water, and but 500 pounds of the dry material he seeks. This dried and compressed, could be placed in a couple of our largest-sized farm baskets. The amount of ash constituents in the pound of peat after drying, was a little less than 10 per cent., so that when we reduce the lieavy load of peat which to the eye appears so bulky and valuable, down to its contained inorganic principles, we find the whole amount to be less than 50 pounds. I hope not to be misunderstood in the matter. The ashes are far from being the only raanu- rial part of peat ; and as in burning some of the most valuable elements are volatilized and lost, it is not good economy to burn peat for the purpose of securing the ashes. Eresh peat allowed to ferment in contact wdth lime is changed into new substances capable of nourishing plants, and where it can easily be obtained, it pays the farmer well to secure a good supply. I cannot help remarking, liowever, in this connection, that many of the statements made by our chemists and journal writers regarding the value of muck or peat are simply absurd, and are proved erroneous by practical experiment. The great value of peat, after all, lies in its absorbent qualities. The Heport of the Department of Agriculture for May and June gives a paper by Dr. Antisell upon the " Value of Sew- age Deposit of the City of Washington." It seems that a large part of the sewage of the city is discharged into the broad canal on the northern border of the public grounds west of the Capital. Dr. AntiseU speaks of tlie emanations from the canal as " potent causes of disease," and it is stated that " the colour and odour of the mud give vivid and strong impressions of fer- tility." A careful analysis of this mud is given by him, and the result shows that it has no value as manure which will pay for transporting it at all. From lOOlbs. of the mud dry enough to transport, 251bs. of moisture may be dried. The remaining 751bs, he found to contain 71.251bs. of insoluble sand and sili- cates, and 3.75lbs. of saline matter. From one ton he estimates that fertilizing materials to the value of 98 cents, may be ob- tained, " to obtain which the farmer would have to haul 1,300 lbs. of water, and SOOlbs. of useless sandy clay." We all remember when we were young and were obliged to go to Meeting all day, how joyfully we heard the minister's fifthly and sixthly, followed by finally, and how disappointed we were to hear him set in anew with a series of reflections. But really the scattered facts and opinions which I have drawn together, seem to need some kind of arrangement to give them consistency, and I will conclude my sermons with the following moral reflections : First — Although as a good citizen of a commonwealth which has a prohibitory liquor law, I have a profound respect for cold water, it seems to be folly to haul a ton of it many miles for the sake of 250 lbs. of peat or muck, which is then half sand. Secondly — However essential silex may be to vegetation, yet since most of our soil contains plenty of it, it is unwise to cart it into our cellars except as an absorbent, or to use upon peats and clays. Thirdly. — We may learn from Dr. Antisell that the sense of smell is a very unsafe test of the value of manures. Tn-o or three dead cats will scent a ton of spurious superphosphate to an intolerable degree, while the pure article is nearly inodorous. His statement also shows our liability to mistake bulk for value, and confirms opinions of scientific men, so often given, that the sewage of cities in the common system of drainage is practically worthless for agricultural purposes, because too bulky to pay freight. Fourthly — When we consider that 90 per cent, at least of even our farm manure is water and sand, we may see that a very small bulk comprises all that is really valuable, and that it is not incredible that 5001bs. of the right stuff per acre is enough for a crop, and that commercial fertilizers honestly made and properly inspected and certified, may be profitably used in the production of valuable crops. After consuming the fodder raised on our farms, we must look in that direction for the further supply of manure. — American Country Gentleman. "NATIVE GUANO" EEOM SEWAGE. Sewage deodorisation at Leamington — the fashionable and Royal spa in the centre of agricultural Warwickshire — has recently entered on a new phase, and the patent process adopted for the defecation of the sewage and the conversion of the solid residum into " native guano" has already attracted the attention of the governing bodies of many towns. The ijeammgton sewage works are situate on the western side of the town c ose to the viaducts by which the London and iNortn Western Railway crosses the Leam, and about half a mile from the Avenue Station. The works, which were ori- ginally constructed for what is familiarly known as the lime system of deodorisation, were, early in April last, transferred from the Leamington local board to the " Native Guano Com- pany," which has been formed to work the A. B. C. process, patented by Messrs. SUlar and Wigner of London. The sewage of Leamington, including the greater portion of that from the two surburban parishes of Lilhngton and Milverton, is esti- mated at 800,000 or 900,000 gallons, per day, and the organic THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 391 matter per gallon has averaged 3,898 gaUoiig, The rainfall is only partially separated from the sewage by surface drains, and the sewage is consequently largely increased in volume during heavy or continuous rain. The population of the sewage area is estimated at about 32,000, and the rainfall for the last six years luis averaged 3-i.767 inches. The main sewer enters the sewage works under cue of the arches of the railway viaduct, and in tliis sewer a screen is fixed to intercept any broken pottery, old tin ware, or other fo- reign matters that frequently find their way into sewers. The sewage then Hows into a circular tank, capable of holding 400,000 gallons of sewage. On each side of this tank are two smaller tanks, each holding from 1,200 to 1,300 gallons, in which the " A. 15. C." compound is mixed. These smaller tanks are not both used at tlie same time, but one is gradually filled whilst tlie contents of the oilier are being discharged into the larger tank and incorporated with the sewage. The " A. B. C." compound is mixed in the side tanks with some of the sewage water previously treated by means of a revolving " agi- tator," a long perpendicular shaft with projecting blades. The agitator is worked by a shaft connected with a steam-engine, which has been erected fortius and other purposes of the com- pany. The " A. 15. C." compound is discharged gradually into the sewage tank, wliere it is thoroughly mixed with the sew- age by means of a large " agitator." The sewage then flows into an open cross conduit, wliich is connected with four large depositing tanks. The whole or any of these depositing tanks can be used, according to the quantity of sewage to be treated. In these tanks the sewage is allowed to stand to precipitate, and the superabundant water flows off gradually into four other tanks, and then into a cross conduit, from which a single sewer carries it to the subsiding canal, previously constructed by the side of the river, when the lime process was employed. This canal is serpentine in form, and 850 feet in length, and at the outfall a large filter has recently been added, containing about five tons of animal charcoal, through which as much of the effluent water as possible is passed before being discharged into the river. The " A. B. C." compound derives its name from the in- gredients of which it is composed, which consist of animal charcoal, blood, and clay. When added to sewage it is said to produce a rapid precipitation of the solid matter in solution, in the form of large flakes. This is shown by samples of sew- age taken at the different stages of the process, which to the eye exhibited a decided improvement as the outfall was ap- proached, the water becoming gradually brighter, and the floc- culent matter in solution smaller in quantity. The superna- tant water, after leaving the first tank, is occasionally treated with perchloride of iron, and it has also been found to desira- ble to add a proportion of alum, which greatly accelerates the process. The solid deposit in the tanks is pumped out when a suffi- cient quantity has been collected, and carried by piping to open tanks beneath the railway arches. There it is allowed to remain until the more solid portion has settled. The serai- liquid part is then drained off into the main sewer, and the deposit is conveyed to two centrifugal drying machines, which are made to revolve rapidly by steam power, and the water being forced through the wire strainers, the sewage gradually becomes of a greater consistency. It is then spread on the ground in the open air to dry still further, and when it will pulverise steadily it is screened and placed in bags for sale. Its estimated value is £3 10s. per ton. The "native guano" is heavy for its bulk, dark brown in colour, and has a strong and peculiar smell, possibly, in some measure, arising from the chemical ingredients employed. It is stated to possess highly fertilising qualities, and amongst other testimonials is one re- ceived from Mr, John Agnew, a tenant of the Earl of Derby, who observes that wheat which he treated with the " native guano" is six inches taller in the straw, and the ears are pro- portionately larger. He had also found it to have answered better than guano for turnips, the plants treated with the sew- age manure being larger, stronger, and of a richer, darker, green. " Native guano" has one disadvantage, its great weight, and it would hardly be so handy as a top-dressing to grass or growing crops as genuine Peruvian guano. The efHuent water, at the point where it is discharged into the river, varies in brightness, some samples being hardly in- ferior to the waters of the Leam itself, above the sewage out- fall, but other samples, when a large c^uantity of sewage has had to be got rid of, were not nearly so clear or bright, and there was some matter still in solution, which could readily be de- tected by the eye. The nature of that matter, which the nest day was deposited in some samples in the form of large flakes, can only be accurately determined by minute and careful chemi- cal analysis, and it would necessarily to a great extent depend upon the results of such an analysis, whether the eflluent water could with impunity be turned into a river like the Leam, where there is little current and not a very large body of water. The subsidiary canals also vary considerably in appear- ance. Generally, however, theic seems to be some degree of fermentation going on in the cfliuent water as it traverses the canals, the surface being disturbed by gaseous bubbles, which rise to the top and burst, and a sliglit scum also collects at the curves in the canal. There are also some large masses of sew- age matter, the presence of which is not easily explained. It is said that the secondary fermentation is caused by the sewage deposited on the bottom and sides of the canal during the lime process, and that this also accounts for the solid masses of sewage matter to be seen on the surface of the eflluent water. There would appear to be some foundation for both deductions, since in the part where the charcoal filter has been constructad, and where the bottom and sides of the canal have been bricked over, there are no signs of fermentation or of the pre- sence of lumps of sewage matter. The effluent water is per- fectly free from smell when discharged into the river, even when the works are seiu under unfavourable circumstances, but some samples, on beiug kept for some time in a closely stoppered bottle, have a smell which is strongly suggestive of the nature of the source from which the water has been obtained. On tlie other hand, other samples, under precisely similar eir- cumstances, were perfectly bright, and free from even the slightest smell. The " A. B, C." system is an advance upon the lime process of deodorisation, but whether it will prove an unqualified success, either in a sanitary or commercial point of view, remains yet to be proved, though neither the one nor the other may be altogether impossible. CABBAGES FOR SPRING USE.— Practical men have no difficulty in getting a supply of cabbages for early spring use ; to them it is a very easy and simple affair, no matter what the season may be. But the inexperienced oftentimes make great mistakes in the matter, and instead of liaviug cab- bages for use in early spring, it very frequently happens that they have none ready before midsummer. A supply of cabbages early in spring is always very useful, but doubly so in seasons like the past, when greens of every kind were scarce, in con- sequence of the wholesale destruction among them by the frost in January last. A few remarks on the subject may be not altogether unacceptable to some of your readers. There are two points of much importance to be attended to, namely, 1st, the time for sowing the seed ; and 2nd, the time for trans- planting.— The Time for Sowing the Seed : This is a matter of much importune, as the time that would be proper to sow in one place wiU not answer in another part of the country. In the south of England, the end of July or beginning of August is found to be a proper time for sowing ; but here in York- shire, if we were to defer the sowing until then, we should in vain look for cabbages before midsummer. Taking' the average of seasons, I find it is not prudent to sow later than the middle of July, in order to get cabbages early in the spring. As the seasons vary much, so also does the growth of plants, which will be either large or small according to the weather. Instead, therefore, of depending for plants on one sowing, I have made it a rule for many years to make two sowings, the first about from the 8th to the 13th of July, and the second from the 20th to the 3Gth, By this plan I have always a great choice of plants, and plenty to spare for the workmen. — The Time for Transplanting : Here in Yorkshire this should not be done later than the middle of September. I plant always the end of the first week in September, from the first sowing in July, and again about the end of the third week I plant the best plants from the second or late sowings. In general, I find those planted the end of the first week in September come earliest in spring — sometimes, but rarely, they do get a little too forward in the autumn, and in con- sequence suffer a little if severe frost sets in ; but in general I find they do better and come in earlier than the later-planted 392 THE FARMER'S MAQAZINE. ones. The latter come in after the others, and continue the supply. In general, cabbages should never be planted out later than the middle of September, when wanted early in spring. If they are planted in October, they are rarely fit for use before the following June. When planted early in Sep- tember they get good root-hold, and being earthed up and taken a little care of, they stand ordinary winters with im- punity ; but when planted as late as October they do not get much root-hold ; and if the weather sets in cold and unfavour- able they make no progress, and many of the plants fall a prey to slugs, so that when March comes round, more than half the plants are gone, the vacancies have to be filled up, and it is generally the end of June before the cabbages are fit for use. —General Remarks : For early use some approved early sort should be sown. The properties of a good cabbage are, a small, short stem, and a large, compact, well-formed head of succulent leaves, surrounded with but few loose leaves. To grow them in perfection a deep, rich soU is rec^uisite. As the young plants advance in growth, the soil between the rows should be stirred frequently with the hoe, and a little earth drawn up to the plants as they require it. Should the earth in April be dry, frequent heavy watering will be very beneficial to them, and occasionally a watering of liquid manure. Attention to the foregoing matters wiU ensure a supply of good cabbages for spring use.— -Jf. Sauliti, Flomt and Pomoloffisf. COMPOSITE MANURES. We have already made particular reference to two artificial manures which are largely in demand amongst farmers. These were distinguished as Stimulating Ma- nm-es, which by the energy of growth they imparted to vegetation, whipped out of the land much of the fertilizing matters which existed there ; and as Nutritious Manures, which added to the soil the ingredients which plants require as food. We here purpose noticing another very important class, which we may describe as Composite Manm-es. In these we include the natural and also the manufactured mauures, which have a more compound character, gene- rally representing a combination both of stimulating and nutritious agencies. These undoubtedly represent a class which at no distant day wiU assume an importance far greater than they uow possess, for in these is embodied the gi-eat future of artificial fertilizers. Without going into details which may for a moment be accepted as iudicating a preference for any particular manufacture or natural supply, we intend to point out the principles upon which their value is estimated, and to show their mode of action as fertilizers. As a general rule, the basis upon which their value depends is the proportion of ammonia and soluble phosj^hates which they contain. If, in addition to these, any phosphate be present in an in- soluble condition, but which becomes decomposed in the soil within a moderate time, this must also be added to the valuation we form. Any bone which may be present, although it may not be immediately soluble, will gradually decay in the soil and become serviceable to vegetation, and should therefore be regarded as of real money value. The peculiar action of these composite manures is, that whilst the ammoniacal ingredients stimulate vegetation, the supplies of phosphate give the nourishment the crop reqiiires. In this combined action w^e avoid two evUs— in the first place, we avoid the injurious influence of a purely stimulating manure, which simply excites vegetable growth to draw upon and to a certain extent exhaust the natural fertility of the land ; and, in the second place, we avoid the supply of food without sufficient energy of life to make use of it. These arc most important conditions, and the skilful agriculturist will duly appreciate their value. It therefore follows that in estimating the value of such mauures, if the quantity of ammonia and phos- phates were estimated, we have at once a basis for calcu- lating their commercial value. Sooner or later this must be the rule of the trade ; and, for the interests of the farmer, as well as for the sake of honest manufacturers, we sbould rejoice in its adoption. A farmer would then purchase something definite, and not, as is now so fre- quent, an unknown mixture. In every ton of manure he bought he would calculate that he had so much ammonia worth so much per lb., aud a certain quantity of phos- phate at its price, and thus there would be none of that aottbt or suspicion which we observe only to regret. It may at first appear as if this would be depriving the trade of their legitimate profits, but this is not the case. Instead of being recognized as selling a mysterious com- pound good for certain crops, they would declare them- selves as selling a mixture of so much ammonia and so much phosphate, of which a certain proportion is ren- dered soluble and a fm'ther quantity insoluble. With data such as this a farmer would soon reckon up the market value of the manure offered to him with as much ease as if he were buying a score of oxen and a hundred sheep. The skilful manufacturer would have abundant oppor- tunity for the fm-ther addition of such materials as his experience showed him would improve the action of the manure, and for these he would claim payment ; but, in as much as his skill would favour the success attending the use of his manufacture, he would command a pre- ference according as he became recognised for this special knowledge. At the present time it is almost impossible for the farmer to come to any satisfactory conclusion whether he is employing the manure he buys in a thoroughly econo- mical manner or not. If he knew that the manure he used last year contained definite quantities of ammonia, soluble phosphate, and insoluble phosphate, he would naturally form some opinion in his own mind whether his land needed more or less stimulant, or whether he would have had a better result with less phosphate rendered soluble. Dealing with known materials he would soon gain valuable experience, whilst he now finds himself like a sailor without compass or chart, thankful if he is lucky, but feeling a deep uncertainty in his proceedings. It is perfectly certain that the requirements of one kind of soil need a different supply of fertilizing matter to land of an opposite nature, and it is equally evident that difterent districts admit of like variation. The result therefore of working in the dark is a loss of material, and consequently a loss of money, or, it may be, attended by an unproductive return from a partial failure of the crop. The observant agriculturist during every turnip season detects instances in which crops go off into a growth so rapid that he knows they will become mildewed and yield an inferior lot of food, giving evidence of an over-stimu- lating or too soluble a manure. If he knew what he was dealing with he would regulate the pace better the fol- lowing season. Other instances are observed in which there is a sluggishness of growth, which he would gladly expedite ; but, as he is dealing with an uncertain power, he knows not how to control it. It needs no veiy great powers of calculation therefore to see that, so long as farmers are employing manures of unknown character, so long their experience will be perplexing and uncertain ; but, once let them know what they are buying, and they wiU soon gaiu the experience to determine what they want, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 393 In otlier respects pvogvess will be made, and especially as to the couditiou ia which the phosphate of lime shoiild be used. The idea which has become so general amongst famcrs that it should be applied to the land as soluble phosphate has had a very injurious iuflueuce upon the trade, for iu many cases, to meet this prejudice, the phos- phate has been rendered soluble to a much longer extent than the judgment of the manufacturer has indicated as being desii-able. The amount of soluble phosphate being generally accepted as the test of the money value of super- phosphate, has induced — nay, almost compelled — the makers to render the phosphate of lime as completely soluble as possible, for any remaining as insoluble phos- phate has been regarded as of little value. Here is a mistm-e of truth and error. It is true that no phosphate can be of any value for supporting vegetable life uutU it has assumed this soluble condition ; but the mistake which has beeu made arises from the fact that the require- ments of the crop extend ovcv several months. Not only is a certain supply necessary during the early gi'owth, but it is equally important that there should be a supply when the bulbs arc lilling out and the weight of root is being accumulated. If all the phosphate is rendered soluble, there is a superabundance in the early stages of growth, and a short supply afterwards ; but if the phosphate be present, partly iu a soluble form ready for immediate action, and partly in an insoluble form ready for slow de- composition as the later growth comes on, then we secure the greatest benefit and the best result. The relative proportion would probably vary according to the nature of the land, the time of sowing, and the period when the roots are to be fed, but experience would soon show these details. The needful preliminary is a knowledge of the composition of the manure employed, with facilities for increasing or decreasing any constituent at will. Aided to this extent, the agriculturist will soon do the rest. ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. THE IMPLEMENT SHOW AT MANCHESTER. A gi-eat deal has lately been written about the drying of corn. This is one of the subjects which has been in times gone by fully discussed in the pages of this Journal . — a discussion of which it may be said, without arrogating t too much to it, that it took up and explained points which have been availed of in some instances by some of those who have since given their attention to theii* prac- tical development : at least, if they have not been availed of, they furnish at aU events a striking resemblance to what we gave as the essentials of apparatus having for their aim the object of drying corn either in the sheaf or in the form of grain. Forms of apparatus having these ends in view were exhibited in the Show this year, and to which we now beg to direct the attention of the reader, taking first up that form by which corn in the sheaf is proposed to be dealt with, being that exhibited and in- vented by Mr. Gibbs, to whose plan the prize of the So- ciety of Ai'ts was awarded some months ago. The posi- tion which the apparatus thus took natm-aUy directed attention to its peculiarities, about which many opinions have been given /)/'o and con. — more of the cou., we are bound to say, than of thepro. The difficulties connected "with the drying of corn in the sheaf, for which Mr. Gibbs's apparatus is peculiarly designed, are such that jn-actical men doubt whether they can be overcome. The point to be decided lies, in fact, within very narrow limits — Is it possible to treat corn in such quantities, or rather in such bulk, that iu the case of rainy weather the produce of harvest can be dried and put past danger ? It is abundantly evident that, if the apparatus can only di'aw limited bulks, by the time the operation of artificial drying is concluded, the chances are that fine weather may have set in ; and we aU know what an immense amount of drying of damp or wet corn in the field is effected with sunshine, and especially with diying winds. With such natural di-ying no artificial diying, we venture to say, can possibly compete, not merely in the rapidity with which it is effected, but by the perfect nature of the operation. Sun and wind di-ied corn wiU in every way be superior to that di'ied artificially. We see therefore that where the element of time is concerned (there are apparatus pro- posing to dry corn in the bulk) that the chances are that the farmer will in the majority of instances be able to get his corn dried as quickly in the usual way as by the use of the machine, But we have still the element of cost to take into account ; and in this department, although it is difficult, without the actual cost before us of an apparatus calculated to deal with a bulk of corn such as is actually met with in farm practice, to give even an approximate relative estimate, stiU we may venture to say that the cost of arti- ficial drying will always be such that its adoption by a practical farmer would require no small amount of consi- deration on his part before he decided in its favoiu*. Moreover, as we have hinted above, the kind of drying obtained by artificial heat is different from that obtained by natural means, and the difference is altogether in favour of the latter ; and it would certainly — even in the event of a farmer having as part of his appliances a corn-di-ying apparatus calculated to deal with his whole crop — be a very false principle to use the apparatus while the weather was favourable. We come therefore to the conclusion that where artificial drying is carried out by the aid of steam power, and specially provided heat, that it cannot be carried out at a paying figure, when the whole crop or even a large proportion of it is proposed to be dealt with. The case, however, assumes a very different aspect, when arti- ficial diying is proposed to form part of usual farm ap- pliances as an au.vilia)y. Here unquestionably a new train of circumstances comes into operation ; for there are some seasons in which such an auxiliary apparatus would be of immense service. In such a season for example as the remarkable one of J.861, a large proportion of corn which was spoiled might have been saved by the use of an ap- paratus such as that exhibited by Mr. Gibbs, of Gillwell Park, Essex, and to which allusion has akeady been made as forming part of the Manchester show. In cases of continual soaking rain, the use of any apparatus or appliance however rude would be better than allowing the corn to stand exposed to continual wet. And there is something also in the view that the mere knowledge that he had an appliance or apparatus by which he could overcome the difficulties of an exceptional season would give an ease of mind which would in itself be worth something. We may here, however, incidentally allude to the fact, that in the mere way in which the corn is stooked in the field the farmer has at command very con- siderable influence in preventing the evU arising from rain. It is not too much to say that in many districts of the kingdom the field aiTangements of cut corn are simply disgraceful, and seem to be, as indeed we may say, they 394 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. are arrangements calculated to invite rather than prevent the evil. There are also simple arraygements by which farmers could get many of the advantages of artificial drying at a very small cost, by taking advantage of ap- pliances very frequently at his command. But before glancing at what these are and how they may be availed of, we shall give a brief description of the apparatus ex- hibited at Manchester, giving the first place to that of Mr. Gibbs already alluded to. In this a chamber is specially provided in which the wet or damp corn to be dried is placed. This chamber was at Manchester formed in a rough way of wood framing, covered with galvanized iron ; the floor of the chamber is formed of a series of conical tubes, hollow, and pierced with apertures over their surface. These tubes are all connected with a fan which forces the hot air through them. On each of the tubes a wet or damp sheaf is placed, the tube being in the centre of the sheaf, the hot air is forced through to the outside, thus passing through the bulk of the corn, and carrying with it the damp and moisture. This part of Mr. Gibbs' apparatus is, we conceive, the best, as it is the most original feature ; the difficulty having been hitherto to find a mode of placing compactly tied-up corn, as in the case of sheaves, in such a position that the whole of the straw and ears could be subjected to the action of the hot air. The difficulty in the apparatus now under notice is to a large extent successfully overcome, a larger amonut of moisture being expelled by the arrangement than would, we believe, be expelled by simjily placing the sheaves upon racks or shelves in a chamber into which hot air was forced. For example, 31 sheaves of rye were thoroughly soaked in water all night, and were put into the chamber for fifteen minutes, when from a sixth to a seventh of the weight was abstracted by the current of hot air. Although this is below what in practice is really requii-cd, we still look upon the work done as higher than it would have been under the old management of placing the corn to be dried on shelves or racks while subjected to the hot currents. We cannot, however, express the same favourable opinion as to the mode by which Mr. Gibbs heats the air he forces through the corn thus placed upon the hollow tubes, and which may thus be briefly described. To the steam-engine a dome of iron is attached, taking the place of the ordinary chimney. This dome receives the products of the combustion of the smokeless fuel — coke — burnt in the furnace of the boiler. From the dome these products are conveyed by a pipe to the drying chamber, which pipe is also encased by another and larger pipe, cold air being led through the circular space thus formed, to the fan case, thus supplying it with Warmed air, in addition to the hot air from the dome. The air thus forced into the drying chamber is, as will be perceived, in anything but a pure condition — made up, in fact, mainly of the products of combustion of the fuel used in raising steam. So impure is the air that the wonder is that the men employed in placing in the chamber the corn to be dried, and taking it out again when dried, can stand it. So far as the mere sulphur is con- cerned which is present in the air, that wiU do no harm, but, we believe the case will be very difi^erent so far as the other products of combustion are concerned, especially when joined to the high temperature— 380 degrees — at which the air is forced through the corn. We should like to see this point thoroughly well examined, for we are, from our own experience in drying substances, in- clined to believe that very material changes are produced in the constituents of various substances, especially those which are edible, by putting them in contact with air of high temperature, especially where that air is impure. THE GAME-EVIL IN SUTHE RL AND SHIRE. At the dinner following the annual Sheep Show at Lairg, Mr. Sellak (Syre) said : I rise to propose the health of Mr. Loch, whose name is very popular with Scotch farmers. In doing so I wish to make some observations on the game- laws. Mr. Loch experienced the growing mischief done by rabbits and liares in the management of the Sutlierland and other estates before he was a member of Parliament, and I have reason to know that he was, perhaps, more alive to the necessity of having the evil remedied than any of us. Since he entered Parliament you know how zealously lie has worked in this cause. Farmers bear losses like men, without com- plaint, and try to recover from them by industry and perse- verance. They are indignant only wliere injustice has to he complamed of. Lord Elcho asserts that farmers desire to break their covenants, and he has twitted Mr. Loch witli com- bining with us in this. There is a strong feeling on tlie part of some Scotch farmers tliat proprietors may have already virtually broken from tlie spirit of their bargains uninten- tionally on their part, but still a state of matters quite different from wliat was contemplated by both parties, at the time the leases were entered into, has resulted. Ten years ago there was no excessive game-preserving ; there had never been such a thing seen in the North. The old words re- serving tlie game to the proprietor were introduced in the leases, but neither contracting party intended, and it was im- possible to foresee, how these destructive creatures should multiply in so short a time, from the exertions of an array of keepers, and the killing of the vermin — particularly the weasel and the polecat — by them, while they have entirely given up endeavouring to keep down the rabbits particularly, and the hares also. It is only quite recently, I may say since the introduction of railways, that so many sportsmen have come north. It is now our duty to point out the loss that we are suffering, which is daily becoming greater, and to call upon our proprietors to join with us in devising a remedy. I believe we may have confidence that they will assist us, and we have only to consider who are the large proprietors in our neighbourhood whose example and efforts will be of service to us. It is a happy thing that we have such men as tlie Duke of Sutherland, Sir James Matlieson, and Mr. Matheson of Ardross among us. Last winter 3,000 rabbits were killed on two farms in tliis neighbourliood in which I am interested, and 200 were shot the otlier day by three guns, after twelve o'clock, on another, without ferrets. Sheep farms are full of rabbits in all this country to the very north coast, and the west coast must immediately fall under the same plague. The ground vermin having been destroyed, I don't see where the trappers are to be got to clear and keep clear the immense ex- tent of pasture-land ; and the expense will be fearful. On one farm in Australia lately, one man has paid £4,500 in one season in attempting to keep down the rabbits. It is asserted pretty generally, and I particularly read an article the other day in the Safiirday Review, stating that white hares do no harm, and because sheep-fanners do not complain, it is fair to infer that we suffer nothing. This must be contradicted. I have known 1,900 mountain hares killed in three days on one farm. The loss on sheep farms from rabbits and hares is more serious than on arable land, and for the great extent of land, it is much more difficult to keep botli down. On a pastoral farm you see thousands of acres of heather and other alpine plants. All this land would be valueless if it were not for the few acres of grass and of " mossing," the chief spring food, because the sheep cannot live on heather alone. An acre of grass in the hills is generally equal in value to three acres of similar quality in the low country. Hares and rabbits live almost en- tirely on these sweetest patches, which are so invaluable, and THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. 395 tlioy dirty the grass so as to cause tlie death of sheep. Wlieu a sheep farm is overstocked witli ground game, the number of sheep should at once be reduced. Even this will not save the farmer, aud it costs about double the rent per sheep to do it, because working expenses have to be added to the rent in tlie calculation. If the farmer fails to lessen the number of his stock, lie may be ruined, by liaving more sheep to feed than there is meat to support, iu which case tiiey die in large numbers, while the survivors are reduced in condition and con- stitution. Deer have the same effect as rabbits aud hares. Although seen higli in the hills during the day time, they go every night to the patches of grass, aud if they are too nu- merous they eat up the reserve of grass, which should be al- lowed to grow to be rough and long ; for the prudent shepherd tries to save it for stormy weather in winter, by keeping bis sheep well to the hills in summer. A proportion of hinds should always be killed to prevent an improper increase in the number of deer, but it is considered unsportsmanlike to kill more thau a very few binds. A farmer, commencing his lease with I'.OOO sheep and 100 deer on the ground, may in a few years find the number of deer doubled, audit may become necessary to reduce the sheep 500 from this cause, or from the increase of rabbits and hares, involving a loss of at least £200 a-year — a loss never contemplated by either proprietor or tenant when they made their bargain. We are better off in Sutlierland than in most parts of the Highlands with regard to heather-burning, because the Duke of Sutherland's policy has been to watch over this interest, which adds so much to the food on tlie farms. He has also had a good class of sporting tenants, who have remained for a long period of years con- nected with the county ; they have become acquainted with the farmers aud shepherds, and a good feeling in consei|uence gene- rally now prevails on this point, for it is getting to be more and more understood that the most judicious heather-burning for sheep is elsewhere most beneficial to grouse. But there has been great bitterness, and the rest of the Highlands is still very badly situated in this respect. The time is approach- ing when we shall have to co-operate with proprietors to im- prove whatever parts of our hill farms are available for growing turnips and grass, to enable us to winter our hoggs better, and to make better crops of lambs. This expensive work, involving so immense an investment of capital, but so wise an improve- ment, must be defereed until we are safe against rabbits, hares, and deer. Government has undertaken to try to legislate about rabbits and hares next session. The nature of the 15111 must depend on the way in which farmers express their senti- ments during the recess. There is no general election to excite farmers to speak out, and it is this consideration which has made me call your attention to the subject, because it is very important that farmers should everywhere do all that they can at this moment, and I consider that sheep-farms are in a greater danger even than the arable laud. In tlie north, sportsmen and their keepers have given up all efforts to keep down rabbits aud hares. At the recent meeting of the North aud West of Sutherland Pastoral Club, it was unanimously decided to petition Parliament that rabbits and hares should be en- tirely struck out of the game list, and that farmei-s should be empowered to kill both on their own farms in any way they can. It is a hardship first to have the expense of feeding these animals, and also the cost of killing them thrown on us, but the whole pastoral interest is at stake. It would have been well if damages could be awarded against any one preserving rabbits and hares to the injury of his neighbour, as recom- mended by Mr. Loch, but I do not look for this being carried. Let us, however, not forget that it is the men who cause a nui- sance of this sort who encourage poaching which is so demo- ralising, and they do not deserve additional legislation to pro- tect them from trespass. Poachers go to land where rabbits and hares are plentiful and not where they are habitually kept down. There has been too much legislation in favour of game preservers. They are too strongly represented in Parliament, for three-fourths of the members are interested m shootings. Look at the way in which they carried through Mr. Ward Hunt's uirfair tax on shepherds' dogs ; while on this point let me say that these trustworthy and good men the shepherds, have been accused iu the newspapers of allowing their dogs to destroy grouse nests. I declare I never knew an instance of such a thing in all my experience. Only last session. Par- liament passed, in a great hurry, a biU to protect sea-gulls. The big black-backed gull kills our ewes when lambing, and destroys youug lambs, and we trap more of them than ravens and grey crows, showing that they feed on the same prey. The farmers' interest is, I may say, almost unrepresented in Parliament. Proprietors aud their factors insist on knowing how tenants vote. What right have they to know that P You are aware of the manner in which even Scotch tenants .are deterred from votiug according to their principles at elections. There have been too many instances of conscientious tenants being removed from their farms because they voted faithfully. However, the ballot will certainly become law immediately. Panners will return some members whose duty it will be to know their interest, and to express it in Parliament. Till that is done we have no chance, but then we shall get justice. That is all we want ; with it farmers will be encouraged to greater exertions thau they ever yet made. The land of our proprietors in many instances may become even twice as valua/- ble bcl'orc another generation passes. There will be high farming in the hills as well as in the dales ; we ourselves, the jjcople employed 'oy us, and our sheep, should all thrive ; har- mony will reign between proprietors aud tenants ; and even the legitimate sportsmen will have greater enjoyment from the harmless game that will abound on highly improved land than as at present from the contemplation of a wilderness. I beg to propose the health of Mr Loch. Mr. Lawsom, Clynelish, denied that the county was over- run with hares and rabbits. The Duke of Sutherland, two years ago, gave permission to the tenants to kill hares and rabbits otherwise than with a gun, and it was their own fault if they did not take advantage of it (" No, no, we never heard of it.") Mr, Peacock, factor for the Duke of Sutherland, said per- haps they would allow him to explain. He believed the liberty given by the Duke was to the parish of Dornoch alone, but he was not prepared to say what answer his Grace might give if a similar request was made to extend the liberty all over the county. Mr. MUNDELL (Strathbran) said : I can hardly tell what to think of the present game-laws, far less how to manage sheep if the system at present in force, with such stringent restric- tions as to game on both pastoral and arable farms, should continue. If these laws continue on their present footing for any length of time, the sooner the last farmer leaves Scotland the better (" Tut, tut," from Mr. Gunu). Well, I have only to say that if Mr. Gunn had come in contact with some proprietors he would soon know that the remark was quite correct. It is at present thought that a man getting a farm is a lucky individual, even at such a high figure as will barely pay rent and expenses, aud with little or no interest for his capital and stock. After agreeing as to rent, a lawyer gets the lease to draw out, when he (the agent) puts all manner of clauses into it against the farmer, and everything in fa- vour of the shooting tenant. Farmers again must not prove their land by heather burning, as the gamekeeper erroneously asserts it is against the welfare of the grouse whereas judicious heather burning is as much in favour of grouse as it is of sheep. Grouse will not any more than sheep eat old heather, if they can get it young and tender, and the consequence is that from the injurious effects of eating old heather the birds take tapeworm and die. I re- member, when a boy, a Border farmer writing a pamphlet on the management of sheep. The farmer maintained that if one season of heather burning was missed the loss to the flock- owner would be £50 on every 1,000 sheep, and I could prove that the assertion stood true to this day, because when heather was young sheep eagerly consumed it in the early part of the season, aud thus low grounds would be saved till a late, period — a matter of the utmost importance to hiU farmers. Then we have deer forests, too many, I am sorry to say. Every year something like 100,000 sheep are turned out of Ross-shire — perhaps as many more out of Inverness, Perth, and Argyleshires, in all say 400,000. I do not know so much about Banff and Aberdeenshires ; but out of the first four named counties we would have a cast of 100,000 sheep to feed the people, and 100,000 stones of wool to clothe them. Would it not be far more rational to breed sheep than bring into the country so much foreign stock to supply the place of those seut away ? and we all know that these foreign importations generally bring disease and death in their train, thus destroy- ing part of what is left. A sheep farmer marching with these deer forests is always at the mercy of the gamekeepers ; 596 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZmU. once let the sheep cross the line of marcli, a shepherd dare not enter the forest to bring them back unfil they stand the ordeal of counting, poinding, and hunting, and it is very doubtful if ever three-fourths of his lost sheep are found again. We aU know that it is an impossibility to keep sheep from crossing a march which, in many instances, is from four to ten miles of a range, with frequent mists on the liills. The whole system is rotten from its foundation, and the sooner the game- laws are swept from the statute hook the better. Then the landlord and tenant woiJd live in harmony together, which I am sorry to say is not at present the case in too many instances. THE USES OF LIME AS A MANURE. A late writer of some eminence, has defined manure as sim- ply " plant food" but the definition is obviously a faulty one. The most luxurious vegetation, the most abundant crops are produced on soils that man has never tilled ; and we certainly would not speak of the jungles of India, or the forests of the Amazon as the productions of manured land. Again, water and the gases contained in the air, are among the most essen- tial elements that minister to the growth of the plant, yet no one would think to designate them as manures. It would evidently be more nearly correct to denominate those sub- stances manures, which artificially furnished the soil for the purpose of supplying some natural deficiency in its composition, or for meeting the wants of some particular crop. The En- glish farmer, on leasing a hard, clayey farm, incorporates a considerable amount of marl or quicklime with the soil, for the purpose of supplying a natural want ; or, if he wishes to pro- duce a crop of clover or turnips, he scatters gypsum to furnish the particular material suited to the growth of these plants. Lime and gypsum are in this case manures, but they would not be if they naturally existed in the soil in sufficient quanti- ties. There are few, if any plants which are serviceable to man, that do not contain lime in considerable quantities ; so it is also true that it is unusixal to find a soil in which this sub- stance is entirely wanting. But as aU plants require it for their growth, it is plain that successive croppings, and the re- moval of the crops raised, would finally exhaust the soil of this ingredient so essential to its future productiveness. Let us see how such a course of management would in a series of years remove this treasure from a soil that naturally contains lime to the extent of one per cent. — which is enough to render it productive — by giviug the amount that would be taken an- nually from an acre of land, by the raising and removal of some of our most common crops. 25 bushels of wheat contain about ISlbsoflime, 25 bushels of barley contain about lOlbs., 50 hushels of oats contain about 221bs., 3 tons of clover contain about 77 lbs. But besides this method of exhaustion by the growing plant, tliere is another wliich is productive of a re- moval of still greater quantities of this useful material. As lime is soluble in water, mucli of it is annually carried dovni by the rains and sinks below the point reached by the roots of ordi- nary plants. This is the case to a greater degree in soils that are cultivated, than in those devoted to hay fields or pasturage. Often on the pan below the worked earth, is a layer of Ume which has been arrested in its downward passage. So too at the openings of underground drains, tliere is in many cases, a considerable incrustation of tlie same material. Indeed it does not need to be in a state of solution, to be carried by the water beyond the reach of the plant ; for being ordinarily in a state of minute subdivision when applied to the land, it is capable of being carried down in a solid form. Hence we see the almost absolute need of applying lime to long-cultivated fields, particularly if their soil is porous. Much benefit may some- times accrue by judicious trench ploughing byway of bringing again to the surface the Hme that has been carried down ; but, even in that case, a fresh application would in time be neces- sary. Lime as found in nature, is usually in the form of a carbonate. The carlionic acid, however, is comparatively loosely held, since it can readily be driven oW by heat as is done in the process of lime burning. It is now caustic or quicklime, and in this state it is sometimes used for agricul- tural purposes, as in the killing of grubs, destroying this- tles, and other noxious vegetables , but its action is too energetic for ordinary use, as it is liable to prevent seeds from germinating, and to destroy tender vegetation. This caustic property may be modified by slaking the lime, as is done in prepariag it for mortar and then letting it remain some days to absorb carbonic acid from the air j but a more preferable way is to use only as much water as will be absorbed by the lime, leaving it as dry as before. In this state it is knowTi as hydrated or mild lime, and is, or can be easily re- duced to a fine powder. It drfers in no essential respect from air- slaked Ume, which is a mixture of the hydrate and the car- bonate of lime. When caustic or hydrated lime is exposed to the action of the air, it absorbs carbonic acid and has the same chemical composition it had previous to being burned. Since this is the case, the inquiry may arise. Why not use the lime- stone instead of the prepared lime? The reasons are these: It is exceedingly difficult to pulverize the lime rock sufficiently to be of immediate use to tlie soU.; again, the expense of transportation, the water and carbonic acid in the natural rock — fuUy half of its weight — ^would ordinarily be greater than the cost of burning the lime. The principal uses of lime in agriculture, apart from directly furnishing an essential in- gredient of vegetable tissue, are these : 1st. It corrects the acidity of land, particularly when the soil is cold, or productive of sorrel. 2nd. It hastens the decomposition of vegetable matter in the soil — especially when it is damp and inert, as is the case with muck — partially decayed straw, and the roots of plants that have been ploughed under. 3rd. It forms, with other mineral substances in the soU, compounds which are soluble, and are therefore in a state to be taken up by the plant. A notable example of this is found in the case of silica, which is so essential for giving strength to the stalks of all the cereals. 4th. It is lasting in its results, increasing the fertility of the soil in various ways, for an indefinite period after it is applied. 5th. It increases the effect of the vegetable manures previously or subsequently applied to the soil, by putting them in a form to be more easily assimilated to the plant. 6th. It enables the farmer to raise larger crops from the same number of acres, as has been abundantly shown by numerous carefully conducted experimenta, both in this coun- try and in Europe. 7th. It improves the quality of nearly every cultivated crop. This is shown in wheat, which will produce more flour to the bushel, and of a more nutritious nature, from soils manured vrith lime. Potatoes are more mealy and of finer flavour ; this may be accounted for from tlie fact that lime hastens the maturity of this crop, as it does most others, and a rapid growth is very essential to the excel- lency of the potato. No doubt the superiority of the potatoes raised in Aroostook Co., Maine, and in the adjacent British Provinces, is largely due to the lime soil in which they flou- rish. In stating aU these advantages that ordinarily occur from the judicious application of lime, we should do injustice to the subject if we failed to notice some of the bad efl'ects that may follow its use. Foremost among these results is one that comes from the practice of some farmers of placing caustic lime in the soil in connexion with fresh animal manures ; by so doing, most of the ammonia is immediately set free, and passes off into the air. Lime and stable manure are each of great service to the plant, but a period of at least six months should intervene between the times of applying them. Again, too plentiful a use of lime is liable to render the soil more porous than it should be to retain sufficient moisture. Unfavourable results have also been found to attend the use of lime in the raising of flax, as it diminishes the tenacity of the fibre ; the same is also probably true in relation to hemp. In the neigh- bourhood of lime kilns the farmer may economize much by buying that which is unsuitable for building purposes, from its being over burned or under burned, or which has become par- tially slaked by falls of rain before it was barreled and housed. Lime also that has been stored for sale, and has undergone spontaneous slaking — absorbed water and carbonic acid — is m a state for farmers' use, and can often be bought at a merely uominal cost.'^fi, W.-^Mlmis AgrmUural College, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 397 STOKESLEY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. MEETING AT STOKESLEY. The day was very fiue, and the attendance very good. The entries were 408. The great complaint made is that the show is too late to exhibit animals which have been made up and entered for the shows in July and August at other places. PRIZE LIST. CATTLE. SHORTHORNS. Bull of anya^e above twelve calendar luonths.— First prize, Mrs, J. Kitchen, Whorltou ; second, W. and T. Charton, Hutton Rudby. Bull calf under twelve months. — First prize, W. Barker, Broughton ; second, J. Sanderson, Westerdale. Cow, in-calf or in-milk. — First prize, I. Garbutt, Farndale ; second, T. Kirby, Great Broughton. Two-year-old heifer, in-calf or in-milk. — First prize, C. Smith; Westerdale; second, J. Richardson, Great Ayton. One-year-old heifer. — First prize, I. Garbutt; second, J. Wilson, Farndale, Heifer calf under twelve months old. — First prize, C. Smith ; second, I. Garbutt. ANY BREED. Cow for dairy-purposes. — First prize, W. Gibson, Dro- mouby ; second, W. Barker. SHEEP. lEICESTER OR LOJNG-WOOILED. Aged ram. — First prize, R. P. Fetch, Skelton ; second, H. EUiff, Seamer, Shearling ram. — First prize, T. Rickinson, Seamer ; second, W. T. Horton, Seamer Moor. Tup lamb. — First and second prizes, W. Garbutt, Tunstall. Pen of five gimmer lambs. — First prize, W. Gibson ; second, W. Garbutt. Pen of five shearling gimmers. — First prize, W. T. Horton ; second, T. Rickinson. Pen of five breeding ewes.— First nrize, W. T. Horton ; se- cond, H. Elliff. Black-faced tup. — First and second prizes, C. Smith. Pen of five black-faced shearUng ginimers or ewes.— First and second prizes, C. Smith. PIGS. Boar of the large breed. — First prize, J, Humphrey, Great Broughton ; second, J. Pierson, Dauby. Boar of the small breed. — First prize, J. Pierson, East Roundto ; second, J. F. Newton, Northallerton. Sow of the large breed. — First prize, J. Storry, Stokesley ; second, G. E. Peacock, Little Ayton. Sow of the small breed. — First prize, W. Rudsdale, Yarm ; second, J. Fidler, Stokesley. Pig, the property of a labouring cottager. — Prize, G. Stain- thorpe. Pig, the property of a tradesman or mechanic. — First prize, H, Storey, Stokesley ; second, G. Williamson, Stokesley. HORSES. CLEVELAND BAT3. Brood mares. — First prize, J. Featherst one, Marten ; second, J. Porritt, Buckrush. Colt foal. — First prize, W. Fawcett, Harlesey ; second, Mrs. J. Kitching, Whorlton. Filly foal. — First prize, I. Ward, Little Moorsholme ; se- cond, J. Pierson, Eryholme, Yearling fiUy. — First prize, J. Plews, Howlet Hall ; second, J. Knaggs, Upsill. Two-year-old filly. — First prize, R. Gamett, Welbury ; se- cond, R. Thompson, Ingleby Arncliffe. COACH HORSES. Brood mare. — First prize, W. M. Mothersill, Thomton-le- Moor J second, R, Watson, Stockton-on-Tees, Colt foal.— First prize, P. Campion, Wliitby ; second, J. Snowball, Hemlington. Filly foal.— First prize, W. Wise, Great Broughton ; second, R. J. Sayer, Great Ayton. Yearling gelding.— First prize, W. Kearsley, Kirby ; second, G. Potts, Great Ayton. Yearling filly.— First prize, G. Gill, Brotton ; second, J. Hugill, Normanby. Two-year-old gelding.— First prize, T. Curry, Morton Carr; second, J. Hugill. IVo-year-old filly.— First prize, J. Donaldson, Great Ayton; second, J. Featherstone. Three-year-old gelding.— First prize, J. Metcalfe, Great Broughton ; second, J . Lancaster, Kirby Grange. Three-year-old filly. — First prize, Mrs. J. Kitching ; second, W. Thompson, Aislaby. HUNTERS. Broodmare. — First prize, J. Coulson, Hutton Rudby; se- cond, J. Lancaster. Colt foal. — First prize, P. Shimmins, Whitby ; second, J. LtiDCfistGr FiUy foal.— Prize, G. Potts, Yearling gelding. — First prize, W. Smith, Rudby ; second, W. Beardshaw, Skutterskelfe. Yearling filly. — First prize, T. Bradley, Newton ; second, C. Stockdale, Busby. Two-year-old gelding. — First prize, R. Bruntou, Marton ; second, R. Jackson, Normanby. Two-year-old filly. — Prize, G. Blackburn, Busby. Three-year-old filly. — First prize, T. Knowles, Skutterskelfe; second, J. Jackson, Great Ayton. ROADSTERS. Brood mare. — First prize, W. F. Filter, South Preston ; se- cond, J. Webster, Commondale. Colt or filly foal.— First prize, W. Garbutt, Tunstall ; second, I. Wilson, Nunthoqse HaU. Yearling gelding or filly. — First prize, J. White, Greatham; second, T. H. Peacock, Great Ayton. Two-year-old gelding or filly. — First prize, Mrs. J. Kitching, Wliorlton ; second, G. Hindson, Dromondby. Three-year-old gelding or filly. — First prize, E. Rickinson, Seamer ; second, J. White. DRAUSHT HORSES. Brood mare. — First prize, J. Turner, Northallerton ; second, M. Thomlinson, Cowthorpe. Colt foal. — First prize, W. Chapman, Seshow ; second, T. Rickinson, Seamer. FiUy foal. — First prize, M. Thomlinson ; second, R. Pierson, Kirby Bridge. Yearling gelding or filly. — Messrs. Stonehouse and Sons, Skelton ; second, Gibson, Dromondby. Two-year-old gelding or filly. — First and second prizes, Messrs. Stonehouse and Sons. SPECIAL FRIZES. Nag, mare or gelding, from four to nine years old. — First prize, J. Robson, Old Malton ; second, H. Watson, Guisbro.' Hunter, mare or gelding, from four to nine years old, quali- fied to carry 12 stones with hounds, — First prize, J, Robson ; second, G. Robinson, Marton, Horse of any age, sex, or breed, which leaps the artificial fences erected for the purpose, in the best style. — First prize, J. Harrison, Sadberge ; second, J. Bradley, Normanby. Pair of horses, mares or geldings, for agricultural purposes, the property of a tenant-farmer. — First prize, Messrs. Stone- house and Sous ; second, W. T. Horton, Seamer Moor. Pony, mare or gelding, not more than 13 hands high,*— Prize, R, Robinson, Middlesbro', 398 THE FAEMBR'S MAGAZINE. THE STAFFORDSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. MEETING AT BUllTON-UPON-TRENT. The animal exhibition of this Society affoids good ground for congratulating all concerned in the great success which at- tended it. Wednesda}', the first day of the show, was as usual devoted to the trial and exliihibition of implements. Mr. Meakin, of ShobnaU Grange, had placed four fields on tlie Shobnall-road, a short distance from the show ground, at the disposal of the committee. One of these was devoted to the trial of implements, the next to the Burton district ploughing mat«li, and tlie other two were used for working one of Howard's three-sliare steam-ploughs, and a steam-cultivator and a steam-driU by the same firm. JUDGES. Dairy Cattle and Leicester Sheep. — T. Brough, Alsop-in- llie-Dale, Ashbourn ; and W. Tomlinson, Bradley Pastures, Aslibourn. Shropshire Sheep and Pigs.— T. Mansell, ErcaU Park, Wel- lington ; and J. Evans, Uilington, Shrewsbury. Shorthorns and Pat Stock. — G. H. Sanday, Holmpierre- point, Nottingliam ; and J. Woods, Clipstone Park, Mans- field. Agricultural Horses. — R. Swale, Saredon, Wolverhampton ; and 11. Warner, Weston Hill, Nuneaton. Hunting Horses and Brood Mares.— J. E. Bennett, Bosworth Grange, Rugby ; and H. J. Cartwright, Wolverhampton. Roots and Corn. — W. Brewster, Balderton Hall, Middle, Salop. Cheese in Yard. — J. Watson, Birmingham ; and E. Etches, Derby. Cheese in Dairies. — H. W. Emberlin, Leicester ; and C. Mills, Wolverhampton. CATTLE. The cattle stock of the county has not yet fully recovered from the effects of the cattle plague, which was shown by the superiority of the young to the older classes. The cattle were shown in two classes, one for pure Shorthorns, and the other for any other breed. There was not, however, a single longhorned animal. There was a good competition in nearly every class, and the Shorthorn bull calves and yearling heifers were especially good. The dairy cows were very good classes, and the bulls highly creditable. Mr. W. H. Kidson's bull took first prize in the first class. The bull calves were really a re- markable class, and of fat cattle there was a good entry. Lord Anglesey's bullock showed great width and depth. The show of long-woolled sheep was not large, but was tolerably good, the pens being almost all mixed Lincolns and Leicesters. The competition in Shropsliires was very keen. The ram lambs were also a very fine class. The ewes were not, as a whole, equal to the rams, and there were several cases in which the shearing of the sheep was far from being fair. The show of cheese was exceedingly good ; and the compe- tition for the best dairy of cheese was very severe. There were 16 competitors, and the quality of the samples shown generally and by the prize-winners in particular, was very creditable alike to the exhibitors and the makers. The following are the awards : SHORTHORNS. Bulls. — First prize, £10 and silver medal, W. H. Kidson, Saredon, Wolverhampton; second, £5, R. Sneyd, Keele Hall. Yearling bull. — First prize, £10 and silver medal, W. Wood, Holly Bank, Burton, second, £5, J. Neville, Haselour Hall, Tarn worth. BuU calf.— First prize, £10, William Wood ; second, £5, W. H. Kidson. Cows. — First prize, £6, W. Bradburn, Weduesfield ; second, £i, J. Hardy, M.P., Dunstall Hall, Burton. In-calf heifers in pairs.— First prize, £6, 11. Ratcliff ; second, £4, C. J. Webb, Elford, Tamword. Yearling heifers in pairs.— First prize, £5, W. T. Wake- field ; second, £3, W. Wood. CATTLE FOR DAIRY PURPOSES. Bulls. — First prize, £10 and silver medal, S. Burchnall, Catton, Burton J second, £5, T. Nash, Featherstone, Wolver- hampton. Cows in pairs. — First prize, £10, T. Nash ; second, £5, W. Bradburn. Four cows. — First prize, £10, D. Walker, Tutbury, Wood- house, Burton ; second, £5, T. Robinson, Burton. In-calf heifers in pairs. — First prize, £5, J. Hawksworth, Barton Blount, Derby ; second, £3, H. Wardle, Burton. Yearling heifers in pairs. — First prize, a£4, W. Bradburn ; second, £2, H. Wardle. Fat cattle. — First prize, silver cup, value £10, the Marquis of Anglesey, Beaudessert ; second, £5, R. Ratcliff, Walton HaU. SHEEP. Leicester, or other long-woolled breed. — ^First prize, £5, R. Johnson, Kirkireton, Worksworth ; second, £3, C. Mellor, Allow, Aslibourn. Shearling rams. — First and second prizes and silver medal, 11. Johnson. Ram lambs. — First prize, £3, C. Mellor ; second, £2, R. Johnson. Breeding ewes. — Prize, £5, R. Johnson. Shearling ewes. — Prize, £5, R. Johnson, Ewe lambs. — Prize, £3, 11. Johnson. SHROPSHIRE AMD BLACK OR GREY-FACED SHEEP. Rams. — First prize, £5, W. Baker, Moor Barns, Ather- stone ; second, £3, W. Wood. Shearling rams. — First prize, £5, and second £3, and silver medal, W. Baker. Ram lambs. — First prize, £3, and second £3, W. Stubbs, Rickerscote. Breeding ewes. — First prize, £5, J. Coxton, Freeford, Lich- field ; second, £3, C. R. Keeling. Shearling ewes. — First prize, £5, W. Baker : second, £3, C. R. Keeling. Ewe lambs.— First prize, £3, W. Baker ; second, £2, C. Smith, Kirk Langley, Derby. HORSES. FOR HUNTING PURPOSES, Thoroughbred stallions. — Prize, £20, W. Robinson, Bone Hill Cottages, Tamworth. Hunting horse or mare. — First prize, £20, R. Turner, Ber- cote; second, £10, T. H. Walwyn, Doveridge. Four-year-old gelding or filly. — First prize, £15, G. J. Mitchell, Newton Mount, Burton ; second, £10, G. Swift. Mare with a foal at foot. — First prize, £6, Earl of Chester- field, Bretby Hall, Burton ; second, £4, R. W. Abbots. Mares in foal. — Prize, cup value £10 10s., E. Pratt, Cald- well, Burton. FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES. Entire horses. — First prize, £21, and silver medal, J. Ash, Cash Heath, Cheadle ; second, £15, J. CoUingwood, Overseal, Asliby ; third, ^10, J. Pegge, Cubley, Sudbury. Gelding or mares in pairs. — First prize, £10, M. T. Bass, M.P. ; second, £6, W. Worthington, Newton Park, Burton. Mare and foal. — First prize, £8, J. Hawksworth : second, £5, D. Walker. Two-year-old geldings or fillies. — First prize, £5, J. Sker- mer. Burton ; second, £3, Stonetrough Colliery Company. Yearling geldings or fillies. — First prize, £5, W. S. Tavernor, Holly Grove, Ubberley, Stoke ; second, £3, S. Bacon, Rat- clilTe, Culey, Atherstone. PIGS. Boar of a large breed. — First prize, £4, and silver medal, W. Smith, Rangemore Farm; second, £2, H. Tomlinson, Blithford, Rugeley. Breeding sow of a large breed. — First prize, £i, M. Walker; second, £3, T, Bantock, Merridale House, Wolverhampton. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 899 Boar of small breed. — First prize, £i, and silver medal, H. Wardle ; second, £2, M. Walker. Breeding sow of a small breed. — First prize, £4, M. Walker; second £2, J. Faulkner, Bretby Farm. Figs iu jieus. — First prize, £4, Earl Shrewsbury, Ingestre ; second, £2, W. Smith. Small breed.— First prize, £-h, M. Walker ; second, £2, R. Wyatt, Actou HUl, Stafford. EXTRA STOCK. Horses.— First prize, £2, and second, £1, M. T. Bass, M.P. Cattle. — Prize, two silver medals, R. Eatcliff (Shorthorn bull and cross-bred heifer). Sheep. — Prize, silver medal, J. Coxon. Pigs. — Prize, silver medal, T, Hudson, Burton. Highly commended : T. Bantock. CHEESE. Thick.— First prize, £6, E. T. Simon, Ternhill, Market Drayton ; second, £4', W. Ferguson, Wrinehill Hall, New- castle; third, £3, T. Ashcroft, Walford, Eccleshall ; fourth. £2, W. H. S, Kynnersley, Brook House, Marchington, Uttoxeter. Thin. — First prize, £G, M. Walker, Stockley Park, AlsIovv ; second, £4', U. Tomlinson, Blithford ; third, £3, E. Sherratt, jun., Longdon, Rugeley ; fourth, £2, J. Greatorex, Stretton, Burton. For best dairy of cheese. — First prize, £10, T. C. Smith, Birdsgrove, Ashbouru ; second, J. Hawksworth. ROOTS. Long red mangolds. — Prize, £2, J. Whitworth, Measham, Atherstoue. Globe mangolds. — Prize, £2, J. Whitworth. Swede turnips. — Prize, £2, F. Shaw, Norton Moss, Stone. Ox cabbage. — Prize, £2, J. Whitworth. Late potatoes. — Prize, £2, W. W. Pearce, Measham, Ather- stoue. Collection of roots. — Prize, £3, J. Faulkner. Extra : Collection of roots for Burton only, — First prize, R. W. Abbots ; second, J. Greatorex, WESTMORLAND AND KENDAL DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. MEETING AT KENDAL. At this annual exhibition the attendance was unprecedented in point of numbers, in spite of the weather. Judges. — Cattle and pigs : T. Williss, Caperbey, Bedale, and J. Nicholson, Kirkbythore, Penrith. Sheep : W. Jobson, Bute'aud, Hexham, and J. Stables, Scales, Ulverston. Horses: J. Casson, Burgh-by-Sands, Carlisle, and J. FothergHl, TJldale Hall, Wigton. The following is a list of the awards :— GRASS, TURNIPS, FARMS, AND GENERAL STOCK. Best statute acres of permanent grass, of the third year after a green crop, on a farm of forty statute acres, £3, J. Dixon, Slislet; second, £2, J. Atkiuson, Raines Hall; third, £1, George Airey, Kiln Hall; commended, James Bentham, Bleaze Hall. Six entries. Most valuable crop of turnips or mangel wurzel, or both, thoroughly cleansed from weeds and duly thinned, the whole of which are to be consumed in feeding cattle on the premises, £5, H. Cottam, Foulshaw ; second, £3, W. Atkin- son, Burnside Hall; third, £1 10s., J. Bentham, Bleaze Hall ; highly commended, E. Robinson, Howgill ; com- mended, T. Powley, Green Gate, and S. Barber, Raw End. Eighteen entries. To the tenant and occupier of any farm of not less than forty statute acres, who shall have the same in the best general cultivation, £0, W. Ashburner, |Nether Houses, Ulverston ; second £4, W. Atkinson ; third, £2, J. Strickland, Milton Moor ; highly commended, H. Cottam. Nine entries. Best general stock of store cattle, including horses, cows, sheep, pigs, &c., £5, J. Todd, Laverock Bridge ; second £3, R. Taylor, New House ; commended, R. Parker, Moss End. Five entries. A silver cup, value ten guiaeas, given by the Earl of Bective, M.P., to the tenant and occupier, for the best general stock of store cattle, including horses, cows, sheep, pigs, &c., W. Haudley, Green Head. Six entries. A silver cup, value ten guineas, given by Lord Kenlis, Uuderley Hall, for the best five acres of swede turnips. Executors of A. Webster, Low Foulshaw ; highly commended, W. Ash- burner. Fifteen entries. A silver cup, value five guines, given by Lord Kenlis, to the person who shall produce to the inspectors the best three acres of swede turnips, J. Sedgwick, Lambrigg ; highly com- mended; T. W. Simm, Water Crook. Fourteen entries. A tea and coffee service, valued at ten guineas, given by Messrs. W. and H. M. Goulding, through Mr. J. Banks, Kendal, their agent,for the best crop of turnips, J. Morton, Skelsmergh Hall. Six entries. A cruet stand, valued a five guineas, given by Messrs, Goulding, for the best crop of turnips, of not less than two acres, grown on a farm with Goulding's manure. No person can compete for both the last-named prizes, R. Barber, Low Park ; higlily commended, John Atkinson. Four entries. SHORTHORNS. Bull of two but not exceeding sis years old, first prize £7, James C. Bowstead, Hackthorpe Hall, Penrith ; second, £3, Rowland Parker, Moss End ; third, William Handley, Green Head. Yearling bull, first prize £7, John Wright, Green Hill, Pen- rith ; second, £3, William Handley ; third, Messrs. Cookson and Strickland, Kirbythore. Two-year-old heifer, first prize £3, Anthony Metcalfe, Ra- venstonedale ; second, £2 ; third, George Airey, Kiln Hall. Yearling heifer, first prize £2, Executors of late E. W. Ashburner, Broughton-in-Furiiess ; second, £1, John Morton, Skelsmergh Hall ; third, Wm. Handley. Three cows for breeding stock, in calf or milk, first prize £3, John Morton ; second, £2, John Todd, Laverock Bridge ; third, Rowland Parker. Cow for dairy purposes, in calf or milk, first prize £2, WU- liam Boustead ; second, £1, T. W. Simm ; third, Mrs. Ann Holme, Docker. Cow for breeding stock, in calf or milk, first prize £2, Wil- liam Boustead ; second, £1, W, H. Wakefield ; third, John. Morton. Bull calf, first prize £3, H. R. Thompson, Maiden Hill, Penrith ; second, £1 10s., Mr. Schollicu, Aldingham Hall, Ulverston ; third, George Ashburner. Heifer calf, first prize £2, George Ashburner ; second, £1, John Morton ; third, T. W. Sirarj. A silver cup, value five guineas, for the best three short- horns, consisting of bull, not exceeding four years old, year- ling heifer, and calf (bull or heifer), to be competed for by tenant farmers only, J. C. Bowstead. SHEEP. PURE LEICESTERS. Shearling ram, first prize £2, John Cock, Coat Green ; se- cond, £1, John Ashburner, Scales, Ulverston ; third, Johrs Cock. Pen of three two-toothed gimmers, first prize £2, W. H. Wakefield, Sedgwick ; second, £1, Geo. Browne, Troutbeck ; third, James Rookes, High Barnes. Pen of five ewes, first prize £2, John Cock ; second, £1, William Handley ; third, J as. Rookes. Tup lamb, first prize, John Cock ; second, W. H. Wake- field ; third, John Cock. Pen of three gimmer lambs, first prize, W. H. Wakefield second, Thomas Parker ; third, W. H, Wakefield. 400 THE FARMEE'S MAGAZINE. OTHEE. IONG-'WOOL'S. Aged ram, first prize, £2, Messrs. CooksoE and Strickland, Kirbythorpe ; second, £1 George Brown. Shearling ram, first prize, £3, and second, £1, Messrs. Cook- son and Strickland ; tliird, Adam Walker, Troutbeck. Pen of three-tootlied gimmers, first prize, £2, Joseph Sedg- wick, Lambrigg ; second, £1 ; tliird, Messrs. Cookson and Strickland. Pen of five ewes, first prize, £2, Messrs. Cookson and Strick- land ; second, £1, Joseph Sedgwick ; third, Eev. E. P. Manby, Morecambe. Tup lamb, first prize, £1 , A. D. Keightley, Old Hall j second, J. J. Waller, Mint House ; third, Adam Walker. Three gimmer lambs, first prize, Joseph Sedgwick ; second, Thos. Bentham, Castle Green ; third, William Wilson, Kendal. SHROPSHIRE. Aged ram, first prize, £2, James Procter, Old Hutton ; se- cond, £1, John Talbot, Lane House. Shearling ram, first prize, £2, and second, £1, William Handley, Green Head ; third, Mrs. Sarah Moorhouse, Natland. Three two-toothed gimmers, first prize, £110s. ; second, Wm. Handley ; third, Mr. Stavert, Helsington. Pive ewes, first prize, William Handley; second, Mr. Stavert ; third, Thomas Cartmel, Parleton. Tup lamb, second and third prizes, WilUam Handley. Three gimmer lambs, first prize, John Talbot ; second, Wm, Handley ; third, Thomas Cartmel. TELL. Aged ram, first prize, £2, William Bownass, Middleton Hall ; second, £1, A. W. Long, Mint Cottage. Shearling ram, first prize, £3 ; second, £1 j third, A. W. Long. Three two-toothed gimmers, first prize, £1 10s, ; second, 15s., A. W. Long ; third, T. Dixon, Staintou. Pive ewes, which have each suckled a lamb in the current year, prize, A. W. Long, Tup lamb, first and second prizes, A. W. Long ; tliird, G. Hudson, Lougsleddale. Three gimmer lambs, first prize, £1, George Hudson; se- cond, John Blenkharn, Whinfell ; third, A, W. Long. HERDWICK. Aged ram, first and second prizes, Richard Browne, Trout- beck. Shearling tup, first prize, George Browne ; second, Eichard Browne. Three shearling gimmers, first and second prizes, George Browne. HORNED CRAG. Shearling ram, first prize, Rowland Parker ; second, George Airey, Kiln Hall. Three two-toothed gimmers, first prize, Rowland Parker ; second, George Airey. HALF-BRED. Three shearling gimmers, first prize, William Atkinson ; second, Richard Knight ; third, Wm. Atkinson. AGED LEICESTER RAMS. Aged ram, first prize, John Cock, Coat Green ; second, W. H. Wakefield. PIGS. Boar, first prize, George Robinson Kendal ; second, Marcel- lus Thompson, Lound, Sow (large breed), first prize, James Bell, Kendal j second, Thomas Martin, Beck Mills. Sow (small breed), first and second prizes, Marcellua Thompson. HORSES. FOR ROAD OR FIELD. One-year-old gelding, first prize, Robert Rrownrigg, Under- barrow ; second, C. W. Wilson, Oxenholme ; third, Henry Bradley, Hale. Two-year-old gelding, first prize, Twisaday, Rusland ; second, William Wilson, Leasgill ; third. Executors of Alexander Webster. TJiree-year-old gelding, first prize, William Potter, Killing- ton ; second, M. Thompson ; third. Executors of Alexander Webster. One-year-old filly, first prize, D. H. Penton, Kendal ; sec- ond, R. and M, Dixon, Brundrigg ; third, Joseph Atkinson, Windermere. Two-year-old filly, first prize, Parker, Penrith; second. Miss Aglionby, Esthwaite Lodge ; third, Christopher PhUhp- son, Lyth. Three-year-old filly, first prize, Thomas Rigg, Kit Cragg ; second, C. W. Wilson ; third, R. Knight. Brood mare (in foal or with foal at foot), first prize, Henry Bradley, Hale ; second, Executors of A. Webster ; third, John Todd, Birds Park. Colt foal, first prize, Executors of Alexander Webster ; second, Prancis Harrison, Birkrigg Park ; third, Wm. Wilson, Pilly foal, first prize, R. Brownrigg, TJnderbarrow ; second, James Bell, Overthwaite; third, J. Martindale, Crosth- waite. PONIES. Mare or gelding, not exceeding 13J hands, first prize, Joseph Atkinson, Windermere; second, A. Walker; third, James Cropper, EUergreen. HACKNEYS. Mare or gelding, over 14. hands, first prize, P. A. Argles, Eversley ; second, C. Wilson, Castle Meadows. HORSES FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES. Two-year-old gelding, first prize, J. Hodgson, Newton ; second, R. Noble, Natland Parks ; third, Joseph Hodgson. Two-year-old filly, first and second prizes, J. and T. Haston, Rowel ; third, M. 15ateman, Pirbank. Three-year-old filly, first prize, J. Pricket, Lyth ; second, J. Todd. Brood mare, in foal or with foal at foot, first prize, J. and T. Haston ; second, Richard Hodgson, Tewit Field ; third, J. Rawlinson, Lambrigg. Colt foal, first prize, W. H. Wakefield ; second, R. Ormrod, Ackenthwaite ; tliird, J. Breaks, Kendal. Pilly foal, first prize, John Cannon, Stainton ; second, R. Atkinson and Son, Underborrow. Pair of horses, mares or geldings, first prize, J. and T, Has- ton ; second, J. J3eU. HUNTERS AND LEAPERS. Hunter, first prize, Jackson Turner, Tunstal ; second, J. Hudson, Penrith. Leaper, not carrying less than 12st, prize, R, Logan, Low Wood. ALTRINCHAM AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. MEETING AT ALTRINCHAM. At the annual show of the Society the rain fell heavily and almost without intermission during the whole day. Never- theless, the exhibition was very successful, the entries exceeding those of last year by about 400. In quality also the stock was above the average. There was a large show of implements. The prize for the best collection, open to the United Kingdom, was given to Geo. Bowen, Altrincham, and the first in local competition for implements to Thomas Wright. A silver medal was also given to Anne Cowhum, Manchester, for a collection of carriages, The entries of cattle were not numerous, but most of the animals shown were of good quality. The prizes for tenant farmers were awarded as follow : CATTLE. Best bull under three years, and best bull under two years.— J. Goolden, Hale, near Altrincham. Cow in milk or calf. — T. Newton, Acker's Parm, Car- rington. IJarreu coWi«»Mrs, Held, Ashley Heatht THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. m Fat cow or heifer.— J. Markendale, Dunham. Heifer under three years. — S. Ashton, Manor Farm, Heifer under two years. — Mrs. Eeid. Heifer under one year. — M. Newton, Oldfield. Lot of three dairy cows. — T. Newton. In the general competition for cattle : Best bull of any age. — S. Ashton. Best cow. — D. Ashbrook, Reddish. Best year-old heifer. — II. Higson, New Ilall Farm, Best Alderney or Guernsey cow. — T. Statter,jun. HORSES. Roadsters and hunters brood mare, with foal at foot.— W. Joynson, Ashfteld Sale. Tliree-year-old gelding or filly. — T. Newton. Two-year-old gelding or filly. — T. Walkden, Millington. Year-old gelding or filly. — T. Brundrett, Warburton. Roadster, mare, or gelding. — J . A. Bouck, Woodlands Park. Cob under fifteen hands. — J. Dawson, Timperley. Pony, mare, or gelding, not exceeding thirteen hands. — W. Battersby, Lymm. In the competition by tenant farmers within the district, for draught horses : Pair of draught horses. — T. Newton, Pair of horseSj mares or geldings.— R. Wbitelegg. Draught horse, mare, or gelding.— T. Whitelegg. Mare or gelding under sixteen hands. — J. Noden. Brood mare for draught purposes, with foal at foot.^— Jiand T. Johnson. Tlirec-year-old gelding or filly. — P. Collins. Two-year-old gelding or filly. — W. Walkden, Year-old gelding or iilly. — C. Perkins. Weaning foal. — J. Brogden. First prizes for general competition : Stallion for draught purposes. — T. Cauldwell, Burton Wood, Warrington. Thorough -bred stallion. — S. Norbury, Etehells, Cheadle. Hunter, mare or gelding, carrying not less than 15 stone.— J. Taylor, Booth Hall, Blackley. Hunter, mare or geldin g, carrying not less than 12 stone.— B. Goodall, Altrincham. Cob, not exceeding 15 hands. — R. Wright, Regent-road, Saltord. Pony, not exceeding 13 hands. — P. Aspinall, Chorlton-upon- Medlock. Mare or gelding for draught purposes. — W. Carter, Man- chester. Pair of draught horses, mares or geldings. — T. Statter, jun. Three-year-old mare or gelding for draught purposes.— T. Statter, CAMBRIDGESHIRE AND ISLE OP ELY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. MEETING AT MARCH. The Cambridgeshire Agricultural Society paid its third visit to the Isle of Ely. With respect to the exhibition of horses, Mr. Coutou said, at the dinner, he had expected ,.to have seen better classes. He could not compliment them on the horses shown. There was only one really good horse shown — he meant amongst the blood horses. The cart horses were certainly very good. The stallions were better than the brood mares : the mares were the very worst he ever saw. The following is a list of the JUDGES. Caut Horses. — J. Heanley, Buckland House, Louth; and J. Martin, Wainfleet, Boston. Nag Horses. — H. D. Boulton, Putnoe, Bedford; and M. Coulton, South Searle Hall, near Newark. Cattle. — Thos. Dodds, Mount Pleasant, Wakefield ; and E. Wortley, Ridlington, Uppingham. Sheep (Long-woolled). — C. Clark, Scopwick, Sleaford ; and H. Mackington, Langton, Spilsby. Sheep (Short -woolled and Cross-bred). — C. Howard, Biddenham ; and H. Woods, Merton, Thetford. Pigs. — C. Clark, Scopwick, Sleaford; and H. Mackinder, Langton, Spilsby. FIRST PRIZES. HORSES For Agricultural Purposes. StaUion.— £10, W. May, UpweU. Entire two years old colt. — £5, J. llintham, Somersham. Cart mare, not under four years old.— £5, E. Crowe, Denver. Mare and foal.— £5, W. May. Two years old cart gelding. — £4, J. Tibbett, Doddington, Two years old filly. — M, W. Beard, Chatteris. Plough team.— £6, W. C. Little, Stag's Holt, March. Yearling cart colt. — £3, R. Hopper, Whittlesey. Yearling cart filly.— £3, E. Murfitt, Upwell. Pair or team of horses. — £10, W. C. Little. Entire horse for agricultural purposes. — A cup, value £20, W. May. Cart foal of the season, by Honest Tom.— £5 5a., J. Lin- ton, Westwick HaU. biding aki) coaching. Stallion calculated to get weight-carrying hunters.— £10, B. Mitchell, Denver. Hackney stallion.— £10, H. Bultitaft, Bedwellhay. Mare calculated to breed weight-carrying hunters and foal. — £5, J. Lintonj Westwick Hall. Mare or gelding under five years old, adapted for hunting purposes. — £5, W. Maxwell, Guyhirn, Wisbech. Hackney mare. — £4, J . Simpson, Upwell. Hackney gelding.-^£'l, W. Goulder, Wimbotsham. Hackney mare or gelding, not exceeding 14 hands.— £4, H. Jones, Littleport, Hackney mare and foal. — £5, W. Wilson, Wisbech St. Peter. Hunter exceeding five years old. — £10 10s., T. Percival, Wansford. Pony, mare, or gelding, not exceeding 13 hands.— ^£5, Jolm Burnham, Whittlesey. CATTLE. BuU exceeding two years old. — £8, T. E. Pawlett, Beeston, Sandy. BuU not exceeding two years old.— £10, Lady Pigot, Branches Park, Newmarket. Bull not exceeding one year old.— £4, T. Pawlett, Beeston, Sandy. Cow in calf or in milk. — £6, J. How, Brougliton. Heifer not exceeding three years old, in calf or in milk.->a £4<, Lady Pigot, Branches Park, Newmarket, Heifer not exceeding two years old. — £4, T. Pawlett. Heifer not exceeding one year old. — £3, Lady Pigot. Fat ox, cow, or heifer. — £5, C. Golden, Benwick. Pair of grazing steers between two and three years old.—* £5, Captain Catling Needham Hall, Wisbech. Pen of three calves, steers, or heifers, not exceeding nine months old. — £3, N. G. Hutchinson, March. Pair of steers under two years old.— £5, Captain Catling. SHEEP. Shearling Leicester or Lincoln ram.— ^£5, T. Gunnell, Milton. Pen of five Leicester or Lincoln ram lambs. — £4, T. Gunnell. Shearling long-woolled ram (not Leicester or Lincoln).— £4, J. Giblin, Bardfield. Pen of five long-woolled ram lambs (not Leicester or Lin- coln).— £1, R. Sparrow, Chesterton, Pen of five Leicester or Lincoln ewes. — £5, Capt. Catling. Pen of five shearling Leicester or Lincoln ewes,—- £5, Capt, Catling. 402 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. Pen of five Leicester or Lincoln ewe lambs. — £4, Capt. Catling. Pen of three shearling long-woolled fat wethers. — £3, T. Gunnell. Shearling short-woolled ram. — £5, Lord Braybrooke, Audley End. Pen of five short-woolled ram Iambs. — £4, T. Street, Har- rowdeu House, Bedford. Pen of five short-woolled ewes. — £5, P. Street. Pen of five shearling short-woolled ewes. — £5, J. Clayden, Littlebury. Pen of five short-woolled ewe lambs. — £4, H. Purser, Willington, Bedford. Pen of three shearling short-woolled fat wethers. — £3, P. Street. Pen of five cross-bred wether lambs. — £i, H. Purser. Pen of three shearling cross-bred fat wethers. — £3, W. C. Little, Stag's Holt, March. Shearling Soutiidown ram. — £5, Lord Braybrooke. Pen of three Leicester or Lincoln sheep of any age.— £5, Capt. Catling. Pen of ten Leicester or Lincoln ewes, from a flock of not less than 50.— £10, Capt. Catling. PIGS. Boar, large breed. — £3, H. Neal, Welney Grange. Boar, small breed. — £3, S. Deif, Chvistchurch. Sow, in pig or suckling, large breed. — £3, P. II. Everett, Bridgham. Sow, in pig or suckling, small breed. — i'3, P. H. Everett. Pen of three sow pigs, not six months old, small breed. — £3,P.J. Wise, March. APPLEBY AND KIRKBT STEPHEN AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. MEETING AT KIRKBY STEPHEN. The annual show of this Society was said to be the best that had been seen in Kirkby Stephen. The Judges were : CATTLE. Leicestfr and Long Woolled Sheep, and Pigs. — Mr. Thornton, junr., Stapleton, Darlington ; and Mr. Morton, Skelsmergh Hall, Kendal. Horses. — Mr. Thomas Sutton, Alwant Hall, Darlington ; and Mr. Wilson, Rutherford, near Barnard Castle. Blackfaced and Heudwick Sheep. — Mr. G. Ellwood, High Hesket ; and Mr. Thomas Birkbeck, Wasdale Head, Shap. The awards were for : PARMS. Above 150 acres. — Pirst prize, a silver cup, A.. Graham, Yanwath Hall ; second, £3, G. Dobson, Williamsgill. Dairy farms. — A silver cup, R. Nicholson, Gilts. Green crops, above 20 acres. — Pirst prize, a silver cup, J. Lancaster, Skygarth ; second, W. Hutcliinson, Woodside. Green crops, above 5 and under 20 acres. — Pirst prize, £2, H. Sayer, Close House; second, £1, I. Sowerby, lliddlesay. General Stock. — Pirst prize, £3, T. Pearson, Harbour Piatt ; second, £1 10s., A: Graham, Yanwath Hall. CATTLE. Aged bulls. — Pirst prize,- a silver cup, Sir G. Musgrave, Eden Hall ; second, £3, J. Richardson, Culgaith. Bulls above two and under tliree years old. — Pirst prize, a silver cup, T. Robson, Greenhow; second, £2, R. Ewebank, Borrentliwaite. Bulls above one and under two years old. — Pirst prize, a silver cup, Messrs. Cookson and Strickland, Low Abbey, Kirk- bythore ; second, £1 10s., I. Sowerby. Short-horned cow or heifer. — Pirst prize, a silver cup, A. Metcalf, Ravenstonedale ; second, £1, J. Nicholson, Kirkby- thore Hall; third, £1, A. Metcalf; fourth, 10s., J. Thorn, Kirkbythore. Short-horned heifers under four years old. — First prize, £3, J. Nicholson ; second, £1, J. Barker, Crosby Garrett ; third, 10s., H. Sayer, Close House. Two year old short-horned heifers. — Pirst prize, £2 10s., Sir G. Musgrave ; second, £1 10s., A. Metcalfe; third, £1, J. Close, Smardale Hall; fourth, 10s., R. Nicholson, Gilts. One year old heifers. — Pirst prize, £2, R.Nicholson, Gilts; second, £1 10s., H. Sayer, Close House ; third, £1,11. Nichol- son ; fourth, 10s., M. Thompson. Sweepstakes. — Pat ox, cow, or heifer. — W. Cleasby, Wharton Hall. ' Heifer calf under twelve months old. — Sir G. Musgrave. Bull calf under twelve months old.— Captain Chamley, Warcop House. Bull calf under sis months old.— G. Winter, Winton. HORSES. Agricultural brood mares and foals. — Pirst prize, £2., J. Nicholson ; second, £1, J. Dalton, Little Musgrave. Coaching brood mares and foals. — Pirst prize, £2, I. Sowerby, Riddlesay ; second, £1, H. Sayer. Brood mares, under 14.' hands high. — Pirst prize, £3, T. Dargue, Whale ; second, £1, H. Sayer. Three year old colt, for field, road, or harness. — Pirst prize, £1, M. Thompson ; second, 10s., Admiral Eliott. Three year old filly, for field, road, or harness. — Pirst prize, £1, J. Nicholson ; second, 10s., W. S. Pulton, Appleby. Two year old colt, for field, road, or harness. — First prize, £1, J. Nicholson ; second, 10s., M. Thompson. Two year old filly, for field, road, or harness. — Pirst prize, £1, Captain Chamley, Warcop House ; second, 10s., P. Richardson, Ormside Lodge. One year old colt, for field, road, ""or harness. — Pirst prize, £1, T. Dargue ; second, 10s., M. Thompson. One year old filly, for field, road, or harness. — Pirst prize, £1, Messrs. Cookson and Strickland ; second, 10s., Captain Chamley. Two year old colt for husbandry purposes. — First prize, £1, J Crosby, Breaks Hall. Two year old filly for husbandry purposes.— Pirst prize, £1, J. Crosby ; second, 10s., R. Nicholson. One year old colt for husbandry purposes. — First prize, £1, J. Close ; second, 10s., T. Dargue. One-year-old filly for husbandry purposes. — First prize, T. Bird, Halefield ; second, G. Dobson. Pair of draught horses used in husbandry. — Pirst prize, R. Hodgson, Strickland Hall ; second. Colonel Rigg, Crossrigg HaU, Pony, three years old and upwards, under 14 hands high. — Pirst prize, M. Thompson ; second, T. Bainbridge, Brough Castle. Hurdle race, a silver cup, value £5 5s., won by Captain Chamley. Admiral Eliott's premium, tliree-year-old colt or fiUy, by a thoroughbred horse. — Prize, J. Nicholson. W. 11. Wakefield, Esq.'s premium, hackney, three years old and upwards, not exceeding 15| hands high. — Prize, a silver cup, Admiral EHott. Sweepstakes. — Foals for agricultural purposes, T. Bain- bridge ; foals for field, road, or harness, J. Crosby, Breaks Hall ; Cob pony foal, H. Sayer. SHEEP. Leicester ram. — ^First prize, J. Sisson, Dufton ; second, W. Sisson, Templesowerdy. Leicester shearling ram. — Pirst prize, J. Hogarth, Julian Bower ; second, J. Sisson. Leicester ewes. — First and second prizes, W. Sisson. Leicester gimmer shearlings. — First prize, J. Hogarth. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 403 Long-woolled ram. — First prize, J. Hogarth; second, J. Crosby, Kirkbythore. Long-woolled shearling ram. — First prize, Col. Rigg ; se- cond, Cooksoa and Strickland. Long-woolled ewe. — First prize. Col. lligg ; second, Cook- son and Strickland. Long-woolled gimmer shearlings. — First prize, and highly commended, Cooksou and Strickland. Blackfaeed ram. — Prize, Ann Dargue, Bowhall. Blackfaced shearling ram. — First and second prizes, H. Sayer. Blackfaced shearling ram. — First prize, Ann Dargue ; se- cond, M. Thompson. Blackfaced ewes. — Prize, Ann Dargue. Blackfaced gimmer shearlings. — Prize, Ann Dargne. Herdwick rain of any nge. — Prize, J. Barker, Crosby Garret. Herdwick ewes or gimmer shearlings. — Prize, A. Bletcalfe, Ravenstonedale. Captain Candy's premium, shearling ram of the border Leicester breed. — Prize, J. Thorn, Kirkbythore. Sweepstakes. — Leicester tup lamb, W. Sissou ; Two Leices- ter gimmer lambs, W. Sissou. Extra stock. — 6. LongstalT, Smardale, Oxford Down tnp ; J. Hull, Shropsliire Down ram. PIGS. Boars. — First prize, J. Withers, Warcop Mill ; second, J. Nirholson, Kirkbythore Hall. Breeding sow. — First and second prizes, J. Clark, Hartley Low Mill. Agricultural labourer's fat pigs. — First prize, Mary Atkin- son, Kirkby Stephen; second. Mrs. Dickinson, Kirkby Stephen, WETHERBY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. MEETING AT WETHERBlf. The horses were a large show, and several of the classes were conspicuous for excellence. The palm for the best fonr to eight years old hunter was carried off by Mr. Brady Nicholson, of Stourton Grange. Mr. J. H. Wright took the special prize given byMr. A. Montagu, for the best stallion for hunters. At a show held in the immediate neighbourhood of Wetherby Grange, so noted for its herd of Shorthorns, it was natural to expect to see a collection of very superior animals in the cattle department, and those who were present had the op- portunity of inspecting a number of fine beasts. Of the forty animals exhibited the majority belonged to Captain Gunter, and with one exception that famous breeder cleared off every one of the thirteen prizes offered. The show of sheep was su- perior, this remark perhaps spplying more especially to the rams. Mr. J. H. Hutchinson, of Catterick, took the leading prizes for both two-shear or aged and one-shear rams. The pigs were not numerous, but those penned included several well-known prize-winners from tlie neighbourhood of Leeds and Bradford. JUDGES. Horses. — Wm. Atkinson, Barrowby Grange, Woodlesford ; Wm. Lancaster, Morton Grange, Northallerton. Cattle, Pigs, and Sueep. — Mr. Taylor, Sewerby Cottage,. Bridlington ; Mr. Cattley, Stearsby. The following is a list of the prizes : HORSES. Stallion for agricultural purposes, first prize, M. Strickland, Headley Hall. Brood mare for hunters, first prize, J. T. Robinson, Leckby Palace ; second, F. Appleyard, lloundhay. Brood mare for coach horse?, first prize, J. Clarke, Beesion ; second, F. Long, Spofforth. Brood mare for roadsters, first prize, F. Cookson, Roundhay. Brood mare for agricultural purposes, first prize, Messrs. E. and W. Pawson, Burley ; second, J. Swann, Askham Hall. Three-year-old gelding for hunting, first prize, R. Elsworth, Healthwaite Hill ; second, T. S. Cundy, Wetherby. Two-year-old gelding for hunting, first prize, Hon. and Rev. J. W, Lascelles, Goldsbro' ; second, J. Mawson, Bilton. . Yearling colt or filly for hunting, first prize, W. J. Maw- son, Eccup ; second, W. Weatherall, Kiddall Hall. Three-year-old filly for hunting, first prize, W. Bayford, Carterton; second, J. Clarke. . Two-year-old filly for hunting, first prize, R. Elsworth ; se- cond, J. Mawson. Three-year-old gelding for coaching, first prize, — Outh- Leeds. Two-year-old gelding for coaching, first prize, W. Jackson, Healaugh ; second, J. Woodward, Allerton Mauleverer. Yearling colt or filly for coaching, first prize, F. Long ; se- cond, J. Harrison, Wilstrop, Tliree-year-old gelding for agriculture, first prize, J , Hart- ley, Kiddall Lane. Two-year-old gelding for agriculture, first prize, T. Braith- waite, Newton-on-Derwent ; second, J. Rheam, Angram, Yearling colt or filly for agriculture, first prize, R. Walker ; second, J. Freeman, Skcwkirk. Three-year-old filly for agriculture, first prize. Captain Gunter, Wetherby. Two-year-old iilly for agriculture, first prize, T. Upton, Pal- lathorpe ; second, J. Wood, Beeston Royds. Horse or mare for agricultural purposes, not less than four years old, first prize, T. Upton ; second, S. Risluvorlh, Cold HUl. Hackney, first prize, T. Clarkson, Leeds ; second. Captain Gunter. CATTLE. Three-year-old or aged bull. — Prize, Captain Gunter, Wetherby. Two-year-old bull. — First prize. Captain Gunter; second, C. Wright, Oglethorpe. Yearling bull. — First and second prizes. Captain Gunter. ' Three-year-old or aged cow, in milk or calf. — First and second prizes, Captain Gunter. Two-year-old heifer. — First and second prizes. Captain Gunter. One-year-old heifer. — First and second prizes. Captain Gunter. Fat beast. — Prize, Captain Gunter. Shorthorned bull, entered in any of the classes. — Prize, Captain Gunter. SHEEP. Two-shear or aged lam. — First and second prizes, J. H. Hutchinson, Catterick. One-shear rain. — First prize, J. H. Hutchinson ; second, E. Riley, Kipling Cotes. Pen of five ewes that have had and suckled lambs this year. — First prize, J. H. Hutchinson ; second, W. Brown, High Gate Holme. Pen of five shearling wethers. — W. Brown. Pen of five shearling gimmers. — First prize, J. H. Hutchic- son ; second, W. Brown. PIGS. Boar, large breed. — Prize, G. Chapman, Seamer. Sow, large breed. — First prize, W. Lister, Armley ; second, Mrs. Law, Eltofts. Boar of the Bramham Moor or middle breed. — First prize, S. Appleby, Arraley ; second, J. Sag.ar, Bradford. Sow, same breed. — First prize, J. C Taylor, Oatlauds ; second, J. Sagar. Boar, small breed. — First prize, G. Earle, Streusall ; second, J. Sagar. Sow, small breed. — First and second prizes, G. Earle. Store pig under fifteen mouths old. — First prize, J. Inghnra, Hunslet; second, J. Hall, Wetherby. EXTRA STOCK. HORSES. Stallion not eligible for any other class. — W. Lumley, North Deighton. F F 404 THE FAEMSIR'S MAGAZINE. stallion for hunters.— Prize, J. H. Wright. Hunter.— Prize, B. Nicholson, Stourton Grange. SHEEP. Two-shear or aged ram.— First and second prizea, Simpson. Tup lamh, — Prize, J. Simpson. Pen of iive gimmer lamba.-=-First prize. J. Simpson j second, M. Oddy, Spofforth. Poal.— Pirst prize, J, Saynor, Mossy Carr ; second, J. L. Groves, Deighton, LEDBURY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. MEETING AT LEDBURY. The twenty-sixth annual exhibition of the above Society, which was established in the year IS^ljWas held as in former years, at the Wildhouse, the home farm of Mr. Michael Bid- dulph, M.P. The ^how was uuiversally admitted to be larger than last year upon the whole, and with a fine autumnal day the sijcce§8 of the exhibition was complete. AWARDS. Judges. — Stephen Philpotts, Brookhouse, near Bromyard. Daniel Long, Gloucester. John Price, Court-house, near Leominster. Two years old heifer, of any breed, in calf or with calf. — First prize, £5 5s., F. Ward, jun. ; second of £1 10s., Bishop. Pair of two years old heifers, which shall have been kept with the eshibitor's herd up to the time time of showing. — £3, E. Drinkwater, Bosbury. Six yearling heifers or steers (or either sex). — First prize, £5 5s.. J. V. Mutlow, Wall Eill; second of £3, F. Ward, Fair Tree. Bull of any age. — £5, J. Sparkman, Little Marcle. Aged bull. — First prize, £3, Hickman, Mainstone Court ; second of £1 10s., D. Cooke, Much Marcle. Two years buU. — £2, J. Sparkman. Pair of two years old steers. — Firt prize, £3, Holmes, Stret- ton Grandison ; second of £1, T. Eddy, The Frith. Pair of yearling steers. — First prize, £3, E. Drinkwater ; second of £1, Skittery, The Flights. Yearling heifer. — First prize, £3, J. Wigmore, Bickerton Court ; second of £1, J. Wigmore. Fat cow, heifer, or ox. — £3, J. Sparkman. Cow or heifer in calf or with calf. — First prize, £Z, J. Wig- more; second of £1 IDs., E. Drinkwater, Cow or heifer or dairy purposes, in calf or with calf, of any breed. — First prize, £3 10s., Wetson, Massington ; second of &l 10s., J. Murray Anesley, Underdown. SHEEP. Ram. — First prize, ^3, Lady Emily Foley ; second of £1, Smith, AwneUs. Pen of five store ewes (long- wool). — First prize, £3, T. Bibbs, Hollows ; second of ^1, T. Bibbs. Pen of five store ewes (short-wool). — First prize, £3, Lady Emily Foley j second of £1, C. Badham, Stone House, Led- bury. Pen of five yearling wethers. — First prize, £3, Lady Emily Foley ; second of £1 , R. Mason, Hazle Mill, Ledbury. Pen of five yearling ewes. — First prize, ^3, Lady Emily Foley ; second of £1, Smith. Pen of five lambs (shorn).— £1 10s., Smith. Pen of five lambs (unshorn). — £1 10a., W. J. Hickman, Mainstone. PIGS. Boar pig.— First prize,"£l 10s., J. V. Mutlow, Wall Hills ; second, J. V. Mutlow. Breeding sow. — First prize, £1 10s., J. V. Mutlow ; second, T. Edy, The Frith. Pen of five pigs under six months old.— £1 10s., T. Lane, Walls Hills. Pig shown by a farm labourer. — First prize, £1, R. Skinner ; second, W. Tyler. HORSES. Cart mare and foal — First prize, £3, Rev. J. Hopton, Canon Frome ; second of £1, Rev. J. Hopton. Nag mare and foal. — First prize, £2, Rev. W. G. Lyall, Castle Frome ; second of £1, F- Ward, jun., Fair Tree. Three vears old cart colt. — First prize, £3, James Ward ; second of'£l, T. Bibbs. Two years old cart colt— First prize, ^£1 lOs-, W. Smith ; second, T. Edy. Yearling cart colt. — First prize, £1 lOs-, Rev. J. Hopton ; second, J- V. Mutlow. Three years old hackney colt. — First prize, £3, W. Smith, Tarrington ; second of £1, E. Drinkwater. Two years old hackney colt. — First prize, £1 10s-, Rev. W. G. Lyall ; second, J. Sparkman. Yearling hackney colt. — £1, E. Pope, Ockeridge. EXTRA STOCK. Six heifers. — £1 10s., J. Hickman. Eight heifers and cow, — £3 10s., R. Mason. Four breeding cows. — £1, J. Sparkman. Four cows. — £3, J. Wigmore. Two roan two years old cart colts.— £1, J. Sparkman. Twenty ewes— ^1, R. Mason. GREAT ECCLESTON AGRICULTURAL MEETING. The stock exhibited was good, with the exception of bulls, which were pronounced inferior for a show held in the very heart of the Fylde. The following are the first prizes : CATTLE BuU, above two years. — W. Kirby, Roseacre. Bull, under two years aud above one. — R. Porter, Clifton. Bull-calf, under one year — J. Rawcliffe, Myerscough. Dairy cow. — J. Miluer, Myerscough. Heifer, above two and under three years. — J . Sykes, Poultou. Heifer, above one and under two years. — J. Milner. Heifer-calf. — J. Tomlinson, St. Michaels. HORSES. Brood mare for agricultural purposes. — J. Jenkinson, Nateby. Brood mare for road and field, in foal.— T. Fox, Singleton. TUree-yeat-eld gelding or flUy for road aud field.— C, Mr, Two-year-old gelding or filly for agricultural purposes.—. E. Jemson, PiUing. Two-year-old gelding or filly for road and field.— W. I. Milner, luksip Lodge. One-year-old gelding or filly for agricultural purposes.—. W. Clegg, Myerscough. One-year-old gelding or filly for road and field.— .W. Jackson, Singleton. Foal for agricultural purposes. — Wm. Kirkham, Stalmine. Foal for road and field. — E. Billington, Myerscough. Pair of horses for agricultural purposes. — T. Stuart, St, Michaels. Donkey. — ^J. Langtree, Great Eccleston. PIGS. Boar, large breed. — C. Cardwell, Poulton. Boar, small breed. — T. Strickland, Cartford. Sow, large breed. — T. Waring, Catforths. Farm labourer's pig.W, Dobsoji, Great Ecckstou, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 405 ABERGAVENNY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. The exhibition of both horses aud cattle was fully an average one, aud iacladed many good animals. We append the list of awards : HORSES. Hunter of any age capable of carrying 14st. — First prize, £20, W. Crawshay, Oaklands Park ; second of £10, Capt. J. S. Ballard, Cowbridge. Hunter of any age capable of carrying 12st. — First prize, £15, and second of £7, divided between 11. Rees, Abergavenny, and F. C. H. Williams, Nantoer. Harness horse, not under 15 hands high. — First prize, £10, W. Men, Vaindree HaU, Cardiff; second of £3 10s., J. G. Holford, Buckland. Harness horse, 14 hands, and under 15 hands. — First prize, £10, G. F. W. Miles, Llangattock Park ; second of £2 10s., Mrs. E. Herbert. Pony, not exceeding 13 J hands high. — First prize, £5, Capt. J. S. Ballard ; second of £2, F. Price, Newton Lodge, Mon- mouth. Brood mare, not under 15 hands 1 inch. — First prize, £5, W. Powell, M.P. ; second of £3, W. Powell, M.P. Three-year-old nag gelding or filly. — Prize, £5, W. May- bery, Woodfield House, Bringwyn. Two-year-old nag colt or filly. — Prize, £5, T. Edwards, Llanarth. Yearling nag colt or fllly. — Prize, £5, A. Sherratt, Ocle Pitchard. Gelding, rising 5 years old. — Prize, £3, — Williams, Pen- celli Castle, Brecon. Two-year-old cart gelding or filly. — Prize, £3, the Arch- deacon Davies, Court-y-Gollen. Yearling cart gelding or filly. — Prize, £3, — Derrett, Usk. Cart mare and foal. — Prize, £3, — Derrett, Usk. Cart stallion.— Prize, £3, T. Bill, Grosmont. Brood mare, not less than 15 hands. — Silver cup, G. Prit- chard, White House, Llanvihaugel. CATTLE. Bull, cow, and offspring. — Prize, £2, T. Edwards, Lla- narth. Stock bull, less than two years old.— Prize, £3, — Rogers, Alterynys. Yearling bull. — Prize, £3, Wm. Lewis, Fawydden. BuU calf, bred by the exMbitor.— Prize, £20, N. Price, Llandilo Court. A sweepstakes of 5s. each, for the best bull in the show.— Won by — Rogers, Alterynys. Three cows in milk. — Prize, £3, Warren Evans, Llan- dowlas. Pair of two-year-old heifers in calf. — Prize, £3, Warren Evans. Pair of yearling heifers. — Prize, £2, John Watkins, Duffyn. Pair of two-year-old steers. — Prize, £2, Warren Evans. Pair of yearling steers. — Prize, £2, Evan Morgan, White Castle. Fat cow, not less than five years old.— Prize, £2, Thomas Edwards. SHEEP. Ram, long wool. — First prize, £2, W. Powell, Llantilio Crossenny, Yearling ram, long wool. — First prize, £2, T. Dew, Llaa- fetherine. Lamb ram, long wool. — First prize, £2, J. Williams, Pen- wern, Goytre. Down ram. — First prize, £2, Mr. Rogers, Alterynys. Down yearling ram. — First prize, £2, Lord Raglan, Cefn- tyle House, Usk. Six ewes, long wool. — First prize, £2, R. Williams, Pencelly Castle, Brecon. Six yearling ewes, long wool. — First prize, £2, R. Williams, Six Down ewes. — First prize, £2, Mr. Rogers. Six unshorn wether lambs, — First prize, £2, J. Morgan, Triley Farm, MOUNTAIN SHEEP. Mountain ram.— First prize, £2, J. Pritchard, Hentland, Cwmyoy. Six mountain wethers — First prize, £2, W. Davies, High- street, Abergavenny. Ten breeding moimtain ewes.— First prize, £3, R. Rees, Abergavenny. PIGS, Breeding sow.— First prize, £1, the Rev. W. Corfield, Llan- Stoek boar.— First prize, £1, the Hon. J. F. Clifford Butler, Llantilio Court. Pig, the property of a cottager. — First prize, W. James, Llauellew ; second, W. fliggs, DuSryn, ROYAL AND CENTRAL MEETING AT AYLESBURY. BUCKS AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. The annual meeting of this association resulted in rather a Ehort show. JUDGES. Ploughing. — Charles Hedges, Eaton Bray, near Dunstable ; James Bulford, Woodstock, Oxon. HoKSES. — Mr. Manning, Orlingbury; John Bird, Yoxley, near Peterborough. Cattle. — J. Robinson, Clifton Pastures, near New- port Pagnell ; ELias Clarke, Lillingstone Dayrell. Sheep. — John King Tombs, Langford, near Lechlade j John Game, Bushey, near Watford. Pigs. — Charles Hedges, Eaton Bray, near Dunstable ; James Bulford, Woodstock, Oxon. The foUovdng were the first prizes :— HORSES FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES. Geldings, three years old and upwards, £5 5s., A. R. How- land, Thame. Geldings uiider three years, i^ fis., W. 3, Clarke, Uppings, Weedon, Mares, three years old and upwards, £5 5s., T. G. Richard* son, Ellesborough. Mare and foal, £5 5s,, J. Perkins, Dorton Park, Thame. Mares, under three years, £5 5s,, W. Rose, Eythorpe. HORSES FOR HUNTING PURPOSES. Best horse or mare for hunting purposes, a silver cup value £10 10s.,A.R.Howlaud. CATTLE. Bulls, any breed, two years old and upwards, £5 5s,, W. Sg Jessop. Bulls, under two years, £5 5s., E. Freeman, Chilton. Cows, in milk or in calf, £5 5s,, J, A. Mumford, Chilton. Three cows, in milk or in calf, £10 10s., J. and E. Dench- field. Heifers, in milk or in calf, under three and over two years, £5 5s., R. Fowler, Broughton. Heifers in pairs, under two years, £5 6s,, J. A, Mumford (Dorothy). Fat COWS, £5 5s,, T, Kingsley, Boarscroft Farm. F P 2 406 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. To the owner of the best animal exhibited in the classes of horned stock, £5 5s , J. A. Mumford. SHEEP. Rams, any breed, £5 5s., J. Godvrin, Troy Farm, near Bicester. Five store ewe lambs, for breeding purposes, £5 5s., J. Treadwell, L^pper Wincheudon. Five fat ewes, any breed or age, £5 5s., J. Treadwell. Five fat wethers, £5 5s., R. Fowler. Five long-woolled ewes, for breeding purposes, £5 5s., J. Godwin. Five Down or cross-bred ewes, for breeding purposes, £5 5s., J. Treadwell. Five theaves, any breed, for breeding purposes, £5 5s., J. Treadwell. The best pea of ewes or theaves in the yard, £5 5s., J. Treadwell. The best pen of fat sheep, £3 3s., J. Treadwell. PIGS. Boars, any breed, £3 Ss., J. Treadwell. Sows, any breed, either in pig or with litter, £5 5s., E. C. Clarke, Manor Farm, Iladdenhara. Three fat pigs, £3 3s., J . Biggs, Cublington. A silver cup, for the best yearling nag colt, J. R, SimonSj Berryfield, Aylesbury. LANCASTER AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. MEETING AT LANCASTER. Additional interest was attached to the show by the fact that nearly every department was open to all comers. There were 977 entries in all, of which there were for cattle 139, sheep 159, horses 169, pigs 2-i^, The following are the first prizes : — CATTLE. BuU, two years or upwards. — Thomas Swarbrick, Thuruham. Yearling bull. — G. Ashburner, Broughton-in-Furness. BuU-calf. — W. "W. Slye, Beaumont Grange. Shorthorn cow — Messrs. GaitskeU, Whitehaven. Shorthorn heifer. — Vi. S. Cragg, Arkholme. Yearling heifer. — J. Milner, Myerscough. Heifer calf. — Messrs. GaitskeU. Three dairy cows. — W. S. Cragg. Best male animal. — W. W. Slye. Best female animal. — Messrs. GaitskeU. Challenge cup for best collection of Shorthorns. — TV. S. Cragg. HORSES. Brood mare for road or field. — J. Fox, Singleton, Kirkham. Three-year-old gelding. — R. Wilson, Middleton Brows. Three-year-old filly. — Benjamin Gee, Gosnargh. Two-year-old gelding. — Thomas Swarbrick, Thurnham. Two-year-old filly. — 11. Clnrkson, Bolton. Tearling gelding. — R. Gorst, Middleton. yearling filly. — G. Airey, Aldclitfe. Colt foal. — Mrs. Mason, Ashton. . FiUy foal— R, Gorst, Middleton. Brood mare for agricultural purposes. — G. Airey. Three-year-old gelding. — E. Jemson, Pilling. Yearling gelding. — Messrs. Postlethwaite,Heaton. Colt or filly foal. — James Lamb, Glasson. Draught horses in harness. — E. Jemson. Best groomed pair of dranght horses. — E. Jemson. SHEEP. LEICZSTERS. Shearling ram.— J. Cock, Cote Green, Burton. Ram of any age. — J. Cock. Three gimraer lambs. — P. Hitsham, Cockerham. Pen of ewes. — J. Cock. Pen of gimmers. — J. Cock. Tup lamb. — J. Cock. LONG-WOOLS. Shearling ram. — J. Muchalt, Priest Hutton. Pen of gimmers. — H. Clarkson, Bolton. Pen of ewes. — T. Muchalt. Gimmer lambs. — J. Woodhouse, Scale Hall. Tup lamb.— J. Cock. PIGS. Boar of large breed. — Thomas Newton, Cockerham. Boar of small breed. — J. Sly, Lancaster. Breeding sow of small breed. — B. Bee, Goosnargh. Breeding sow of large breed. — J. Thompson, Scotforth. Cottager's store pig. — W. Moorby, Lancaster. THE EAST SUFFOLK CHAMBER OF AGRICULTURE. A meeting was held in Ipswich to consider a communication from the Prjvy Council relative to the transport of animals by sea and railway. Mr. T. Hawkins, the Vice-president of the Chamber, presided. At the commencement there were but seven members present, afterwards increased to about a dozen. On the motion of Mr. F. S. Corra-Vce, M.P., the following resolutions were adopted in answer : 1st. That the means of transit afforded by railway compa- nies and steam-boats for cattle are inadequate, and productive of danger and loss to the public as well as owners of stock. !3nd. That the points upon which deficiencies exist are princi- pally these, namely, overcrowding trucks and steam-boats, delay and detention upon the route, want of proper care and attention upon lengthened journies. 3rd. The Chamber beg, therefore, to record their opinion that it is desirable, upon ac- curate information and a more complete knowledge than it is in the power of the Chamber to obtain, that the Privy Council should, without delay, put in force the law giving them the power to prescribe certain rules and regulations to the ma- nagers of the said trafiSc. 4th. The Chamber declines, beyond this, to express an opinion upon a subject as being a matter of business beyond their province, and more properly belonging to transit managers and the Board of Trade in their respective relations. The only suggestion they feel competent to make and recommend would be, therefore, that (1) in default of pro- per regulations or any known or wilful neglect, penalties of a summar)- nature may be inflicted upon those thus failing to discharge their trust ; (2) that in ease of any deterioration or loss in the condition of stock, actions for damages should lie against the company in the County Court or before Justices, and be recoverable under ordinary processes of law ; and that any evidence of detention, " exposure," want of food or water for improper intervals, or overcrowding, shall be held to have caused such damage, and to constitute an offence. A conversation followed on the raouth-and-foot disease, in the course of which Mr. Boby said that that disease was com- paratively trivial compared with the cattle-plague ; and re- marks were made anticipating the probable decision of the Court of Quarter Sessions. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 407 THE WORCESTERSHIRE CHAMBER OF AGRICUI/PURE. At a lueetiug of the Council, Mr. George Wliitaker chair- mau, tlie Secretary reported that he had I'o warded tlie peti- tion of the Council in reference to the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act while it was before the House of Lords to Earl ISeauehanip, who had duly presented it. Tlie bill, however, passed. Mr. RUSS02I : Yes ; and now we are suffering the conse- quences. The Chairman observed that the restrictions on the move- ment of cattle inland were very severe, and they ought to re- monstrate in reference to the terms on which foreign cattle were admitted to this country ; for, unless the restrictions were much more stringent as lo foreign stock, home restric- tions were practically useless. The Secretary said Mr. Read, M. P., and others were of opinion that the powers of local authorities had lapsed ; but, according to his reading of the new Act, they were continued till fresh appointments were made. No doubt something would be done at next quarter sessions in the matter. Mr. RussojJ observed that the inspeclor for his neighbour- hood had received his papers from the Privy Council ; and Mr. Guest that communications were also still sent to the in- spector in his district. He (Mr. Guest) thought the joint committee of magistrates and fanners should have a meeting without delay, to make arrangements under the new Act. The Secretary read a letter from the Secretary to the Local Taxation Committee, acknowledging receipt of the Chamber's subscription. The Secretary next read the circular from the Transit of Animals Committee of the Privy Council Office. The CiiAiRMArf observed that as far as the transit of animals by land was concerned they might be as competent as any other body to give an opinion ; but with regard to the proper space to be allowed, and other matters in connection with the over-sea transit of animals, he did not know whether any gentleman present could give useful advice. He thought the authorities in the seaports would be better able to make sug- gestions to the Government on that part of the subject. He would be glad to hear any opinion on the question before thera. The first question was as to the time cattle ought to be allowed to go without water and food ; and the next was as to the best means of supplying these necessaries, which was a very diffi- cult question. The Secretary remarked that that really was the question ; there was no question as to time, for that was specified in the Act. Mr. Varden asked whether by " the best means" the Chair- man meant mechanical means, or by whom the provision was to be made. If mechanical, lie did not think it was worth their while going into that, as no doubt various plans would be tried and the best adopted. Mr. RussoN drew attention to the resolution adopted by the Warwickshire Chamber, as follows : " That the Council are of opinion that the main point to be gained is to ensure the con- tinuance of transit, without stoppings and shuntings to accom- modate the passenger traffic." If cattle were carried Quicker through the country they would not need fodder by the way. The Chairman said there was another point : cattle should be carried in trucks fitted with buffers. At present the shock given when trains were moved or stopped suddenly knocked them almost off their legs. Mr. Pearoe observed that they would also be necessary if water was to be kept in tanks in the trucks. The Chairman asked Mr. Varden whether it would be much more expense to the companies if animals were carried by passenger than goods trains. Mr. Varden replied that the expense would be greater, and the companies to do that would have to make a different arrangement of trains. Mr. Webb said it was hopeless to expect the companies to do that. If they chose to pay for horse-boxes to convey cattle they might have them taken by passenger trains ; but he knew, from what had transpired in connection with an application to the Great Wcslern Company to afford facilities to farmers on the line to Chipping Campden to send stock to Worcester once a fortnight, that that company would not attach cattle trucks to passenger trains. They would not do that, but they had agreed to run a special cattle train. The objection was the delay there would be at the stations. Mr. Varden tliought it would be enough for thera to say animals should not be kept beyond a certain number of hours without food or water, and the companies would soon fiud out the best means of supply. Mr. Pearce thought that cattle ought not to be more than eight hours without water, twelve hours were too many. The Chairman aged with this opinion. Mr. Whitehair remarked that it was not only the time they would be in the trucks that ought to be considered, but the time they were while being driven to the place of sale. If they said eight hours it would in many cases be 16 or 17 hours before they were watered. In Birmingham and Worcester, he believed, there were faeiiities for watering stock, but this was not the case in country markets. The Chairman said there should be a requirement that water-troughs be supplied to all cattle lairs, and that cattle be in the lairs at least a quarter of an hour before being placed in the trucks. Mr. Pardoe observed that this would not be needed if the companies were required to provide troughs in the trucks. Mr. Webb did not think they need go very far into that question. No county in England had less eatttle sent into or out of it than Worcester. No doubt the localities more im- mediately interested would give their attention to the means which should be employed to carry out these provisions of the Act. Mr. Varden said the Privy Council had no power to make the time less than twelve hours ; they might pass a resolution saying that the time animals were kept without water should not be less than twelve hours. After some further conversation — Mr. Guest moved the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr. Horniblow, and unanimously adopted : — " That in the opinion of this Chamber, animals in transit by rr.ilway should not be kept more than twelve hours without water, or twenty-four hours without food ; that the railway companies should be compelled to supply such food and water ; that buffers should be attached to the trucks used for the con- veyance of animals ; and that railway companies should be required to adopt means to expedite the transit of cattle when sent long distances." The Secretary read a notice convening a meeting of the Central Chamber, to consider, amongst other matters, a plan for collectiug, on a comprehensive scale, information as to the yield of wheat, or other crops, in England and Wales. The Chairman said he had before expressed his objection to the collection of agricultural statistics, and nothing had since been advanced which showed that farmers would derive any advantage from them. He objected to it on principle as inquisitorial ; and the practice of it was injurious. Take, for example, the present year : the harvest was said to be deficient, and the consequence was that the importations of foreign wheat were enormous. Small farmers, who were compelled to sell, were thus placed at a disadvantage. Mr. Webb said in the case of an abundant harvest the effect would be to keep foreign wheat out of the market, so that there was a corresponding advantage. Statistics were now collected here and in every country in Europe, and it was not likely that England would be behind. The question really was, therefore, whetlier they were to be collected as at present, or whether some better and more accurate system should not be applied. Instead of requiring farmers to send statistics, he thought it quite practicable to obtain the statistics at little cost by means of Government officials, who with practised eyes could ride over the farms and give a very near approximate estimate of the breadth of land in the several kinds of crop. He had done this kind of thing on Mr. Higginson's land, and found that he 408 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. could get over 500 to 1,000 acres a day. He moved—" That in the opinion of this Council it is desirable that a more com- prehensive plan be adopted of ascertaining the acreage and yield of corn crops in England and Wales than at present exists." Mr. WiiiTEiiAiR asked Mr. Webb whether a resolution af- firming the desirability of collecting statistics would not be better. He took quite an opposite view to that intimated by the chairman. He thought, on the ground of public utility, the legislature ought to know what the country could produce ; and, with regard to the farmers, he was of opinion that there was no disadvantage. He would make the furnishing of re- turns compulsory. Mr. Woodward said they could not prevent the collection of returns. The exciseman at Pershore could go to Mr. Whi- taker's land, and make a return. It would be better to have accurate than fictitious returns. Mr. Guest had no objection to the present returns, as to acreage and quantity of stock ; but a return of the yield was a different thing. He tliough many would object to that. Mr. Vakden said there waa no doubt a great diversity of opinion among the farmers on this subject : would it not be well to discuss it at a general meeting. The Secretary said they had already a resolution on the book as to the collection of statistics. After some further discussion, Mr. Webb agreed to withdraw his motion, and the subject dropped. Mr. RussoN moved, " That the delegates from this Chamber urge on the Central Chamber the importance of discussing the desirability or otherwise of establishing uniformity in the weights and measures used in this country." Agreed to. Mr. Webb moved, " That the Central Chamber be requested to consider the best means of providing for the future mainte- nance of turnpike roads and highways." Agreed to. Mr. Varden moved, " That the Central Chamber be re- quested to ascertain the causes now in operation in this country which discouraged the application of capital to the improve- ment of farm land." Agreed to. THE LABOURING CLASSES IN TOWN AND COUNTRY. At the first meeting for the winter season of the Lavenham Farmers' Club, Mr. Barkway in tlie chair, Mr. Baker read the foUowiug paper : I think I may say this subject would not have been thought of had not some real or would-be philanthropists (as many members of tliis club last year thought at the time) cast a stigma and ill-reputation upon the agricultural labourers, which was done by some members of a conference held in London, at Willis's Rooms, to consider the position of the agricultural labourer. Well, then, the comparative position of the two classes is of a much wider range tlian mere appear- ance would suggest, for at first sight it may seem to those who know nothing of rural life, that the urban working classes are far in advance of the former ; but a little investigation will tend to show that tliat is not the fact, and that especially of the town unskilled labouring class, of which and the rural class I shall only deal in general terms. It is not to be wondered at that the town labourer should be considered the better ofi' when many talk as though the country labourer was or be- longed to a race of some inferior beings, when at a conference they were spoken of as " helpless and down trodden and de- pressed," and as much too " helpless " to help themselves, or possess any independence, on account of the aforesaid ignor- ance and helplessness. These are some of the epithets — shall I say aspersions — indulged in by some of the speakers of the above Willis's Rooms conference, who, if they would have taken the trouble to extend their vision, would have found such language not any more deserved by our rural than our urban population. This I think we shall be able to prove by looking on the one side, and then on the other. We will now come to the question of wages at the present time and in doing so I shall only draw a comparison between the agricultural labourer and the unskilled labouring classes in our towns, and shall deal, as a rule, only in general terms, and approximate as near as I can to a fair view of the two sides. I find that in , 1867 our country weekly labour wage was lis. per week ; in i 1868, 10s. ; in 1869, lOs. 9d. ; so we may fairly at the least take the average at lOs. per week for the last three years ; and the unskilled labour in our town populations from I2s. 6d. to 15s. per week, or say an average of I4s. per week ; and, whether the country wage is 9s. or lis., and the town labour 13s. or 15s., it will not materially affect their comparative or relative positions to each other. I contend, and I think I shall be able to show, that although our rural classes, as farm labourers, do not receive so much in a weekly money wage as the town labourers, yet with their harvest and other advan- tages, they more than equal those in the town. Amongst these advantages is that of having a cottage garden, in which, as a, rule, he can grow all his vegetables for his daily use ; in addition, there are great numbers who have allotments like- wise, and many get sufficient liedge stuff, with wood, roots, ?.■• ?,%^°"Sli firing, to carry them through the year— all of which the town labouring classes have to pay for in hard cash, and to this we may add the little item of gleaning corn to the country labourer's advantage and account. We will not say anything about piece-work and the additional earnings made thereby, with the exception of harvest, which is a material addition to the weekly income. Take a harvest at £6 5s. to £6 15s., for four weeks per man, it will add £4 lOs. to the IDs. per week, or make an addition to the lOs. of Is. 8Jd. per week, or lis. Sfd.per week through the year ; gleaning, which I have spoken of, and which is not to be picked up in the streets of our towns, is a nice little adjunct in aid of the neces- saries and comfort of our rural cottage homes ; and I think, when we have often heard of from two to four bushels per cottage being gleaned, we may fairly assume three bushels to be about an average, and, by taking wheat at iSs. per qr., this will be 18s., or say about 4jd. per week added to lis. 8fd., which will make 12s. id. per week ; the wood, scrap faggots, and rough stuff that arise through the winter months are fre- quently enough to be worth in many cases 6d. per week through the year ; nor can the urban labourers and cottagers supply themselves with vegetables, &c., of aU descriptions so plenti- fully and well for 6d. per week as the cottager in our rural districts can from his own garden, and this added to the above 6d. worth of. firing, and to the 12s. Id., wiU make 13s. Id. per week. Then there is the difference in the rental of the cottages in town and country to be compared, and here we shall find an important difference in favour of our rural and agricul- tural men ; in our country parishes they vary from Is. to Is. 6d. per week, or from £2 12s. to £4 per annum, whilst those of the urban class will range from Is. lid. to 2s. 7d. per week, or from £5 to £6 15s. per year, which in the agricultural class will give an average of £3 5s. and of £5 17s. 6d. for the town classes, or an advantage of Is. per week in favour of our country friends, which will make the 13s. Id. to 14s. Id. per week. Now, in striking a balance between the two sides of the question, the calculations as above will stand thus : Country Class. £ s. d. Porty-eight weeks, at 10s. per week 24 0 0 Four ditto, harvest 6 10 0 Gleaning, 3 bushels, at 48s. per qr 0 18 0 Rough fuel, wood, roots, &c., worth 6d. per week... 16 0 Vegetables, worth 6d. to 9d. per week, say 6d 16 0 Is. per week less rent 2 13 0 36 12 0 Town Class. Fifty-two weeks, at 143. per week 36 8 0 Balance in favour of country class , 0 4 0 But, to make it quite clear, I will take the above in another way. The farm labourer will get nearly all the wood fuel he requires, and he will only spend 6d. per week for coals against the town labourer, who will have to buy all liis fuel, which THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 409 cannot cost less tlian Is. per week for kindliug, coals, and so forth. The difference between the two classes will then stand thus : CouNTEY Class. £ s. d. Agricultural labourer, 4S weeks at lOs. per week... 24 0 0 Harvest, &c., four weeks 6 10 0 Gleaning corn, 3 bushels at 4;8s. per qr 0 18 0 31 8 0 Deduct — £ s. d. Fifty-two weeks' fuel at 6d 1 6 0 Rent 3 5 0 , 4 110 26 17 0 Town Cl.vss. Fifty-two weeks at 14s. per week 3G 8 0 Deduct— £ s. d. Fifty-two weeks' fuel at Is. per week 3 13 0 Vegetables, 6d. per week 16 0 Rent 5 17 6 ■ 0 15 6 26 12 6 Balance in favour of the country labourer 0 4 6 26 17 0 Now, thus far, it is quite obvious, comparing the two classes side by side, that our agricultural labouring friends need not feel at all humiliated in comparison with their town compeers, for the purchasing power of our country class, even taking them at the average wage of 10s. per week, is quite equal, if not superior to that of their competitors. I?ut if we take our horsemen, who, as many well know, earn from Is. to Is. 6d. and 2s. per week above the other men, the comparison is yet even more on the side of the rural class. Besides, many of the men spend more time in the year at piece work than by the day, and many thus with thrashing, draining, and haysel taken into account, earn from £2 10s. to £4 in addition to what I have calculated, and wliich would increase the balance in fa- vour of our country friends by that amount. We wiU just look at the physical and moral condition of the two classes, which may be very well taken into account ; and I do not think our agricultural labourers ought to be stigmatized as a helpless race, when we can see with regret that their fellow labouring classes, and the poor in the large towns, are, in too many cases, in a dreadful state of poverty, squalor, and wretchedness. By their overcrowding they become a debilitated and degene- rated race, a state of things which happily amongst the rural classes has no parallel. From what is stated by an able writer. Dr. Stallard, while writing of pauperism and the poor and labouring classes in London, which town he looks upon as " a magnified representation of all large towns," it would seem that the helpless dependence of these classes is so great that one-sixth of the population in the first half of 1868 received parochial relief. Speaking of the Holborn Union, Dr. Stal- lard says tlie physical condition of the labouring classes has undoubted ly degenerated ; of Bethnal-green he says the same. " I venture to assert," he says, " without fear of contradiction, that there is scarcely a native male adult in Bethnal-green who is fit for military service ; nowhere is the standard of com- fort so low." A very large proportion of the " debility, de- formity, disease, and premature deaths" amongst the London poor, as well as the want of stamina in after life, is owing to insufficient, irregular, and unwholesome feeding during the period of growth. The late Mr. Bryson, the town surveyor of Newcastle, strongly laments the want of good accommodation for the working class es. Mr. Errington, the registrar, writes that many of the houses in the overcrowded parts of Newcastle are wholly unfit for human beings. This is a representation of the state of our large urban labouring classes, who are often huddled together as thick as pigs, without any regard to sex. With reference to education, the rural labouring classes in some of our most purely agricultural counties are proved, by the Registrar-General's report, not at all behind some of the great manufacturing and mining centres ; for instance, in Westmore- land, out of those married, the men signed their names in tlie proportion of 89.1, and the women 85.3 per 100. The proportion in Rutland was 79.0 and 87.4 per 100 respectively ; while in manufacturing Lancashire the proportion was 76.8 for men, and 56.0 for women per 100. In mining and manu- facturing Staffordshire, it was G4.8 for men and 55.3 for women ; so that Lancashire men are behind Wesmoreland nearly 13 per cent., and Staffordshire is lower still ; but if any- one will take the trouble to look over the Registrar-General's report he will see that the agricultural and rural counties and districts are equal in their intelligence with the boasted supe- riority of the urban 'population in our manufacturing and trading counties. Then, again, if we look at the question from a sanitary point of view, the position I maintain is stiU carried out, for I am sure our country labourers are quite equal in health and robustness to the town labourers, and, indeed, their position is far preferable to that of the town labourers. In many of our rural districts I find, according to the Registrar- General's returns, the deatlis are annually from 16| to 17 for each 1,000 of the population, while in many of our large towns they vary from 21 to 40, making a difference in favour of the country of from 6 to 14 per 1,000. I am sure, if the question is looked at in a broad light, and the value of health and lon- gevity taken into account, it will be admitted that the coun- try labourer's position is the best, for he can breathe the pure air and live in a bracing atmosphere. If a man working in the fields is compared with one working in a factory, one perhaps even situate in the midst of a rural district, a vast difference wiU be found. I have been struck some- times by the difference in the appearance of the two, although sometimes they are members of the same family. The labourer looks robust, healthy, strong, and hale, while the factory hand is pale, squalid, and languid, and I be- lieve that this is the same throughout the two classes in all their varied ramifications. At the outset ot ray paper I referred to a conference at which men who might be presumed to know better— such men as Professor Fawcett, Canon Girdlestone, and others of that stamp— spoke of our labourers as being downtrodden and helpless. But there are instances in our own locality to which we can point, of men now occupying good stations in society, some of them almost equal with our own, and who have risen from the ranks to be substantial occupiers, of land, solely by their own industry, energy, and perseverance. This proves that these men are not slaves, but that they feel in common with all Enghshmen, that it is their duty to aspire and their privilege to excel. The Chaikmah : There is one item which Mr. Baker did not include in his calculations, and that was the allotments, acres of which are let to cottagers at a rent of about Is. per rod. Mr. BiDDELL : Mine only pay 6d. Mr. Orpen : I know some places where they get 40 rods for 8s. The Chaikmaw said : Newcastle-upon-Tyne had been men- tioned, and he would state from experience of three years' re- sidence in that town they would find nowhere stronger men, women, boys and girls. They would find houses there, too, as neat and as clean as he could wish to see. The people there, instead of living upon potatoes, as they did in this part of Suf- folk, lived upon oatmeal, broth, and peas, and their arms were twice as large as the country labourer's. In proof of this he might mention that a gentleman who had an estate in the North took some men there from Kent, but he found that they could not do anythiuglike the day's work that the North coun- trymen could. The badness of the town houses had been men- tioned, but perhaps it would have been better if that subject had not been mentioned at all, as he could find places in that very town (Lavenhani) which were not fit for a pig to live in. Then, again, he did not think it was fair to compare the rates of mortality in towns with those in the country, for wherever large manufactories were carried on people would be sure to go in search of employment; sometimes they would get work, sometimes not, and many of them were really starved to death. He thought the country places were as bad as the towns, as regarded overcrowding. A great deal was said about drainage, but he was persuaded one of the great causes of illness among tlie country people was overcrowding. He had been into houses where the father and mother, four or five grown-up boys and girls, and three or four children, all slept in one room. Mr. RiKDER said he was sure the Chairman would bear him 410 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. out when he said that half tlie workmeu did uot deserve nice re- sin ctable cottages, for they took no pride iu themselves or in their cottages ; they tore down the staircases and broke up the shutters to use for ftrewood. There really was no encourage- ment for any gentleman to build nice, respectable cottages. Mr. ViNCE said it must be borne in mind tliat these New- castle men who wers spoken of as being so strong, originally came from the couutry, and this might account, perhaps, for their deficiency in education. He could recollect the time, some years ago, when the people went from this county to the Nortli by scores aud hundreds. The CnAiiiMAN said lie must disagree with Mr. Baker, for he thought the state of education in the North was higher than it was here. Mr. Bakeii said he got his statistics from the Registrar- G-'neral's returns. The Chairman said wlien people were being married they were very shaky, aud it was a peculiar time to test their writing capabilities. He knew an instance where a clergyman who was being married actually made a cross instead of writing his name, and the lady did the same. Mr. Hawkins thought this was a very difficult subject for them, as a Farmers' Club, to discuss, for each kind of labour had its own merits, and each its own peculiar difficulties. From his experience he knew that the position of the agricul- tural labourer was far better than it had been in former years, and was iniuitely preferable to that of the town labourer. With regard to wages, he had taken the trouble to look through liis books for the past year, and he had taken three men as specimens of the rest — one his horseman, and the otiier two that he had long employed, and to whom lie was in the habit of putting out work by the piece. His son assisted Lim in making the calculations, and if anyone doubled his statements he would be willing to show the book, and prove tliat what he said was true. Tlie horseman's wages for last year — that was, from Michaelmas, 1867, to Michaelmas, 1S6S — exactly averaged 16s. id. per week ; and the other two men, after deducting the days lost from illness or pleasure — and it was generally more pleasure than illness — came to about 15s, per week. This year, as far as it had gone, his horseman's wages had been on the average, somcthiug like 16s., and the other men 14s. 91. per week. This subject was one to which all farmers must draw their attention if they wanted to get their work done, and, in liis opinion, the only way to attain that end was to put their work out by the piece. He would defy them to command labour. Their men were offered plenty of opportunities to go abroad ; the demand for labour was increasing, for much more was done to the land than formerly ; but they got heavier crops and more corn, and Ihey must give their undivided attention to the best manner in which they could get tlicir labour done. The only way in which he could see that this was to be accomplished was by means of piece labour, and the more they had of it the better it would be for them. He quite agreed with what had been said about the rent of the cottages. In his parish, and beyond its area his experience did not extend, good and healthy cottages were let at a shilling a week, msny of them with caj3ital gardens, which of themselves were almost sufficient to raise vegetables for the use of the family the year through. No man was in so comlortablc a position as the provident man in a rural district, who might earn, year in and year out, 15s. a- week. He was much more independent than a town labourer. As far as his experience went during tlje last few years, if any of his men wanted a day they had it. Some of tlie best men would come an I say they were going to take it, but many of the men never said a word about it, and he for one should never wish to mar their pleasure or prevent them enjoying themselves. Mr. Hinder said as far as his experience went, having cm- ployed both town and couutry men, he thought the country men by far the best. They were more respectable, and were always satisfied with the wages they received, while in the town they were always striking or doing something of that sort — one black sheep among them being quite sufficient to lead them all astray. Mr. ViNCE said he could confirm all that Mr. Hawkins had said about the wages earned by the men. He preferred em- ploying the best men he could get ; they did not require near so mucli looking after as the cheaper sorts. It was absolutely necessary that they as farmers should put out as much of their work as possible, for he was convinced by that means they got acre labour for their money. He had been a farmer for thirty years, he had spent a great deal of time amongst labourers, more perhaps than was necessary ; but that was his fancy, and he always found more was to be got by coaxing thau by scratching. There was another point which they ought to consider as farmers. Sometimes when flour was dropping the farmers were all talk about dropping the men's wages ; but he found that whenever he dropped the men's wages they wanted a great deal more looking alter, aud there was less work done. He did not agree with what had been said by Mr. Baker and Mr. Hawkins .ibout the gleaning and cottage gardens ; he did not think a garden would supply anything like enough vege- tables for tlie use of the family for the year ; but both the gentlemen he had mentioned were practical men, more so thau himself perhaps, and he could bear them all out in many of their observations. He for one was glad that this subject had been discussed, and he was sure they would all profit by it. Mr. Hawkins said when he lived at home with his father he remembered one harvest their horseman's wife and family gleaned four coombs of wheat, which was worth at that time S5s. a coomb. As to the gardens, he knew for a fact that some of the men living in his parish grew nearly vegetables enough to carry them through the year. Mr. BiDUELL thought the question had not been treated iu the right way. The comparison must be drawn between the uuskiUed labourer in town and country : skilled labourers like colliers ought not to have been mentioned. The dilTer- ence of wage between the two sorts of unskilled labourers could not, he thought, be put higher thau from 3s. to 4s. Hid, then, the disadvantages under which the townsman la- boured balance the diflference in wage ? In his opinion it did. He thought the country labourer was in a better posi- tion to obtain and enjoy tlie comforts of life than the labourer in the town. The main item of difference between the two was in house-rent ; and he thought that this, without the slightest exaggeration, miglit be put at Is. per week. The man in the couutry occupied a better house, with perhaps a garden, for £3 10s., than the townsman did for £G. He heard the other day of a man who had gone from Lavenham to a situation in London, aud whose wages were £1 a week, having to pay 6s. a week for two rooms, and those not situate in a remarkably pleasant locality, or having a beautiful pro- spect from the windows. Then the harvest, which he had not calculated in the difference of wages, made another addition of Is. Gd. per week. As to the allowance Mr. Baker had made for fuel, he thought as a rule the benefit did not nearly approach that sum. Threepence a week was quite sufficient. Mr. Baker : I know in many cases it is worth fully that. Mr. BiDDELL said the next thing in which the town la- bourer was at a disadvantage was iu uncertainty of employ- ment, which he certainly thought amounted to 6d. per week. There was another item, which it was very difficult to put into a money form — the loss of health from living in a town. But there was no doubt that the great excess of pauperism in the town over the country was due more to want of health than want of employment ; aud, as ill health meant loss of wages, it resolved itself at last into a money question. Tiiis could uot be put down at less than 6d. to 9d. per week ; and, adding all these items together, they fully balanced the ad- vantage the town labourer had over liis compeer in the country in the shape of wages. Although he did not wish to take more credit to the country people than was their due, still he thought the country labourers had more attention paid to their illnesses and other requirements than those in the town. In large manufacturing districts the labourers were always called " hands :" this was all their employers looked to ; and when their hands ceased to be able to earn money, then they were no more use to their masters, and they did not care where they went to, or what became of them. He must admit, however, that a man had a better chance of educating his children in the towns, lleferring to Mr. Barkway's ob- servations, Mr. Biddell said he really did not mean to contend that the inhabitants of towns were physically finer men than the country population. The Chairman : Mr. Baker mentioned Newcastle-upon- Tyne ; and I mean to say that you could not wish for a finer race of men than you see there. Mr. Biddell said there was overcrowding too, of which the Chairman had spoken. He thought that that evil existed THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. %n to quite as great an extent in the town as it did iu the country. Mr. Kinder : And to a greater extent. Mr. BiDDELL could not agree with ]\Ir. Kinder that, if a good cottage was built for a labourer and he was made com- fortable, he took no pride iu it. He thouglit tliat in nothing had the cottagers so improved of late years as in this. Twenty years ago a cottage with paper ou its walls could scarcely be found ; and now they existed by hundreds. Witli regard to what labourers earned, lie quite agreed with Mr. Hawkins. In lSi7 and ISiS lie was asked to search his books, and find what the better class of labourers earned. He found that a horseman earned from £11 to £43 per annum ; and a great many other persons who se.irched their books at the same time came to the same result, within a pound or two. Ikit the best answer to the question before tliem was given by the labourers themselves, for they could not be induced to leave tlie country for tlie town, so that he thought the conclusion tliey must come to was this — tiiat iinless tiiere was greater dilference between the wages of the two than 4s., the country labourer had much better stop where he was. Of course there were exceptions, in parishes where there were no schools and tlie masters were not very liberal ; but, otherwise, he did not think a man bettered himself by changing. Mr. H.vWKixs said in liis opinion the labourers were never so comfortable as they were now, and while piece-work en- abled the labourer to employ his wife and family. Mr. Baker proposed " That it is the opinion of this meet- ing that the position of tlie agricultural labourer in the county of Suflblk is superior to that of the unskilled labourer in large towns." Mr. Hitchcock seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. Mr. Baker said that the question of skilled labour in town and country had been mentioned that evening, and of course if that was taken into consideration, it would open a wide field for discussion, but he believed the position lie had taken with reference to unskilled labour might be as well maintained with reference to their carpenters, blacksmiths, wheelwrights, masons, &c. He knew an instance of a man who left the country to live in town as a gardener at 21s. a week, but he found it would not answer, and he returned again to his coun- try wages. In his calculation he had not taken into account the extra money a man made by piece-work, wliich would add from £i 10s. to X'4 to his yearly wages, and he had taken the wages at a dead level of 10s., whereas sometimes it was a good deal more. If they carefully examined his statements, he be- lieved they would lind nothing was overdrawn. The CiiAiRJiAN said he might mention that in three cot- tages in Brent Eleigh he once had eighteen people iU of the scarlatina, and there was only one bedroom in each. Mr. BiuuELL said perhaps one explanation of this was that the cottages were in Chancery. MANAGEMENT OF DAIRY STOCK. X At a recent meetirig of the Little Falls (America) Farmers' Club, " The Treatment of Dairy Stock to Produce the Best Results " was under discussion. The Hon. J. Shule said that fear creates a nervous excite- ment in the animal injurious to its prosperity, and conse- quently to that of its owner. Quietness, ease, and familiarity, aside from plenty of food and water, seem to be very essential elements for the production of increased profits in dairy stock. The food, its quality and quantity, the time and manner of feeding, require a careful attention to study ; that a good quality and sufficient quantity is necessary is admitted by all. f Grass is the natural food for dairy stock ; it may be in a green state or it may be dried. A plentiful supply of good nutri- tious pasturage, and a good supply of fresh spring water, are essentials for producing the best results ; and yet in a great number of cases this requisite is infringed upon by over- stocking— especially is tliis the case when dairy products command high prices. In tlie eagerness for gain, in many instances this essential — a full supply of food — is overlooked. There is a season of the year when pastures seem to yield a surplus of feed, and this sometimes leads to the habit of over- stocking. Mr. Shule said Ids experience was, that no more stock should be kept than could be well kept and well eared for. He would prefer fifteen cows well kept to twenty poorly kept. Mr. Shule regarded a comfortable stable properly ven- tilated as one of the first requisites in wintering slock. The temperature of the stable should be as even as it can be con- veniently kept. A tight stable with imperfect ventilation is nnhealthy for the cattle. Where many are kept such stables become warm and moist, and the air is offensive and ooisonous. Cattle kept in a stable that is tight and improperly ventilated will be aifected by the cold when turned out to water and exercise much more than when the air is kept pure aud fresh in tlie stable by proper circulation. Many dairymen make a practice of turning stock out of the stable in the morning aud leaving it out all day, let the weather be as inclement as it. may ; that practice should be discontinued. When the weather is pleasant and comfortable there is no objection to allowing stock tlie liberty of the yard during the day ; but in case of rains or storms the animals jshould not be left out longer than is necessary to slake their thirst at the water-vats, and it is important for the health and thrift of stock that the places for water be convenient and comfortable. The practice of compelling stock to make long journeys to some creek down in the lot has prevailed to some extent, and is to be de- precated. Tlie winter feed should consist of hay made from grass, cured or dried in the best manner, instead of allowing it to stand in the field and become hay for cutting. Experi- ments which he had made in feeding hay from early-cut grass and late cutting had abundantly satisfied him that the early cutting was altogether the best for stock. Stock will eat it up clean, while they will leave a part of that which is about ripe. Place the two kinds before the cattle and they will readily pick out the early-cut grass. There is more weight in the late cutting, but it is not so nutritious, the additional weight being made up of woody fibre of little or no value for food. The hours of feeding should be regular, and at each feeding a sufficient quantity should be placed before the animals to fully satisfy the appetite. The quantity wiQ vary according to the size of the animal from 171bs. to 201bs. of good hay per day. The frequency in feeding varies very much with dilFerent dairymen ; some feed twice each day, while others feed three, four, or even five times a day. From his own experience, and from inquiries as to.feeding iu different dairies, he had come to the conclusion that stock fed twice a day, morning and night, had wintered better than when the practice was to feed oftener. He thought the process of rumination and digestion requires tiie interval of the two feedings in a day, and that wlien food is frequently being supplied the appetite is dulled, the food is not properly digested and assimilated, wliile health would be more liable to be deranged. With regular hours in feeding the stomach performs its office with regularity, and the iu- icrval named prepares it for taking the next meal, and dispos- ing of it to the best advantage. Hon. Wm. I Skinner said he found a difference among the animals of his herd in the requirement for food. His best cows — tiiose that yielded a large quantity of milk— were more industrious, or at least spent more time in feeding, while at pasture, than the poor cows. They not only required more food, but needed it oftener than animals yielding a small. quan- tity of milk. He believed that a close observance of the manner in which cattle feed upon " flush pastures" in summer should be taken partly as an index as to' what would be best in winter feeding. In artificial feeding the nearer we can approach to the natural habits of the animal the nearer we shall be to the best practice. He favoured the system of feed- ing at regular hours and three times a-day — each feed in such quantities as to suit the appetite, and no more food sliould be given at a meal than the animals will eat np clean at that meal. Mr. Van Valkenburgii had for many years been in the habit of feeding hay twice a-day, morning and evening, with 412 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. straw in tlie yard at noon. The past winter he adopted a different course. The animals were fed six or eiglit times a- day, and with tlie very best results. Indeed, the animals this spring were never in better condition, and never yielded so large a quantity of miik. Hay was fed in the morning at about five o'clock, and after milking the cows were once more fed. At eight o'clock each cow received about two quarts of cut potatoes, mixed with a quart of meal (ground oats and middlings). This was fed regularly. The cows were then turned out to water, and if the weather was pleasant they were left in the yard three hours, then put to the stable and again fed. But if the weather was stormy they remained out only half-an-liour. Light feedings were given during the afternoon until four o'clock, when the animals were again let out to water, and at eight o'clock in the evening they received their last rations. Care is taken that at each feeding no more is given than they will eat up clean — say, in an hour-and-a-half from the time it is put before them. As a general thing, he said cows, after they " come in milk" during the spring, will shrink on an average a pound of milk per week. His, he said, had lost nothing. The average for each cow had been sixteen pounds of milk per day after skimming the night's milk. His hay was made from early-cut grass, and his dairy of thirty-one cows yielded as much milk, within fifty pounds per day, as the dairy of a neighbour numbering fifty cows. But this neighbour be- lieved in cutting his grass late and feeding after the old prac- tice. His neighbour's cows were in a much poorer condition than his own. He was so weU satisfied with the result of his system of feeding that he should continue the practice in the future. He should feed no more straw in the yard, as in former years, as he found it far more valuable when used as bedding in the stable for stock. Mr. Skinner said the quantity of hay required to winter a cow will vary, of course, according to the size of the animal. Small cows will eat less than large ones, but where the animals are of fair size, taking the herd together, it will take 2| tons of hay per head to bring the stock through in good condition. Mr. Whitman said the remark was often made that it cost no more to keep a good cow than a poor one. That was a mistake. It always cost more to keep a good cow. Cows that give large quantities of milk are great feeders. Watch the herd at pasture, and you will find the poor milkers much oftener lying down taking their rest than your best cows. These are the industrious ones of the herd, which are at work early and late, gathering up material to be manufactured into milk. Old cows, he said, would eat more than young cows. and the difference in the cost of keeping an old cow ovei* one that is young, is greater than most people imagine. In re- gard to the quantity of land required to pasture a cow during the season, the estimate of several present put it at from one and a half to two acres, on an average, for the country. Upon extra lands, where the pastures are freed of weeds, one acre perliaps will be sufficient, but such lands are not the rule. Mr. Van Valkenburgh stated that he could keep forty-two head on fifty-five acres, one year with another, and the animals be supplied with an abundance of pasturage. In all these esti- mates the after feed is not brought into account. There was a practice of recent introduction in the county, and of great importance in promoting the health of cows and increasing the profits of the dairy. This was carding the cows. The practice is as yet only limited in extent, but should be gene- rally adopted. It not only improved the health of stock, but led to habits of neatness and cleanliness about the stables that have an important influence in securing good clean milk dur- ing the spring moutlis. He would furnish cattle with scratch- ing posts in the yard, and place a pole firmly oii posts, with one end higher than the other to accommodate animals of different sizes, that they might pass under and scratch them- selves as desired. When these are erected you will soon find them polished from frequent use. Mr. Wait gave an instance of the great benefits resulting from the carding of cows in his father's dairy. Their condi- tion was greatly improved by the operation, and they came out looking fine in the spring. In turning cows to pasture in spring, the experience of members was that cows should be allowed to take the grass gradually until they become accustomed to it. It is injurious to turn cows at once from hay into flush pas- tures. The change is too sudden, causing them to scour, and otherwise endangering health. Mr. Skinner remarked that he had once made the experi- ment, and it was followed by much trouble in his herd — foot rot and other difiiculties prevailed. Since that he had made a practice of turning his stock upon pastures, very early— -just as grass begins to start. If the ground has settled and is not soft so as to be cut up by the feet of the cattle, there is no detriment to grass by turning out early. He did not believe it economical to keep cows in the yard until there was a " flush of feed" in pastures. Usually there was nothing gained; for if the weather is moist, and pastures are not overstocked, the grass springs up with great rapidity and will get ahead of the stock turned upon it, early producing quite as much feed as when the other course is adopted. THE TRANSIT OF CATTLE. At a meeting of the Cornwall Chamber of Agriculture, Mr. John Tremayne, the Chairman, expressed his regret there was not a larger attendance of the members. He could not help thinking that it would have been of material assistance to them if each member of the Chamber had received a copy of the communication that had been forwarded from the Privy Council, but that not having been done, they were now met together to give consideration to a subject of which they were absolutely ignorant, and he feared that they would not be able to do much that day in consequence. A letter had been received from Mr. Deeble Boger, who sent certain resolutions which he thought might be passed. The first was, " That both in the interests of humanity and in the interests of agricultu- rists and consumers, it is most important that the object spe- cified in the circular which has been received from the Vete- rinary Department of the Privy Council by the Cornwall Chamber of Agriculture, should receive the most careful atten- tion of the Chamber ;" and the second resolution was, " That this chamber is desirous of giving every assistance towards the attainment of those objects, and believing that the Executive Committee of magistrates forming the local authority, possess, through theif communications with the police and veterinary inspectors appointed by them, the best means of inquiring into the state in whiM cattle are landed and their subsequent treat- ment in transit, and in tlie suggestion of remedies, desire to refer the subject of the circular to the local authority, with the expression of the desire of the Chamber by means of a com- mittee of their own body to co-operate with the local autho- rity in any way it may please to think desirable." Mr. E. S. Tucker regretted that the attendance was not larger. He believed there was a law in nature that ['could be traced throughout the animal creation, that where a large number of animals were congregated together within a certain space, they were capable of generating the disease peculiar to that class of animals, and he would mention as an instance, in proof of what he said, that horses had been known to generate glanders during a sea voyage. It had long been his opinion that the lung disease, or pleiiro pneumonia, in cattle had oft- times had its origin on board ship. Various opinions had been given publicity to in the press and elsewhere as to the way in which animals should be best provided for in the shape of food and water during a sea voyage, or a f journey by rail- way, and this no doubt was a matter deserving of very serious consideration, but at the same time he looked upon it as being only of secondary importance when compared with the supply- ing of pure air to cattle confined within very small limits, and he thought the chamber would do well in expressing an opinion, to direct the attention of the Privy Council more par- ticularly to that point. In a recent article in the Mark Lane Express a writer, referring to the manner in which cattle were huddled together on board ship, said : " The condition of a hold filled with cattle or sheep a few hours after they have been put in must be actually examined to be fully appreciated, and the visitor must not be content with going merely down to THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 413 the foot of the ladder, or even take two or three steps towards the interior of the hoi J, as the stifling scusatiou experienced naturally suggests ; hut let him grope liis way to the back corners where nothing can be seen, but where the ventilation is worst, and where the quick breathing and constant moaning of the unhappy animals only truly indicate their sufferings, and I beUeve he will turn away sick at heart and astonislied that the animals can endure it." lie had not had an [opportunity of examining ships under these circumstances, but from what he had heard lie did not believe that the statements made in that article were in any way exaggerated, and where cattle suf- fered and were confiucd in that way they could not wonder that there should be disease among them. The only matter for wonder was that the poor creatures came out of the hold alive after such sufferings. He did not know what suggestions might be made for the provision of better railway and shipping accommodation for cattle, but lie would repeat that the atten- tion of the Privy Council ought especially to be called to the all important question of ventilation, the want of which had been the cause of much complaint for a number of years past. Until that was remedied they might depend upon it that they would never get rid of ijltv/ro p/ici/ii/oii/a. He supposed their funds would uot admit of such a thing being done, but if they had been in a position to do so he should have recommended the offering of a premium ior the best plan of a ship that could he constructed for the transit of cattle, the main object, of course, being the providing of proper ventilation. Mr. Peter said a letter had been sent to Mr. Woolcombe, chairman of the South Devon Railway, by Mr. Deeble Boger, but as yet no answer had been received, and at present he thought they were hardly in a position to answer the questions which had beeu submitted to them by the Privy Council. His own idea was that the best persons to be consulted would be those who were connected with the making of railway car- riages. Mr. Smith was of opinion that it was not a question which concerned them as farmers at allj hut on tl\e contrary, that it was a question for shipowners, or those who were interested in shipping. He thought it was a most extraordinary thing to ask a farmer in what way cattle should be treated while they were being brought by sea or rail from one place to another. Mr. Tucker said he was of opinion that the Privy Council placed too much reliance on inspectors, and he would mention that some time since he purchased two heifers at the Plymouth Market. At that time tliey appeared to be exceedingly well, but eight days afterwards ^/(?/'rci ^«e//;«o;;/(!: made its appear- ance, and they both died, and in addition to • this, his whole herd took the disease, and he was unable to get rid of it for more than twelve months. On another occasion forty bullocks were brought to Liskeard, and were said to have been landed on the previous day from Brittany. They met with a ready sale, and a neighbour of his purchased six, but a fortnight af- terwards they died, and, so far as he could ascertain irom en- quiries which he made, the whole forty that were sold died of the same disease, besides which scores of others in the neigh- bourhood died in consequence of coming in contact with them. Tnerefore, so far as inspecting went, he thought too much reliance ought not to be placed upon it, because the di- sease could not be detected at the time the cattle were lauded. The Cii.viRMAN admitted the importance and truth of what had fallen from Mr. Tucker, but thought it was rather foreign to the purpose for which the meeting ^had beeu called. The object which the Privy Council had in view was, in the in- terests of humanity, to devise the best means for alleviating the horrible sufferings of tiiose poor animals who were brought in ships from foreign ports to this couutry, and he thought the Chamber should confine itself to that. The Rev. R. Vautier then proposed the first of the resolu- tions which were prepared by Mr. Boger. This was seconded by Mr. Peter, who thought it was most important that we should get cattle brought to this country in a proper state. We had the usual feeling of men, that these animals should be treated with kindness, and he considered it most important that they should appoint inspectors as soon as the Act would permit Ihcm to do so, so as to be exceedingly careful that no diseased cattle were allowed to spread the infec- tion amongst us. In answer to a question from Mr. Vautier, The CnAiRMAN said the inspectors appointed at the time of the plague were re-appointed every year. Mr. Tucker said he believed everything in connection with the old Cattle Plague Act was revoked, and consequently no inspector appointed at the time of the cattle-plague could act now, unless he was re-appointed. The CiiAiRiiAN: It is incumbent for every petty sessional division of magistrates to appoint inspectors for their various districts. Mr. Langdon was of opinion that the Privy Council should appoint commissioners to see that every vessel employed for carrying cattle was provided with proper means for supplying pure air. The Chairman said the Privy Council already had power'to make orders for insuring for animals by sea to ports in Great Britain a proper supply of food and water during the passage and on landing ; for protecting them from unnecessary suffering during the passage and on landing, and to protect them also from unnecessary suffering during the inland transit. He did not see that the chamber could do much of itself ; all they could do was to co-operate with the local authority — which he was sure they would be most happy to do — in order that the local authority might make suggestious to the Privy Council. Mr. Simmons said that there was one thing which ought not to be lost sight of, and that was that if the Government im- posed any restrictions on English vessels the cattle would be brought over in foreign vessels. It was after the cattle were landed that the farmers should look to them. Mr. Vautier believed that from such places as Plymouth and Falmouth the chamber might obtain valuable information, and therefore he would suggest that they should do the best they could to aid the Privy Council in the object which they had in view. He thought they might be of great assistance if they conferred with the local authority, and in place of Mr. Boger'a second resolution he would propose the following : That this meeting desires to refer the communication of the Privy Conncil to the local authority, with an expression of their desire to co-operate with them in obtaining such informa- tion as will enable them to make suggestions to the Privy Coun- cil." Mr. Tucker seconded the resolution, which was carried, and the following gentlemen were appointed as a committee : Messrs. J. Tremayne, E. S. Tucker, Deeble Boger, E. Bull- more, of Budock; Sir Colman Rashleigh, Messrs. J. T. H. Peter, T. S. Boh the, and-E. PoUard. It was also resolved that a copy of the resolutions should be forwarded to the Clerk of the Peace for the county, and tliis terminated the business of the meeting. THE ALKALIES, SILICATES AND SALT. In the observations we have made upon artificial manures we have chiefly limited ourselves to a considera- tion of those powerful fertilizers ammonia and the phos- phates of lime ; but there are other bodies which claim our notice as their associates. These are the alkalies, silicates and salt. These have not received the- careful research which has been devoted to ammonia and phos- phate of lime, and as a consequence we are less fully acquainted with theii' action in relation to vegetation and the special functions they perform. We have evidence enough to prove that their influence is great, and in some cases very great, we therefore look forward in hope that at some future day we may be better acquainted with them, and render these more fully sub- servient to man's industry and skill. Under the tenn alkalies we here embody potash and soda, and these, although closely related to the alkaline earths, lime, magnesia, aaddumina, must beconsidered in- 414 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. dependeully of each other. The action of potash and soda in the soil is in many respects peculiar. We know that plants require a supply of cither or both of these bodies for building up their structures ; and they must be regarded as essentially necessary for promoting healthy growth. Thus far they must be considered as a food necessary for growth, and there is every reason to be- lieve that a healthy development cannot be carried on if both are absent. There is considerable diflferenee of opinion as to the power of these bodies to discharge in a partial degree the duty of the other when either may be absent. The general opinion is in favour of acknowledg- ing this power of substitution within certain limits. If for instance, a plant requiring a supply of potash should be placed upon land where there is no potash, it is more than probable that if soda were present in the soil the plant would take up the soda instead, but there would be evidences of an unhealthy growth, which the cultivator * would readily recognize. With our limited knowledge as to these impediments to fertility, can it cause any surprise that these unhealthy symptoms are so frequently observed? It is a sound principle of agricultural science that the productiveness of any land for the growth of a given crop is determined in strict relation to that essential of growth which is present in the least abundance. To illustrate this im- portant principle, take the case of a steam-engine : t he machinery may be all right, coal may be plentiful, but the supply of water is deficient. As soon as the water is exhausted the proceedings arc stopped for want of further supply. There may be a thousand tons of coal at hand, but nothing can be done until the water is supplied. The water, which was present in the least proportion, thus determined the work which could be done. It is exactly the same in the land, and it may be safely accepted as a rule that that essential of growth which is least abundant will determine the productiveness of the soil. A consideration of this fact will at once show how very important it is to know what is the weak point in a soil. If an engine were stopped for want of water it were folly to increase the already large store of coal ; so if a soil is checked in its productiveness because there is a very limited supply of the alkalies, would it not be very impolitic to add expensive materials which are already in the soil ? If we were dealing with materials which cost little, and which by their waste involved only a small loss it would be a different case ; on the contrary, we are expending heavy sums,and it is of vital importance to the farmer that what cash he does lay out should be judi- ciously expended. The man who can contribute to the success of agriculture clear guidance upon these diffi- culties will indeed confer a priceless boon, and go far to realise the perfection of economy in relation to ma- nures. These alkaline bodies — potash and soda — have also another remarkable influence upon soils. When any de- caying organic matter comes in contact with these bodies it undergoes a series of important changes. In the decay of organic matter we have certain acids formed in the soil, and when the decay has proceeded to any extent the presence of these acids impedes further decay. Thus we get a sour soil, which is sickly to vegetation, but if potash or soda be brought into the action it attacks these acids, depriving them of that corrosive and irritating character which checks vegetation, and by the agency of these injurious acids the potash or soda enters into the vegetable growth, contributing to its luxuriance. These noxious acids thus cease to injure vegetation, and finally become promoters of growth. There is a very interest- ing example of th s influence in the case of wood ashes applied to clover-iick land. The energy of growth shown by the clover after its application has often been noticed, and the action is commonly referred to the clover needing supplies of potash. To a certain extent this may be strictly true, but it is probable that much of its valuable influence may be traced to the fact that in its transit through the soil the potash removed the decaying organic matter and vegetable acids which had been so irritating to the clover, and had so effectually checked its growth as to render the land clover sick. The same rule will hold good upon other land which may have become sick of any other crop if it arise from organic acids in the soil. This is a most important con- sideration, which is daily becoming more and more serious in its influence ; there is an increasing shyness in land for producing a succession of green crops, to which we have recently referred somewhat fully. Some scientific men have urged that it is simply a matter of exhaustion, but the farmer says the land is sick, and we doubt not he is right. There is a reluctance to yield a succession of certain crops ; and if this can be overcome by some purifying agent which is also a valuable fertilizer, we shall have gone far to solve what has of late become a difficult problem. Enough has probably been said to show that in the alkaline salts of patash and soda we have most important agencies which have been very much disregarded, and which offer great inducements for further scientific in- vestigation in conjunction with well arranged field ex- periments. We have been too much carried away with' the idea that the valuable constituents of our artificial manures are the ammonia and phosphate of lime. It is perfectly true that they are very valuable, but vegetation does not limit its demands to these, neither can the agri- culturist. The style of farming which is now practised presses hard upon the capabilities of the soil, and conse- quently the deficiencies are the more promply brought to light. It is these weak points which most need our attention ; for, as we have already shown, these truly regulate the lesult. Here is a frequent cause of our want of success, and here we shall find an explanation of much which is now a trouble and loss to the farmer. Thus shall we gather from our failures profitable in- struction, and thereby render successful practice more certain and economical. SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION OF HAYSTACKS.— Mr. Mechi says : " A lamentable, but easily preventable, destruction of food and valuable property is occurring in this aud, I fear, many other counties by the partial, or total, spon- taneous combustion of haystacks. The crop this year is unusually heavy, and for want of sufficient manipulation, or hay shaking, the grass has failed to lose 60 out of the 75 per cent, of water that it contained. The consequence is a generation of confined steam and a partial carbonization or total combustion of the stack, and, in some cases, of the abjoining buildings. About three years ago a farmer contrived a simple mode of prevcEtion, which was manufactured by a large Suffolk firm, and which I at once purchased at a cost, I think, of 3Ss. It is simply an iron pipe of 2^ inches in diameter, riddled with holes, and having a pointed wooden nozzle. This is driven horizontally into the stack where any undue heat is suspected, the pent up heated steam finds its way into the pipe, and passes at once along it to the outside, where an elbow pipe is attached to give it an upward aud better draught. When the weather is cool, the elbow is occasionally removed to get rid of the water resulting from condensed vapour. No one need have an injured stack, or deteriorated hay, if this simple instrument be used. The pipe may be withdrawn by a horse when no longer required in the stack. By watching tlie stack at dawn of day, or by the suspicious aroma, one may always have due warning of danger." THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 415 A FARM OF ONE ACRE "What answer sliall we — what au3wer will Lord Stanley give to Mr. Nevill's proposition — If an acre can be made to pay a high rent and maintain one family, why should not a thousand acres do the same, and main- tain a thousand families ?" This question as bearing upon the tenure of land has been put through the columns of The Times in a letter bearing the signature not of Mr. Beales, not of Mr. Odgcr, nor of Mr. Finlen, but of Mr. Chandos Wren Iloskyns, one of the members for Hereford. But Mr. Hoskyns is something more than member for Hereford, as, indeed, he is scarcely to be thus identified, lie is the rather a member of the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, he is the author of sundry smart little books and pamphlets on the requirements of modern farming, and he seldom makes a speech but that he " babbles of green fields." In fact, like Mr. Mechi, Mr. Wren Hoskyns is an oracle with the outside world on anything relating to the proper advancement of agriculture ; and in a recent number of the The Gardene/s Chronicle we find in a leading article such honourable mention as this : " When will the majority of farmers see this question [of long leases] in the same liberal light in which it has been regarded and presented by, let us say, John Grey and Wren Hoskyns ? — to choose > our representative men from at once the living and the dead. It may be long before the views of such men are generally adopted, but they are the growing opinions of the day." Here we have Mr. Hoskyns placed before us as the very highest possible authority, not for mere ama- teurs or outsiders, but for the "majority of farmers," as a man whose views may take time for adoption, but which, as we are clearly given to understaud, will be even- tually realized. And this very Mr. Hoskyns asks with an air of triumph, " Why should not a thousand families live upon a thousand acres of land?" and he wishes to know what Lord Stanley, after his tirade against small holdings, can say to such a proposition ? But he goes even further, and in a great measure answers his own question before he puts it — the more especially where he says, " it is very certain that the labourer can live and pay a higher rent where the farm capitalist would be ruined." All this sounds so like sheer nonsense, even when ap- plied to Ireland, about which unfortunate country more nonsense than ever has been written of late, that our ad- miration comes to be pretty equally divided between Mr. Hoskyns at writing such a letter and The Times on giving this insertion. But our contemporary was kind only to be cruel, and the following little foot-note is appended to the very remai'kable communication from the honourable member for Hereford : " We should have thought the answer to Mr. Nevill's proposition, as well as to our corres- pondent's argument, might be found in the history of the po- tato famine. But such lessons appear to be soon forgotten." The Editor and his agricultural correspondent are here manifestly at issue ; the one implying that the cottier tenant has never been able to live through any great pressure, the other saying outright that " the labourer can live and pay a high rent where the farm capitalist would be mined." Mr. Hoskyns, in advancing this extraordinary statement, may say that he is speaking only of Ireland ; but as The Times shows, the contradiction is as ready available there as elsewhere ; as, perhaps, any- thing more generally or absolutely fallacious never was uttered. In fair weather the labourer may live and pay his rent, but under any adversity of season it is capital alone that can pull a man through. The case of the cottier is the case of the small farmer, as it is the case of the small shopkeeper; he just struggles on, living from hand to mouth, and sheer want of means will beat him when the clouds gather and his little crop fails. It is only right, however, to hear Mr. Hoskyns out. As an agricultural light, he has gone for deep cultivation, steam cultivation, and all that kind of thing ; as he has evidently at heart something of a contempt for our tardy progress in farm practice. And are we to devclope our resources more certainly and more speedily by the one family on the one aci-e ? Talpa would seem to say so, though not precisely by the same agency : " Does any- body suppose for a moment that the steam plough can rival the spade, for instance, in the quantity of produce ? Or that the spade could not well afford to pay four times as much for an acre as the steam plough, even on Mr. Smith's (of Woolston) system can do, by reason of the far greater bulk and frequency it commands ? The ' j)ctite culture' can obtain many crops while the steam horse is getting one. And as to meat production (to us by far the most important problem), the quantity of beasts fed and meat produced per acre is far gi'eater in Belgium than in England. Is it not probably true,that small farms, and farms of every intermediate size, have their place and use in creation as well as large ones, and that any law or system that would establish an agriculture based upon either extreme is ipso facto to be condemned ?" Of course the point to arrive at here is the sixe of a small farm. A lady who once wrote a kind of companion to the Chronicles of a ClayEarm called it Our Farm of Four Acres; while Mr. Hoskyns, with his dependence on the spade, his frequent crops, his 'petite culture, and the ability of the labourer to swim where the employer would sink, goes almost as directly for Our T'arm of One Acre. It may be as well for the moment to put Belgium and other foreign parts, for very many reasons, out of the question ; but here, in the United Kingdom of England and Ireland, small farming is very generally associated with bad farming. The people lack alike the means and the intelligence to do better ; and of this we may give a very home example to Mr. Hoskyns, not only as an agri- cultural authority but as a member for Hereford. A pri\ ate meeting of clergymen has recently been held in West Herefordshire, with a view of improving the con- dition of the labourer, when, amongst other remedies suggested, it was moved that education should be made compulsory, and even so extended as to include the small farmers ! This is in itself something of a point ; and in our paper of only last week we gave a letter, writtten by Mr. Evan Davies, from the adjoining county of Salop, in which he says, " I have now in my mind's eye some of these small farms, and I have no hesitation iu saying that the surplus supply of food for the people per acre is five times greater on the large farms abutting them. Talk of a labourer upon every fifteen acres ! Why, our very crack farmers, who cultivate theirfarms with the exactness of the gardener, do not require more than three labourers to every hundred acres." All this would seem to come in strange contradiction to Mr. Wren Hoskyns and his facts ; but Mr. Davies is answeriog a clergyman, not an M.P., and in Westmoreland still more recently another reverend gentleman went quite as strongly for the small holdings. " The county," he said, " deserved great 416 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. credit, in an agricultural point of view, for the distin- guished position in which it was placed by the perseve- rance and frugality of the small farmers whose rent did not exceed £100 per annum. It was a proud thing for them that there were such farmers to be found, and he should be sorry to .see the numbers of such an estimable and independent class of men diminished." This was all very prettily put, but unfortunately the speaker went on to more thoroughly define the great credit due to the small farmers of Westmoreland from an agricultm'al pointof vie w : " They might not produce the best cattle or sheep or horses, but they could at all events produce fine sons and daughters." This is something like Lord Granville's famous hard- working curate, about the most prolific animal in creation ; but we will not say how far such Icind of produce enters into the calculations of Mr. Wren Hoskyns, when going for one-acre farms in the land of milk and honey, or other- wise of buttermilk and potatoes. About the best letter yet written on the Irish Land Question is one from Lord Portsmouth, who says : " In England the landlord finds all buildings ; in Ire- land he fiuds none. The Law in Ireland ought to accord with the Custom, and should allow the tenant liberty of removal. This would practically award com- pensation to the tenant for buildings erected by him." This alteration or Custom, it will be remembered, was adopted on the recommendation of the English Tenant Right Committee, which took evidence in 1848. We will not have the temerity to attempt to single out the most impracticable or absurd contribution which has been made to this, the question of the day ; but so far from regarding Mr. Wren Hoskyns as one of " the representative men of agriculture," we do hope that it will be long before the views of such a man on such a subject are " generally adopted," as we certainly cannot consider these to be " the growing opinions of the THE GROWTH OF SUGAR BEET. LAVENHAM FARMERS' CLUB. The judges in tliis competition, Mr. Fish, of Hardwick, and Mr. Alen, of Lavenham, have sent in their awards. There were ten entries for the sweepstakes of £5, but only five lots were judged, the others not considering their crops of sufficient merit. The results were as under : Names. Weight per rod. Weight of tops. Roots per rod. G. S. Mmnforcl, Lavenham... R. Edgar, Cockfield St. Lb. 15 0 19 0 144 0 13 0 21i 0 13 9 St. 8 H Si 6 9J 6 165 175 R, Hawkins, Milden, First field 183 Second field T. Hitchcock, Lavenham W. BiddeU 160 182 132 The sweepstakes was therefore awarded to Mr. Hitchcock. The subjoined letter had previously been addressed to the Club by Mr. Fish, one of the judges : " It is somewhat early to judge the beet, as I presume we shall have to test it by weight, as much as with the eye. It is still growing very fast, and a month's dry aud hot weather to finish and mature growth is now needed, and to secrete a full per-centa^e of sugar. After severe hurricanes of wind and deluges of rain we may be favoured with fine autumn weather. If so there is but little fear of the crops turning out well, although iu some respects this season has been a most unfa- vourable one for sugar beet growth, the incessant and violent alternation from heat to cold having a great tendency to make the plants pull up into seed, instead of kindly swelling out into sugar, or molasses, Ion will likewise have to beware of too early harvesting this year. The crops will be, and indeed are in fact, from a month to sis weeks later than last season, and it must not be forgotten that the ripeness is an important element in determining the amount of sugar. Other con- ditions being equal it may almost be laid down as an axiom that later the matured the crop the more sugar it will yield, and vice versd." Mr. William Barber, secretary of the Club, has received from the Director of the Crown Agricultural Estab- lishments of France, in reply to an invitation to take part in the exhibition of sugar beet -root, a letter stating that the in- vitation would have beeuacceptedwithpleasure had the Imperial farm cultivated that root, but as they are situated on some of the poorest land in France they hfive not yet attained a state of profitable culture. THE SHREWSBURY GENERAL MARKET AND CORN EXCHANGE. With the opening of its new General Market and Com Exchange commences, let us hope, a new era of com- mercial prosperity for Shrewsbury, and if this consum- mation be uhimately attained, the £40,000, which, from first to last, has been expended in the building and in the purchase of the site, may be looked upon as a very good investment, in- asmuch as the income will exceed £3,500 a year, and thus pro- mises to be more than wiU repay the interest of the money borrowed, besides making provision for its repayment, by yearly instalments, in thirty years. Only a few years ago the proba- bilities of our obtaining a new market were very gloomy. A favourable opportunity, however, presented itself, and with the assistance of a few independent men of both sides, the Mardol Head or Shoplatch scheme was fairly launched, but with nearly the whole Council dead against it. But time, as usual, worked wonders, and as the misapprehensions which surrounded it gra- dually cleared off one by one, so, one by one, the opposing schemes also disappeared, leaving Mr. S. P. Smith's Pride Hill site its only opponent. But it had stUl a trying ordeal to go through, and having fought a brave battle with Pride Hill, be- fore Mr. R. Rawlinson, C.E., the Government Inspector, and obtained his approval, on account of its being surrounded with fine and open approaches on all sides, the Council reluctantly accepted the Mardol or Shoplatch site, after one more inefl'ec- tual struggle with Pride Hill. From the first the market, on its present site, has been the victim of unforeseen difficulties and dangers, which cropped up one after the other, and which have, unfortunately, tended to delay its opening for twelve months ; but as the difficulties arose, they were firmly grappled with by the market committee, and the smooth water has at length beeu reached, and the revenue which the committee foreshadowed as certain to be realised by the letting of the shops, vaults, und stalls has been more than realised. We have spoken, as yet, of the market proper, but there is stU] a most important portion of the building, which from nearly all parts of the town makes itself singularly conspicuous — we allude to the Corn Exchange. It was well thought that no General Market for the town would be complete which did not include a Corn Exchange, standing, as Shrewsbury does, the centre of a large agricultural district ; but, as the town was not in a po- sition to find the amount required, a difficulty arose, only, like its predecessors, to be at once dispersed ; for the agriculturists of the county at once nobly came forward and saved all further anxiety on this point by offering to subscribe among themselves the required amount (£3,500), provided a lease for thirty years could be secured to them, and it is upon these terms that the Shrewsbury Exchange Company hold possession. Now, al- though the gross amount of £41,000 actually expended upon the building, its site, and approaches, appears to be considera- ble, that amount is clearly entitled to several credits. What- ' ever site had been selected, it is clear the same amount of ac- commodation must have been provided, since the CouncU had for many years past settled that a market of less area than 3,000 square yards would be useless, and there would liave been httle or no difference in the ultimate cost. If we deduct the cost of widening Shoplatch (£5,000), and the sum raised by the EschangQ Company (£3,500), we shall fiud.that the Market, THE FAEMBR'S MAGAZINE. 4iy Corn Escliange, vaults, site, &c., &c., liave been cheaply pur- chased by the town at about £35,000. This edifice has not been the work of a party, but of one united effort of all sections of the community to secure the progress and prosperity of tlie county town. Tlie opening of the market was inaugurated by a dinner, when the Mayor of Shrewsbury presided.— i5'/»'e?c,y- Ivri] Chronide, THE HEREFORDSHIRE CHAMBER OF AGRICULTURE. A special meeting of the members of this Chamber was held in Hereford, Sir H. Croft, Bart., M.P., in the chair. The Ch.ur.m.vn directed attention to the subject for discus- sion, and then suggested that the opinion of the Chamber should be taken on the subject of a larger and better situated room than the one now rented in Oifa-street being obtained for the use of the Chamber. The lion. bart. gave some figures as to the actual income of the society and the expenses which had been incurred, and pointed out that many members had not paid their subscriptions. Mr. Vaughan thought that if the society was in the rotten state which it would appear to be, it had better follow the ex- ample of certain insurance offices and apply for a " winding-up" order. He was quite sure that nineteen out of every twenty members woutd cheerfully pay their subscriptions ; but the fact was that written applications were apt to be cast aside, and afterwards the matter slipped the memory. Wliat was wanted was an agency which would come in direct personal contact with the farmers, and if that could be effected there would be no difficulty. He considered that it would be a calumny on the farmers and on the county at large, if they were to be " beared" at every meeting by the statement that the Chamber was in debt ; and he was satisfied that with a machinery of personal application there would be no diflSculty in getting in the sub- scriptions. Mr. Downing moved that the proposer of every new mem- ber should be responsible far his subscription for the term of one year. The Chairman thought that Mr. Downing had better give notice of motion to discuss that question at the next meeting, and Mr. Downing concurred, and was understaod to give the requisite notice. The Chairman trusted that no one would suppose he wished to stigmatise the farmers of the county. All he had done was to point out the simple fact that a large number of the members had not paid their subscriptions. The Chamber then proceeded to consider the circular letter from the Privy Council asking for information upon the transit of stock. The discussion was a prolonged one. The greater propor- tion of of the members who were present at the opening of the meeting dropped away one by one, and the business was left to be settled by some eight or nine of the members. Mr. DucKHAM proposed a resolution which, after one or two slight additions suggested by Mr. John Morris, assumed the following form ; " That it is essential that a Government in- spector sliould be appointed who should rigidly enforce clean- liness and prevent overcrowding in trucks on the various rail- ways throughout the kingdom. That no animal should in any case be more than twelve hours in a railway truck without being provided with both food and water. That the various railways should publish time-tables, setting forth the time at which their trains will leave their stations, in order that the facility of transit may be promoted, which should be in all cases as rapid as possible. Mr. Burrows seconded the resolution. The Chairman, while admitting that many valuable prac- tical suggestions were contained in the resolution, thought the appointment of a committee of inquiry might result in good, as their investigations might lead to further practical suggestions which it was desirable should be acted upon. Mr. DucKHAM aud others adhered to the opinion that no practical good would be attained by the appointment of a eoHUttittee, aud, the resolutioa was agaiu reatl by the juoyer at the request of the Chairman, but it was not formally put and adopted, for the few members who were then left simulta- neously rose to take their departure, and the Chairman did the same. The Secretary, however, called attention to the fact that the business was not finished, as tliere was a deputation to the next meeting of the Central Chamber to be appointed. No proposition was made, but it was understood that Mr. Duck- ham, who would be present, should represent the Chamber. THE NORTH RIDING CHAMBER OF AGRICULTURE. An adjourned meeting of the committee appointed from the Council of the North Hiding Chamber of Agricul- ture was held at York, when a report, which contained the following recommendations, was adopted : 1, That trans- port vessels be so constructed as to have a sufficiency of space, ventilation, and disinfection ; 2, Pigs and sheep not to exceed 20 in a pen, and cattle tied-up ; 3, That holds and decks be properly ventilated; 4, That the flooring be made double, vidth moveable gratings let in the upper floor to receive the fluid excreta of the animals, and that disinfecting materials be placed below the grafmgs ; 5, A good supply of sawdust or other disinfecting absorbents to be scattered on the floor, to act as a sure foothold for the cattle, and the vessel to be dis- infected every journey ; 6, A suitable supply of food and fresh water ; 7, On landing after their sea passage, the cattle to be placed in isolated sheds or yards provided with water, fodder, medical stores, and veterinary attendance ; 8, All cattle, sheep, and pigs coming from foreign ports should be immediately slaughtered on their arrival at British ports. ESSEX CHAMBER OF AGRICULTURE. The question of pauperism was introduced here by Mr. J. D. Burder, of Braintree, who moved, "That in the opinion of this chamber, pauperism is gradually increasing in this country, which may be ascribed to a relaxation in the administration of the present poor law, and that it is only by a strict adherence to the fundamental principle of the law that an increase in pauperism can be prevented ;" but the following amended resolution was adopted, " That in the opinion of this meeting the pauperism of the country is an evil which needs the earnest attention of agriculturists generally, with a view to benefiting not only the ratepayers, but also the working classes themselves." On the motion of Mr. W. Sandle, seconded by Mr. Scratton, it was resolved, " That in the opinion of this chamber, the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, 1869, should be put in force at the earliest possible opportunity, and the chamber begs to call the attention of the Court of Quarter Sessions to the necessity of appointing an inspector in every petty sessional division, and expresses a hope that the police will be employed as much as possible for thia purpose." FARMING A PRECARIOUS BUSINESS.— The first element of uncertainty consists in the variation of the seasons. Seldom, in this country, do farmers have a really good year. Last year's wheat crop was magnificent, but other crops were scanty ; and large numbers of sheep and cattle were sent to market in half-fat state for want of provender caused by the great heat and long-continued drought. Straw, too, was very short. This year, though cattle food is abundant, the wheat will turn out but in- different, and wheat is in most agricultural districts the money-producing crop. And if we take a longer series of years, the influences of variation of seasOM would be 418 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. A "FEEDING" ANIMAL. What should guide our choice in the purchase of stock bought for feeding ? T would first say, never buy culls — it is the worst thing a grazier can do, for although they may appear cheap, they really are not so, for they are either ill-proofed, and consequently will not do justice to the food they eat, or (especially in the case of sheep) they liave received a check, and as they begin to thrive, so surely do they begin to die. As an instancv! that I am not alone in this idea, I may men- tion the case of an eminent grazier — I believe it was the late Mr. Trinder, of Wantage— who always after purchasing his dilfereut lots of grazers, the best he could find, looked over them, and picked out all those he considered as not likely to fatten well and quickly, and sold them to a dealer at the best price he could get. It may be asked, who is to fatten the ill-bred and cull animals P I wUI answer that the more they are at a discount, the more careful will breeders and dairymen be to improve their stock, and so avoid keeping that kind which graziers dislike to buy. One of the best points to guide a grazier in the purchase of his stock is that of a well-formed head, with a full yet mild eye. We generally find in all animals, if we can get that, we are tolerably sure to have with it a well-made frame and an aptitude to fatten ; and why P Because it is a proof that such animals are well bred, and thus have good qualities. Of course there may be exceptions ; for instance, we may meet with thin-fleshed ones, or what are called shelly ones. They should be at once rejected ; indeed, we cannot do better than study Mr. llham's description of a well-made frame. He says, speaking of cattle : " There are certain forms and appearances which are anatomically con- nected with a perfect conformation of the body, and especially of the organs of respiration and digestion. Of this kind are a wide chest, well-formed barrel, strong and straight spine, hip- bones well separated, and length of quarter — all which can be proved to be essential to tlie perfect functions of the body. Small and short bones in the legs give firmness without un- necessary weight. A thick skin well covered with hair insures proper warmth, and its soft loose feel indicates a good coat of cellular substance underneath, which will readily be filled with deposited fat. All these are indispensable points in an ox which is to be profitably fatted, and whatever be the breed, they will always indicate superiority." With regard to sheep, we liave Mr. EUraau's opinion of the necessary shape and quality of the Southdown, and Jlr. CuUey's opinion of the points necessary to be observed in the purchase of Longwools. Mr. Ellraan, after describing the shape of the head, etc. (beautiful and living specimens of which are to be seen in the sheep which so often browse in Lord Bathurst's park), goes on to say : " The neck should be of medium length, thin towards the head, but enlarging towards the shoulders, where it should be broad and high, and straight in its whole course above and below ; the chest wide, deep, and projecting between the fore- legs, indicating a good constitution and a disposition to thrive; the shoulders on a level with the back, and not too wide above, but bowing outward from the top to the breast, leaving room for the springing rib behind. The ribs coming out horizontally from the spine, e.xtending far backwards, and the last rib pro- jecting more than the others ; the back flat from the shoulders to the setting on of tlie tail ; the loin broad and flat, the rump long and broad, the hips wide ; the space between them and the last rib on either side as narrow as possible ; and the ribs presenting a circular form like a barrel." Furtlier on he says : " The meeting of the thighs should be particularly full aud the bones fine, but having no appearance of weakness." Mr. CuUey's description of the proper form and character a long- wool sheep is very similar. He says : " The head should be long, small, tapering towards the muzzle, the eyes prominent, but with a quiet expression. The ears thin, rather long, and directed backwards : the neck full aud broad at its base, gradually tapering towards the end, the neck seeming to pro- ject straight from the chest, so that there is, with the slightest possible deviation, one continued horizontal line from the rump to the poll ; the breast broad aud full, aud there should be no uneven formation where the shoulders join either the neck or the back, particularly no rising of the withers or hollow behind the situation of tiiose bones." Then he speaks of the chest, barrel, and quarters, in the same strain as Mr. ^/n ^^E^'^i^^'y mentioning that the thighs should be wide ana full. In the same way with store pigs, regard must be had to their general good quality, and hence to their breed, if we wish to make pig-feeding pay ; and although we may not be able to find grazing stock generally to bear out in all points the descriptions I have quoted as given by Mr. llham and others, yet I would suggest that in buying to graze, buy good ones of the sort, wliatever the breed and whatever the descrip- tion. One thing we should never lose sight of, and that is that the public, aud as a consequence the butchers, want plenty of lean meat with the fat, therefore we should always select those animals which carry, or are likely to carry, plenty of natural flesh, as well as have an aptitude to fatten. It does not, in my opinion, come within the province of this lecture even to suggest the particular breed which is most to be re- commended, as we all hold our different opinions ; and, indeed, each breed has, I suppose, its particular merit. Possibly particular soils and difference of climate may cause this or that breed, even of cattle and pigs, to suit this or that particular county, and most certainly does this happen with regard to sheep. For instance, long-wools, the pride of the Cotswold country, will degenerate, and in point of fact are profitless in parts of Wiltshire, in Sussex, and, it may be said, in the Southdown counties. I can mention an instance. My late father, as a young man farming in this neighbourhood, left it for Wiltshire. He had a partiality for the Cotswolds, and took them with him ; but he was obliged to change in a very little time, as they lost their size, and the fleeces were almost all cotted. — 3Ir. W. J. Edmonds, in the Cirencester College Fapers. THE RIGHT HON. W. E. FORSTER. A sketcher, in London Sociefy, last month, deals with the Treasury Bench, aniong the occupants of which he thus notices the Right Hon. W. E. Eorster, M.P.: "Mr. Forster has au here- ditary fame, for liis father, for more than fitly years, was a pro- minent member of the Society of Friends, and died as au anti- slave missionary in Tennessee. He, too, has made a great re- putation within the present decade — perhaps no statesman more so within the last six years. He sits for Bradford, hav- ing failed for Leeds. Mr. Forster is said to be unpopular to a degree among those with whom he is brought into business negotiations. This is the more unfortunate since, as Vice- President of the Committee of Council of Education, he suc- ceeded a nobleman — Lord llobert Montagu — of whose kind- ness and courtesy all men said all good things. Lord Robert's appointment as Minister of Education was deservedly popular ; even Mr. Lowe gave it nothing but warm praise. Yet Mr. Forster is a man of the very highest ability — only perhaps with too much consciousness of it — and there is a great admi- nistrative work which he may discharge in his high oflice. If he is surly it is a surliness of the honest kind. He is, next to Bright, and before Mr. Milner Gibson became lazy and ineffec- tive, the most conspicuous member of a school of politicians curiously identified with the north of England. Like Mr. Bright he is a Quaker ; but while Mr. Bright's vehemence, bitterness, and unfairness make him contrast most strongly witii the peaceable principles of the Friends, Mr. Forster has an honest intellect of his own. He is a true^friend of the peo- ple, and his object is not to flatter but to serve them. Mr. Bright affects to love the people, and after a fashion he does so, but in great measure uses them as dummies to effect his pur- poses, and sides against tliem to promote the special interests of his own order, the large moneyed employers of labour. Mr. Forster, in class one of the capitalists, is in symjiathy one of the operatives. It has been truly said, that while Mr. Bright's imagination is full of the social aristocracy he iiates, Mr. For- ster's is full of the working classes whom he loves. He has given to the trades unions a support and appreciation very rare indeed for one of his class to give. Mr. Bright would trample down with the sheer brute force of multitudes a mino- rity of rank, thought, culture, and refinement, with the kind of savage joy with which a conqueror would contemplate a sacked and burning city, but Mr. Forster frankly told the w^orking- men that he thought the representation of minorities was right in principle. It was a geuer.al relief to all public men to find Mr. Forster so honourably aud completely exonerated in the matter of the Bradford petition ; and the deep appreciation, of , his services at Bradford, so much re-echoed in the wider sphere of English opinion, shows that Mr. Forster is becoming a power ia tlie country." THE FARMER'S MAGAZLNE. 419 THE FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE. The first meeting of the members of the Newbury Farmers' Club, after the recess, wus lield at the White Hart. Mr. F. Everett, of Shaw Dean, the President of the Club, occupied the chair. Mr. \V. C. Bland, veterinary surgeon, of Speeuharaland, read the following paper on the Foot-and-Mouth Disease. I shall first of all say a few words upon the names that men of science have given to this disease, in order to make them plainly understood; theu upon its nature, its origin, causes, its symptoms, duration, and terminations, concluding with a few suggestions as to the general treatment of the diseases. The malady in cattle now under consideration, has been termed by medical authorities, eczema epizootica, and epizootic aph- tha. Now the word eczema means a disease characterised by an eruption ; epizootic means a disease prevailing among the lower animals ; epizootic-aphtha means a disease prevalent among the lower animals affecting the mouth. We, in com- mon parlance, call it the Foot-aud-Mouth Disease, because the visible developments of the disease are manifested in these two organs. Our own common name for the complaint is the most expressive of all, because the eruption or vesication that forms the eczeraatous phase of the disease, has for its seat certain portions of the mouth, and the skin and tissues connecting the hoofs together. In its nature it is undoubted februx — that is, it is a fever characterised by certain local manifestations — but it is 'a fever of an adynamic or low type, distinguished by de- pression of the vital powers. It is highly contagious, but in order to its contraction, actual contact between the healthy and diseased is not essential, for it is capable of being commu- nicated through the medium of the atmosphere, and of being conveyed by the clothes of the attendants. It is, therefore, infectious as well as contagious. We have no direct proof of what the subtle poison, whose mysterious transit through the medium of the air from a herd of diseased to one of healthy cattle, dealing out disease, and, in some cases, even death, con- sists. But scientific men tell us that malignant exhalations from the breath and skin, and excretions of a sick animal labouring under an infectious disease are given off, strongly charged with the germs of the malady, and that it is by means of these germs — carried about by the winds, or by other means, and taken into the lungs in the act of breathing, or into the stomach with the food, or into the pores of the skin by absorption, where no actual contact between the diseased and healthy takes place — that the disorder is propagated. And our owii experience of the singularly erratic character of outbreaks of infectious diseases would lead us to adopt this theory of their mode of transmission, as being, in all probabi- lity, the correct one. * * Now, although the processeses de- scribed by M. Rayer are completed in the case of our own stock in shorter periods of time, yet it is highly probable, nay most likely, that tlie epizootic eczema of England and the epizootic aphtlia of France are one and the same disease. Theu you will perceive, gentlemen, that a disease so closely resembling in its symptoms the foot-and-mouth disease of our own country, as to warrant us in calling it identical with it, was in existence at Paris and Alfort before we have any account oi its presence here. The following paragraph, also, appeared in the Veterinarian for March, in the present year ; it is headed : " Eczema Epizootica, Mouth-and-foot Disease. — This malignant and contagious malady is at the present time pre- vailing in many parts of the continent. We find that during the past month numerous cargoes of cattle have arrived here, which the Customs' Inspectors have had to detain, in conse- quence of several of the animals being found to be affected with the disease. The rule which is observed appears to be that of slaughtering the infected animals at the place of land- ing, and allowing the others to go to the consignees. So long as cattle are not permitted to go from the Metropolitan Market into the country, the plan may be tolerably effective against the diffusion of the disease ; but once raise the cordon, and nothing can save the home-bred stock from this and other contagious maladies brought in from the continent." These paragraphs are convincing proofs that the foot-and-mouth dis- ease is an imported one, originating, like the more fatal ones — pleura-pneumonia and rinderpest — in foreign countries. Let me then, gentlemen, since there can be no doubt of this being imported, press upon your attention the vast and para- mount importance of the question of the disposal of all im- ported cattle, whether healthy or diseased. Tlie only safe pfaa to be adopted in reference to them is that of having them all, without one exception, slaughtered at the port of debarkation. And though the carrying out of such a plan may be sur- rounded with difficulty, yet if agriculturists will only be firm in their demands that this shall be the case, there is little doubt of Government being able to devise the feasible means. Upon the outbreak of the disease in 1839, several theories were adduced to account for its origin. I remember to have read in the Transactions of the Agricultural Society of that period, an opinion offered by a learned member of tliat body, Dr. Willen, that the disease originated in cattle eating butter- cups, and of this opinion being followed up by the extravagant recommendation to plough up all our beautiful swards or pastures where the ranunculus was common ; but the Duke of Richmond reminded the doctor that this beautiful flower had been quite as plentiful in previous years when the disease was not known. So the pastures were not ploughed up, and tlie doctor's theory fell to the ground. The causes of the disease are generally considered as two-fold — predisposing and exciting. Predisposing causes may be defined to be those that bring about such a state of the system as renders it apt to take on any diseased action when the exciting cause is appHed. Wliatever tends to lower the tone of the animal system, pre- disposes it to fall under attacks of epizootic diseases especially. Amongst these causes may be enumerated bad or insuffi- cient food, over-crowded, ill-ventilated, and ill drained sheds, the presence of other diseases of a weakening or debilitating character, &c. Exciting causes may be defined to be those which actually produce disease; thus damp and cold air are the exciting causes of catarrh, common cold, and in- flammation. The exciting cause of the disease that we are now considering is, I have, no doubt, a specific poison conveyed from the body of a diseased to that of a healthy animal, produc- ing in the system of the one newly infected, precisely the same train of symptoms — and these followed by the same results — as in the animal from whose system the poison was given off. The disease is ushered in by a cold fit, manifested by a slight erection of the coat, cold extremities, frequent shifting of the limbs, and diminution of appetite. This cold fit passes off very speedily, sometimes in the short space of half-an-hour ; is often of so slight a character, and is present for so brief a period of time as to escape altogether the observation of the person in attendance. This is quickly followed by what may be termed the hot fit — the coat resumes it natural appear- ances, the roots of the horns are unusually warm, the mouth presents a slight increase of the saliva, the nose is dry, the pulse increased in number (say to 70 beats in the minute), the feet tender, the animal occasionally shaking them as if at- tempting to dislodge some offending body. From six to twelve hours after the commencement of the chill fit an effusion of fluid takes place under the cuticle or outer skin, at those places where it is most dense and void of liair. This effusion raises the cuticle in the form of four tensive vesicles, namely, on the dorsum, or top, and around the point of the tongue (not underneath it), under the upper lip, and that portion of the gum on the upper jaw which is opposed to the incisor teeth. Sometimes upon the end of the nose and around the nasal openings, upon the skin connecting the hoofs and around the tops of them, and just at the heel of the horny sole ; vesicles, too, form upon the teats of cows, commonly near to the open- ing of the excretory duct. At the end of about 2'i hours the vesicles burst, giving to the ruptured cuticle a torn and ragged appearance, and tlirough the fissures thus formed may he seen the true skin reddened and inflamed. In the case of milch cows at the commencement of the desication, or drying |up of the cuticle, a very troublesome and painful task is begun, for it is necessary to remove the encrustation from around the opening of the duct at every time of milking, and in consequence of the frequent recurrence of this a 9 420 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. unavoidable irritation, ulceration and extended inflam- mation takes place. The duct becomes swollen and 'im- pervious, and finally the whole gland becomes seri-ously affected. Happily, however, such severe cases are not common, but still they occasionally .present themselves. Under cir- cumstances of such gravity, I have found the small milking syphon of great use. If it be carefully passed — first smeared with a little olive oil, or lard — up the duct of the teat, the whole of the milk will run through it, doing away with the necessity of using the hand at all. From the time of the bursting of the vesicles up to the end of the third day, sloughing of the raised and ruptured cuticle is being carried on, and it is during this period that our patients are prevented feeding to any extent, from the extreme soreness of the mouth, large patches of the liiglily-sensitive true skin being exposed, rendering the gathering of the food and mastication of it extremely painful processes. At the end of the third or fourth day — that is, where the attack is severe, for it varies in in- tensity considerably in different cases — the animal presents a most wretched and woe-begone appearance, looking exceedingly empty, the coat partially erected, the head drooping, a con- stant flow of saliva from the mouth, the eyes sunken, lying down most of its time, manifestly from two causes, debility nd tenderness of the feet. From the termination of the third or fourth day the process of recovery may be said to commence. The sloughed cuticle is gone, or ne ily so, and the true skin busily engaged in forming for itself its new covering of cuticle. From this time the progress of a return to health — unless where nature's efforts at restoration have been foiled by injudicious treatment — may be marked day by day. By the end of the tenth or twelfth day recovery may be said to be complete, except that there may yet remain for some days longer a degree of salivant discharge from the mouth and of tenderness in the feet. The duration of the disease from its attack to its total removal is about fourteen days, more or less, depending upon the severity or mildness of the attack. Happily for us, gentlemen, eczema epizootica is not a fatal disease. With the keen recollection of the fearful onslaughts of pleuro-pneumonia and rinderpest present to our minds, we may look upon it as a slight evil. The consequences most to be dreaded are, loss of one or more quarters of the udder, from inflammation set up by retention of the milk, and slough- ing of the hoofs, which not unfrequently occurs where cattle are driven from market to market wliilst labouring under the disease. The consequences next to be dreaded are — temporary loss of milk in cows, and in condition in every description of cattle. I have already told you that the foot- and-mouth disease is one having a distressing effect upon the vital powers ; we must be careful therefore not to use measures or give medicines that will have a debilitating effect upon the system. Bleeding must not ior a moment be thought about ; drastic purgatives do much mischief ; gentle aperients are admissible combined with medicines calculated to allay fever without prostrating the animal ; nitric spirit of asther, the acetated liquor of ammonia, cinchona bark, and gentian will be found useful ; a dose of these given in combination every second or third day — taking care to guard against con- stipation— will be all that is needed to carry the patient through the disease. As a tonical application, Sir William Burnett's fluid, in a highly diluted form, will be found the most efficient agent to apply to the parts denuded of cuticle ; it is a capital disinfectant, and it stimulates and assists the true skin in the formatiou of its new covering. The general treatment will consist chiefly of good nursing. The best locality for cattle suffering from the disease, so long as the weather is not excessively cold and wet, is the open field ; if they take the disease whilst out at grass, let them remain there : they do better there, and have the attack in a milder form as a rule than cattle that are more artificially treated. Supply them with the softest hay you can ; water meadow hay is the best ; pass it through the chaff-cutter, removing some of the knives if it be a revolving one, so as to cut the hay about two inches long ; this is better than chaff, and much better than long hay. A mixture of bran, malt dust, crushed oats, and hay chaff, mixed together, and scalded, and theu allowed to stand till it is cool, is much relished by cattle ; it is nutritious, soft to the mouth, and a very suitable food for them at a time when the disease is at its worst. Questions are frequently asked as to the wholesoraeness of the milk and butter obtained from cows labouring under the disease. I am not aware that a case has ever occurred where this disease has been com- municated to the human subject by their use. We know that calves and pigs tate the disease from being fed upon the milk of diseased cows, and I do not think it prudent to use such milk in families for five or six days during which the fevered condition of the animal lasts. Where the milk and butter must be used I have recommended that the former be scalded, on the Devonshire plan, before being sent up. My attention has not been called to sheep labouring under the disease ; the symptoms in them resemble in most respects those in cattle, except that the interior of the mouth is not so much affected, whilst the skin of the lips and feet is more so. In pigs, beyond the fevered condition of the system generally, the feet are the parts most seriously affected ; in many of them the lameness is most severe and continues for fourteen and twenty- one days ; in both sheep and pigs a mild dose of aperient medicine repeated two or three times during the continuance of the disease, will tend to modify its intensity. In reply to Mr. B. Fisueu, it was stated by Mr. Blanb that calves were imported thirty years ago, and the disease was, no doubt, introduced by that means. Mr. Hull recollected the period referred to, and in the dis- trict where he resided it was considered that the disease was imported. The disease went through the whole parish in a week, and cattle, sheep, and pigs were affected by it. The feet of the pigs were so bad that they could not stand. Mr. Gibbons spoke of the serious effects of giving pigs the milk of cows affected by the disease ; or of using it for domestic purposes. He considered that such milk ought to be thrown away. Mr. Tanner said he had recently seen a herd of cattle that were just recovering from the disease. There was great dif- ficulty in getting them to take any kind of food. In the case he referred to, the leaf of the mangold ^\Tirtzel had proved effectual, and the cattle would eat it when they would not take anything else. A large quantity of salts were used as medicine. Mr. S. Went WORTH moved, and Mr. T. Tanner seconded the following resolution ; which tvas unanimously adopted : " It is the opinion of this club that every individual member of it should endeavour to check the spread of contagious diseases in the neighbourhood, by strengthening the hands of the authorities in giving notice to the inspector of any such diseases. This club wishes througli its connection with the Central Chamber, to urge on the Privy Council the necessity of preventing the introduction of contagious disease from other countries." THE CENTRAL CHAMBER OF AGRICULTURE. A council meeting was held on Tuesday, October 5, at the Salisbury Hotel ; Colonel Tomline, M.P., in the chair. The attendance was very small. Mr. Nealb said the objects of the Chamber could not be secured without more liberal contributions, and these he hoped vvould result from the diffusion of information with regard to the nature of those objects. Mr. Genge Andrews said the great question was, how more means could be obtained. The deficiency of funds in m woai chambers and the limitecl extent of tlie funds at the command of that association, prevented any general communi- cation with the farmers of England and Wales, while his own experience convinced him that any communication with Boards of Guardians did not answer the purpose. He was ashamed of the smaUness of the funds placed at the disposal of the Central Chamber. It was a disgrace not merely to the farmers, but also to landlords, especially as the questions which were taken up were important to the latter as well as to the former. If they could not progress they must soon fail. The Chairman said he recoUectecl hearing Mr, Acland THE FABMEE'S MAGAZINE. 421 speak of that Chamber in the House of Commons as a far- mers' Parliament. Ilis (the Chairman's) idea on tliut subject was, that that body was not so raucli intended for discussion as for action. He tliought their constituents, the local cham- bers, looked to them to decide what questions should be dis- cussed, and regarded the council of the Central Ciiamber as a cabinet which had to carry out into practical results the dis- cussions which took place, and the resolutions arrived at. In his opinion they would be most useful if they viewed them- selves in that light. A resolution was then passed directing the secretary to complete his list of farmers and others to be applied to for assistance. The Chairman observed that the Business Committee re- commended that the consideration of " a plan for collecting on a comprehensive scale information as to the yield of wheat or other crops in England and Wales," which formed part of the agenda paper, be postponed. He then asked whether it was the pleasure of the meeting that it be postponed. Mr. Genge Andrews said he would rather propose that it be abandoned. The Ckairman : Well, postponement is one step towards abandonment (laughter). The recommendation of the committee was then adopted, and the comprehensive scale for collecting information on wheat was postponed — or abandoned. The CnAiRMAN then intimated that the Business Committee had recommended that the subject for discussion at the No- vember meeting should be the necessity for a miilormity of weights and measures. Mr. Genge Andrews said he could not think that was a question for the Chamber. Mr. J. T. Hatch (Kent) thought they should be very careful in selecting subjects for discussion, and agreed with the last speaker that the question of weights and measures was one that did not interest farmers very much. He thought they ought to confine themselves to subjects which were in- timately connected with agriculture. The Chairman remarked that another subject recom.mended for discussion was the unsatisfactory method of taking the corn averages. Mr. Turner (Kent) said he would move that that be the next subject. The present system of taking the corn-averages was, in his opinion, very unsatisfactory. The best corn was all entered, but a great deal of inferior corn was passed by and never taken into account. Mr. Daniel Long (Gloucestershire Chamber) seconded the resolution. Mr. G. WniTAKER (Worcestershire) said the Business Committee recommended the two subjects together because they considered them very closely connected. It was per- fectly absurd to suppose that persons could form an accurate opinion at present with regard to the price of corn, it being sold in some districts by measure and in others by weight. In the sale of fruit in Worcestershire the pot measure was, in some cases, 4 peeks and in others 5^ or 6 pecks. He then proposed that the two subjects should be taken together. Mr. Genge Andrews said, as regarded corn, the Legis- lature had declared that the Winchester measure was the only legitimate one, and all farmers had to do was to carry that out. There was ample power to enforce the law. Mr. T. DucKHAM, in seconding Mr. Whitaker's proposals, urged the variety of measures and weights now prevailing as a reason for adopting it. Mr. Jabez Turner (Peterboro') thought the Council should be careful not to commit itself to what seemed to him palpable ignorance in regard to the manner of taking the corn-averages. The imperial bushel was, in fact, the only measure upon which the averages were struck. Mr. DucKHAM would be glad if the last speaker would tell them what was the imperial bushel of wheat. In one place the bushel was 601bs., in another 621bs, while in others wheat was sold by measure. How could there be anything like uniformity under such a system as that ? Mr, J. S. Gardiner (Kent) thought they were dis- cussing a rather ridiculous point. Although corn was sold in some cases by measure, and in others by weight, yet the calculation was made on the quarter, and he believed the re- turn was made on the quarter. The returns were indeed fal- lacious, because the same samples were sold aud returaed two or three times, while a great quantity of corn sold in the market was not returned at all. That was an evil which the Legislature should remedy. He would like to see aU corn sold by weight. That change would prevent many dis- putes, aud would, in his opinion, be a groat advantage to the agricultural interest. After some further discussion it was determined that the subject for the JMovember meeting should be the unsatisfactory method of taking the corn averages, and the unsatisfactory system of weights and measures. The selection of the subject for discussion in December was postponed till the nest meeting. In answer to the circular letter from the Privy Council office on the transit of animals, the first resolution in order was as follows : " That in the opinion of this Council animals travelling by railway ought to have the opportunity of drink- ing at intervals of time not exceeding twelve hours." Mr. J. Howard, M.P., thought it would be better to say that it should be made compulsory on railway companies to provide such accommodation. The resolution did not state who should furnish the opportunity. Mr. Brown, V.S., said the Transit Committee were acting simply as a committee of inquiry. The Privy Council were acting under the authority of an Act of Parliament which gave tliem ample power to regulate the transit of ani- mals as regarded the number of animals to be placed on board ship, or in a railway truck, and the supply of food and water. The minimum period within which food and water must be supplied was already fixed by Act of Parliament. A clause had been carried to the effect that the minimum period should not be more than twelve hours. That question was, there- fore, already settled by Parliament, and the Privy Council had no power to' make any alteration. Mr. BuRNHAM (Banbury) thought that if railway com- panies were required to run cattle trains at the same speed as passenger trains that would obviate every difficulty. If trains were run at the rate of twenty miles an hour, even on a journey of two or three hundred miles, cattle would not suffer much for want of water. He thought the Government ought to call upon railway companies to run cattle at that rate and without shunting, and should also prevent them from over crowding the trucks. The resolution was then adopted unanimously. The second and third resolutions were agreed to without discussion. They were as follows : 1. "That a supply of water should be accessible to animals at all loading places of railway stations.', 2. "That railway companies should publish time tables of their trains carrying live stock, and that each lot of animals travelling by railway should be accompanied by a waybill showing the times of arrival and departure and the causes of detention if any." The next resolution submitted was as follows : " That rail- way waggons for the conveyance of cattle should be constructed with spring buffers and spring couplings and roofed over, and that freedom from overcrowding and a proper cleanliness of waggons aud loading places should be enforced." Mr. J. Howard said he had attended a meeting of another Society [the Farmers' Club] on that subject on the previous day, and the conclusion arrived at was that it would be far better if the trucks were divisible, so that not more than a certain number of animals would stand in a compartment, and when a smaller number of animals were put in a truck than were required to fill it they might be wedged up. He thought there would be little difficulty in dividing trucks into three, four, or even more compartments. The Chairman said those were very good resolutions,'but in his opinion they would not have the slightest effect upon the Government or upon railway companies. Mr. J. Howard observed that if the Privy Council had not at present power to enforce proper regulations Parlia- ment would, he believed, soon grant it. In an interview in which he took part with Mr. Forster there was a discussion on the question not only of water but of spring bufi'ers and other matters of that kind, and although Mr. Forster said he felt that it would rather hamper the passing of the Contagious Diseases Bill to include what was suggested, yet he was sure he expressed the right hon. gentleman's sentiment when he stated that he was anxious to be able to carry out the object. Mr. B. Hick (Yorkshire) said, living as he did in the neighboxirhood, of a large cattje market, he thought di* 9 Q 2 422 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. visions in railway trucks would be attended witli great incon- ■venience. His experience was that wlien a cattle truck was not well loaded the beasts swagged about and sustained injury ; and that if they w^ere tightly packed they were more comfort- able, and in every respect better. He believed the over- crowding of trucks did not exist to any great extent. After some conversation the resolution was adopted with the insertion, on the motion of Mr. James Howard, after " roofed over" of the words " and divisible into compart- ments." The fifth and last resolution emanatiug from the Business Coraraittee was, "That ships and steam vessels carrying ani- mals should be licensed, and proper ventilation should be se- cured ; that animals should be fed and watered during long voyages ; and that regulations for these purposes, for insuring a proper degree of cleanliness, for the prevention of over- crowding, and for procuring humane treatment of the animals, should be enforced by a thorough system of inspection." Mr. D. Long thought it would be as well if the word " quarantine" were included, and moved its insertion. Mr. H.vTCH seconded the amendment. Mr. Turner would like to know how such suggestions were to be carried out. Was a Government ollicer to accom- pany all the vessels, in order to enforce them ? Mr. Hick said in the chamber which he represented — the West Riding one — it was suggested that every vessel should be provided with a steam fan extractor, similar to those used in coal- pits. Mr. WiiiTAKER observed that quarantine could not, under the Act, be applied to fat stock. After a desultory discussion, the resolution was, on the mo- tion of Mr. J. Howard adopted in the following amended and abridged form ; " That ships and Steam-vessels carrying animals should be licensed and placed under a tho- rough system of inspection." BAKEWELL FARMERS' CLUB. The day was beautifully fine ; and the show itself, taken as a whole, was considered to be decidedly inferior to former years, owing to the deficiency in the representation of stock. The bulls were not up to the average, though Mr. R. Black- well's red bull, Jupiter, was a fair animal in its class. The milch cows were a good class. The heifers were creditable, but not quite up to former years. The sheep were the best feature in the show, there being some splendid rams ; while amongst the eu es there were splendid samples of long-woolled. The pigs were neither unusually large, nor were the entries numerous. The show of horses was wretchedly poor, and, with a few exceptions, by no means to be compared with the other shows that have been held in this county. JUDGES. CA.TTLE, Sheep, and Eoots. — J. Faulkner and T. Brough. Horses and Pigs. — J. Bland and E. Thacker. Cheese.— S. W. Cox, Derby. Butter. — George Seddall. LIST OF PRIZES. CATTLE. Shorthorued bull, two years and upwards. — Pirst prize, R. Blackwell, Tansley -. second, T. Roe, New Inns. Yearling shorthorned bull. — First prize, L. and G. Furniss, Birchill ; second, J. Kirkham, Stannage Grange ; third, Mrs. Hodgkinson, Baslow. Shorthorued cow, four years old and upwards. — First prize, R. Blackwell, Tansley ; second, L. and G. Furniss ; third, Wm. Lowe, Ashford. Shorthorned heifer, three years old and under four, in milk or in calf.— First prize, J. Brown, Shatton ; second, F. Bram- well, Windmill ; third, J. Brown, Shatton. Pair of shorthorned heifers, tvpo years old and under three, in milk or in calf. — First prize, L. and G. Furniss ; second, T. Wilton, Heathcote ; third, B. Swaflield, Pilsbury. Pair of shorthorned heifers, one year old and under two. — First prize. Josh. Anthony, The Field; second, F. Potter, Harthill Moor ; third, Peter Furniss, Ashford. Pair of cows (of any breed) for dairy purposes. — First prize, J. Kirkham, Stannage Grange ; second, Geo. Haddock, Bake- well ; third, G. Gould, Pilsbury Grange. Bull-calf, of the shorthorned breed, over six and under twelve months old. — First prize, R. Blackwell, Tansley ; second, ditto ; third, H. Harrison. Cow-calf, of the shorthorned [breed, over six and under twelve months old. — First prize, Joseph Anthony ; second, L. and G. Furniss. Best animal in the yard. — First prize, R. Blackwell, Tansley, red bull Jupiter. SHEEP. Long-woolled ram of any age above a shearling. — First prize, Robert Johnson, Kirkireton ; second, Charles Mellor, Atlow ; third, ditto. Shearling long-woolled ram. — First prize, Robert Johnson ; second, Charles Mellor, Atlow ; third, Robert Johnson. Pen of five long-woolled ewes, which have reared lambs in the spring of 18G9. — First prize, Robert Crofts, Staveley ; second, Robert Johnson ; third, L. and G. Furniss. Pen of five long-woolled tlieaves. — John Heathcote, Knockerdown ; second, Robert Johnson ; third, W. Greaves, Bakewell. Pen of five long-woolled ewe-lambs. — First prize, Robert Crofts ; second, R. Johnson. SWINE. Boar of any age. — First prize, John Archer, Meadow- place ; second, ditto. Sow of any age. — ^First prize, F. Potter, Harthill Moor ; second, L. and G. Furniss ; third, George Buchan, Bakewell. Pig, shown by a cottager. — First prize, Thomas Parker, Bakewell ■ second, Large Mouutney. HORSES. Brood mare and foal of the draught kind. — First prize, Clement Sorby, Cowley Hall ; second, James Brown, Shatton; third, James Milward, Miller's Dale. Two-year-old gelding or filly of the draught kind. — Ben- jamin Swafiield, Pilsbury ; second, John Archer, Meadow-place. Yearling colt or filly of the draught kind. — First prize, L. and G. Furniss ; second, ditto. Brood mare and foal, best fitted breeding hunters and hacks, but not thorough-bred. — First prize, James Hopkinson, Rowsley; second, Thomas Wager, Glutton Grange. Two-year-old colt or filly, not thorough- bred. — A. C. Hub- bersty, Brackenfield ; second, G. Shelden, Low Field. Yearling colt or filly, not thorough-bred. — Wm. Hodkin, Beeley ; second, Jno. Archer, Meadow-place. Pony or cob, not exceeding fifteen hands. — Jos. Swaine, Bakewell ; second, ditto. Pair of plough horses or mares. — F. Potter, Harthill Moor ; second, Matthew Nail, Flagg. Hunters. Hunter. — First prize, W. Greaves, Bakewell ; second, R. W. M. Nesfield, Esq., Castle Hill, Bakewell. Hunting colt or filly, four years old. — First prize, George Nowill, Old Hays, Ratby ; second, Jno. Knox, M.D., Bakewell. CHEESE AND BUTTER. Six cheeses. — First prize, F. Potter, Harthill Moor ; second, B. Swaflield, Pilsbury ; third, Thos. Wilton, Heathcote. Best makers of butter. — L. and G. Furniss ; second, W. Greaves, Bakewell; third, James Milward, Millers Dalej fourth, Wm. Hodkin, Beeley. BARNARD CASTLE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. The entry for cattle was almost nil, owing to the prevalence of the foot and mouth disease in the surrounding neighbour- hood, farmers bein^ very jealous of contagion. The show of horses was unusually good. Hunters were in pretty good forces and included sjme very choice animals, the judges being some- what puzzled to give their decision, and ultimately there was a good deal of dissatisfaction expressed with tlie awards, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 42J JUDGES. Cattle, Sueep, ajju Pigs. — T. Smurtliwaite, Holme House, Picrcebridge ; S. llowlandson, Newton Morrell ; and W.J. Moscrop, Oliver, lliclimond. IIORSES. — J. G. Simpson, Mouklron, Richmond; J. Hutchin- son, Manor House, Catterick; and E. Waldy, Barmpton, Darlington. The following are the prizes : — SaORTHORNS. Bull, two years old or upwards. — first prize, J. C. Monk- house, Egglestone. Yearling bull. — First prize, R. Harrison. Yearling heifer. — First prize, J.Bowron.Middleton-in-Tees- dale. Cow for dairy purposes, of any breed. — First prize, AV. Tink- ler, Shotton, Staiudrop. Cow in calf or milk, of any breed, belonging to a cottager. — First prize, G. Stephenson, Staindrop ; second, J. Beadle, Middleton-in-Teesdale. HORSES. Mare in foal, or having had a foal this season for breeding hunters. — First prize, J. Harrison, Darlington; second, R. Emraerson, Darlington. Mare for breeding draught horses. — First prize, J. W. Pease, M.P., St. Helen's, Auckland ; second, J. C. Johnson, Dar- lington. , Mare for breeding coach horses. — First prize, J. Leng Houghton-le-Side ; second T. Lawson, Barnard Castle. Three-year-old gelding for harness purposes. — First prize, J. Stowell, Darlington ; second, W. Robinson, Winston. Two-year-old gelding for harness. — First prize, T. Curry, Great Aytou ; second, W. Robinson. Yearling gelding or filly for harness. — First prize, J. C. Johnson ; second, J. Leng. Colt foal for harness. — First prize, J. Wilson, Barnard Castle. Filly foal for harness. — First prize, J. Bracey, Bowes. Four-year-old gelding or filly for the field. — First prize, R. Emraerson ; second, T. P. Lawson. Three-year-old gelding or filly for the field. — First prize, J. Bulmer, Gainford ; second, R. Emmerson. Two-year-old gelding or filly for the field. — First prize, J. Bulmer ; second, R. Emmerson. Yearling for the field. — First prize, R. Nellist, St. Helen's, Auckland. Colt foal for the field. — First prize, J. Hawdon, Slaindrop ; second, R. Bainbridge, Ravensworth. Filly foal for the field. — First prize, R. Emmerson ; second, A. Mackenzie, Barnard Castle. Three-year-old gelding or filly for draught. — First prize, R. Anton, Dalton Mills ; second, R. Wade, Darlington. Two-year-old gelding or filly for draught. — First prize, R. Wade ; second, R. 11. Bell, Aldbrougb. Yearling for draught. — First prize, C. Baines, Catterick ; second, J. Brown, Barnard Castle. Foal, colt or filly, for draught. — First prize, T. Robinson, Barnard Castle ; second, G. Teasdale, Barnard Castle. Pony under fourteen hands. — T. Suttou, Winston ; second, A. Young, Richmond. Gelding or mare for the field, of any age. — First prize, J. Hawdon ; second, J. Harrison, Darlington. SHEEP. Shearling tup. — First prize, R. Harrison, Pondale, Gilling ; second, J. B. Dent, Huuderthwaite, Roraaldkirk. Aged tup. — First and second prizes, T. H. Hutchinson, Cat- terick. Leicester tup lamb. — First prize, T. Whitfield, Wolsingham. Scotch tup. — First prize, T. Gibson, Fryer House. Pen of three Leicester ewes having had lambs. — First and second prizes, T. H. Hutchinson. Pen of three shearling Leicester gimmers. — First and second prizes, T. H. Hutchinson. PIGS. Boar. — First prize, T. Heugh, Gilling ; second, M. Head- lam, Whorlton. Sow. — First prize, J. Smith, Barnard Castle; second, R. Arrowsmith, Barnard Castle. Pig belonging to a cottager. — First prize, W. Gregory, Gil- ling ; second, R, Hodgson, Barnard Castle. NORTH WALSHAM AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. MEETING AT NORTH WALSHAM. JUDGES. Stock.— Mr. H. G. Nelson, Mr. R. Kidman, and Mr. Reeve. HORSES. Bast cart stallion. — First prize, J. B. Porritt. Best cart mare. — First prize, J. N. Waite. Bdst three-year-old cart filly. — First prize, M. Ncave. Best team of four cart horses. — First prize. Ash Rudd. Best cart gelding of any age. — First prize, T. Barchara. Best two-year-old cart filly. — First prize, J. Pain. Best cart foal. — First prize, S. Sutton. Best hackney. — First prize, W. Dunning. Best horse or mare for harness purposes. — First prize, B. Ling. Best hackney brood mare. — First prize, W. Case. Best hackney foal. — First prize, E. Ling. Best hackney, not exceeding l^J hands. — First prize, R. Wortley. Best hunter of any age. — First prize, R. Barcham, CATTLE. Best horned bull of any breed. — First prize, R. Barchara. Best polled buU. — First prize. Lord SulReld. Best horned cow. — First prize, R. Barcham. Best polled cow. — First prize, C. Le Neve. Best horned or polled heifer. — First prize, E. Cook. Best yearling heifer of any breed. — First prize, S. Spencer. Best pen of three calves. — First prize, R. Barcham. Best fat steer. — First prize, R. Wortley. Best fat steer. — First prize, R. Wortley. SUEEP. Best pen of five fat shearlings. — First prize, J. B. Porritt. Best pen of ten hoggets. — First prize, J. Utting. SWINE. Best boar. — First prize, S. Spencer. Best breeding sow. — First prize, S. Spencer. Best litter of pigs. — First prize, S. Spencer. Best pen of six pigs under six months old. — First prize, J. N. Waite. Best fat pig. — First prize, S. Spencer. NORTH WEST BUCKS AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. ISLEETING AT BUCKINGHAM. The show, although not large, was a good one, the sheep being very fine. Tlic butter that took the prizes was excellent, and the judges had great difficulty in deciding be- tween that exhibited by Mr. Barge and Mr. Osborn for the first prize ; it was eventually awarded to Mr. Barge, who, pre- viously to last year, took the first prize for several years in succession, the second prize being taken by Mr. Osboru, of Maids' Morton, who last year gained the first prize. JUDGES. Cattle and Sueep. — G. Game, Churchill Heath ; M. Sa- vidge, Sarsdeu ; J. K. Fowler, Aylesbury. Horses. — H. Checkley Wykham ; W. Crawfoid, Newton. Pigs. — J. Holdom, thornborough ; P. Salmon, Lutfield Abbey ; A. Eraser, Steeple Claydon. Butter. — E. Eustace, Metropolitan Meat Market. PRIZE LIST. CATTLE. Bull of any breed, above two aud under sis years old.^ First prize, £2, J. Doig, Lillingstone Lovell ; second, i2, T. Attwood, Leckhampstead (Second Duke of York). Bull of any breed, above one aud under two years old. — Prize, £3, A. J. Robarts, Lillingstone Dayrell (Wild Duke). Shorthorned cow, in calf or milk. — First prize, £3, J. Doig ; second, £2, P. Sahnon, LuftlelJ Abbey. Heifer in-calf, of any breed, under tliree years old. — First prize, £2 10s., J. Doig; second, £1, C. Bennett, Stowe. tenant farmers' prizes. Bull of any breed, above one and under three years old.— 4M THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. First prize, £5, P. Salmon ; second, £2, Wm. Tomes, East Clay don. IVo best cows, in-calf or milk. — First prize, £3, P, Salmon'; second, £2, E. Clarke, Lillingstone DayreU. Pair of heifers under two years old. — Prize, £2, P. Sal- mon. Pair of heifer calves, not exceeding one year old. — First prize, £3, P. Salmon j second, £2, Richard Treadwell, Shal- stone. HORSES. Cart mare and foal.— First prize, £3, W. Tomes : second, £2, T. Attwood. Cart gelding or mare, above three and under six years old. — First prize, £3, P. Sabnon ; second, £2, J. Bennett, Stowe Castle. Cart fiUy under three years old.— First prize, £2, W. Tomes; second, £1, J. Tredwell, Upper Winchendon. Cart gelding under three years old. — First prize, £2, T. Att- wood ; second, £1, T. Lines, Hillesden. Yearling or filly for agricultural purposes. — First prize, £3, T. Attwood ; second, £2, F. Judge, Hillesden. Hunting-like gelding or mare under six years old. — Prize, £5, Elias Clarke. SHEEP. Half-bred shearling ram.— Prize, £1 10s., R. Treadwell, Upper Winchendon. Ram of any age or breed.— Prize, £1 10s., J. Treadwell, Upper Winchendon. Ram lamb of any breed.— Prize, £1 IDs., R. Treadwell, Shallstone. Ten Down ewes that have suckled lambs up to the 20th June.— Prize, £2, Langton Bennett, Boycott. Ten woolled ewes.— First prize, £2, J. Doig ; second, £1, J. Simpson, Potterspury. Ten half-bred ewes.— First prize, £2, J. Ti-eadwell; second, R. Treadwell, Shalstone. Ten Down theaves.— Prize, £1 10s., L. Bennett, Boy- cott. Ten long-woolled theaves.— Prize, £1, J. Simpson, Potters- pury. Ten .half-bred [theaves.— First prize, £1 10a., J. Doig ; se- cond, R. Treadwell, Shalstone. PIGS. Boar of any breed under three years old. — First prize, £1 lOs., J. Treadwell, Winchendon; second, £1, R. Treadwell, Shalstone. Sow of any breed, in pig, or with pigs at her size. — First prize, £1 IDs., John Treadwell, Winchendon ; second, £1, R. Treadwell, Slialstone. BUTTER. Twelve pounds of butter made up in two pound lumps. — First prize, £4, T. Barge, Hillesden ; second, £3, J. Osborn, Maids' Morton Hill; third, £1, J. Barge, Cowley Lodge. THE OSWESTRY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY'S SHOW. MEETING AT OSWESTRY. Tlie weather was beautifully fine, the attendance unusually large, and the show was in every respect a success, although the prevalence of the foot-and-mouth disease witliin the area of the Society's operations tended to diminish the number of entries for cattle. The following is a list of the Judges : Cattle.— Graddon Perry, Acton Pigott; D. Williams, Leighton ; E. Steadman, Ercall Hall. Horses.— Sir John TyrreU; Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, Bart., M.P. ; H. J. Cartwright, Wolverhampton. Sheep and Pigs.— John Evans, Uffington ; J. Fowler, Ac- ton Reynald. Cheese and Butter.— Thomas Jolinson, Liverpool. PRIZE LIST. „, CATTLE. bliorthorned bull, above two years old.— First prize, £5, W. thehock,' Rtyton!"^'* ^'^^''''''' ' '''°''^' ^''^''^ ^^ °^^^"' Shorthorned bull, under two years old.— First prize, W. B. OsweU, Eardiston House; second, William Nevitt, Yorton Villa. Shorthorned cow, in calf or milk. — First prize, £3, William Nevitt; second, William Sheraton, Broom House. Shorthorned heifer, not above three years old, in calf or milk. — First prize, £3, William Nevitt ; second, William Sheraton. Shorthorned heifer, under two years old. — First prize, £3, William Sheraton ; second, William Nevitt. Hereford buU, above two years old. — First prize, £5, William Lloyd Asterley, Pentref, Llanymynech ; second, Thomas Jones, Dyffryn, Kinnerley. Hereford bull, under two years old. — First prize, £6, E. W. W^ard, Crickheath ; second, David Lloyd, The Hays, Oswestry. Hereford cow, in calf or milk. — First prize, £3, Samuel Blunley ; second, John Harding, Bicton. Hereford heifer, not above three years old. — First prize, £3, John Harding, Bicton ; second, John Harding. Hereford heifer, under two years old. — First prize, £3, John Harding; second, Bowen and Jones, Ensdon House. Bull of any other breed, above two years old. — Prize, £4>, T. and W. Cartwright, The Buildings. Cow of any other breed, in calf or milk. — First prize, £2, Richard Rogers, Maesbrook, Kinnerley ; second, T. R. Minton, Ruyton. Heifer of any other breed, not above three years old, in calf or milk. — Prize, £2, William Sheraton. Pair of cows for dairy purposes. — First prize, £5, Samuel Lowe, Ellesmere ; second, John Harding. SHEEP. Shropshire shearling ram. — First prize, £i, and second, T. Evans, Sweeney. Shropshire ram of any other age. — First prize, £4, Richard Morris, The Heath Farm, Knockin ; second, Andrew Price, Bagley. Pen of five Shropshire ewes. — First prize, £4, Bowen and Jones ; second, T. Mansell, Adcott. Pen of five Shropshire yearling ewes. — First prize, £4, T. Mansell ; second, T. Mansell. Welsh mountain ram. — First prize, £3, Thomas Whitfield, Lloran Issa, Llansilin; second, Edward Edwards, Tymawr, Llanfihangel. Pen of five Welsh mountain ewes. — First prize, Edward Edward, Tymawr, Llanfihangel ; second, David Davies, Plas Dolanog, LlanfyUin. PIGS. Boar of any large breed. — First prize, £2, Joseph Hum- phreys, Evenal ; second, Wm. Sheraton, Broom House. Sow (in pig or milk), of any large breed. — First prize, £2, and second, W. Sheraton. Boar of any small breed. — First prize, £2, Thomas Morris, Henfaes Farm, Welshpool ; second, John Minton, Forton. Sow (in pig or milk), of any small breed. — First prize, £2, Thomas Morris, Henfaes Farm, Welshpool ; second, Richard Jones Croxon, HORSES. Stallions for agricultural purposes. — First pnze, £5, W. Williams, Pool Quay ; second, J. Edwards, Caerfach, Llan- rhaiadr. Mare, with foal, for hunting. — First prize, £5, R. Bromley, Lower House, Llanymynech ; second, E. W. Ward, Crick- heath. Mare, with foal, for agricultural purposes. — First prize, £5, E. W. Ward ; second, R. Rogers, Maesbrook. Two-year-old colt or filly for agricultural purposes. — First prize, £3, T. Green, Knockin ; second, G. J. Saunders, Plas- cerrig, Llanymynech. Pair of draught horses. — First prize, £5, T. Rogers, Wikey ; second, R. Lloyd, Knockin. Hackney, above four years old. — First prize, £4, H. Pad- dock, Ellesmere ; second, R. Morris, Heath Farm, Knockin. Pony, not exceeding 13 hands high. — First prize, £2, T. Thomas, Cynynion ; second, S. Plimley, Alberbury. CHEESE. Five cheeses, not less than 601b. weight each. — First prize, £4, A. Price, Bagley ; second, J. Rees, Bettisfield. Five cheeees, not less than 301bs. nor more than 601bs. weight each. — First prize, £3, W. Sheraton, Broom House ; second, A. Price, Bagley. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. m A SECOND-HAND SOCIETY. Whatever may come of it, nothing could have been better put than the circular letter issued in the name of Mr. Harry Tennant, from the Pi-ivy Council Office to the Farmers' Clubs, the Agricultural Associations, Chambers of Agricultm-e, and other Societies in any way interested in the subject of this communication. In a few plain, concise, and straightforward sentences the Committee ap- pointed asked for information and advice as to the better transit of stock, either by land or by water. So thoroughly, indeed, did this letter speak for itself that not one of those bodies, we believe, to which it was ad- dressed thought it necessary to apply for any further par- ticulars previous to taking the matter into considera- tion. Unfortunately, however, the Privy Council Com- mittee couid not rest content with letting well alone ; and it accordingly felt it necessary to send to the meeting of the Central Chamber of Agriculture, a representative, who should explain more fully the position and intentions of the Committee. To Professor Browne, V. S., this delicate duty was deputed, and certainly he discharged himself of his office with a wondrous flow of words. He began by expressing his regret that neither the Clerk of the Council, the Chair- man of the Customs, nor the Secretary to the Board of Trade were able to attend — a regret in which the meeting must very quickly have come to share. He went on to say that this was a Committee of Inquiry empowered by the Lord President of the Council to obtam information — an astounding piece of intelligence that had abeady been announced in the opening paragraph of Mr. Tennant's letter. He proceeded, did this learned veterinarian, to demonstrate that although the Privy Council had absolute power to make regulations, it had simply the power of a constitutional government — a declaration that must have been very portentously given out ; while he kindly added that the members of the Transit of Animals Com- mittee knew little or nothing of what they were about : — " they were practically unacquainted with the details of the cattle-traffic, and therefore they relied" on this and that, and so forth. But the climax was really something prodigious. As the representative of the Government, or of the Privy Council, or of the Customs, or of the Board of Trade, Professor Browne " was authorized to state that, so far as their recommendations were practicable, they would meet with all the attention which the Chamber could desire." All this is highly encouraging ; but at the same time it is, if anything, a little inconsistent. At one moment Professor Browne tells us that his Transit Committee is "pi-actically unacquainted" with the matter, and at the next that this same Committee will be quite ready to listen to any such suggestions as are " practica- ble." Has not this learned man here contrived to " club" the forces under his hand ? If they do not know what is practicable how can they decide as to what is practica- ble? We give so much as we have quoted from our reporter's notes, as we shall be very ready to publish the whole of this representative speech on the slightest pro- vocation, although in very charity we have so far re- frained from doing so. We have here, however, a very good example of the way in which the business of the Central Chamber of Agricultiu'c is conducted. Instead of leaving a body of farmers to arrange a plain simple reply to a very plain simple series of questions, it was deemed necessary by somebody to find somebody to talk — not that the power of speech is generally wanting on these occasions. Ac- cordingly, the attendance of Professor Browne is secured, as there should be a halo of official life about his presence that must give an additional importance to the meeting, which certainly the Professor himself would appear to have been very willing to assume. And thus, with a Downing- street air about him, he manages to muddle away the terse force of Mr. Tennant's letter, and to let all the world know- how practically unacquainted the Committee is with the work it has been constituted to carry out. Not that the Central Chamber paid any very particular attention to the oration of Professor Browne, V. S., or to his disquisition on the powers of a constitutional govern- ment ; for there had, fortunately, on the day previous been a meeting of the Committee of the Farmers' Club, to consider the same question, where, more fortunately still. Professor Browne had not been deputed or invited to attend. Under these circumstances the farmers, by the aid of such men as Mr. R. J. Newton, of Woodstock, Mr. John Clayden, Mr. Thomas Congreve, Mr. Fowler, of Aylesbury, ]\Ir. James Howard, of Bedford, Mr. Robert Leeds, from Norfolk, and others, were enabled to draw up a series of recommendations in answer to a letter that looked of itself to be sufficiently intelligible. On the next morning the Central Chamber held its meet- ing, when, thanks most probably to the services of Mr. James Howard — who went from one to the other — the one meeting, so far as this question be concerned, became merely an echo of the other. The Chamber does not per- haps go quite so far as the Club, but every leading feature is very faithfully copied. Beyond Mr. Howard — and always excepting Professor Browne — the members of the Chamber who appear to have busied themselves over this matter would scarcely carry the weight with them of such men as jMessrs. Leeds, Clayden, Newton, Congreve and Co. The Fanners' Club says, on Monday, "That animals should not be upon a railway for more than twelve hours without water;" and "that railway companies should be compelled to provide means for the proper watering of cattle before loading;" as "that any appliances for the watering of animals should be attached either to the carriages, or troughs should be so placed at the stations, that animals travelling for more than twelve consecuttve hours caa drink from such troughs without being removed from the trucks." The Chamber of AgricuLtm-e says, on Tuesday, " That animals travelling by railway ought to have the op- portunity of drinking at intervals of time not exceeding twelve hours ; and that a supply of water should be acces- sible to animals at all loading-places of railway stations." The Club says, on Monday, " That, all trucks for the conveyance of animals upon railways should be fitted with spring buffers ; and that, in order to prevent the injurious effects upon the animals by the shunting of the trains and from other causes, the trucks should be divisible into compartments." The Chamber says, on Tuesday, " That railway waggons for the conveyance of cattle should be constructed with spring buffers and spring couplings, roofed over, and divisible into compartments." The Club " would in the outset impress the great importance of the more speedy transit and delivery of animals carried by railway ;" and the Chamber would have the " railway companies publish time-tables of their trains carrying live stock ; and that each lot of animals travelling by railway should be accompanied by a way-bill, showing the times of arrival and departure, and the causes of detention." 426 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. Then as to the voyage, the Club recommends, " That, all vessels for the conveyance of cattle should be licensed for the purpose ; and that the number of animals such ves- sels should be laden with be defined on the same principle as is adopted with emigrant ships;" and "That, the vessels should be divided or divisible into compartments in the same way the committee Las recommended for railway trucks ;" while the Chamber suggests "That ships and steam-vessels carrying animals should be licensed, and placed under a thorough system of iuspectiun." The Farmers' Club refused to advise as to the feeding of cattle iu transit, being of opinion " there are great diffi- culties in the adoption of any plan," and being " not sure that the feeding is necessary or desirable." Here, however, the Chamber took a line of its own, tlie fifth recommendation running thus : " That ships and steam- vessels carrying animals should be licensed, and proper ventilation should be secured ; that animals should be fed and watered during long voyages ; and that rcgnla- sions for these purposes, for insuring a proper degree of cleanliness, for the prevention of overcrowding, and for jirocuring humane treatment of the animals, should be enforced by a thorough system of inspection." But, act- ing ou the advice of Mr. James Howard, all reference to feeding was very dutifully struck out, and the resolution reduced to within reasonable compass. Indeed, bearing iu mind the " v>'ords of wondrous length" that have oc- casionally been introduced, we cannot but congratulate the Chamber on the moderation it has come to evince in this way, despite the valuable assistance of Professor Browue and his constitutional government. " Haven't I heard that line before ?" asks the critic, when, in rehearsing Mr. Puff's tragedy, the Beef-eater begins with one from Othello ; while the author's ready reply is, "Gad! that's of no consequence; all that can be said is that two people happened to hit ou the same thought, and Shakespeare made use of it first — that's all 1" So it is with the Chamber of Agriculture, which has always been hitting on the same thoughts as other people, and making use of them, last rather than first — that's all 1 Still, not merely in its second-hand sayings and doings, its burlesque airs of importance, or its egregious system of puffing, is the Chamber vastly like Mr. Puff himself, but even, as it would seem further, in the way by which it contrives to exist. It transpired at the meeting on Tuesday that the Central Chamber was in but indifferent circumstances ; that it could not go on as it had been going, with the three or four hundreds a year at its disposal, and the secretary was directed accordingly to perfect his grand scheme for touting the country for more money. And this is Mr. Puff all over again : " Harkee ! To the charitable and humane, and to those whom Frovidence hath Messed icith ajjtueyice. That told very well ; for I had the case strongly attested, and went about to collect the subscriptions myself." Our aim here has been to show the amount of weight which may be attached to these Recommendations, as to trace the source from which they really emanate. THE CENTBAL FAEMERS' CLUB. At a special meeting of the committee held at the Club House, Salisbury-square, on Monday, October 4th, Mr. 11. J. Newton, in the chair, the circular letter from the Privy Council Office on the transit of animals came under consideration, when the following answer was agreed to : The committee of the Club would in the outset im- press the great importance of the more speedy transit and delivery of animals carried by railway ; while it would further recommend : That, all trucks for the conveyance of animals upon railways should be fitted with spring buffers. That, in order to prevent the injurious effects upon the animals by the shunting of the trains and from other causes, the trucks should be divisible into compart- ments. That, it is undesirable to unload animals during transit by railway. That animals should not be upon a railway for more than twelve hours without water ; and that railway com- panies should be compelled to provide means for the proper watering of cattle before loading. That, any appliances for the watering of animals should be attached either to the carriages, or troughs should be so placed at the stations, that animals travelling for more than twelve consecutive hours can drink from such troughs without being removed from the trucks. With respect to the feeding of cattle the committee is of opinion that there are great difficulties in the adoption of any plan, and is not sure that the feeding is necessary or desirable. That, all vessels for the conveyance of cattle should be licensed for the purpose ; and that the number of animals such vessels should be laden with be defined on the same principle as is adopted with emigrant ships. That, the vessels should be divided or divisible into compartments in the same way the committee has recom- mended for railway trucks. That, Pleuro-pneumonia and other diseases are no doubt engendered by the exposure to which animals are subjected ou landing, and that sheltered accommodation should be provided on their disembarking. In offering these suggestions the committee cannot but feel how the course of circumstances has since tended to justify the memorial presented to the Lords of the Privy Council from the Club in March, 1868, and wherein the chief point dwelt upon was " the establishment of a foreign market as the only means by which the stock of this country can be defended from the importation of cattle plague and other foreign diseases." THE HEXHAM FAHMERS' CLTJB.— Tlie following subjects have been selected for discussion : Oct. 12th, On the development of the agricultural resources of the United Kingdom — Mr. John Hope, jun. ; Dec. 14th, On tenant farming in Ireland — Mr. George Hedley ; Jan. 11th, On sewage — Mr. Robert Wallis ; Feb. 8th, On the condition of the agricultural labourer — Mr. Hugh Wilson ; March 8th, On oilcakes— Mr. W. P. Catcheside, F.C.S. ; April 12th, On the causes of sterility of soils — Mr. R. Goddard. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 42-7 ECHOES FROM THE AUTUMN MEETINGS. DEVONSUIRE. At Rose Asli, Mr. Moore Stevens, the cliairraan, said: Recently, at the Britisli Association mcetiug at Exeter, the subject of Agricullure was thought to be one deserving two days' debate or fight — for it was something like a fight. At the Social Science meeting now being held at Bristol the agri- culturist had also been the subject of patronizing discussions, wliich had been taken part in by men who did not really, per- haps, know so much about agriculture and agriculturists as they did themselves. They threw iu their (the agriculturists') teeth that they need education, both the farmers and their labourers. As regards education it gave hira great pleasure to speak of it. Tlicre was that day a very interesting meeting at AVest Bucklaud, which would show that the strongest interest was taken iu middle-class education ; the success wliich had attended that school was not only due to the manner in which it had been supported, but also to the able foundation on which it was laid. Those learned men made a great fuss about edu- cation, but every man must be fitted for tlie station of life in which he was placed, and he was old-fashioned enough to think that that education should be founded on the Bible. Then he thought education should be voluntary ; every man should be as free in that as he was in his religion — at liberty to choose whichever he thought right. But they heard something among a certain class about making education compulsory and having an education rate. Compulsory education was like kb making a man cat food he didn't like. Education should be ■♦'' free ; but those who were competent should place it in the way of those who could not get it, and the State should give aid. This was not quite agreeable to those who said the agricul- turist was not properly educated. No matter what those learned men might say, he would maintain that it was not mere book-learning and copper-plate writing that would make the agricultural labourer. Now at meetings like this there were premiums held out to labourers, and that was what pro- moted his education. A man didn't want to have a lot of book-learning to teach him the way to plough. He would like to get some of these learned gentlemen down in the plough field that day and ask them, to show which was the best ploughing. Why they would be as puzzled as he would, perhaps, if he attempted to discuss classics with them. As to the education rate, that was a subject on which they all strongly felt, and which had been warmly taken up by their friend Mr. Kars- lake. Rates were now increasing very unpleasantly on owners and occupiers of land — they were unjustly rated. He was not one who would claim exemption from all that was necessary to be paid. He thought, and had always thought, that the poor of a district should be maintained by those among whom they lived, and that the expenditure of the money raised should be directed by those who contributed it. There was the police-rate, which was a very great charge on the county, for this one rate alone was now more than double what the whole of the county rate was twelve years ago. He did not see why the police-rate should be wholly laid on the owners and occupiers of land. The police were for the benefit of all classes, and he saw no reason why the rich fimdholder and the merchant should not pay to it iu the same proportion as the landed owner and occupier. It was admitted that the owners and occupiers should be to a certain extent relieved of this rate. Government otfered to pay one-fourth of the rate, but then they took away the entire control over the police, and actually, because the county magistrates objected to put more constables at Torquay, the quota was withheld until they did so. Coming to the agricu'tural labourer, he could give his own experience, lie had farmed his own land for twenty-two years, and had, of course, seen great changes in that time. It couldn't be denied that now the agricultural labourer was 25 per cent, better off tlian he was then. Now he felt, and he had no doubt they all felt, that they had reason to be proud of the state of agriculture in this country. What with a doubtful changeable climate, inferior soil, and other draw- backs, agriculture had attained a proficiency superior to any other country under the sun. Some persons had lately very miscliieviously, he thought, been trying to persuade tlie agri- cultural labourers that they were not sullicicntly paid. He had seen something of this, but they all knew that landowner, tenant, and labourer must all pull together — and they were all willing to pull together. But these mischievous persons, and he would mention Canon Girdlestone as one, had been trying to set them against one another, and interfering in a subject that they knew nothing about. If they went to Castle Hill, or other places about here, they would find landowners who did interest themselves about the con- dition of the agricultural labourer. But Canon Girdle- stone would get them away to " better themselves " as it was called. He (the speaker) had a labourer five years since who left him with the view of bettering him- self. He went to Plymouth, got in the dockyard at 15s. a week, and shortly after liis wife wrote for a £5 note to lielp them set up a shop. He forwarded it, but remarked at the same time that he wondered as tilings were so flourishing that they wanted assistance. Two years ago there was a discharge of hands at the dockyard, and the husband was among them. That was a man who went to better himself. The agricultural labourer was not so badly paid as it was stated by the reverend gentleman of whom he had spoken. Some time ago he was asked by the farmers of that gentleman's parish to preside over them. He did so, and heard both sides of the question. The Canon complained that the farmers did not support his school. They had very good reason for not doing so, for he sent his schoolmaster round the parish finding out the labourers' wages and endeavouring in every way to pick holes in the farmers. Of course they would not support either him or his school in any way. Then he said the farmers gave their labourer* " tail corn." Now this was utterly and entirely false. In the first place the farmers hadn't got it to give them ; there was a certain quantity of refuse out of every lot of corn, but that was given to the poultry. He (Mr. Stevens) had always made it a rule to pay his labourers in money, but Jo what he would they would come to him say, " Please, sir, let us have some corn." They would have the corn, and they knew that it was to their advantage to have it from the farmer who hired them, for if they went to the miller they would have to pay at least 6d. a bushel more. In fact the master supplying his labourer with corn was a great boon to the latter. Then it had been said that the farmers gave their labourers sour cider as part of their wages. He could say he never did so. They worked for him by the job, and did what work they liked, and he paid them for it in money. But last year he had a quantity of good cider, and the labourers came to him and wanted him to sell them a hogshead. He told them he could not do so, but he gave them some, as was the general practice of all farmers— not as a part of their wages. That was well known by far- mers. But those learned men talked away without knowing anything about these things. Then they wanted to set land- lords and tenants by the ear. No doubt he was speaking to a good many tenant farmers, and they would acknowledge the desirability of what he said. It was always his wish to live on good terms with his tenants, and he was sorry whenever he lost any. But there ought to be confidence be- tween them. Whatever the lawyers might do or say in the leases lie thought the farmers could outdo them if they chose. There was one particular he would point out. In some of the stringent leases farmers were forbidden, as representing the principles of good husbandry, to put in two crops of corn suc- cessively in the same ground. But tliat had been found out to be all a mistake ; for farmers knew that they got a better crop of barley after wheat than they did after roots (" Yes, of course us do !"). There was the manure put in for the wheat, and then they could clear away the wheat in time to get the barley in early. But there was not either of these ad- vantages if they sowed corn after a root crop. Coming to sporting, he was a sporting man, a bit of a foxhunter and fond of shooting. But he did not keep a lot of keepers to preserve the game, for he found his tenants to be the best keepers. He knew what a pest rabbits were, and he allowed his tenants to 428 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. have all the four-footed game, and they could have a brace of birds whenever they wanted them. Consequently there was a good feehng between them, and he was never at a loss for a covey of birds, for his tenants were always quite prepared to show him them. He always acknowledged that the rabbits were more the property of the owner than the occupier. Tliere was a misunderstanding about the rabbits. At the last election the best man they ever had as a representative of the county was attempted to be hooted out, and all about these rabbits — simply because he was misunderstood. He referred to Sir Massey Lopes, who was one of the best men in the House of Commons for tlie farmers. He brought forward measures 'on their behalf, and had got the ear of the Prime Minister, who had promised to deal with the farmers' grievances, and that was the man they attempted to hoot out ! He proposed to give a silver watch which was to bo be competed for by farmers' sons at the next ploughing match. In conclusion he would refer to the writings of Mr. Cuthbert Johnson in the Ulark Lane Exjiress, on the agriculture of Devon, as a proof that the agricultural labourers were not inferior, but generally superior to those in other coun- ties in England. At Maristow, Sir Massey Lopes, M.P., said, the great and important question which in all probability Parliament would have before it nest session, was that of land tenure in Ireland. He did not wish to say much about it on this occasion, but he thought he might sum it up in this way. The ditference between the two countries was that in England the landlord provided all buildings, fences, and large improvements, while in Ireland all this was done by the tenants. In England leases were given ; in Ireland none were given, so that in a country where the tenant was expected to do all the permanent improvements he was subjected to six months' notice. That was not just, and it would be a most desirable thing to introduce into Ireland the same system that we had in England. As to the inequalities of local taxation, every man should be made to pay towards the rates according to his means, whether he was owner of real property or otherwise. He believed this opinion was rapidly gaining ground, and it was satisfactory to know that Mr. Gladstone had pro- mised a revision of local taxation in the coming session of Parliament. As to the Manchester " reciprocity" movement, he hoped that we should not again have protection in this country ; but at the same time, looking at the large number of workmen who were out of employ in the manufacturing districts, it was not to be wondered at that those people con- sidered it unjust that foreign manufactured goods should be allowed to be brought into this country free of duty, wlrile other countries refused a hke privilege to us. NOEPOLK. At North Walshara, Sir Powell Buxton, the chairman, thought he might at least venture upon one remark, and that was that the show they had seen was but a proof of one thing upon which they should all be agreed — that they had this year a very satisfactory harvest. Some men would point to this crop and some to that, but he was inclined to tliink they had had a satisfactory harvest : that whether they looked at the hay, corn, or root crops, we had had as good a harvest as it was very often our lot to gather in. It was all very well to boast of the skill, ingenuity, capital, and labour we bestow on our fields, but unless the sunshine and the rain succeed each other we know there wiU be no gathering in. He believed there had been an average crop, and the show of roots that day proved that to be the case. Of course they had only been look ing at samples, but seeiug what those samples were, and hearing what the opinions were all round, he though they might accept the fact that it had been a fair harvest, for which they might be thank- ful. But there was still one dark cloud in the horizon. In looking along the field there was one blank place — where there ought to be many cattle there were very few. There had been that disease which was going about. He believed there had been differences of opinion about it, but a great many entertained a feeling of antipathy to that disease. In the county of Essex the foot-and-mouth disease was regarded as fatal to the milk- ing and feeding qualities of the beasts, and he confessed he thought they might look upon that disease as a dark cloud "JP*^/^ their horizon. He would venture to express an opinion that greater legislative protection against the disease was needed. It was all very well for those benighted protectionists of Manchester to call out for protection and reciprocity, but what was the good of reciprocity to the agriculturists of this country, when if they were to try they conld not produce any- thing so nasty as the foot-and-mouth disease to sead to the Continent. They sent us this disease, but we could not possi- bly reciprocate the compliment. He thought they might think it right that the State should protect itself, not against foreign competition but against foreign disease. Her Ma- jesty's Council would do its best to keep out that disease with such Acts as they now had, but the door had been left open, and the disease had come from the Continent into this country. Greater protection against disease seemed to be needed, and for his part he thought it would be afforded. He thought there was another matter which concerned their interest, which he wished to bring before them. A year ago a reverend canou made some remarks at Norwich, when all the wise men were there collected, in reference to the agricultural labourer, and made a speech, which he (Sir P. Buxton) was sure was not in- tended, but which did convey the impression that everybody who possessed a hundred acres of land was very nearly allied to a rogue and ruffian, and was only equalled by the man who farmed it. The labourer's position was, however, very far from what it ought to be. The greatest inequality in this re- spect existed in the country. In some parts the labourers were comparatively well off, and in some other parts, especially in Devonshire, they were far less well off; and in those parts where they were worst off, their condition was deplorable to themselves and a condition of insecurity to the empire. Look- ing at the terms which were offered to them in America and in our own colonies, we could not but feel and see that many of them would be better off if they were to accept those terms, and go to America or the colonies. It was a question what would be the position of artisans, but as to the sober, honest, industrious man who goes at the tail of the plough, he could not think there was a doubt that he would improve on his pre- sent position in this country. If, however, emigration did begin, it was a very contagious disease — or whatever it might be called — it was contagious, and men who went abroad fre- quently sent back money for those they left behind. He thought it was for the interest of ail those concerned in agri- culture to see if some steps might not be taken to offer the labourers equally good terms at home as they might get abroad. He was not advocating any sudden or rash raising of wages ; but if it were to happen that a large and sudden emigration were to take place, the mere suddenness would be a source of great difficulty with which they would have to deal. It might be wise to consider whether we should not continue in those steps in which we were now to some extent progressing. Some- thing had been done towards the improvement of the cottages, but there might still be something to do towards increasing the land in the occupation of the labourers, either by enabling them to increase their gardens or allotments, or in some other way avoiding what might possibly come about, a sudden and rapid rise of wages. He only pretended to throw out these suggestions as a feeler, hoping that others might make some remarks on the subject ; but he could not but think there was such a possibility hanging over the agriculture of the whole country, and at least it would be the act of wise men so to act as to control the change rather than be overtaken by it when they had no power to prevent it. Mr. Chakles Buxton, M.P., said : I am astonished that even many who ought to be better informed appear still to la- bour under the delusion that what the Irish are seeking is to secure compensation for the improvements they make on their farms. Now I venture to say that a more complete illusion there could not be. Compensation for improve- ments ought, beyond all doubt, to be secured to them, but compensation for improvements is not the thing they are demanding. We cannot too soon open our eyes to the truth — the one thing which the Irish tenantry demand, the one thing on which their heart are set, the one thing which they are resolutely determined to obtain, is, not compen- sation for improvements, but fixity of tenure. They are de- termined no longer to endure the uncertainty, and, as they think, the humiliation of being liable to be turned out of their holdings at the will and pleasure of the landlord. That no- tion of theirs seems to strike people on this side of the Channel as a strange and almost a wicked one. Lord Clarendon tliQ THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 42^ otlier day referred to it as one of those wild aud subversive schemes to wliich no Government could listen for a moment. It seems to me, however, that instead of denouncing this idea in angry terms, the English public would do wisely to look at the question with dignified calmness. The first thing we have to do is to master the feeling of the Irish people, aud to look at the matter from their point of view. Now, their notion is, that the law is unjust iu sanctioning a system of tenures, by which most of their oiO,000 occupiers of land are placed at the mercy of a comparatively small body of men, many of them absentees, most of them utter strangers — in their own phrase, " aliens in blood, language, and religion." They want to get rid of that hateful precariousness of their daily lives by which their lives, their "livelihood, the labours of their hands, the prospects of their children, are at the beck and call of others. Gentlemen, they may be very wrong, very foolish, very wild in seeking this, but depend upon it such an agitation is not one that deserves to be met with abuse or ridicule. It is a very serious demand, and it has the grandeur that must attend a demand made almost witli one mind and with one voice, aye, aiid witli aU the heart, too, of a whole people. This feeling is intense, more than words can describe, in the hearts of the Irish tenantry. It has kept Ireland for ages in a state almost, I had said, of chronic agony ; it has made assassin- ation one of the ordinary incidents of Irish rural life. Its root lies very deep. There is no doubt that it takes its origin in the ancient land system of the natives of that island. In days gone by, according that ancient system, the land was not divided among separate proprietors, but each dis- trict belonged in common to the whole sept or tribe, and the meanest member of it, as truly as the chieftain himself, shared in its possessions ; and to this day the people have never lost tlie tradition of this ancient ownership, of which they were only stripped by the successive confiscations inflicted upon them by their English conquerors, who transferred the laud from them to strangers whom they detested as enemies. I am not justi- fying them, I am only telling you the facts, and the fact is, that the deep traditional feeling lies at the root of this great agitation, which, be it remembered, is no new thing; it has kept Ireland in hot water during hundreds of years. A host of other circumstances, on which I cannot now dwell, have helped to strengthen that feeling, till it has become an over- mastering passion. But, undoubtedly, in the last twenty years it has been stimulated by that which, in most respects, has been an inestimable blessing to that country — the enormous transfer of land, to the value of some £20,000,000, under the Incumbered Estates Court. The new landlords, bound by no ancient ties to the tenantry, and wishing for unchecked autho- rity over them, have for the most part refused leases, and have often used their power of eviction. But whatever the cause, of the fact there is no question that now the people of Ireland are roused to a determined resistance, and the question how to deal with their demands has become the one grand political question of the day, and it seems likely that in the approach- ing session we shall have a fight over it, unparalleled in vehe- mence since the days of the abolition of the Corn Laws. Mr. Jex Blake said he must in the first place lament that the cattle disease, or foot-and-mouth disease, had made a great inroad on the society, for to-day they had only had his friend Mr. Wortley, who was a true friend to agriculture, and who showed two most magnificent buUocks. As to the harvest, he had no idea that it was so good as they had been told it was. He had yet to thrash out his small pittance, and when he had done so he should be able to inform them what his crop really was. His opinion was that the wheat crop was not an average crop. The barley crop might perhaps be an average, but he doubted it ; and the turnips were not an average. Why, then, should they be informed that they had crops above the average, and that they were in a most magnificent state of prosperity ? It was said they were iu a most prosperous state, but he doubted it. Norfolk was an agricultural county, and he believed if it produced any crop better than another it was barley, wheat, and turnips, and he believed not one of them was an average. If there was one, it was barley ; but he did not believe it. Mr. Woods said that he had recently been in five different counties, and from what he saw he believed that the root crop ia Norfolk put them all in the dark. The Hon. F. Walpole said, that iu the course of last session Mr. Read proposed an amendment to the Contagious Diseases (Animals) BiU, under which animals affected with the foot-and-mouth disease should be treated iu the same manner as animals affected with the cattle-plague. His hon. colleague and himself were very strongly pressed not to support that resolution ; and, on the other hand, ]\Ir. Read came forward, not only with his own authority, which was very great in such matters, but also with that of the Central Chamber of Agri- culture. It was hard for them, as agricultural representatives, to decide on which side they were to vote, and it was not until after they had received a number of letters on the sub- ject that they were able to come to a decision. As one of the representatives of that part of the county he should have liked to have heard moreof what great practical agriculturists thought best for their own interests. Tlierc was one point he was glad to hear Sir Eowell Buxton mention. Although they differed on many things, he (Mr. Walpole) was glad to hear that the Chairman also thought the Cattle-plague Bill hardly went so far as the agricultural requirements demanded. Another question had been raised, and that was, as to the humane treating of cattle in transit across the ocean. There was a clause in the Cattle BiU wliich, if properly prosecuted, would meet all the demands upon it. He should be glad to see it not only carried out on the ocean, but on the highway, on Norwich Hill, and everywhere else. Mr. Read had pertina- ciously advocated ia the House of Commons the giving of water to cattle on their transit. They knew how very much cattle endured, and how sometimes they were nearly 48 hours without a mouthful of anything, and very often in a hot raging sun. He did not think it would cost the railways very much to put a trough in the cattle cars and a hose to put in some water to give to the beasts on the transit. Not only our common interest but common humanity and civilization urged the humane treatment of cattle. Lord Leicester said, at Docking: I think I may congra- tulate you upon meeting under better auspices than this time last year. We have had a good harvest ; our root crops are fair ; our layers are good ; and in fact I think I may say it has been a favourable season for Norfolk farming since we last met. The only measure that has passed the legislature that im- mediately affects your interests is the Cattle Contagious Diseases Bill. In the forthcoming session the Irish land question v/ill, I have no doubt, bo a subject of considerable interest to you, and we are promised a discussion on the Game Laws. I am sorry to see that there is too great a tendency amongst certain politicians and amongst certain writers to endeavour to set class against class, and to try and prove that tenant farmers are grossly oppressed by their landlords. Not long ago I read a letter in the public paper, writ- ten from the North of England, in which the writer stated that in the district in which he lived the farmers suffered as much from injury by game as the farmers in Norfolk. Now this would imply that the land- lords in this county are generally selfish, and have not a due consideration for the interests of their tenants. I deny this implication. I am acquainted with all the large landed pro- piieters in this county, and with many of the smaller ones, and I know that there is a bond of union and good feeling existing between them and their tenants that would not exist if the latter suffered from injustice by the former. It is an act of injustice if a landlord allows his game to injure the crops of his tenants without taking immediate steps to remedy the evil, and prevent its recurrence. I see only three or four of my tenants present here to-day, and I would ask those whom I have the honour of addressing- representing as they do many tliousand acres of land, and living under different landlords — what appreciable injury they suffer from game ; and I think this question might be fairly put and satisfactorily answered at the majority of such meet- ings in this county. There are few farmers in the county of Norfolk who would not see the mark of a hare's tooth upon their farms ; but there are few that are not fond of sporting, and I trust there are none here that have not the right of coursing on their farms. Hares do not quite that amount of injury to agricultural produce that some people imagine, unless they exist in great numbers. But if they do not so much injury to my farm, they are most destructive to my young 430 THE FARMEE'S MAGAZINE. plantations ; and as I no not understand coursing, personally I had rather the animal did not exist. With rabbits, it is impossible to farm ; and I have given directions to have them destroyed on ail portions of my estate whenever and wherever they may be found. I will admit that there are exceptional cases where the farmers do suffer very considerable damage from game. This often occurs wlien the landlord lets tlie shooting to a stranger. In that case the occupier ought to have the exclusive right of destroying the ground game on his farm. I wish the words " Game Laws" were removed from the statute book. I should like to have the same protection for all wild animals and birds as long as they remain on ray property, whether they are hares or pheasants or whether they are rooks or small birds. Feudal Lawi^ind Feudal Tyranny make a good heading for sensational artic^s ; but I will not admit, gentlemen, that your landlords are tyrants or that you are serfs. There are impediments enough to interfere with the proper cultivation of the soil — insecurity of tenure, want of capital on the part of both landlord or of tenant, and, where it exists, ignorance on the part of both how to apply it, are perhaps the chief obstacles to the improvement of agriculture. It is also impossible to farm to advantage unless suitable buildings are provided in convenient localities. The existence of useless fences surrounding small enclosures — land full of hedges and timljer — is utterly detrimental to modern farming; and I will undertake to say there are more acres of corn and roots annually destroyed in theeounty of Norfolk byhedgerowtimberthan there are roods of land destroyedby game. I fully appreciate ornamental timber ; I am perfectly aware of the necessity of shelter and wood and their effect upon our climate ; but 1 cannot see hovv such trees as we can grow, existing as they do in straight lines, are either ornamental or give us that shelter that we require. Trees are admissible on pasture or by the sides of roads, but not between two arable fields. GLOTJCESTERSHIEE. A.t Bristol, Sir Staffokd Nohthcote, M.P., said : They say the agricultural labourer gets lower wages than he ought to get ; this is because the supply of agricultural labour is in excess of the demand for it. The inconvenience must be re- medied by reducing the supply ; that can only he done by promoting the emigration of the labourer to places where he would find his labour more wanted and better paid. In the natural course of things the labourer would find this out for himself, and would transfer himself to the more profitable market ; but he is prevented doing so — first, by the actual operation of the poor-laws, and, secondly, by the effect which the system under which he has so long lived has iiad upon him, for it has prevented his acquiring the means necessary for emigration, and it has reduced him to such a low condition that he has neither the sense nor the spirit to go and seek his fortune even if he had the means. Tlierefore, it is urged, tlie State ought to look to the matter, to alter the obnoxious poor- law, and to give direct assistance to emigration. Now, there is some truth, though mixed with some exaggeration, in this line of argument. It cannot be denied that there are many cases in which an active, skilful young labourer might do very much better for himself by carrying his labour to a less over- stocked market. Neither, I think, can it be denied that the habits engendered by the old system of the poor-law have had a great share in producing the unwillingness to remove from home which characterises so large a mass of our agricultural population. Whether that unwillingness is so absolutely a proof of brutish stupidity, as some of our restless counsellors represent it to be, 1 take leave to doubt. There is a'good deal more of natural sjirewdness among our peasantry than super- ficial observers give them credit for ; and if we could gain their confidence, which is by no means an easy thing to do, we should find that in a large number of instances their reasons for staying at home on low wages rather than go far a-field in search of liigher, are much stronger than we are apt to believe. But admitting, as I do, that tlie younger and more active might, with advantage to themselves, emigrate more largely than they do, it still remains a question whether the State should aid them in the matter. It should, no doubt, as far as possible, remove any artificial obstacles which impede their freedom of action, and should take care that every one has fair play ; but to give an artificial stimulus to emigration, for the purpose of reducing the supply of labour in this country, appears to me to be a policy not hastily to be adopted. The business of farming is like any other business, and must be subject to the same general conditions as the business of cotton-spinning, ship-building, or machine-making. The farmer is a manufacturer of food, which he raises by the appli- cation of liis skill and his capital to the land. If he is to con- duct his business at all, he must contrive to conduct it to a profit. For this purpose he must economise his outlay ; he must spend no more than is necessary to produce this result ; he must not buy costly implements if cheaper ones will do equally well ; neitlier must he employ more labourers than are sufficient to do his work ; nor can he afford to pay them more than their work is wortli. If, then, a philanthropist were to go to a fanner and say, " Your wages are too low ; you are giving your men only lOs. a week, and you ought to raise the amount to 15s.," the farmer would reply, "If I am to add 50 percent, to what I pay for my labour, and am to get no better return than I get now, I shall be ruined ; and I don't see why I should ruin myself to please you." The answer to this, of course, is that he need not be ruined, for that by paying his labourers better he would get more work out of them ; that ten men, at 15s. a week, would do as much work as fifteen men at 10s., and would cost no more ; and that, if he were put to it, he could find many ways of making up for the loss he would in the first instance sustain by the rise of wages, as, for example, the introduction of more machinery and the dimi- nution of the number of hands by that means. Upon this the farmer might naturally ask what, if he followed this advice, and reduced the number of his men, increasing at the same time the rate of wages of those whom he retained , would become of those whom he discharged, and who would of course be those whose services he found the least valuable ? They would, indeed, find themselves in a very inconvenient position. For many of them emigration would not be an available resource ; for it is the best and not the worst la- bourer who will succeed as an emigrant. They would remain at their homes ; but, instead of getting regular work, they would have to take such odd jobs as might offer themselves. Some of them would be supported by their younger relatives out of their increased wages ; others would become chargeable to the parish, and the farmer would find one effect of his change of system to be an increase in his poor-rates. This, I apprehend, would probably be the effect of a sudden change of the nature described. Like other sudden changes, it would be productive of much temporary inconvenience and suffering, and the inconvenience would fall mainly upon the weakest portion of the community. But the farmer might go on to put another question. He might ask what security he should have that, by paying his labourers more, he should get more work out of them ? It may be perfectly true that he cannot get more out of them, unless he pays them better ; but it is by no means equally obvious that by simply paying them better he will get more work in return. Yon cannot buy as good a horse for £30 as you can for £50 ; but you do not make the £'20 horse a bit more valuable by insisting on giving £50 for him. This, then, brings nie to what seems the cardinal ques- tion— How can you improve the quality of the agricultural labourer, so as to make his labour really more valuable than it is ? If you can succeed in making it so, and in convincing both himself and his employer that it is so, you need give yourself no more trouble as to his finding a proper market for it. And, as the process of the improvement would neces- sarily be gradual, you need have little fear of those inconve- niences which attend a sudden displacement of labour. Now for the improvement of the agricultural labourer you want two things — you want to raise the standard by which he mea- sures himself, to teach him to aim, on behalf of his children, if not on his own behalf, at something higher than he has hitherto been content with, and to place within his reach the education and training necessary to enable hiin to reach that standard, if fair play is given them. That is one thing which you want : the other is, that he should have fair play ; that Ills work should be paid for in such a manner as to make it his interest to do his best ; that he should be encouraged to form habits of diligence and of independence, and should be made to feel that his destiny in life is to a great extent under his own control. You want, in fact, to operate upon the individual, and to make him work out his own improvement. This is a task not wholly distinct from that which the advocates of arti- THE FARMEE'S MAGAZINE. 431 ficial systems for the wholes;ile elevatiouof tho labouriug; class propose to tlieniselves, but one whicli in practice will often be found antagonistic to them. Those who are interesting them- selves in the improvement of the condition of the la- bourer may, I think, be divided into two schools. The one is animated by the spirit of the trades' union, the other by the spirit of piece-work. Tlie one would work through the class, tlie other througlithe individual. I take my side with the be- lievers in piece-work. Not that I dispute or doubt the reason- ableness of such an organisation of labour as is suilicieni to protect the individual labourer against the possible exactions of the capitalist ; if trades' unions or labour unions could be confined to that object they would be deserving of respect and of sympathy. But wlien they go further and demand of their own members that they should limit their individual exertions so as not to produce more or to earn more than their fellows, they introduce a principls at once unjust and dangerous. There is no saying even what injury they may not thus inllict upon their neighbours ; there is no saying even what injury they may not inflict upon their country, by restricting the development of its industry, aud possibly driving out of it branches of business essential to its prosperity. The theory of co-operation is indeed a beautilul one ; but it seems better suited to the republic of Plato than to the atmosphere of this work-a-day world. At Bristol, Canon Girdleston said he took it for granted that the condition of the agricultural labourer is most unsatisfactory ; that he cannot save, cannot enjoy life, can scarcely live, and that his posiliou in the social scale is below that of the emancipated slaves iu the United States to whom the franchise has been accorded. Starting from this position he would offer a few heads of reply to the questions proposed for consideration. In the first place, as a measure of imme- diate, even if only of temporary relief, he counselled the migration of labourers from the parts of England iu which low wages prevail to the part.s in which wages is higher. Sucli migration is more easily managed than emigration ; although the latter is, perhaps, the only way of relieving overgrown town populations. The difficulties arising from the expenseof mi- gration might be partly borne by the distant employer to whose service the labourer went, partly advanced by him as a loan. Great assistance might be rendered by the press by the occa- sional publication of the rates of wages in different parls of Eng- ^ land and the colonies, and such a publication would be no less useful to the farmer than to the labourer himself. Secondly, proceeding to measures calculated to exert a permanently bene- ficial influence upon the labourer's condition, he gave the first place among these to education, and expressed his desire that the labourer's child before he is turned iuto the fields to work should be able to read an ordinary book with ease to himself, to write a tidy letter, and to keep accounts and make out a bill. Anything less than this would soon be forgotten ; but, tuus far taught, the peasant would have within himself the elements of self-improvement, and might rise above his original sphere. An educated labourer would be above living in the wretched hovels with which he is now content, would depend upon him- self rather than upon the Board of Guardians for relief in sickness and support in old age, would resist part payment of his wages in beer and cider, being a better workman he would command better wages, would make his earnings go further by hecoming a member of a co-operative store, and would invest his savings, small though they might be, not in the public- house, but in the post-office savings bank. In order to bring about such results there must be, within the reach of every labourer, a really efficient school aided by some measure of direct or indirect compulsion. Thirdly, a better administration of the Poor Law would make a great difference in the condi- tion of the agricultural labourer, whose condition would probably be much better than it is if there never had been a Poor Law at all. There was no more powerful instrument for destroying independence and rendering men improvident ; and although what cannot be cured must be endured, there is no reason why it should not be amended. If it be true that relief is often given to supplement wages, what can be more short- sighted than to leave, iu rural districts, the administration of relief in the hands of farmers ? If Boards of Guardians were diflFerenfly constituted there would not be half so many cases of outdoor relief as now ; and appointments to local office in con- nexion with the administration of the Poor Law should he made by a central, or, at least, by a county authority. A better classification of paupers should be made, and the system of medical relief should be totally remodelled, the parish doctors being at present so inadequately paid that tlie proper discharge of their duties was almost impossible. Pourthly, in spite of all that has been done in this direction, there is still much room for the iuiprovement of cottages, many of those now existing being destructive alike of health and decency, and such as no intelligent farmer would use for the housing of cattle. On every farm there should be an adequate number of cot- tages, each with its bit of garden, with its stye for a pig, and in some cases with a shod for a cow. Ecw things were so use- ful to the labourer as milk, and fev.' things were more beyond his reach. In an instance cited, iu which milk was given daily by the employer to the family of each labourer, the result showed that the benefit of attention to the physical welfare of the families was no less iajporfant than the benefit of winning their attachment by the personal kindness dis- played. Eifthly, neither beer nor cider should ever be given as any part of wa.sces. The cider is seldom worth the money that it is supposed to represent, and it would be a great gain to all classes if many of the orchards were turned into wheat- fields. Even when the beer or cider is good, it is less nourish- ing than meat or milk, and the labourer should have the option of purchasing whichever he preferred. Moreover, his wages should be paid without deduction on accouut of bad weather or illness, by which their amount is now rendered utterly uncertain. The married outdoor labourer, with his wife and children, must now eat and drink, if the weather happens to be bad, less one week than another, or else must run into debt ; and iu time of sickness, when more than at any other time he requires physical comforts and freedom from care, ho is more than at any other time denied the one and oppresssed by the other. He is often also at the mercy of the small shop- keeper, plundered by false weights ai;d measures, by adultera- tion, aud by incorrect book-keeping; aud he should have the advantage of a co-operative store. Farmers say they cannot " afford" to extend to their labourers these advantages, but the word does not apply, because the advantages to the em- ployer would be at least commensurate with those to the employed. To educate and improve the farmer would be one of the first steps towards improving the condition of the agri- cultural labourer. lie vindicated the claim of the agricultural labourer to benefit by philanthropic exertion, notwithstanding the possibly worse condition of the city Arab, and if God spared his life he hoped to see the agricultural labourer, in every sense of the words, religious, moral, intellectual, social, and political, made a man of. Sir ED^YARD Straciiey said that the agricultural labourer who exists iu the imagination of certain lords and squires, aud whom they suppose to be properly represented by their bailiff or gardener, living in the park lodge, is very difl'erent from the actual average labourer of the actual average tenant farmer. This labourer is a man with an income of from 9s. to lis. a week, on which to maintain a wife and children, providing them with house, food, fire, clothes ; with an allowance of half-a-crown a week from the Union when he is past work, and with a pauper's funeral at the cud. Such is his economical condition ; his intellectual condition is what must be expected in one whose sphere of action is the narrowest, aud w hose school education is the least possible in amount and value. His moral and social condition, while it often exhibits many noble virtues — industry, economy, sense of duty, endurance, self-denial, self-sacrifice, kindness to his fellows, as well as affection to his family — is characterized by a coarseness which belongs to a lovv type of civihzation, while he has often no choice but to live iu a hovel where comfort, cheerfulness, and deceucy are impossible, and from which he seeks refuge in the conviviality of the beerhouse To the question now to be ans- wered. How can this condition be improved ? the reply is, by education. Higher wages, comfortable homes, provision for sickness and old age, social intercourse without bruitish drunk- enness— in a word, a general elevation in his life — all are certain fruits of education. Education will teach him that all these things are worth having, and are within his reach, if not here, across the Atlantic. But this education must be given, must be provided by us. We must improve the administration of the Poor Laws by providing cottage homes and farm appren- ticeships for pauper children, and by eventually superseding 432 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. poor law relief by'an expansion of the Post-offlce savings bants into benefit societies for sickness and old age. We must also extend the Factory Education Acts to the employment of chil- dren in agriculture, while providing efficient night as well as day schools for every agricultural labourer's child; and then, when he has become really educated, he will be able to get his fair share of all other things for himself. Sir Baldwin Leighton stated that in consequence of some severe remarks that were made at a public meeting in which the speaker asserted that there could be nothing but the work- house for the agricultural labourer in his old age, he examined the register of a Union in the county in which he was then residing (Devon). TJiere were 100 adult males in the work- house ; of those 34 only had been agricultural labourers, three of whom had held farms, while 48 were townsmen, the re- mainder being blind, deaf and dumb, and idiots. This return, therefore tended to show that in Devonshire, where the wages are low, still the agricultural labourer is not so pauperized as his fellow in the town. The same results bad been found in a Union of the West Midland district. Then, while in towns the death rate varied from 30 to 30 per 1,000, in most agri- cultural districts it was under 20, As a means of raising the agricultural labourer in the social scale, one of the first things was to give him the opportunity of procuring a good cottage, with a garden attached. Clotliing clubs and similar institu- tions were also recommended. Although much might remain to be done, yet ranch had been accomplished in the last 40 years to better the condition of the agricultural population. While the population of England had increased 50 per cent, since 1834, the expenses of pauperism had only increased 20 per cent, and the gross abuses of the old poor law now hardly existed. The best means of bettering the condition of the agricultural labourer was by teaching hira how by his own exertions he might raise himself. LANCASIIIRE. At Liverpool, Lord Stanley said the question whether trade societies are desirable or not is a question which, in our day, it is idle to put. They exist ; they are a fact ; they never were more strongly supported than now ; and they are not likely in our time to disappear. No one can reasonably dispute the right of men working together in one trade to combine in joint action for matters connected with that trade. It is legal, it is right — as Englishmen, it is morally their right, since it is only by union that they can meet their employers on terms of equality — and that it is their interest on the whole I do not see that any one can doubt who has considered the matter practically. At any rate, this latter point the parties interested have settled for themselves. They do it ; they have a right to do it ; and it is for experience and for the future to show how far and to what limits they have done it wisely. I do not think that the mere fact, indisputable as it is, that the power of com- bination has sometimes been used inconsiderately and wantonly, and to the great danger to those who have so used it, is any vaUd argument against its being used at all. Experience must be bought, aud often bought dearly. Considering how short a time has passed in the history of the nation since combination of the employed against employers was prohibited by the law of the land, I see nothing to wonder at — nothing to justify alarm for the future — in the mere fact that in the exercise of this new power mistakes have occasionally been made, that unreasonable demands have sometimes been put forward, and that wasteful and unnecessary quarrels have arisen. Of these things I say, they wiU bring their own remedy, sooner or later, though, no doubt, it may be at the cost of much indi- vidual inconvenience and suffering. We are aU agreed, that notwithstanding the improvements of the last half century, the condition of the great masses of our fellow-countrymen is not aU that we could desire. I do not think that, taking into accovmt the general condition of the world, the superior artizan has, so far as money goes, very much to complain of. The rate of pay which he earns would excite the envy of his felow- workmeu on the Continent, and, if to the English habits of energy and industry, he added a little more of the Continental economy, a large class of Englishmen would be considerably better off than they are. T don't say that as a reproach. We are all, I am afraid, tatrecl with the same brush, Quite euough ' has been heard lately of reckless extravagance in the upper classes, and of wild speculation in the middle classes, and if I venture to hint that the same tendency is not confined to them, I am only pointing out that English peculiarities and English character are a matter of race much more than of class. But man does not live by bread alone. Pay-day is not everything, and it is a natural and not an unreasonable wish for every man to form, that he should have some interest in, and some control over the work on which he is employed. Meanwhile, I say that I wish most emphatically to guard myself against being supposed to encourage the foolish fancy that there is anything in the receipt of pay from employers which implies degrading dependence. Wages are equally wages whether paid weekly or quarterly. It can hardly be said that the judge on the bench, or the general in the field, or the cabinet minister in his office is degraded by being paid for what he does. But it is human nature, 1 think, that a man should like to feel that he is to be a gainer by any extra industry that he may put forth, and that he should like to have some sense of pro- prietorship in the shop or mill, or whatever it may be, in which he passes his days. And it is because the system introduced of late years of co-operative industry meets that natural wish, that I look forward to its extension with so much hopefulness. I believe it is the best, the surest remedy for that antagonism of labour and capital which we hear so much talked of, and wliich to a certain extent no doubt exists ; for it is not in any way necessary to successful co-operation that the capitalist should be turned out of the concern. The very best instances of its working, in my belief, are those where the men employed hold a certain number of shares in the undertaking, the rest being held by the o^vner. But questions of this kind — ques- tions of detail — wiU settle themselves better, with the help of time, than we can settle them. The one that seems to me de- sirable is, that, no matter by what particular agency or mechan- ism, the men who give their labour to the concern shall, to some extent, share in the profit that it makes. No doubt that participation is to them an unmixed gain. There are losses as well as gains, bad times as well as good times ; but the very fact that these vicissitudes occur will make the men who share in them understand and feel better than they ever did before the responsibilities and the difficulties of the employer; (Hear, hear) — and if, as is quite possible, many having felt its diffi- culties prefer the certainty and security of fixed wages, they will at least have had their choice between the two systems, and will only have themselves to blame if they are not satisfied. Now I am well aware that such a state of things as I have pointed out is one which cannot be brought about in a day. It is quite probable that there are some trades, some kinds of business, in which it cannot be brought about at all ; but it seems to me that it is in that direction that the efforts of the best workers and the ideas of the best thinkers are tending, and we are not to be disheartened by a few failures or disap- pointments because we do not at once hit on the best way of doing what has never been done before. That, gentlemen, is in a few words the conclusion I press. Hope for the future, patience for the present, respect for individual freedom, and nothing asked from the State except neutrality and fair play. At Lancaster, Mr. Staekie, M.P., the chairman, said : With regard to the relative position of landlord and tenant, a great deal had been said on the Irish Land Bill, to which he might be allowed to advert as bearing considerably on agricul- ture. He must confess from all he had read that the Irish landlord had been very remiss, and had brought a very great deal of trouble upon himself. He considered that the Irish landlord had in many casas taken an undue advantage of his tenant, aud though he did not know much about it, he be- lieved that undue advantage had been taken of the improve- ments effected by his tenants. It was a great injustice to dis- card a tenant after he had erected buildings on the farm and put money into the pockets of his landlord, and he considered a tenant ought to be remembered for his outlay. A tenant who had done his best to improve a farm ought to be thought well of and encouraged to continue. Public opinion on these matters was beginning to be very strong, and they must take warning and be guided by something beyond public opinion — by sympathy, and further, by a true sense of duty. If the Irish landlord had conducted himself as he ought to have done, and improved his land to the best of his ability, and dealt generously with liis tenants, he belieyed they shgnW never have THE FAEMEE'S MAGAZINE. 433 seen the Irish land bill before the country iu its present form. He must Sviy he felt very strongly that private property ought always to remain private property, aud the tenatits in Ireland must not think if an Irish land bill was introduced into par- liament, they eould get the property of the country out of the hands of the original owners. They must not let the people of Ireland be misguided for one moment on that point, and they must be careful what they did, for an act of injustice always reflected back upon those who were guilty of it. The owner of property must be protected iu his rights, and also on the other hand if an Irish tenant had built farmhouses, and other- wise improved hir, landlord's property, it was only an act of justice that he should receive tlie value of it. He was very much of the opinion of John Bright as to small farmers. Tlie small farmer was a man they ought all to encourage, and be liked to see the hard-working tenant striving his best with the aid of his family to get as much out of the land as possible, which he had a perfect right to do. They should encourage small farmers to the utmost, and not allow large capitalists to come in and swamp them. He had, however, seen farmers swamped by large capitalists, and had also seen the same farms better worked when in tlie hands of a tenant farmer, assisted by four or five of his own stalwart lads and a labourer. He would not drive anyone to the street, and therefore the small farmer must live as the large farmer, and they ought to encourage both. They were all advantageous to the neighbouring towns, and supplied their quota to the good of the country. If every one would work on the principle of live and let live, that of itself would be a true protection to property, and the country would be happy and prosperous. During the last session of parliament, a bill had been introduced by Mr. Porster of con- siderable interest to the general farmer, in which be tried hard to do what he (the president) felt would have to be done, and therefore his sympathies went with Mr. Forster, who had en- ^ tirely gained his affection from the admirable manner with which he had introduced the bill. He was convinced that they would have to make sanitoriums on their wharves in which to place the cattle and slaughter them at once, thus pre- venting the spread of disease, which of one kind or another was constantly pervading their stock. No one could take up a newspaper without noticing that the foot-and-mouth disease was spreading from one end of the country to the other ; it was not, of course, as appalling as the cattle plague, but it was, nevertheless, a fatal disease, and one calculated to disorganize their stock. It was a disease about which there was some dif- ference of opinion as to whether it was imported or not, but he thought it was imported, and it only showed the desirability of some protection being afforded them against imported disease, and he considered they ought to have every protection which lay in the legislative assembly. No doubt his ideas would be misconstrued, and he would be taunted for his views in these matters, as in the case of a previous vote in the House of Commons, but he had as yet seen no reason to regret the vote he gave on that occasion. He considered London ought to have a proper harbour for the receiving of foreign cattle, and that the animals should be killed and the meat distributed at once, and, however, they might cry about dear meat, they would have to do something of the kind yet. They were only trifling with the matter, and they bad better get to work at once with some such scheme as that of Mr. Forster, for as they were at present they never knew when they were secure. There could be no doubt whatever of the necessity of more restrictive measures than they now possessed for the preven- tion of imported disease, and though he by no means wished to keep foreign cattle out of the market, he thought they ought to have some guarantee that the disease they brought with them should not spread itself into this country and create devastation among their stock. Colonel Wilson Patten, M.P., said the president, in speaking of the landlord and tenant question of Ireland, had stated that he did not think the Irish landlords had done their duty to their tenants. If that allegation was applied to the great body uf the landlords of Ireland, it would certainly lead to a wrong impression. That there might be grave misman- agement in Ireland he did not pretend to deny, though he was not aware whether it was so or not. It would, of course, be a matter of inquiry how far the landlords and tenants of Ire- land had done their duty, but he eould not allow it to be sup- posed that the landlords had not done their duty, aud permit a large body of the landlords to be shown up to the public as wanting in their duty ; for while he knew there were to be found in Ireland a body of tenants such as were not to be found elsewhere in the empire, he also knew there were land- lords equally remarkable for the manner in which they pro- moted the welfare of their tenantry, and amongst these land- lords were landlords of Lancashire, whose reputation stood amongst the highest for their kind and considerate treatment of their tenantry. He need only mention the names of the Duke of Devonshire and of Lord Derby, and whatever their feeling of politics might be, it would be impossible to go into any quarter of Ireland and mention Lord Derby's name with- out hearing him spoken of as a landlord in terms of the highest praise. Then there was Lord Fitzwiliara and Mr. Barry, who had set examples as landlords which was of very great value to Ireland. If it should be found that landlords were taking advantage of their tenants and making a profit out of the improvements made by their tenants, why of course he should not have a very high opinion of any landlord that sacrificed his tenant's interest to his own. It was a proceed- ing they ought to repudiate in this country with all their strength, and see that justice was done to the tenant. What the result of the inquiry in Ireland might be he did not know, but he certainly could not allow this question to be passed over without endeavouring to do justice to both parties. That there were landlords both good and bad was as equally true of tenants. There were merits and demerits of all classes, and he did not like to see the whole of the landlords of Ireland classed together as but of the one order of merit only. BERKSHIRE. A.t Maidenhead Mr. Walter, M.P., said : You must be quite aware that the relations between landlord and tenant in Ireland are as different as anything possibly can be from the relations which exist between landlord and tenant in England. I am quite certain that if it were possible for the relation be- tween landlord and tenant to be in England what they are in Ireland, nothing could preserve the harmony and good feeling which here exist, and have never been more conspicuous than at the present moment. The difference, in a few words, is this : In England a tenant takes a furnished house, and all the land- lord expects is that he will keep it in as good condition as he took it. But in Ireland the state of things is different. Asa. general rule the tenant does everything ; he builds the very house he occupies, or if he does not build it, he pays some out- going tenant who has. The landlord does not provide a single shed or building, and it is an understood thing that the tenant does everything except provide the land itself. It stands to reason that if a tenant takes an unfurnished farm, without any building or drainage, and witli nothing but the naked ground ; if he has to put up buildings and provide all other agricultural furniture himself, and is then liable to be turned out at a mo- ment's notice, his furniture seized without compensation, that such a transaction fully deserves the epithet which Lord Cla- rendon the other day applied to it, of a " felonious act" on the part of the landlord. The state of things I have described has brought about the miserable state of the relations existing be- tweeen landlord and tenant in Ireland. They have got a tho- roughly bad system from beginning to end. The best thing that could happen would be for the system existing in England to be adoptedin Ireland. It would bebetter both for landlordand tenant that the farm should be let with all the permanent im- provements done by the landlord, and nothing but the ordinary operations of agriculture performed by the tenant. If it be impossible to get out of the present system — and I conceive that it will be impossible for a considerable time to come — the nest best thing to do is to make such equitable arrangements as the case requires during the interval which must elapse, and I believe there will be no real difficulty in effecting it if parties on both sides of the House are prepared to do what is just and equitable — if the Irish landlords recognise under the pre- sent grave circumstances what is their duty, and Irish tenants are prepared to be content with what is just and equitable, and not set up preposterous claims, which no English landlord would grant for one moment. In dealing with this question we have one advantage — namely, that there is very little passion or sentiment mixed up with it. It is not like the Irish Church or any secular question into which passion and sentiment necessarily enter, It is simply a question of doing 434 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. what is just between man and man. There ought to be no difficalty in doing it, provided proper machinery is set at work for carrying it out. I don't believe the House of Commons will be prepared to go beyond what is just, or submit to the preposterous demands which a large portion of the Irish people are setting up. The House of Commons will look at tlie matter in a business point of view, and will do what they feel just, wliether the people are contented or not. I believe that question will be enough to occupy the attention of the next Session of Parliament, and that we shall have to kave the great question of education to a future time ; and I have much doubt whether the public mind is made up on that subject. I cannot help referring to a s\ibject which is forced upon our attention by what I read in a report of another discussion at the same Congress at Bristol. At this Congress the public are enlightened by distinguished gen- tlemen, and I was struck by some remarks \i Inch are said to have been made by Canon Girdlcstone, and they are so im- portant, if true, that they must give us all matter for painful reflection. But I much doubt whether, when you hear them, you will believe that they are true. Certainly I cannot, from my own experience, declare them to be true in that part of the country with which I am best acquainted. Canon Girdlestoue is a most excellent man, and has taken great pains in his own neighbourhood to improve the condition of the poor. I do not for a moment cast any rellection upon the accuracy of the statement which he made. His words, if correctly reported, were : " He took it for granted that the condition of the agri- cultural labourer is most unsatisfactory ; that he cannot save, cannot enjoy life, can scarcely live, and that his position in the social scale is below that of the emancipated slaves in tbe United States, to whom the franchise has been accorded." In another part of his speech he said that tlie wages of the labourers were only from 9s. to lis. per week. But though this may be a true description of some parts of England, I can appeal to you whether it is true as to this part of England. (" No, no !") No, certainly not. I made it my business to inquire of the far.mers in the iield as to what wages were given in this neighbourhood, and I fmd tliat the amount is 12s. or ISs. per week, and more in the case of carters ; and one gentle- man informed me that from a careful examination of his books he found tiiat one labourer in particular, with his wife, had for some time been receiving 22s. per week. That represents a dilferent state of things from that which the rev. divine in question has been declaring publicly to the whole world is the normal state of the agricultural labourer. All I can say is, that though the state of the agricultural labourer is not what it ought to be, yet statements of this kind are not true when put as the description of the state of the agricultural labourer throughout England. I declare such statements to be totally inconsistent with what I know to be the fact. It is mischievous to circulate such statements through the world, because it gives foreigners and otiier people in all parts of England a right to say, " Here's a picture of the English labourer drawn by one of their own clergymen !" All I can say is that a labouring man with tolerable prudence, if he enjoys good health, may enjoy life a great deal more than the hard-working mechanics in our smoky towns. BEDEORDSHIRE. At Bedford, Colonel Gilpin, M.P., said : As to the Conta- gious Diseases (Animals) Bill, whilst I regret that some pro- posals made by the hon. Member for Norfolk were not adopted by the House of Commons, still the Bill has, I conceive, some wholesome provisions. We are entirely in the hands of the Privy Council, however ; and I should like to be governed by the clauses of a well-defined Act of Parliament rather than by the arrangements and orders emanating from what I was about to call the red-tapism of a public office, which are occasionally contradictory. Mr. James Howard, M.P., said : Since I have had a seat in the House of Commons, T have observed with great plea- sure and some surprise the deep interest which the representa- tive of the manufacturing interests take in all questions affecting agriculture. I have noticed that the bitter animosity engendered by the long agitation about the corn laws has passed away ; for a new generation of farmers has now sprung up, who do not recognise those who differed from them on that question as their natural enemies, hut are ready to ac- knowledge the claims which their industry entitles them to put forward. The success of the show to-day has been sadly diminished in tbe cattle classes by the disease which is ra- vaging the country. The owners of valuable stock shrink from sending their stock far from home. Well, gentlemen, it has been asserted that those diseases are of home, not of fo- reign origin ; but 1 think the evidences that they are of fo- reign origin are so clear that no man who is not blinded by prejudice or swayed by self-interest can doubt it for a moment. When the foot-and-mouth disease was formerly stamped out in this country by the adoption of those rigorous measures by which the rinderpest was suppressed. Professor Gamgee volunteered a pubUc statement tliat we should never have another case in this country until the dis- ease was freshly imported. He was right. Very speedily after the period when intelligence reached us that the disease had broken out in Belgium, it appeared at Newhaven and other localities. I regard this question of contagious diseases as one of the most serious public topics of the day — serious alike to the farmer and to the consumers ; and yet this great question is not considered with due attention by the great bulk of the population. The public consider it as a farmers' question, while a very considerable section of the population — and, I am bound to say, some Members of Parliament— are led astray by a false cry of " Protection." That cry has lost its signifi- cance as far as the British farmer is concerned, and when the public come to understand that this disease wiU make meat dear, and milk and cheese dear, tliey too will be in favour of every reasonable means being put in force against having our herds contaminated by these foreign diseases. We have heard of over-production in some branches, but in those articles there is under-production, and I know no more effectual check to over-production than these diseases. They affect the number and breed of animals, and deter the agriculturist from embarking freely in the rearing of stock. Thus you will see from the re- turns of the Board of Trade that whereas our productions in corn have increased, our productions in meat have been de- creasiug. 1 believe that if the herds and flocks of England could for a few years be kept clear of these lamentable outbreaks the returns of the Board of Trade would soon show a different result. It may be asked, " What means would you adopt to prevent them P Would you prevent importation of foreign cattle P" Certainly not. I advocated, in my place in the House of Commons, in interviews with Mr. Eorster, and in representations to the head of Her Majesty's Government, that we should have a quarantine, the establishment of free markets for all animals from whatever quarter they might come, and the compulsory slaughter of every foreign animal at the place of debarkation. I believe if this plan were adopted we should hear but little about this disease. We are met however, by an argument which I consider most fallacious, that such a system would diminish importation. A separate water-side market on the banks of the Thames would save im- porters three-fourths of the expenses now incurred it getting animals down to country markets, and there would be increased facilities for the transaction of business. To increase such fa- cilities is, I believe, the way to increase the business itself, and not diminish it, as interested parties would lead us to believe. Lord CiiAS. Russell said, as to small tenants it was a hard and dreadful thing to see large properties so laid out that there was no possibility for the little industrious man to get on. The best man of business on the Duke of Bedford's estate was a man who had gone on, little by little, until he became the holder of the best farm in the country. It would be much better if we had fewer shepherds and more tenants, Mr. CiiAKLES Howard said he had been pained and grieved that any gentleman bearing the name of Ilussell should have given expression to the views which Lord Charles Russell had put forward, views which were entirely inimical to the best interests of the working classes. Why should the tenant farmer be specially respected in his business or occupation more than any one else P Point him out the best estate and he would point out where the best farmer was. Was not Ire- land enough for those gentlemen to be content with P What had the four-acre in Ireland produced? Anarchy and rebellion. If we wanted a cheap loaf and cheap meat we sliould encou- rage the men who had capital and skill. He felt grieved that THE FARMER'S MyVGAZTNE. 4:"); Lord Cliarles 111188011 should have cxprrssoJ such soulimcnts, but they all knew the quarter from which they were derived. He (Mr. C. Howard) could not have rested content had he not expressed his dissent from Ihe views so expressed. Mr. James Howaud, M.P., said his brother had entirely misunderstood the purport of the remarks made by the noble lord. Lord Charles Russell said not a word in disparagement of the tenant farmer He said it was bad policy on the part of the great landowners to totally remove small tenants. Mr. Chaules Howard said lie had thoroughly understood the purport of Lord Charles Russell's speech, and that the noble lord had distinctly told them that we wanted more small tenants. That could not be explained away. OXFORDSHIRE. At Woodstock the Duke of Marlborough said, we have heard a great deal about " the condition of agricultural labourers," and there has been somsthiug in what has been written and said ou the subject, although I think too much stress has been laid on the belief that the eouditiou of the agricultural labourers is not so good as that of the manufac- turing labourers of the country. Look at the condition of the two classes. The agricultural labourer has a great many ad- vantages. He has in many instances a clean and comfortable home. He has a good garden, in which he may cultivate pro- duce for consumption ; he has the fresh air of heaven, in which he may live and breathe and enjoy his work, and meet with the health necessary for him to earn his daily bread. All tliese conditions are wanting in the town manufacturing population. Therefore, I think it must be admitted that an agricultural labourer has many and great advantages which do to a certain extent counterbalance the lower scale of wages he receives compared with the manufacturing labourer. At the same time, in saying this, I am not at all prepared to say thut the agricultural labourer's position is one incapable of great improvement. He may be made more conscious of the uses of his own efforts — that he is not a serf of the soil and a slave of his employer — that he has a common mterest with his employer in producing those fruits of the ground which Almighty beneficence has given to us all. I don't think the tenant-farmers ars a class to be pitied. I don't think my tenants will be very angry for my saying that. The tenant- farmers, to use a common phrase, have " not a bad berth of it." Neither are the landlords to be commiserated on their position ; but I do think the agricultural labourers form a class which we should all endeavour to raise in every way we can. There is no doubt the agriculture of this country is year by year making vast strides of improvement. I really believe a great deal of this is owing to the introduction of corn under the abolition of restrictive laws, for whatever may be said in regard to manufactures, nothing can be of greater national benefit than increasing the trade of this country by the stimu- lus afforded by the free importation of grain. Steam and every help of science is brought to bear on agriculture ; there is a vast improvement in agriculture ; there is the untiring dis- position of British energy — all these brought to bear on this industry ; and who will say that the agriculture of England is not prepared to maintain a foremost place in the world ? I am liappy to think that next year will witness a very impor- tant event in connection with this subject in Oxfordshire. The Royal Agricultural Society will hold its annual meeting here — the first meeting it has held in this county since it was inaugurated in Oxford in 1839, so that " The Royal" will re- visit the place of its birth after completing a cycle of 30 years. We shall all give it a most hearty welcome to Oxford- shire. WESTMORELAND. At Kendal, Mr. Argles said : On some questions they might differ no doubt, but on others they thoroughly agreed, and one of these was the act recently passed for the prevention of con- tagious diseases among cattle. A more excellent act he did not know, and it seemed to contain everything that was necessary. Though the cattle at the present time were free from disease, they would not feel hurt if he mentioned that such a state of things might not always exist. Disease might be lurking in the best-looking animals, aiid to assist in its prevention was oae of the noblest objects of any society of agricttlturistt, As they \ver.> jicrhaps aware, disease existed in a neighbouring county, andtiicy would be glad to learn th;\t means had been taken lately for the prevention of the spread of it by the ap- pointment of tlic necessary odicers here, and he trusted they would all give their support in carrying out the Act, for with- oit the co-oper atiou of the farmers the officer could not possi- bly obtain tlie information necessary for deahiig with the exigency of the time. He would also take that opportunity of reminding them that a society existed for insurance against pleuro-pueunionia, of which he happened this year to be presi- dent. Mr. WniTWELL, M.P., said : The Cattle Disease Bill was a measure which he was pleased to have aided, for it was not merely intended to deal with infectious diseases, it legislated on the transport of cattle also. The railway companies had hi- therto exercised autocratic control; now, for the first time. Par- liament had interfered, and had called upon the companies to make such regulations as could prevent the suffering and damage of stock which farmers had hitherto experienced. The providing water, and if needful fodder, and other conve- niences were of the first importance. Westmoreland was the largest exporter of stock for its population, and consequently could not fail to be interested in the measure. It was stock that paid the farmer's rent. Over the chairman's seat there were sheaves of oats and barley. These were proper decora- tions, but the cattle and the sheep should, if possible, be dis- played, for they were the main objects of this day's interest. WORCESTERSHIRE. At Elmley, Sir John Pakixgton, M.P., said those who have given their attention to this subject, and every one who understood this question of national education was aware that one of its most difficult parts, the part which required more than any other, care and attention, was how to organise a a system that would reach the poor inhabitants of our rural districts. The rural districts were the most difficult part of the problem. As a proof of wiiat he was saying, derived not only from liigh authority but from an authority with which many of them were familiar, he alluded to the name of Mr. Villiers, one of the most able of their school inspectors, and, if he remembered right, had been an inspector in that district of the country, and upon that authority, and in the last pub- lished report for 18C8, the inspector said, speaking of the educational position of the working classes in the rural dis- tricts, that one half of the children of the poor (between the ages of 3 and 13) received no scholastic education at all, and that the other half, so long as the present system was unaltered and unimproved, never would be more than half educated. They would all agree that this was a state of things in- jurious to our welfare and injurious to our reputation as a country, and which we ought to make every efl'ort to put an end to. The great remedy which we ought to seek, and which they were now trying to secure in that parish, was to take care that in every parish, or within reach of every parish, there should be an efficient school. When he spoke of an eflicient school they would of course understand that he meant a school eflicient in all its parts — efficient as regarded its building, its teaching, and that support without which these things could not be carried on. He earnestly hoped that the time was approaching when this national evil would receive correction. The British public were promised by her Majesty's present Government that even in the next session of Parlia- ment they might look forward to some great and comprehen- sive measure upon this important subject. It was a well- known fact that in his public capacity he was not a supporter of the present administration, and therefore he was free to say that in the present minister, Mr. Forster, who had the principal charge of the great question of national education, and witJi whom he was well acquainted, he recognized not only a very able man, but one who he believed understood this pro- blem better than most other men. He had had much com- munication with him upon the subject, and he was bound to express his candid belief that this great question of national education was, when under his (Mr. Forster's) care, in per- fectly competent and satisfactory hands. He was sanguine that when this measure, whatever it might be, was brought before the public, it would be one which he should be able to approve ; and if so, no party distinction should prevent him giving it his cordial support. Whether this hope would be 436 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. realized, and whether the next Session of Parliament would see the solution of this long-standing problem or not, the work which tliey had commenced that day would have its value. Wliatever system might be introduced, the foundation of that system must be a proper school-house in every district. HEREFORDSHIRE. At Ledbury, Mr. Ween Hoskyns, M.P., was happy to say that every member on both sides of the House was satisfied with the way in which Mr. Forster, on the part of the Govern- ment, worked the Cattle Diseases Bill. Those who entertained the greatest difference of opinion as to whether tlie action of the Privy Council would be useful, were satisfied with the way in which the committee worked the Bill, and in which it had been carried. Their opinion was justified by the first act of the Privy Council in doing away with all previous orders and issuing one comprehensive order, which he thought would have a good effect in counteracting cattle diseases, and putting an end to the foot and mouth disease. Another Bill of an agricultural character, but which did not occupy the attention of the legislature so long, was the Adulteration of Seeds Bill and the publicity which its introduction into the House of Commons had occasioned had had all the effect of the Bill it- self. He believed the effect of the Bill had been to break down a wholesale system of adulteration, of which he had pre- viously no conception. He had no idea, until the debates in the House of Commons informed him, of the extent to which the adulteration of seeds was carried. It was a large whole- sale trade of itself, but he believed it had been almost effec- tually knocked on the head. CAMBRIDGESHIRE. At March, Lord Geoege Mannees craved to say a few words on agricultural politics, which were the only politics allowed to discussed at an agricultural meeting. First he would refer to the introduction of the foot-and-mouth disease among cattle in this country. Mr. Brown, in proposing the toast, had said that, in his opinion, the Bill of last Session — the Contagious Disease (Animals) Bill — would not go far enough. He (Lord George Manners) was also of that opinion, and he went further. Mr. Brown said. Slaughter all foreign cattle at the port of embarcation. This was no new opinion of his (Lord George Manners). He had thought the matter a good deal over. He had broached it three years ago, before ever the cattle plague made its appearance in this country. Since the Act of last Sessson had not been sufficient to keep us free from disease among cattle, he held the opinion that we were at no time safe from a re-introduction of the cattle plague, aud it was advisable, wherever those connected with agriculture as- sembled together, to look well into the matter, and make up in their minds what steps it was most proper to pursue in order to counteract the effects of cattle disease. For his own part, he could not see, beyond the slightest temporary inconvenience in the course of trade, any sufficient reason why what he pro- posed should not be carried out. No man would contradict him when he said that the best beef consumed in London was slaughtered in Aberdeen, and he asked, if beef could be brought a distance of six hundred miles, where was the difficulty of bringing in as large a supply as you pleased from ports on the continent, such as Antwerp and Rotterdam? Tlie papers lately had been full of letters about the shocking way in which cattle were imported into this country, showing how sailors walked over the backs of cattle so weak as to be unable to rise, and this was the meat whicli tlie consumer had to eat in this country ! Was it not clear that meat slaughtared on the other side of the water would come to the consumer in a very much fitter state for food than meat exposed in a live condition to all the horrors of a gale, and all the vicissitudes of a sea- voyage ? It was a fact that the whole importation of foreign cattle was only l-20th part of our consumption. Was it worth while to run the risk of importing the diseases incident to foreign cattle for the sake of admitting that small quantity of live cattle, and particularly as, by insisting on its being killed beforehand, there would not be one pound of meat less im- ported into this country ? He believed that nothing prevented the suggestion he made being carried into effect but a sort of bugbear which arose in the imagination of politicians, that by that meens they would not be following not the dictates of tree trade, Jle was aot going to find fault with free trade, except so far as in this instance it inflicted a grievous wrong, not only upon the agricultural community, but upon every con- sumer of meat in this country. He had communicated his thoughts on this matter to numbers of members of Parliament, and he had never met with an objection other than the stereo- typed one, that in asking too much there was the danger of getting nothing at all. The foot-and-mouth disease having now made its appearance throughout the length and breadth of the countay, he could venture to urge the carrying out of his idea in a rather more open and bold manner than he had hitherto dared to do. Lord Roi'STON said one thing in particular they could all agree in doing — that was, congratulate each other on the blessings of Providence, as shown in the harvest just gathered. He knew it was rather dangerous ground to touch upon, be- cause one man, by industry and intellect, might have gathered in a great and abundant harvest, while another, through indo- lence or bad fortune, might not have succeeded in doing so. Those whom he was addressing were the best judges in that respect, but, looking at the country throughout, he thought we stood in a better position this year with regard to pecuni- ary emolument than last. Cereal crops, perhaps, did not pre- sent the same aggregate, still the farmers had not so much cause to tremble as regarded food for their cattle for the coming winter. Tlierefore, looking at the matter entirely as a con- stitutional qustion, and as one of intrinsic interest and value to every man connected with the sod throughout the country, he thought they might congratulate themselves that the har- vest of 1869, taking it on the whole, was not much under the average of former years. There was no doubt that the cattle trade throughout the country was now in a permanently better condition, than it had been for the last two or three years past. Cattle had been killed by the most arbitrary rule that was ever made, and the consequence was that breeders had to accept a lower price than otherwise they would have obtained. At the same time meat was being sold retail at a higher price than was ever known. While the growers had lost, the traders had doubtless made their fortunes. Would that he were a butcher ! These were anomalies which no fellow could under- stand, and he must say that, but for the strong animosity shown by a section of the Liberal party to the measure brought in two years ago by the Conservative party for the prevention of the spread of cattle disease, great diffi- culties would have been removed, and considerable confidence created in the minds of farmers throughout England. Mr. Beand slio'ild he very sorry to dwell on agricultural politics as a whole, because he might by so doing have to touch upon a very grave question which would have to be considered in Parliament during the next Session — that was the question of landlord and tenant in Ireland, aud he was not going to touch upon that subject. But he did think it right to say, as a practical man, as to the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill, for the prevention of the cattle plague and other diseases affecting animals, he supported the Bill cordi- ally, believing it went far enough ; but he was quite ready, if on trial it did not provide adequate securities against disease, to go beyond the point at present fixed. As a practical man he thought they ought to give the Act of Parliament a fair trial. He rather wished Lord George Manners, in referring to the Act of Parliament, should have told them what it did to prevent the introduction of disease. It would have been better, he must say, if his noble friend had made the observa- tions he had just now made with reference to the shortcomings of the Bill in his place in the house of Commons. Wliat did the Act of Parliament say ? It gave very stringent powers to the local authority to check the travelling of animals affected with contagious diseases from place to place. The local authority was the Court of Quarter Sessions, and the Act authorised those courts in all instances to appoint a committee, and to that committee were given very strong powers, with a view to checking disease among cattle. If, as a practical man, tliey would permit him to give advice, it was this — let com- mittees be appointed to give effect to the Act of Parliament, and if owners of stock would give assistance to the members of those committees his belief was that they would check the progress of those diseases. They were not, as practical men, to throw away the arms they had, as it were, in tlieir hands — that was to say, don't throw away the Act of Parhament which they had, because, forsooth, they had uot got just exactly what tliey wauted, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 437 HERTFORDSHIRE. At Watford, Lord Clajiendon said: There is no evil without a remedy, and there are evils connected with the tenure of land in Ireland that must be abated. The great problem to solve is to do justice to the many, and to do injus- tice to no one. I admit tliat the solution of such a problem is diliicult ; but it is not impossible. Indeed I think that the word " impossible" should be erased from the vocabulary of every public man when remedial measures are in question, and more especially when the question is the application of them to Ireland. You will not expect to learn from me what course the Government intend to pursue, and indeed I think that if I told you that tlieir minds were made up, and that there was a bill ready, you would receive the information with surprise and dissatisfaction, because you would feel sure that in the two months wliich have passed since Parliament was prorogued the amount of information, of statistics, and of data necessary for the formation of a judgment could not have been collected, and that if any determination has been taken already, it would be crude and imperfect ; but although I will not tell you what the Government wiU do, I wUl teU you what they will not do. They will not adopt any of those wild and subversive schemes of which we have heard so much during the last few days ; I cast no blame upon those who bring them forward. They, likely enough, may believe in the possibility of the accomplish- ment of what they propose, but I say, gentlemen, that they are enemies of equitable settlement, which is the only settlement we can look forward to ; and those who strive and labour to excite expectations that are extravagant and cannot be realized are no friends of the Irish people. But the Irish people, what- ever may be their faults, are not fools. They are a quick- sighted people, and when the time comes I shall expect they will be amenable to reason, if that which is just and practicable is offered to them. I have now the honour of addressing practical men, and I would ask any gentleman here present to take a farm at wLU, on which the landlord never intended to do anything. Then suppose that he built upon that farm a house and homestead, erected fences and drained it, and was then turned out at sis months' notice by the landlord, who took to himself the whole benefit of the tenant's labour and expenditure. I ask if there could be language strong enough in this country, in those meetings that are now taking place, and in the press, to condemn the felonious act of sucli a landlord as that P Far be it for me to say that any such proceedings are resorted to on the large and well-managed estates in Ireland, of which I could give you a long list. But the power does exist. It is too often exercised, and it ought to be abated, because so long as it exists there can be no confidence between landlord and tenant. I do not say that exceptional legislation may not be necessary with reference to the wants, the wishes, and the usages of an agricultural people like the Irish, but I believe that if the rights of property are scrupulously upheld, and its duties rigidly enforced by law, a measure will be produced which will entitle the Government and Parliament to say they have fulfilled their obligations, and entitle them to the sup- port and praise of every honest man. I think I have already detained you more than enough. At agricultural meetings notliiug should be more cultivated than short speeches. ESSEX. At Great Braxted, Col. Brise, M.P., said he hardly knew what the position of the country was at present so far as the success of the late harvest was concerned, as they had not yet had sufficient information on the subject, but as far as they had been able to gather, the wheat crop was a deficiency. But with that exception, agriculturists had not much to com- plain of, and they must congratulate each other, and feel thank- ful for the beautiful weather they had had in which to ingather their harvest. Perhaps it was the fate of those connected with agriculture to look on the other side of the picture, and he could not help doing so now for a moment. He must say that he thought they had great ground for complaint on account of the severe epidemic which overtook them, and from the effects of which very few farms escaped. The foot-and-mouth disease had been prevalent in every part of Essex ; his place had been visited by it, and although he did not look on it as so serious an epidemic as the previous one, yet it was very inconvenient aud atteai^ed with cousideiaUe loss to those who were eugageii in farming. It was very unfortunate that that epidemic had come among them so soon, particularly as the Act passed last Session would have had a great effect in stopping the spread of the disorder, but it did not come into force quite soon enough to enable the local authority of this county to put it into opera- tion. He had heard complaints that the magistrates were to blame for not taking action, but it was impossible to do any- thing until the local authority specified in the Act, namely, the Court of Quarter Sessions, gave orders on the subject. Un- fortunately tlie next Session would be held later than usual, and there must be a further delay, but he hoped by that time that the foot and mouth disease would be out of the country. It had been said that if the Bill of 1868 had been put into mo- tion they would never have had those diseases; he could hardly go so far as that ; he could not say that it would have had the effect of Keeping out that disorder, as he believed it was due to atmospheric influences in a great measure, and had been in this country for a great many years. No doubt the disease originally came from abroad. He had a considerable herd of Shorthorns, no infected animal went near them within some miles, and yet the disease broke out among them. Sup- posing, therefore, that the regulation had been put into force they should not have escaped. They had, however, passed an Animals' Diseases Act, wliich appeared to have given great satisfaction, but he was not quite satisfied with it, although he thought every credit was due to Mr. Forster, the Vice- President of the Council, for the earnest desire he showed to consult the interests of the agricultural community. Circumstances were against that Act being wholly satis- factory. Pressure was put on the supporters of the Act from other quarters, and men were so blind as not to see that the interests of the producer and consumer were identical. He did not think a matter so serious as the health of our cattle ought to be left to the will of one individual or a Privy Couucil. They knew that so long as the Privy Council were at the head of that department everything would be done that could be done, but he, among others, was not content with the principle, and they said they prsferred the iron hoop of an Act of Parliament to the silken band of a Privy Council. They endeavoured to fix a line that all cattle from certain foreign countries should be looked upon as sub- jects of disease, and precautionary measures should be taken with them, but the Government insisted that the normal con- dition of all foreign cattle was healthy. The agricultural interest was not strong enough in the House of Commons to fight out the question. They had now no guarantee that the regulations specified for the foreign cattle market would be car- ried out, they had no guarantee that it will be of sufficient capaciousness for the cattle, and when it was built they had no guarantee whatever that any foreign beast would be able to enter it. Therefore he. was not altogether satisfied with that Act of Parliament which had taken so much time of the House, and it seemed to him that they were in scarcely an improved position than they were before. The Privy Council have authority to do certain things, but they had that autho- rity before ; at any rate, they assumed it whether they had it or not. He said he should advise farmers to continue to progress in the old beaten track, at the same time, however, taking advan- tage of modern appliances for cultivating deeply and manuring highly, but not to be led away by the ideas of those who ex- perimentalize. They should examine carefully all the experi- ments, and give their own opinion on them. This was one way of farming. Another way was to farm very high, to ex- perimentalize a good deal, and to write letters to the TimeSy to tell everybody how much you grow, and how much they ought to grow. Very likely this was a very good way of farm- ing ; but it was a method that very few understood. Many would agree with liim that this sort of thing was all very well so long as you have another business to depend upon. But they must not forget that they were under great obligations to those gentlemen who did experimentalize. This had been a good year for thin seeding, but he must say honestly that he had lost more money by thin seeding than he had by thick seeding. To thin seed properly they must adhere to certain conditions — deep cultivation, good manuring, and a freedom from wireworm, game, rooks, and rabbits. Mr. Meciii said he was obliged to Colonel Brise for wishing him good healtli, and he believed many of the farmers and landlords of England wished him the same. But he could not couceal from himself the fact that there were a few— a misled » a 2 438 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. fi;\v — wlio would wish to sfte Mr. Mechi swept from the. face of the agricultural world. There were some who, from mistaken notions, thought he was enlighttning the landlords to their prejudice ; they felt somewhat augry, but he freely forgave them. He did not think agriculture was in a good position ; he thought it was in a retrograding position that could not continue to exist, and must he altered. He did not for a mo- ment believe that landlords had not the welfare of their tenants at heart ; the landlords of this country were desirous that their tenants should pro.sper. Probably no one had a better opportunity than he had of judging of what was going on among British and foreign agriculturists, because lie re- ceived a large number of communications from all quarters on the subject, and what conclusion did they lead him to form ? The very style of the writing of his " correspondents" was almost an indication of the state of the education in the dis- tricts in which they lived, and he was often led to reflect how various and opposite are the conditions of education in the different parts of the kingdom. He could not but agree that the education of the people of Essex was satisfactory. At Harlow, Mr. Perry Watlington said this was an agricultural district, and therefore the labourer whom they sought to befriend was the agricultural labourer. This was without doubt the largest class in the community. It added, therefore, immensely to the national wealth in mere thews and sinews, and it comprised more souls to be saved than all other classes put together; and it was therefore, in the highest meaning of the term, the most important class. Yet of all classes it was the poorest and least educated. Prom it our workhouses were filled, and from it, unhappily, came the majority of tiie prisoners in our gaols, so that when they sought to advance the interests of this class they sought to do a great good, and they were met and confronted by all those different social questions which now agitated the public mind — questions connected with the administration of the poor- law, with benefit and provident societies, with national educa- tion, with the sanitary requirements of dwellings, and the like. But while he thus would describe the agricultural labourer as in a low condition, he was far Irom saying that he considered his occupation in any degree degrading. On the contrary, he believed that that occupation tended very much to elevate and improve the mind. The preparation of the ground for seed, the sowing, the cutting of the crop, and the harvesting of grain, all these, it was true, occurred year after year in an un- varying round, but still they were so beautiful and so sug- gestive as to aiford admirable material for a reflective mind ; and they were very different from anything which could afford the raiud occupation in towns, where, by the division of labour, the operations of the workman were reduced to the simplest possible form. In the present condition of the agricultural labourer, however, there was great room for improvement. There was room for yet further improve- ment in educational matters, but what he (the chairman) de- sired to see more than all were a better-managed public-house, and, if possible, greater means of wholesome recreation. Legislation might do something in the management of public- houses ; it might give the magistrates power to control the worst places of that description, but they had most to look for from an increased sense of duty and responsibility in the minds of those who owned and occupied them. When he considered how great was the evil of drunkenness, he could not conceive a sadder example of iniquity than that which was shown in the adulteration of the poor man's beer for the sake of securing an increased consumption. Beersellers might adulterate their beer with water if they pleased— that was bad enough, because it was dishonest— but if they adulterated it with noxious drugs for the sake of promoting thirst they were poisoners in the worst sense of the word, for they damaged the bodies of their customers and did injury also to their souls. No doubt the public-house, even under ordinary circumstances, must be a place of great temptation to the poor man, but there was not the slightest reason why it should not be conducted honestly and respectably. With respect to the subject of recreation, there he confessed he was beaten. He could not see in what way they could increase the recreation of the poor man. He could not play cricket; it was too hard work for him. Skittles might be as good as croquet, but they were generally the ad- juncts of a public-house, and therefore not very desirable. Alley certainly ought to do all in their power in the direction of securing each man a garden with his cottage, to make oc- casion for holdings like this, and to encourage in the poor man's children a taste for reading. At Ongar, the Rev . F. A. S. Pa.ne (divesting himself of his collar and necktie, and holding them in his right hand, with which he gesticulated somewhat violently) said : It is all very well for them to meet and chatter, and praise their good doings, and represent everything they did for the labouring classes in con- leur il'. rose, but he was one of those who thought if there were any points, the discussion of which might add either to the improvement of themselves or others, they should " blurt out" their opinions upon them. He thought they ought not to be too squeamish in what they said. He recommended whole- some and decent cottages for the respectable poor, and was in favour of beerhouses and public-houses being put under better control, rather than closed entirely ; for, he drank beer, they (the company) drank beer, and he did not see why they should altogether prevent the working classes from drinking it. WHiat he proposed they should do, was to raise the character of the labouring man, and then he would not go to the public- house. They should teach him that the money he spent there was wanted by his wife and family at home. And then they ought to get rid of the poor-law. He believed that that " hor- rid law" encouraged improvidence, the parent of all vices, that it destroyed those kind feelings which ought to exist in fami- lies, that it separated class from class, that it encouraged fraud, dissipation, and lying ; he believed that the law counteracted that which they all wished to encouraged — providence, self- support, self-dependence, and frugality ; he believed that that law filled our lanes with vagrants, and our public-houses with lazy drunkards. These were startling statements. Then they would ask him what remedy he had to suggest? Was he going to allow the poor to starve, and sick and infirm to lie upon the roads and die? All who knew him would acquit him of any such thought. He wished to elevate the poor man. He did not wish to see him degraded and disgraced by the poor-law. He was not very fond of trades' unions in one way, yet in another he admired them, and thought they had done an immensity of good. In some respects, indeed, trades' unions had been a blessing to them. They had shown them what men could do — that men could support themselves in sickness and infirmity, and in times when they wished to contend against their mas- ters, by their little weekly contributions. Coming to things more local, there was a society in this district of 12,000 people ; in that society there were between 700 and 800 labourers, and at the present moment it had a reserved fund of £8,500 to dis- tribute among them in times of necessity, thus rendering them independent of the world and their parish, and enabling them to hold up their heads as Englishmen. Wnio, then, would tell him that the working classes could not support themselves? It was the vagabond and the rogue who came upon the parish, the liar and the thief. It would be of the greatest advantage to society in general, and it would be of the greatest benefit, morally and socially, to the poor man himself, if they could lift him from that degraded condition of going and walking be- fore the Board of Guardians with his head down, to ask a mor- sel of bread from his brother ratepayers. These were novel views. He knew they struck some hard. He never looked upon the poor law as a charitable law, for charity meant rea- son, and who ever saw an overseer with a poor-rate book in his hand and looked with any love upon him ? The poor law system was not a charitable one ; it was nothing of the sort ; it was a inaudling sympathy, and by it they were keeping down the poor man whom they wanted to elevate to take a po- sition among the citizens of this great country. Mr. Ciiiseniiale-Marsh thought it was to be regretted that Mr. Fane had marred an otherwise excellent speech by the comments which he made at the opening of it. It so hap- pened that on the subject of the inefficiency of the poor law he agreed with Mr. Fane, but, even if he had not done, he wished to assure Mr. Fane that so far from his speaking on any subject connected with the welfare of the poor against the will of any- body present it was, on the contrary, with their thorough acquies- cence. God forgive him if he did not meet there as a true friend of the working man, prepared to listen to any suggestion for his improvement, without its being in any way " blurted out." All he objected to in Mr. Fane's speech was the accusa- tion that they met there to cockle themselves up with the THE FARMED" S MAGAZINE. 439 good things of tliis world, and to pretend ouly to be the friends of llie poor. Did they tliink he would leave his comfortable home to come there — but, pshaw ! why talk of himself — did they think Mr. Stallibrass would toil as he Had done, or Mr. Sheplicrd, of the Koding society, or Mr. Wcntworth, of Har- low, if they had not the welfare of the poor really at heart ; He hoped Mr. Fane would not in future intersperse the good things which he said by the insinuation that he was speaking to unwilling cars. Mr. Welch was sure Mr. Fane did not mean what he said at the beginning of his speech. Ue had often sat under Mr. Fane as a preacher, and no man uttered more truth with greater effect. His heart was so good that he hardly knew what he said. Mr. Fane : I beg most emphatically to say that I don't re- tract a single word I have uttered. I adhere to what I have stated ill toto, and I hope the reporters will say so in the news- papers. Mr. Ciiiseniiale-MaiisiI : And I hope the reporters will say that that observation was received with aloud laugh. BUCKINGIIAMSHIllE. At Aylesbury, Mr. N. G. Lambeet, M.P., said, Parliament in the last session had passed a very important and difficult bill, dealing with contagious diseases among cattle. They had a difhcult task because they had to deal with two parties, the consumer and producer, and I must say that Mr. Forster pro- duced a very good bill — (no, no) — and worked it through with a great deal of trouble and patience. Within the last few days I have received a eoramunication with respect to pleuro- pneumonia or lung disease, which 1 consider of the highest im- portance, not only to this county but to every other county. It is from an uncle of mine, wiio has a tenant, who says he has found out a cure for the disease. This letter was sent before the close of the last J'arliameut, but not before the JBill was read a third time and passed, so tiiat I could not read it in the House of Commons. This is a subject quite in accordance wit!i the object of this meeting, and perhaps you will allow me to tell you what the letter says. The writer states he knows a remedy for the cattle-plague, and had proved its suc- cess in thousands of instances during the past eight years, and that no one could cure the disease except himself, and he could do it in thirty-six hours. He oifered to make the secret known if the Government would send down one of their inspectors, and make a trial of his remedy, if they would reward him for it. He expressed the opinion that the Government ought to take the matter in hand. (The reading of this letter was re- ceived with great laughter and impatience). Mr. J. K. Fowler said, The cause of the show not being so successful as it would otherwise have been, and through wliicli the association had suffered was the lax manner in which the regulations with reference to the foreign trade had been carried out. He could bear testimony to the fact that nobody could have received the agriculturists of the kingdom more courteously than Mr. Forster had done, or listened more attentively to their statement. Eut he was afraid of a few great guns, and he did not like to do what the agriculturists wanted him to do for fear of offending them. They knew that the foot and mouth disease had come into the neighbour- hood, and was brought by some cattle which were placed only two or three fields distant from where his herd was, and he did not like to bring them about, and allow them to mix among herds indiscriminately and put them in danger of being in- fected. After what he said he would ask them if they did not tliink they were entitled to legislative protection for their herds. He was prevented from sending his animals to the show for fear that they might become infected, and spread the disease among the rest of the herd. They must have regular ports of disembarkation, and regular places for the slaughter of foreign animals brought from infected districts, or they would have many cases throughout the country similar to their own experience in that neighbo\irhood, where a few cattle landed at Southampton had been brought to Aylesbury, and infected the cattle there, wliich being sent to High Wycombe had infested the cattle there, and so being moved about to different markets had spread the contagion throughout the entire county. Mr. Tkeadwell said, if they legislate for diseased aninuJs, aud do not prevent the removal of animals about from one part of the country to another, their legislation will be found to be of no avail, unless they stop the importation from those countries where tlic disease is known to be prevalent. They will never be able to prevent pleuro-pneumonia, foot and mouth disease, and possibly cattle-plague being communicated from beast to beast throughout tiie country, unless they stop the introduction of it into the country. With reference to the amalgamation of the Societies, he Ihouglit it would be a good thing if they could have one good county show, for he was quite sure that that would be doing far more good to the cause of agricultute than having so many little associations throughout the county. People who had little stock, and took a few prizes at a small show were apt to think that they had the best in the county, but if they went about a little — and he could speak from experience — aud eomi)eted at the larger shows, they would find that they had mucli to learn and would do better. He knew that the gentry of the county were ia favour of it, and he believed tliat farmers generally were so also. WARWICKSHIRE. At Coleshill, Mr. John Lowe said nobody found fault with Canon Girdlestone for being philanthropic, in fact one looks to the cloth for special exhibitions of kindness to the poor. But the complaint against the Rev. Canon was that he exhi- bited his charity by singling out a body of men as honourable aud kindly in their sentiments as any in the kingdom, and held tliem up as monsters for public condemuatiou and execration. He did this, too, before audiences imperfectly acquainted with the subject on which he treated, and who were soon stirred up to a sort of vague sentimental sympathy and indignation. He found his audiences chiefly amongst the operatives of our populous cities. Moreover, he was not fair in his statement of a case. The Rev. Canon professed to exhibit the average con- dition of the English farm labourer, while all tlie time he carefully selected the very worst specimen he could lay his hand on. He selected the West of England, because the East tells against him. He quoted 7s. aud Us. per week, although he cannot be ignorant of the fact that those quotations were unexceptionally low. Indeed, at Bristol the other day, a ten- ant farmer told him to his teeth that he paid 17s. jier week all the year round. But, instead of empty declaraatiou and vulgar scoffing, let the Rev. Canon condescend to be practical — let him show that the evils of which he complains are due to a defective system, or are tiie results of wilful and deliberate individual oppression, aud then let hiin point the remedies to be applied. But the Rev. Cauou knew he could not do it. He knew full well that in the country, as in the town, wages were regulated by the supply of labour. He admitted the portion of the country of which he treated was over-populated, or in other words, the labour market was over-stocked, and hence the low rate of wages. What remedy could he perceive here ? Nothing new. The same which had been prescribed over and over again any time thesie last thirty years. Then take the condition of the unskilled workmen in our towns — our stokers, waggoners, porters, our poor iieedlewomcn — and could Canon Girdlestone assert that their condition was pre- ferable to that of the farm labourer F There were grievances to be removed, evils to be remedied ; many of them were gradually righting themselves, but he believed no good would be etfected by rousing the passions of the peasantry against their employers. They had hitherto lived harmoniously to- gether, and in this respect had furnished a very pleasiug con- trast to the discordant relations between employer and em- ployed in large towns, and it was sincerely to be hoped that any efforts put forth for the amelioration of the lot of the farm labourer might be put forth in a spirit of harmony and good- will, and free from class bitterness and party strife. DERBYSHIRE. At Derby, Mr. J. G. Chompton, the chairman, thought there were many things to call for extra watchfulness on the part of the agricultural chiefs of this district. They ought to keep a close and discriminating watch on the signs of the times, that they might be able to read them so far as they re- lated to or affected the interests of agriculture — and thus be forearmed by being forewarned. He alluded to those two diseases which affected them so severely — pleuro-pneumoniu 440 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. and foot-and-mouth disease. These diseases were extending in a very alarming manner. The experience of everyone would verify his assertion that it was the duty of the com- mittee of an important society like that to be on the alert, and bring pressure to bear on all tliose in authority, that they might not lag behind in enforcing by every power the law gave them restraint on the removal of stock. They all knew per- fectly well tliat when they were visited by that extraordinary plague — the cattle plague — extraordinary powers were given to prevent the removal of stock infected with the plague from one farm to another. The greatest watchfulness was exer- cised, and resulted in much good, so that when that plague passed away, and their markets were opened, they were found to possess a more perfect bill of healtli regarding the stock of this country than at any other period. That ought to be re- membered by every gentleman present in considering the best means of eradicating the disease that now affected many stocks. He thought nothing remained to be done but for the magis- trates to give instructions to every constable, as they had done to the chief constables, to remember the necessity of a careful watch on the removal of stock, and to report every case of re- moval, where there was a suspicion that disease affected the herd. He was present at one of the last meetings of the police committee, and one of the most prominent instructions given to the chief constable was that he should use the greatest exertions to suppress the removal of stock where there was the slightest suspicion of disease. Speaking for himself and his fellow-magistrates, he would say that they would take care that those instructions were carried out. There was one class of men amongst them who really had a great deal to answer for, and to whom they might attribute a great deal of their calamity. Those men were the cattle-jobbers of the country. He did not in- clude the " middle men" in his denunciation — the men who, knowing what one farmer had to dispose of and what another (perhaps at some distance) wanted, were the means of transact- ing necessary and useful business between them. These were legitimate "middle men," and materially aided the agricul- turist. The kind of man to whom he referred, and to whom he could not give a worse name than " the professional jobber," the " cattle-jobber," was the cause of much of the disease that afflicted their herds. To him the cattle plague was a perfect godsend : it was a positive gain to him. He could get, for a small sum of money, stock from those who were open to his solicitations and who had not over-conscientious scruples as to the justness of the transaction, but who got quit one by one of their infected stock for a mere nominal sura. The jobber would take the herd to a distance and sell it to some party for a considerable sum. Thus was disease, in many instances, carried from one part of the country to another by these men, of whom he could not find words to speak in sufficient eon- ^demnation. He hoped that the practice which damaged a trade most precious to the interests of every gentleman present might be put a stop to, and that the authors of it might at once be brought before the magistrates when discovered. There was one other matter which had struck him very forcibly. They heard a great deal said about education. Honourable gentle- men got up in the House of Commons, and said that agricul- tural labourers were behind mechanics employed in manufac- tures in the matter of education ; that they were greatly in need of education, and if they could not get agricultural la- bourers to send their children to school they must put pressure upon them in the shape of compulsory education (" That won't do"). This would materially affect them. The profession of an agriculturist was one of all others which really at the end of the year showed the most moderate amount of clear gain or profit. Therefore, if education was rendered compulsory, and its usual effects, which really were a rise of wages, were felt, it would throw in the agriculturist's way the greatest difficulty. Not that he was opposed to education, for every child should be able to write and read ; but he was speaking of its possible effects in raising the price of labour, and so thereby indirectly affecting the interests of agriculturists. As a proof of this they must look at America, which was a highly educated country. There the whole hard labour of the country was performed, not by Americans, but by Irishmen. Practically there were no American servants. They were Irishmen who made their railways, and who did all the drudgery work of the Americans, their high system of education not being compati- ble with the performance of such duties themselves. It would be so with us la a short time. To come nearer home, there was present at their meeting a gentleman whom many of them knew — Mr. Murray — an Ayrshire man, who told him the other day that he left Ayrshire twenty years ago, the farms at that time being cultivated exclusively by Scotchmen. After the lapse of nineteen or twenty years he returned home, and found that education had spread mucli in the meantime, and that there was not a Scotch labourer in the district, the whole of them being Irish labourers, who did all the drudgery work on the farms. It would be the same here. The more they educated the masses, and the more they advanced the intellect of the agricultural labourer, the more they would assumed position which would not be compatible with the use of the plough, and the hoeing of potatoes. They might, however, meet this state of things by a greater introduction of machinery, and by improving the labourer, educate him to take the position of managing these machines. It was a more intricate duty than they had before been accustomed to. There were many things which threatened to overwhelm and bear down the pre- sent race of farmers. Should the price of labour rise, should disease spread, and should those difficulties overwhelm the pre- sent race of farmers, what would it end in ? If all this over- whelmed the small farmers what would it end in ? If all this overwhelmed the small farmers it would end in the land passing from the bauds ot the present occupiers to men of greater capital, and the farms of one hundred or two hundred acres would be joined together under gentlemen who were willing to bring capital to the assistance of agriculture by the use of steam. The Hon. E. K. W. Coke said the subject he would touch upon was one of statistics on matters deeply affecting the county of Derby. The conclusion he had come to from the study of these statistics was, that the value of the grass lands was perpetually increasing. Now the reason he assumed for that was this. He believed the supply of wheat would always meet the demand, looking at the past as a guide ; as proved by its having stood at a lower average price for the last twenty years than during the twenty years previous, notwithstanding the great increase of population and the Crimean war. How was it that the price of meat had increased so enormously ? Be- cause they practically depended on the ho.me supply. There was no meat that they like to see come into fhis country unless it was the Spanish meat ; all other foreign meat was inferior, and often diseased. Tliey were dependent upon the home supply, and they would see the reason for the dearness of meat, when they remembered that 190,000 head of cattle were taken from them by the cattle plague. However, since the cessation of the cattle plague the increase in the number of cattle had been 500,000 ; and, besides that increase, they had 200,000 head of sheep more than they had in the year 1866, raising the number of sheep to 30,000,000 now in this country. What would have become of this stock had there not been a large increase of grass lands ? They had 1,000,000 acres more of permanent grass pasturage in 1868 than they had in 1866, They might perhaps not be able to increase their productive power. They were highly valuable, and they would find every county competing with them in laying down grass land. They lived, at least, in a genial climate for grass pasturage, and they would find it highly remunerative. Another matter he wished to call their attention to was that while the supply of wheat had increased to meet the demand, the imported dairy produce had not increased since the years 1861 and 1863. There was an increase over 1861 in the year 1863, but since that time it had been stationary. American cheese took the lead in the market on account of its improved quality, and they must endeavour to raise the standard of quality of their own, that they might hold their own in the market. The agricultural labourer was another subject which had attracted his attention. In the year 1831 the proportion of population who got their living by agriculture in England and Wales was 28 per cent. In 1861 it was reduced to 10 per cent. The labourers were un- doubtedly leaving them ; but he did not think it was a serious matter if properly met, as he thought that machinery would take their place. He thought it was the duty of landlords to supply healthy, commodious modem cottages for those who remained. It was the interest of the tenant farmer or occu- pier to engage the best men, and to give them good wages, and still more, it was his duty to give them regular employ- ment, for they could not get good men unless they did. A few years ago it was utterly impossible to get in the harvest with THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 441 the hands employed in winter ; but now they could get it in with the assistiince of the school children, who at that time had a holiday, owing to the vast power placed in tlieir hands by steam. As regarded labourers, he did not thiuk they had anytbing to fear ; they might be fewer in number, but they would he more efficient. Mr. CuojtPTON had noticed many gentlemen around prick- ing up their cars to learn the cause, as they were not dead to the fact that America was pressing them very hard in the pro- duction of cheese. A few years ago, if they had gone into acheese dealer's shop and said they wanted a good cheese, pointed to ene they thought a nice one, the shopman would have said it was an American cheese, and they would not like it. That was a fact. American cheese then looked very well on the outside, but they found it to be an inferior article when they cut it up. It was honey-combed, and the whey had not been squeezecJ out of it completely. But now the tables were turned, and the first laid before them was the best American, and it was good cheese. He was just stating the fact when he said that the retail price of the best Derbyshire cheese was 8d. to lOd. per lb., and the price of factory-made American cheese was from 8d. to lid. per lb. The American cheese led a penny per lb. more in the market. The American was a very shai p fellow. He had gone to a new country, and had had everything to do for himself. This had sharpened his wits to such an extent that it required a very clever fellow to trip him up. They had in all parts of America instituted cheese- factories. These factories were placed in convenient sitnations, close to ranges of dairy land. The American farmers seldom made their cheese themseles. They were gigantic producers of milk, which they brought to one of those factories, managed by highly-educated dairymen (who, hy-the-bye, were English- men gone over to America), and there their milk was made into good cheese for them. This cheese they sent to this country, and nothing that the majority of Enghsh cheese-makers could produce surpassed it. It was only surpassed by the best Somersetshire-Cheddar, and the finest Leicestershire cheese. This subject required the attention of every one interested in the making of cheese. He did not think there was a cheese- maker present who did not know from experience that if he was to make good cheese he must have his wife and his daughters for his dairymaids. This was one of the things that prevented large capitalists from going into agriculture. They dare not have hired labour for their dairies, and they did not wish to subject their wives and daughters to that work, which was extremely hard. He hoped they would all live to see the day when cheese factories would be established in all parts of the country. He thought they might, with profit to them- selves, follow the example of the Americans in this respect. Mr. Bakbee, said he was lately in company with a Scotch gentleman who told hun of a remedy for pleuro which had been adoptedin that country with very great success. It was the appli- cation of sulphurous gas. He had been acquainted with a farmer who for thirteen years had never been free of this disease in his stock ; but he had now got com- pletely rid of it hy the application of this remedy. They could easily learn all the particulars of its application, for a pamphlet had been published on the subject hy Dr. Dewar, of Kirkcaldy. He took this opportunity of mentioning it, as they might secure the pamphlet for Is. It had been very weU recived in Scotland, having passed through thirteen editions. It might be the means of alleviating, if not curing, that terrible disease here. Dr. HiTCHMAN said it was hut as yesterday when bone-dust was discovered to be the special fertilizer of the root crop, and yet the battle-fields of the world have since been searched and ransacked ; ship-loads of bones have since been gathered up from all parts of Europe, and elsewhere ; tens of tliousauds of tons have been absorbed by the root crops of this realm ; and when bones were no longer forthcoming in sufficient quan- tities, geology discovered a new supply in this island in the fossil hones and " coprohtes" of past ages. These, too, were well nigli used up, and now science has revealed to us an al- most inexhaustible supply of their essential elements^phos- phate of hme — in the " Apatite" of Norway, the phosphorites of Estra Madura in Spain, and in the Sombrero Rocks of our own West India Islands. It was but as yesterday when, at the Derby Show of the Royal Agricultural Society, John Reade, a self-taught mechanic, exhibited a rough-made cylindrical draining pipe, which, falling under the practical eye of Mr. Parkes, caused him to draw the attention of Lord Spencer to it, and to say, " With this pipe, my Lord, I could drain all Eugland." Since then what lias not that drain pipe effected for the heavy clay lands of this kingdom, by removing surplus moisture, loosening the earth, and thus administering air and warmth to growing plants. This is gratifying progress, and from it I augur great things for the future of British agricul- ture. John Bull has not grown so decrepid as to lie content to put up with " a penny in the pound less" than his precocious son in America for any length of time. 'Tis true he has not the virgin soil of America or Russia to grow his grass, and to ripen his corn, or to rear his stock ; he has not the cloudless skies or the glowing sun of more southern chmes ; but he inherits from a long line of stalwart ancestors the healthful constitution, the bodily vigour, the indomitable •' pluck," the scorn of indolence and ease, which enable him to hold his own, even when he cannot surpass his rivals of more favoured climes. The fears of his friends, and the hopes of his foes, have been alike mistaken ; and corn and cattle are as valuable in this country now as when Protective Corn Duties and Navi- gation Laws so largely sheltered the British farmer from the competition of other lands. " Forward '" still, then, our cry. We dare not assign limits to progress. The motto of Lord John Russell " to rest and be thankful," can only be accepted in its latter half by the English farmer. He is, however, willing " to be thankful." To be thankful that whereas, in his youth, ploughing, sowing, reaping, thrashing, mowing, and haymaking had all to be performed by the slow and tiring process of manual labour, they are all now achieved more rapidly and as perfectly by machinery; that by the aid of Smith's, or Howard's, or Fowler's cultivator, Garrett's or Hornsby's drill, Hornsby's reapers, Shnttleworth's thrashing machine, Nicholson's haymaker, and Ransome's horse-rake, the work of the farm is expedited tenfold, and sunshine and breeze can be caught and utilized in this our fickle ciimate in a manner which his forefather s never knew. Aye, the human hand has indeed been strengthened and multiplied a hundred- fold by the mind to which it ministers, for what, after all, is any perfect machine but the representative of man's hand ? Our machinery and stock are the outcome of centuries of thought and labour by Englishmen, and they can be, and are, seized upon by nations young in agriculture, in order to compete with us in the markets of the world. Be it so. Man as man is blessed by this, and we will not repine. Only let us not be trammelled in the race by artificial restraints. Only let the British farmer once be free to cultivate the soil in any manner which his sagacity, skill, and experience may suggest ; let him have a fair length of lease, and fair security for improvements effected on the farm, which time alone can repay; proper shelter for his cattle and his corn ; and the removal of that unjust taxation which precludes him from feeding his own stock on the products of his own fields ; withhold not fi-ora him the freedom given by our laws to the foreigners ; let him have just assistance and proper sympathy from the landlords of this great realm, and I believe, that under the blessings of Divine Providence, the English farmer will still retain his rank among the food producers of the world. But these things must be done, for we hve in trying times. The landlord must feel that his true interest, and the interest of the tenant, are one and indivisible. By industry and intelligence, aided as they now are hy railways, by machinery, by fertilizing products placed at his service by the chemist and geologist, and by more just social laws, such as the Union Chargeability Act, and the Irremoveable Poor Act, which make labour more free, and by the Animals Contagious Diseases Act — wisely administered — but to do this well, he requires to be sustained and encouraged by due consideration and sympathy from those whose lands are preserved from impoverishment by his intelligence, his industry, and his enterprise. If the time should come when landlords stand aloof from their tenants ; when they shall have no sympathy with their difiiculties or their success ; if they will not encourage them by word, or cheer them by their presence, then, I fear, will the soil of their forefathers become as barren and unfruitful as are many of the lands of France at this time from such a cause. The risks of agriculture are too many, and the profits are too few, for the pursuit to be conducted well, on mere commercial principles only. Break up the reverence and the love which a Ui THE FARMEE'S MAGAZINE. good tciiai\t feels towards a good landloid ; banish that affection for couutry Hfe, and that pride in the historic associations of a family, and a parisli ; chase away all the tender and deep- rooted sentiments which have heretofore tenaciously clung iiround the pursuit of agriculture, and you begin a process which will be most disastrous to the interest, to the manliness, to tlie courage, to the chivalry, to the greatness of England , for the poet uttered sober truth, as well as graceful song, wlien lie said — "As Nature's ties decay. As dut^, Jove, and honour fail to sw((t/. Fictitious bonds the bonds of wealth and law, Still gather strength, and force unwilling awe. Hence all obedience bows to these alone,' And taleut sinks, and merit weeps unknown. Till Time maj' come when, stripp'd of all her charms. The land of scholars, and the nurse of arms. Where noble stems transmit the j^atriot flame, Where kings have toiled, and poets wrote, for fame. One sink of level avarice ahall lie, And schoiaro, soldiers, kings uuhonourod die." At Alfreton, Mr. Nutt.vll referred to the making of cheese according to the American plan in factories. The occupiers of dairy farms found increasing difficulty in making the rent. The price of their cheese appeared to be declining, and the cheese factors said that every year they got an increased quan- tity of cheese of middling quality. That applied chiefly to the large dairies. The smaller dairies were, in some cases, super- intended by the farmer's wife or by his daughters, and a satis- factory result could be obtained ; but it was scarcely reasonable to expect, especially under tiie improved system of education that existed, that the wife or the daughters of farmers pos- sessed of considerable capital should undertake the severe toil and drudgery involved in the personal superintendence of cliecse-inaking. The result was that the owner of thirty, forty or fifty milking cows depended for the means of making his rent on one woman. If anything happened to any other ser- vants tliey could replace them ; but if from any cause they should be deprived of the services of the dairymaid in the mid- dle of the summer, where were they ? A few years ago Ame- rican cheese fetched a low price, wliilst it was now sold at Id. u pound above any produced in Derbyshire. Were they to be content witii that ? The only way to meet the difficulty was ti) adopt the American plan. They were discussing the ques- tion at Derby, and had some private meetings. Mr. Jenkins, the Secretary of the lloyal Agricultural Society, had been down to make inquiries ; and tlierc were men ready with the capital to put up a cheese factory near Derby, if they could ensure a supply of milk at a price which would pay them, for a reasona- ble distance. lie hoped they would soon be in a position to carry out the system in South Derbyshire. All milk received into the factory would be tested as to its value. If a farmer fed his cattle with grains and other food to increase the quan- tity of his milk, but with the sacrifice of quality, he would be put at a lower rate ; if the quality was above the average the price would be raised in proportion. In case of water being mixed with the milk, the manager of the factory would decline to deal with the person pursuing the system at any price. STAFfOllDSIIIRE. At Burton-ou-Trent, Lord Lichfield said he had done his best to establish in this county a cliarabcr of agriculture, for the especial purpose of enabling the landlords and tenants to discuss questions of common interest. Such an association would give far better opportunities for discussion than meetings of this sort, and he could not let this opportuity pass without saying that he felt some disappointment that the farmers of the county had not taken greater interest in the proceedings and prosperity of the chamber which had been founded for their benefit. The meet- ings were not so fully or so influentially attended as those who promoted their estabhshment had every right to expect. There was one thing which he must say had surprised him more than anything else in the discussions upon the land question in Ire- land, whether in leading articles or in letters addressed to the papers, and that was the very indefinite ideas which many of these writers had as to what really were the rights of the occupiers and the rights of the owners of the soil. On one sule tears were expressed that the rights of property would be intertcred with, when they knew very well that tiiere were rights of property enjoyed by law in Ireland, which if they wete exercised in this country in the same manner as they some- times were in Ireland, would raise a great outcry against their injustice. And yet these were the legal proprietary rights of the owners of the soil; and now the question came, whether or uot they were to be touched by legislation. He maintained it was a great mistake to suppose that the rights of property must necessarily be interfered with (Interruption and cries of " Order"). In consequence of the loose and indefinite manner in which this subject had been discussed by many leading men, expectations had been raised in Ireland, and demands had been made on the part of the occupiers of the soil which were al- most universally condemned in this country as being unreason- able. This was no new subject which he was endeavouring to bring before this assembly. The question of the relations be- tween landlord and tenant had been brought before them by himself on previous occasions, and he had never failed to take an opportunity of inducing the two classes to discuss the sub- ject amicably. He believed those discussions had already led to a vast amount of good in improving those relations, and and therefore he said that at the present moment there should be no hesitation to discuss a subject of legislation upon which hereafter, whatever might be its immediate result, affect the interests of both owners and occupiers in this couutry. With- out going fully into the question, which would be impossible on such an occasion, he would simply say, here is a question which you might fairly take an interest in and discuss at a meeting of your Chamber of Agriculture ; and why do you not ? There was not a singe question affecting the relations of landlord and tenant in this country which would not bear discussion ; and if there was any question, which they thought would not bear discussion, they might depend upon it some great alterations would be made with regard to it before long (impatience, and cries of " Order, order"). Mr. MEY]\ELL-IiSt;iiAJi, the Chairman, said: Although he differed from the Government on many subjects, he thought they were deserving of thanks for the manner in which they had dealt with the subject of the prevention of contagious diseases in cattle, and that what they had done was open to very little objection. They had placed almost unlimited powers in the hands of the Privy Council, which he hoped and believed would, if properly carried out, be successful in checking the spread of those diseases which threatened to be rife amongst them. He believed that it almost invariably happened that that these diseases were introduced by foreign cattle, and, therefore, he thought that uot only should foreign cattle not be allowed to be imported excepting under strict inspection,but that they should not be allowed to leave the ports alive. Dead meat could always be carried safely, and he saw no objection to fo- reign cattle being slaughtered before they left the ports at which they were landed. He thought, too, that the Govern- ment 1,1 ere entitled to credit for one or two other thiugs. Mr. Lowe had entirely abolished the duty on fire insurance, which, considering how liable agricultural produce was to fires, would be a great gain to farmers, and would leave them without ex- cuse for not properly insuring their stock. He also desired to call attention to the subject of the immense number of paupers in the country, and to say that the plan had been adopted in Scotland of boarding out pauper children amongst agricultural labourers. It answered very well indeed, and kept the children from becoming habitual paupers, as well as delivering them from the evil influences of the society of the workhouses. They were brought up in a wholly difi'erent atmosphere from that of the workhouse, and became, not confirmed paupers, but use- ful members of society. The plan was an economical one, for it was found that a child could be boarded out for £9 a year, and that children so treated scarcely ever became again charge- able to the rates. This was a subject which he thought was worthy of careful consideration. Mr. W. Masfen could not but express his deep regret that the meeting had displayed such impatience to listen to the re- marks of the Lord-Lietenant. He might give offence by saying how much he disapproved of the manner in which the .speeches had been listened to ; but he was a very plain straightforward man, and if he found that he did not agree with a person, he did lose the opportunity of telling him so. On that occasion they had broached to them one of the most important subjects which an agricultural assembly could at the present time have brought under their notice, and yet they refused to listen to the views THE PARMER'S MAGAZINE. 443 of ;^entlcmeu «lio would, no doubt, have spoken so ably, and witli such moderation on tlic subject (" We have a right to refuse"), lie did not say tliey had not a riglit but lie had equal right to question tlieir good sense in having done so — (" Hear, hear," and" No, no," followed by considerable interruption), lie considered what was then taking place in the room a fair illustration of the Lord-Lieute- nact's remarks as to the lack of interest by agriculturists in discussing matters of vita limportance to them. (Renewed in- terruption). Mr. Masfen was further subjected to consider- able interruption, and he sat down after a reference to the old advice not to cast certain articles before a species of animal which should there be nameless. The Earl of Lkjiifeild said : Much anxiety was shown by tenant-farmers to obtain better buildings from their landlords ; but he must candidly say that he wislied he could oftener liear of them calling upou their landlords not only to erect better buildings for their cattle, but better accommodation for the la- bourers they employed. He was certain that by so doing they would show an interest in the matter, which would not fail to meet with a response ou the part of the landlords. A great deal had ueen done in this direction, and he did believe that there were few districts iu England where the accommodation of the agricultural labourer was better than it was, upon the whole, in StalTordshire. He could not say that witliont refer- ring to a passage which he only read the night before in the report of the Royal Agricultural Society's Jourual iu which, speaking upon this subject, and alluding to Staffordshire, the writer stated that upou Lord Lichfield's property there would not be in a few months a cottage that had not three bedrooms. He referred to that merely to say that, although he believed the mistake was unintentional, it was not true. He liad done his best to improve the accomodation of the labourers upon his property, but it was not ueeesssary that every labourre's cottage should have three bedrooms. (" Certainly, it is :" and " No, no"). AVhat he maintained was that there ought to be such a number of those having three bedrooms as would be suf- ficient for that proportion of the labouring classes who, in con- sequence of having large families, required it. But the qnes- tien of whether the cottages on or near a farm were good or bad was not the most important question. The most important ques- tion was whether they had enough of them. If they had only two cottages on a property where four labourers with families were employed, this state of things ought to be remedied, for they were not doing their duty to the labouring classes if they allowed them to live at long distances from their work in the country. It was very important that landlords and tenants — for he threw some responsibility ^upon the latter — should be de- termined to have sufficient accommodation for the persons who were employed upon the farms. He trusted that they should all unite in doing their best to put an end to all ground of re- proach upon agriculturists — whether landowners or occupiers — upon this question at any rate. At the Judges' dinner, at Burton-on-Trent, Mr. Masfen alluded to the question of the terms of occupying land, on which subject lie is to read a paper in December, be- fore the Central Farmers' Club. He expessed a strong disin- clination against any proposition which should aim at obtain- ing a public advantage at the cost of private rights, and main- tained that the great object to be aimed at was a more satis- factory provision for compensation for unexhausted improve- ments iu case of the termination of a tenancy. Mr. Webb of SmaUwood Manor, insisted that the use of the steam plough and other costly apparatus must greatly extend, and argued from that fact that occupation, with due pro- tection for the landowner's interest, must be for a longer period than a twelve-mouth's tenancy, with a six-months' notice, to justify the great expenditure of capital which the development of agricultural machinery rendered ne- cessary. He gavelandownersall credit for honour andgenerosity, but death and other changes migiit expose tenants to the loss of theii holdings under circumstances which would be ruinous. He had this year, by his steam apparatus, cultivated from 1,500 to 2000 acres of land, and he prophesied that in ten years the agricultural machinery of the country would exceed tiie manufacturing machinery of Lancashire and Yorkshire. As machinery demanded more brains, and would afford supe- rior pay, the country could compete with the towns for the best men. Mr, Masfen said that, living near Wolverhampton, he found that his men were better olT than labourers in towns, and he had many applications for employment. Mr Bennett, of Husbands, Bosworth, strongly advocated the preservation of game and foxes, as means of inducing the landowners to reside on their estates. There was a gene- ral feeling iu favour of hunting, and of farmers joining in the sport, but Mr. Masfen appeared to have vveryonc in his fa- vour when he insisted that the landlords would be better sup- plied with game by leaving their tenants to preserve it in- stead of gamekeepers, and would avoid a vast amount of un- pleasantness. CUMBERLAND. At AsPATRiA, Sir WiLFiiiD Lawson, the chairman, said : Altliough I am not going to sketch out an Irish land bill, legislation is required to enable a man to enjoy the fair fruits of his own labour. I do not know whether we don't want something of that sort in England also ; but that is looking a good way forward, and it is too wide and too contested a question for rae to go further into at this momeiit. Perhaps legislation of that sort may lead ultimately to the land being held in smaller portions ; it may lead to smaller holdings. I do uot know that there would be a great deal of evil in that. I read the very interesting speech of Lord Stanley the othe r day, who almost always takes a practical common-sense view of any matter he discusses, and he said he set his face somewhat against small occupations of land, because the small occupiers would not be able to devote sufficient capital to the cultivation of the soil. That is a sound objection, I dare say, so far as it goes, but I believe if we had land divided into smaller holdings the small holders could still employ machinery for its cultiva- tion by co-operation among themselves. The small occupier could not buy expensive engines to work a small holding ; but a number of them might by co-operation obtain proper ma- chinery for the cuhivation of the land, and might succeed in cultivating it almost as well as if it were cultivated by more wealthy and larger holders. And that brings me to imple- ments. We had not many implements on the ground to-day, and really I don't think that at small shows we do very much good by giving prizes for implements, as we cannot expect the best implements to come to the small shows to receive tlie small remuneration we are able to offer. But, notwithstanding that, I believe the application of machinery and improved imple- ments to the cultivation of land is one of the most important questions of the day. We often hear it said at the dinners, and very truly said, that a man who makes two blades of grass to grow where only one grew before is a benefactor to society. True, but that man is an equal benefactor to society who en- ables the labour of one man by means of machinery to accom- plish what two men were required to do before ; and when we hear people say that machinery throws [men out of work, I think a fallacy operates upon tiieir judgment. It appears to me such people look upon work as the end. Now work is only the means. If work were the end, he would be the cle- verest and wisest man who could employ the most people in doing one thing; but we all know that if you get work done by one man instead of two it cheapens the article, benefits the consumer, and benefits the whole people. I have ventured to make these few remarks and touched upon the co-operation of farmers. I believe you may do a good deal in that way, not only as regards machinery, but I believe you may do it as re- gards the purchase of manures and of seeds. I lately joined an agricultural co-operation society because I thought it de- sirable to give it what little encouragement was in my power, I hold iu my hand a prospectus of that society, jaud some of my friends and neighbours have already joined it, and others are doing so. Its object is to enable farmers to get pure and unadultei-ated seeds and manures. I believe that hundreds of thousands, I may say millions, of money have been lost by the agriculturists of this country by getting improper and imperfect seeds. The society deal uot only with shareholders but with all others who may wish to purchase from them, and they guarantee that their seeds shall be pure and their manure un- adulterated. And there is no object in their giving any- thing else but pure seeds and manure, because the whole of the profit goes to the shareholders themselves, and any attempt to impose bad articles upon their customers would be imposing upon themselves. I believe that if farmers generally would 444 THE FABMER'S MAGAZINE. join some scheme of this sort they would save a considerable sum of money in their agricultural operations. Mr. W. Norman said : There had been much talk about Protection. The protection tenant farmers required was not to resort again to the old protective policy of this country, but they wanted security for their capital ; they wanted to have conditions in their farm leases and agreements similar to those wliich tlieir worthy chairman was about to grant to his tenants. Sir Wilfrid Lawson was about to give them free tradein farming. Free trade had been found to answer in this country when applied to the mercantile and commercial world, and he had no doubt it would be found to answer equally well when ap- plied to the farming community. They liad been up to the present time, he was sorry to say, tied up by all sorte of obso- lete conditions — conditions which prevented the flow of capital to the cultivation of the soil, simply because there was no security for capital. He thought the tenant was entitled to equal security with the landlord for the outlay of his capital. Sir W. Lawson said : Mr. Norman had alluded to condi- tions which they had iu contemplation to lay down regarding the tenancies of his estate, which he had called " free trade in farming." He himself should not have said anything about it if it had not been thus referred to, but he might say he did in- tend to attempt something of the sort indicated. He believed the landlord ought to let the farmer work to the best of his ability to make money. They must of course have conditions that the tenant left the property as good he found it, but that was all the landlord had any right to claim. It was a question of what machinery they must employ to bring that about. He believed by making a condition that the landlord should pay for any improvement which the tenant made to the pennanent value of his farm — in the same way as the tenant had to pay for any deterioration during his tenancy — he would be able to obtain a superior class of agriculturists, and also to secure a larger production from the land. He did not know that he thoroughly understood the best machinery to bring that about, but he hoped to adopt some plan of that kind, and he hoped at some future meeting of the Agricultural Society to tell them that it had succeeded well and satisiactorily. Mr. Paitson, the vice-chairman and a solicitor, said : As to the question of leases and the security for tenants' capital, the whole question could be put in one word — confidence. Let landlords choose good men for their tenants and tenents choose good men for their landlords, and have confidence in one another, and that would be better than aU the leases that all the attorneys in England could draw up. Sir W, Lawson said : No doubt a great thing in getting a good tenant was finding an honest man. But that was not business. If aU men were honest they would want no rules, and the vice-chairman would not have much to do. But they might not find an honest man, and in order to do business in a satis- factory manner they must have such rules and regulations as would enable them to carry it on when one party, whether land- lord or tenant, should try to get an advantage. At Carlisle, Mr. Jackson Gillbanks said : One of the trammels which were placed on Colonel Lowtlier was his ofiB^ce of lord of the manor. Now he considered lords of the manor as one of the relics of the past ; but by giving greater facilities for the taking in of commons, they would prevent many a young man from emigrating. If members of Parliament, in- stead of disestablishing things in other countries which nobody ared twopence about, would put down lords of the manor and rats and rabbits, they would do a public good ; for he thought all these relics of feudal superstition should be swept away, and all should row together and improve hand in hand. However, if he had been Prime Minister he would have appointed Colonel Lowther Lord Lieu- tenant, on the same ground as a clergyman had lately been appointed to a living within ten miles from here — en- tirely through the respectability of his appearance (much laughter) . It was a fact. The patron of the living, after looking at 40 or 50 candidates, could make nothing of them, and he appointed one man entirely for his good looks ; and he (Mr. Gillbanks) had it in his power to say that his face had not belied him. LINCOLNSHIRE, At Bennington, Mr. Welby, M.P. said there were three systems by which it had been suggested the education of the working-classes could be carried out. The first was the volun- tary system, upon which they were now working, which was not entirely satisfactory. Then there was the compulsory principle, but there were so many drawbacks and disadvantages in it that public opinion was not prepared for any such scheme. This had been tried in Prussia and America, but in each coun- try it had become more and more a failure. Then there was a system between the two, enacted by the Factory Acts, by which no child of tender years was allowed to work ; but when sufficiently old to perform labour, a portion of their earnings should be applied to their own education. Of the three systems lie most approved of the latter, and no one would dispute that it was advisable to relieve children of tender years ; no per- son would grudge them a little education. There were three ways of carrying out the method of paying ; One was by working part of the day only, which was so extremely diSi- cult that it might be put on one side ; the next was the alter- native system, which had many advocates ; and lastly, there was the yearly hour system. They had, however, to consider both the cultivators of tlie soil, and the earnings of the poor children, and not interfere unduly. If the last-mentioned system was adopted, children employed in agriculture would have to attend school so many hours in the year, but without sajing at what periods. Considering short days, as well as times when there was not much work, he thought this prin- ciple might be carried out without interfering seriously with education or with the farmer. It was feared by many parties that under this system the child would learn a great deal at one time, and forget a great deal before it went again. Still, he thought that valuable information would be retained in older life. If any change was made, this, in his opininn, was the direction iu which it should be met. There was one way in which they might do themselves good in this respect. What was wanted was a stimulus. The farmer hired his servants about May-day ; he asked what were their qualifications about ploughing, but few inquiries were made about character. The mere fact of servants remaining with their employers the full year was not sufficient. As a magistrate, he knew that ser- vants were often brought up for malpractices, but who, to pre- vent inconveuience, were allowed to remain their lull time. If farmers, when hiring, would ask more definite questions, espe- cially respecting education, and select the best, they would ultimately have a better class of servants. Mr. Turner, M.P., said the allotment question was a vexed one, but he believed the principle worked well. The proper method was not to concede a larger piece of land than a man could cultivate properly, but to allow him sufficient to grow potatoes, vegetables, &c., for his family. He should like to make it compulsory to slaughter cattle from foreign parts at the place of their arrival. So long as they permitted cattle to enter England from foreign parts without due inspection, they would never be free. There was no disease prevalent which might not be attributed to the admission of foreign cattle. In Aberdeenshire the foot-and-mouth disease had broken out, and he had been assured by one of the Scottish members that this arose from the admission of Irish cattle ; they were liable at any moment to have these cattle sent over. At Grantham, Mr. Welby, M.P., said he was not al- together satisfied with the Contagious Diseases Bill, but the Government of the day had such a large majority at their command it left very little power to those who differed from them to make any amendments to their propositions. He had no doubt the Government believed it would be an effectual measure, and that they would carry out its provisions with the utmost good faith, but he was afraid their good intentions could not be brought into practice by this measure. There was a serious disorder among cattle now raging in some parts of the country, known as the foot and mouth disease, and al- though it had not yet reached this neighbourhood yet it was of the utmost consequence that every precaution should be used against its doing so. And here he felt bound to give a word of caution. It was sometimes found that farmers who were sufferers concealed their losses to avoid being subject tq THE FARMER'S MAaAZINB. 445 the regulations of the Act. Such conduct was most unfair to their neighbours, who very often became victims when sucli might have been avoided. It ought to be remembered that no man did his duty unless at times he put himself to inconveni- ence for the benefit of others. Mr. TuiiNOR, M.r., said : With reference to the Contagious Diseases BUI he was in favour of Mr. Read's amendment, and voted for it. This, if carried, would have compelled foreig n cattle to have been slaughtered at the water side, and must, in a great measure, have prevented infection. However, such ■was the pressure put upou the Government by the London butchers and of large towns that Mr. Forster, who did his best to make the Bill a good one, was obliged to give way and sanction their demands. That Mr. Read's amendments were valid oues had since been tacitly admitted by the orders is- sued by the Privy Council as to the foot and mouth disease. In the course of four years or so a monopoly of the market system in London would cease, and then it was hoped properly- designed slaugliter-houses would be constructed outside, and the objection against water-side slaughtering be removed. It was matter for eougratulation that Parliament had, in addition to its one great measure, passed so many useful and social laws, prominent amongst them being the Beer-house Bill, which had already borne good fruit. LEICESTERSHIRE. At Loughborough, Mr. Clowks, M.P., said one little Act connected with the agricultural interest struck him as being worthy of note, viz., the removal by the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the last rag and remnant of pro- tection in the shape of remitting the one shiUiug duty, which was swept away without a murmur of dissent on the part of members, who, if they had been requested by their constituents to oppose it, could have done so. He thought that was a proof of the independence and resolu- tion of the British farmer. They had learnt to accept an Act which was carried against their will, in the first instance. They had found it was not against their interests, however, and had agreed to it with the rest of the community, and when the last remnant of protection was abolished they did not raise their voices against it. This was the more significant, because at the time the Act he had referred to was done away with, a portion — he hoped not a large portion — of the manufacturing community were betraying a not unwillingness to court the almost exploded doctrines of protection. Colonel Packe, the chairman, said he had come from a village that morning where one of his tenants, who had had 140 odd acres of wheat this year, told him that he had thrashed five quarters to the acre. This would teach them that they were not bad farmers in that locality. He had thrashed, himself, about 18 or 20 acres which had yielded five quarters to the acre, and, he thought, as good wheat as any produced that day. He thought that showed they were a little up in farming. (" Query.") Mr. Wright (Wainlip) was only too glad to hear that there had been such a large yield in the neighbourhood where the chairman resided. He believed he was §tating what was fair and correct when he said that on land in the best condi- tion there had been the worst yield. He had thrashed out 300 quarters, and he could say that what at one time appeared the best had turned out to be the worst. One piece of land which he anticipated would liave yielded five quarters to the acre had only yielded two. He related an instance of the same cha- racter in reference to beans, and remarked that if they had to depend upon their own supplies in this neighbourhood they would soon have a famine amongst them. Most certainly, in their own neighbourhood, the state of things was very different to that described by Colonel Packe, and he was in a position to state that, having gone over 300 acres professionally, in order to award the cropping. Colonel Packe said that the instance he had mentioned of the yield of wheat might not be general. He stated what in his opinion was the cause of the depression in the corn trade. Very many people had large crops last year, and they had plenty of money which enabled them to store it. He was told only a few days ago by one of their agents that there was a large quantity of old corn stored at Boston. The time would come, however, when the millers must come to buy com. NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. At Peterborough, Mr. Dking said he was one of the first of the tenant-farmers who had ventured to introduce steam- power, and he had never regretted that he had done so. It might be a question as to what tackle was the best, but in this they must consult their own experience. It must depend upon the size of their occupations, whether great or small ; but when tliey got it, they must use it and wear it carefully out. The farmer must now get his corn cut vidtli reapers, and get it iu as fast as he can ; indeed he did not know why they might not generally stack it in the field. He must necessarily have a staff of horses, who were much better at work than in the stable. He only wants assistance to get his land into condi- tion without delay, and the man who got five tons of roots more than his neighbour got a diftorence which made his profit. Mr. Smith was the father of steam-cultivation, and great credit was due to him for the present improved character of the machinery. The Hon. Charles Fitzwilliam said one of the greatest drawbacks to steam-power was the great cost in the lirst in- stance. He believed the lowest cost was between £600 and £700. The tenant-farmer was supposed to have a capital of £10 in every acre of his farm, and he did not think that this would cover all his necessary expenses. How then could he be expected to add £700 to his outlay ? It would be a good thing, he thought, if three or four farmers living near each othei- could agree to put aside their little differences and join together in purchasing the apparatus, to be used in turn, fall- ing back on the old-fashioned plan of drawing lots for the order of turns. He should be glad to assist any tenant of his own in this way on fair terms. Mr. Smyth (of Newsell's Bury) said he had been a steam cultivator for nine years, and believed nothing tended so much to the improvement of agriculture as steam-power. Of course every man ought to know his own business, but, notwith- standing the excellent work they had seen that day by the direct action, he believed that in some places the roundabout system would be found the best. On some of the hilly country of Hertfordshire, the other would be impracticable. The farmer must be guided in his choice of implements by the size and character of his occupation. He had found the two-shear plough of very great use in carrying out the turning-up system, and believed that in this, as in other things, practice made perfect. Mr. Greig wished to make a remark as to the use of horses in harvest time. He contended that it would be cheaper to keep their horses in the stable, and use the steam plough, than suffer the damage caused by their trampling over the land. SHROPSHIRE. At Ludlow, Colonel Corbett, M.P., said he should confine himself to one or two questions, of some importance to agri- culturists, which occupied the attention of Parliament at the last session. One of these was the subject of rating. As at present levied, he held that the rating was unjust, not one- third of the property of the country being assessed to the rates. The rating upon the militia depot accommodation was, he thought, very unfair ; for it must be remembered that were it not for the militia, the Government would not have been en- abled to carry out the reduction they had made in the army. With reference to the question of asylums, lie had great faith that at the next session it would be taken so far as it ought to be, and carried through. Another subject of special impor- tance was that of having a department of agriculture. Upon this tliere had been considerable difference of opinion, not only at Westminster, but all over the kingdom. After all, he could not help thinking that the idea of Mr. John Bright was the right one ; and he believed that so long as argriculturists all rowed in the same direction they should want no assistance from Government. He was quite satisfied that the farmers, the labourers, and, last though not least, the landlords were not different from other people, and that they would, by sticking together, still be enabled to show the finest flocks and the most glorious herds for any country in the world to produce. He now came to the question of agricultural statistics, a subject which elicited considerable discnssion at the last session. They all knew that when it was first pro- 446 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. posed it did not meet with much favour at the hands of agri- cuUurists. It was desirable that statistical information should be rRceived by the Government ; and he felt that no harm could accrue to farmers therefrom. It was moved that the statistics should only be taken once every five years ; but for his own part he thought that unless it was taken every year it could not be productive of much good. Tiiere were two other measures which he believed are of pressing urgency, especially as regarded this neighbourhood. One of these was that there should be a separate market in London for foreign cattle, in order to prevent disease coming from foreign sources. He believed in it. He was sure the losses from disease in cattle were very largo. If a man took a lot of fat cattle, ripe for the butcher, into the Smithfield market, there was the experienced eye, the necessary practical knowledge brought to bear upon it. Dealers would not buy when it was not in demand. They knew that prices would go down, and the feeder had con- sequently to make a great sacrifice. Therefore he felt there sliould be perfect freedom for the movement of cattle throughout the country. lie could not fancy anything more distressing than to have the cattle plague, as before, amongst us, and to see it among the beautiful herds of Herefords, of which he had seen so many noble specimens on the Castle- green that day. Such a calamity w^is fearful to contemplate. He must therefore congratulate them all upon the bill which had been passed, that something had been done towards reme- dying the evil. Mr. Blakeway spoke in very strong terms upon the rabbit question. He thought rabbits ought to be declared vermin, and he considered the Chambers of Agriculture ought to bring the matter before Parliament, so that the vermin should not be allowed to destroy the food of the million. Colonel CoRBETT said Mr. Forster, the vice-president of the Council, did the best he could, and he used his influence so far that ho prevailed upon the corporation of London to apply for a bill to enable them to make a separate market for foreign cattle. Upon that the bill, against which there was so much opposition in the early part of the session, was passed. KENT. At Tenterden, a model having been placed upon the tabic to illustrate the newly patented system of growing hops on cross poles, or what is termed the vinery principle, together with specimens of the tools required, Mr. Coley who was invited to explain the system said, about three years ago he began to consider that it was time to introduce some improve- ment in the system of poling hops. Amongst other new systems that were introduced was that of growing hops upon string, and a gentleman living at Maidstone, who had been appointed agent, asked him to patronise Collings' string patent, which was first introduced in America, and after being tried in Germany, was brought to England. When asked, he said he had been thinking of introducing an improved system himself, and hoped some day to be able to show it ; therefore he de- clined to try the string. The agent mentioned had occasionally asked him jokingly when they were to see his improved system, and a short time ago he told him lie was prepared to show his new invention. The agent (Mr. Large) inspected the plan and subsequently wrote several letters to the papers respecting it. Since they appeared, he had had several visitors round his grounds — some of them from Worces- tershire— and they had been able to see how the hops came on, and to judge whether there was any improvement in his plan. Amongst them all there had been no difference of opinion. In order thoroughly to satisfy himself of its utility, he had pointed his cross poles north, south, east and west, and on different soils, with different descriptions of hops. Erom these experiments he had arrived at the conclusion that north and south were the best positions, east being the \^'orst of all. He had watched the growth of the hops very carefully through every stage, and after a great deal of thoughtful consideration he believed he could not improve on the plan he ultimately decided upon. If he said that a thousand hop growers had visited his grounds he did not think he was putting it at too many, and amongst them all the opinion was that a decided improvement had been effected. Then came the question of picking ; every one was anxious to know how the hops came to the oast. Consequently the first he picked he had mea- sured up very closely, and on the new, or vinery principle, he found he had about a ton per acre ; on a fifth of an acre mea- sured there was 280 bushels to 200 hills of prolifics. The same sort of hops grown on the old principle produced 253 busliels to 200 hills, so ihat they had an increase of 27 bushels in the measurement, or 135 bushels to the acre. 108 bushels went to a pocket of 1^ cwt., perhaps 121bs. to 161bs. over tliat weight, so that they gained one pocket and a quarter of a cwt. per acre by the new plan, being a net gain of about £S per acre in quantity alone. Then as to quality ; hops grown on the new and old plans were tak>m into the oast on a Satur- day, and they were taken off on the Sunday or Monday. He noticed them in the cooling room, and found there was a wonderful difference in the two growths ; in the pockets they were distinguished by a mark, and w hen the samples were drawn, some gentlemen, who happened to be present said, " Why there is 20s. or 30s. per cwt. difference in the value of those hops." Putting it at only 10s., there would then be a gain of £18 per acre in weight and qualify. Nothing had been said about the saving in coals, but he ventured to assert that it would amount to 50 per cent., and another 50 per cent. being saved in cultivation, the net gain would be £20 per acre. So much for the result of his experiments and calculations ; but suppose they cut it down one-half, or even a quarter, it would then produce a very considerable profit if a man had 100 or more acres under hop cultivation. Some Colegates he tried on the same plan, and when the samples were shown to seven or eight competent men in the Borough, they unani- mously agreed that if the hops had been Goldings they would have been 20s. per cwt. better than those grown on the old plan ; but being Colegates, they would not fetch above 6s. per cwt. more. He thougbt this was sufficient to show the in- crease in quantity and quality gained on his plan. Then as to the cultivation ; it was cheaper and much more expeditious than on the old plan, the cross poles could be fixed in their places at the rate of two miles an hour, and the work was so light that it might easily be done by a woman ; there was no difficulty in getting the nidget through the alleys, and another great advantage was that as the poles depended on two hills for bine they very rarely had one bare. He believed the sys- tem strengthened weak bine instead of exhausting it, as suggested by a gentleman present ; and he did not think it would be necessary to fann higher in order to make bine enough to fiU the increased length of pole. Of course, there was nothing in the plan to prevent its being modified to suit every description of ground or variety of hops. About the royalty he intended to charge, he had fixed it at 20s. per acre, first and only payment to be made. The royalty to attach to the person and not to the land. MONMOUTHSHIRE. At Monmouth, Mr. Armitage said he was particularly grateful to the Society for the liberal manner in which it threw open its prizes to its neighbours in the adjoining counties of Hereford and Gloucester. He hoped the exhibitors from those counties did not disgrace the show which the society presented to the inhabitants of Monmouth and its neighbourhood. It had always been his endeavour to improve one particular class of sheep, which he had exhibited year after year, not only to the visitors to the jMonmouth show, but to the persons residing in his own nciglibourhood, and by the success whicii had at- tended that course, he was perhaps competent to give the farmers present one word of advice. He should therefore recommend people who wished to improve one particular class of stock not to attempt to do so by violent means or in a sud- den manner, but rather to persevere and effect the improvement little by little in the stock or class they wish to have, or happen to have, in their own possession. He himself succeeded to his father's flock in the year 1813, and when it came into his pos- session it consisted of small, inferior black-faced ewes. He had however persisted in breeding from the same ewes, and, if they could speak for themselves, he believed they could trace their origin upon his and his father's property for nearly half a cen- tury. Trum these ewes he had improved the breed by the theory of selection, always rejecting those that did not possess the qualities he wished to improve in that particular class. He of course selected the male animals best adapted to that class he wished to promote, and in all cases where excellency has been attained in any great degree — such as in the Hereford THE FABMER'S MAGAZINE. 447 breed of cattle aud the Shorthorns — it hud always beeu pro- duced b}' coutiuuing the same family and the same blood with as little change as possible. Aud if they consulted Professor Darwin and other persons, it appeared that the character of a family was traceable to tlie perseverance in keeping up the particular type of that family. A pen of lambs sold that day were the olfspring of one of his own rams, which was pur- chased by the exhibitor, had gained a prize, and bore out the particular type of the sire, which was descended from a flock constantly bred from the same blood without any iuterchange. He had never gone out of his way to buy, aud never had bought, any kind of ewes off his farm, and he believed he pos- sessed the blood of the breed which would perpetuate itself and show its mark iu excess of otlier breeds which had not been so persistently carried forward. So far as he could sug- gest any improvement in the breed of sheep or cattle iu that neighbourliood, he would recommend farmers to do it by keep- ing to their own stock as much as possible, throwing aside the inferior animals, and improving the others little by little. FROM "THE GALLERY." If the good men of Huntingdonshire who met at a recent agricultural show in that couuty expected to observe a change from budding iato full-blown statesmenship in Lord Robert Montagu, they were probably disappointed. When he last addressed a like assembly, he was a very responsible Minister of the Crown, aud had the care at once of the cattle-plague and the education of the country in his hands. It often suggests itself to lookers-ou upon Parlia- ment that there is no logical connexion between tiie Board of Health and the Board of Education ; and the economy which caused the amalgamation of the conduct of both these de- partments under one head might well be satisfied by the trans- ference of the former to a sectiou of the Board of Trade, so , that the incongruity would be spared which is apparent when ^ the Minister for Education is at one moment discussing a con- science clause and the next dilating upon the actual couditiou of certain sheep alleged to be tainted with smallpox. How- ever, to return to Lord Robert Montagu, it may, witii all respect, be said that, whether or not owing to the duplication and the anomalous character of his duties while he was Vice- President of the Council for Education, he seemed to be in a perpetual flutter. When he was speaking he was exceedingly rapid in his utterance, aud rather llighty in his ratiocination ; in short, he gave one the idea that his nervous system was worked up to a state of tension — a not very uncommon con- dition for an official who is a little too small for his place. So far as one can judge, this manner of speech still clings to him, for there was some flightiness about his speech at Huntiugdon the other day ; he was probably embarrassed to keep the rule of avoiding politics, and he endeavoured to be as bucolical as possible. Thus he discoursed dispersedly (as the old stage directions say of an exit) of cattle, and horses, and dogs, his object being, apparently, to siiow that if the princi- ples wliich are adopted in the training of the two latter classes of animals were applied to the education of children, tiie result would be very satisfactory ; and he quoted Bacon and a well- known Scriptural text iu which the word " train" is used as special authorities. Possibly all this was not such a mystifi- cation to his actual hearers as it is to most of the rest of mankind, and so, if his constituents had their ears tickled, all the purpose in hand was answered. As to Mr. Corrance, there is no doubt that he has cultivated assiduously the art of smart speaking, and with some success. He makes spurts iu this line in the House, but there, perhaps, they are not so much observed and applauded ; but on his native heath, as it were, at the meeting in question, he raally was superb. The first part of his speech was quit* fireworky ; and the mode in which he gave satirical descriptions of the statesmansliip of Mr. Lowe, Mr. Bright, and Mr. Gosehen, whom he took as the typical men of the present Ministry (he left Mr. Gladstone alone, thus showing some good taste, considering existing cir- cumstances), were as good as it was possible to conceive could come from a country gentleman, even though he has culti- vated his capabilities to their utmost pitch. One thing was clear from this electoral gathering — namely, that Conservatism iu Norfolk and Suffolk is anything but in a state of despair. On March : Lord George Manners and Lord Royston were a little inclined to crow, and to insinuate that, as they were both ahead of Mr. Bland on the poll, aud as the other Liberal candidate, with all his claims on the electors of that creed, was nowhere, there had been a triumph of no ordinary kind for their party. Indeed, Lord Royston put it as if it were in some sort a compensation for the otherwise general discom- fiture of the Conservative body in the country. But if they wished to have a tongue-fight without adequate occasion, they had mistaken their man, for Mr. Brand's unapproachable equanimity was not to be disturbed by such rufHers as those ; aud he slid, with great tact, out of the temptation to topsy- turvey such a vapouring cock-of-the-game as one of those noble lords, at least, whose funny developments in the House he has no doubt often watched with cynical amusement. So the meeting passed off peaceably at last. On Aylesbury : Tlicre is no doubt that Mr. Lambert was wofuUy disappointed — indeed, that there was something akin to hooting him ; and it is certain that he was not allowed to finish his speecli. To be sure, he dealt with some topics on which the majority of his audience was divergent from him, aud to this, in a degree, might be attributed his mal-reception. But any one who happened to liear Mr. Lambert deliver his one set speech in last session will understand that there might have been other reasons why he was not considered charming by the people at Aylesbury. In truth, his mode of speaking is so odd ; his notions of things, as he puts them, so oidre, not to say extravagant ; and he is so dogmatic in his assertion of what sounds like political or politico-economic impossibility, that it is a little trying to the temper to listen to him. lie has a theory for paying off the national debt in about twenty minutes, or twenty years, it is not very clear which ; though as to his own belief in his plan, that is as certain as, say little Miss Elite's confidence that she would one day get a judgment in Chancery. Altogether, one cannot help suspecting that Mr. Disraeli, decidedly opposed as he is to the representation of minorities, in some occult manner directed the choice of the third member for Bucks, so that in the event a sort of ridicule should be thrown on the experiment. On Elmley : If it were not shocking even to hint such a thing, one might say that Sir Johu Pakingtou is, on educa- tional systems, a free-thinker ; at any rate, he is decidedly secular in his ideas on that matter. As everybody hopes, though rather against hope, national education is to be settled, as questions are said to be settled, by a democratic, garrulous Parliament, next session ; aud if any such unlikely consumma- tion should come about, towards it Sir John Pakington has given notice that he will readily contribute. For at a meeting in Worcestershire last week he distinctly gave in his adhesion to Mr. W. E. Forster, the present Minister for Education, and spoke of him as the very man for the occasion. It is on this subject that Sir Johu Pakington has always shown him- self capable and useful, and he will be welcomed in the dis- cussions thereon iu a way that has not been his fate generally when he has tried to soar to high top-gallant heights as a poli- tician and a debater. On Coventry : The country may be congratulated on the fiict that Mr. Newdegate has proclaimed that he will appear in his character of member for mankind (Protestant, being understood) in all next session ; and that he is to be so prac- tical that Mr. Davenport, his colleague, will serve as a foil to him still more than he has hitherto done. — The III itst rated London News. IRELxVND. At Strokestown, Mr. Sewell Read, M.P., said : I am edi- fied by what I have this day seen and learned of Irish sheep and stock. When you tell me your national and royal shows do not recognize your Roscommon sheep as a distinct class and with their proper names, you astonish, nay, more than astonish me. Why, they ought to be their pride and boast. I saw this day such sheep as I never saw before, distinct in their types from all sheep I ever saw before, with heavy fleeces of silky wool, large meat-producing frames, such as cannot be equalled without artificial feeding, and combining with these great perfections very early maturity. In all these views I have the full concurrence of ray friend, Mr. Pell, an authority, I can assure you, of no small weight on such subjects. We might as well say iu England Liucolns are Leicesters, and not a pure and distinct type, as deny the splendid Roscommon 448 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. their class in any show honoured, I will say, by their exhibi- tion. With regard to your stock, I have long been con- nected with shows in England, taking a deep interest in them as a somewhat extensive and practicd farmer. At those shows I have seen a few better cattle, but this can be accounted for. In England, gentlemen who have prize-takers send them about from county to county. Those animals are fed for exhibition purposes at enormous expense, such as no farmer who pays rent and expects to live by the profits of his farming woiUd attempt to feed any number on at all. But among the general classes of naturally grass-fed stock I saw cattle that any coHnty in England would be proud of, and much better than the run of our best local shows. Now I am about to speak on a subject, I confess important to my own interests, but never- theless of no small consequence to your own. We imr port into Norfolk some 50,000 head of cattle annually, and I am sure you are not dissatisfied with the prices we give you, Trom tho superior description of young stock I saw ia my tour through Ireland, I determined to buy largely for my English farms ; but before I left home the foot-and-mouth dis- temper had broken out aU over England ; and since my arrival here I have received the unpleasant intelligence that all my own stock are infected now with this disease ; and many other infectious ones are all of continental origin, and occur in our country from the importation of foreign cattle; and I wish, both forour own sake and yours, that the Irish membershad held alittle more firmly with us when we endeavoured to bring iu a bill to compel foreign stock to be slaughtered at the English ports of debarkation, and so prevent the infection of English and Irish stock. In the lobbies 58 Irish members signed the paper to support us ; but when we brought the measure before the minister, oh ! where were they P I believe three did not vote. I am certain our dealers will endeavour to persuade you to accept lower prices ; but do not be misled, the moment the disease disappears, you must and will get the fuU value of your stock — for we have aa abundant root crop in England, which must be consumed. THE FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE. The quarterly meeting of the Norfolk and Eastern Counties Veterinary Medical Association was held in Norwich, when the discussion chiefly turned on the foot-and-mouth disease. Mr. Shipley said -. The foot-and-mouth disease, after hav- ing been dormant for some three or four years, in June last again showed itself. It was generally believed to have been introduced by foreign cattle landed at Blackwall, and it had extended so that it now raged all over the country. The disease was a species of fever, causing eruptions in the feet and in the mouth, and was generally believed to be propagated by transmission from one animal to another ; all domestic rumi- nats taking it readily. Its period of incubation was very short, from twelve hours to four or five days ; tlie period of its dura- tion varied, but was not reaUy more than from seven to four- teen days, as far as the acute stages were concerned. The disease was most fatal to young calves and pigs. It was the most contagious of all known diseases, and in consequence of the great loss of flesh by animals afi'ected, the loss to tlie coun- try was probably greater than that caused by tlie rinderpest. Various opinions were Jield as to animals being liable to attack a second time. He put the question to the members — Is it safe to drink the mUk or to eat the flesh of animals afi'ected with the disease. He recommended careful nursing of the animals under treatment, as their best means, iu conjunction with proper medicine, of meeting the disease. Much might be done by keeping the animals strictly isolated, and he held that much might be done by the profession adopting preventative measures. It was necessary, he remarked, that they should understand the whole routine of the Act. It would evidently give the inspectors plenty to do, aud the only question which was left in abeyance was how they were to be remunerated. Veterinary surgeons should stand up for their rights ; they would find itditficult at times to please both the owners and the local authority, and in fact any party but themselves. Still they must not shrink from their duties. As to the questioa of remuaeration, he thought a fixed salary to each inspector was preferable to payment by fees as removing all cause for disputes. They should remember that pretty well the whole responsibility of the working of the Act would rest upon their shoulders, and if they formed an erroneous judg- ment they would hereafter hear of it ; and it, therefore, became their duty to exercise great care in all they did under the Act. He called attention to a series of resolutions which had been agreed to l)y the magistrates at Chester, by wliich they ap- pointed the poUce as inspectors under the Contagious Diseases Act; provided that veterinary surgeons should be called in by the inspectors, and paid at the usual terms of their practice ; and that the police, as inspector, should issue licenses under the Act. He put it wliether it was intended by the Act that the police, as such, should give to themselves as inspectors, and whether the Act was not contravened by such appoint- ments. Mr. Seaman said : In June, 1865, the cattle plague invaded oftj sliows, and spread rapidly. M soon a» it was kuown to be cattle plague, various quacks brought out their nostrums, and the veterinary surgeons were continually blamed for not being able to cure an incurable disease. The profession said at the very first that the only way to check the disease was to stamp it out, but this course was not adopted, and the result in Chester of adopt- ing a similar course to that to be now pursued was that 60,000 cattle died of plague, while in the whole kingdom, where at- tempts were made to cure the disease before stamping out was resorted to, the loss was of the value of three millions sterling. Yet with this dearly bought experience the same plan had been again adopted in Chester, and it was not unlikely that, as in the case of the cattle plague, the farmers of that county would hereafter come to the Government and ask that the country should make good the losses incurred by their neglecting to take sufficient precaution to preserve their herds. Mr. W. Smith said : When they took into consideration that the cost of the cattle plague amounted to something like three millions, and that this was a small proportion to the loss which would be sustained by the advance of the foot-and- mouth disease, should three-fourths of the herds be attacked, it would be seen how important the question was. There were ten million head of stock in the country, and in Norfolk the pro- portion attacked or suffering at this moment was three-fourths. It might be said that many of the animals so attacked were not fit for food, as not being fat beasts, but it must be remembered that the cows v/ere afllicted with the disease not only in tliis country, but elsewhere, and tliat milk was food. He had never heard such complamts of the quality of milk as now. The milk of these cows, if given warm to pigs or to young stock, was fatal to them within a few hours, and under these circumstances he questioned whether, where the fever was high, the milk was not deleterious, and ought to be thrown away. He certainly would not recommend that it should be given to any animal whatever, unless it were previously boiled. The country might be certain that very little of the meat would be sent to market while the distemper was raging, and that would tend to increase the price to the consumer, by diminishing the supply. He was sure that the flesh of ani- mals afi'ected with pleuro-pneumonia, was often sent to the I;ondon markets from the neighbourhood of this city, and from every other part of the kingdom. He would, however, make this remark relative to such meat ; he did not think the public need be so apprehensive of the consequences of eating the meat of animals aff'ected with pleuro-pneumonia, if the meat were thoroughly exposed to liigh temperature by roasting or boiling before it was eaten, in short if it were well cooked. Much had been said of the proportion of carbuneular disease in man being largely increased by the partaking of sucli meat, but he did not think the ground was tenable. As to the ques- tion of actual loss to the country by depreciation of the beasts, he believed that the average loss would be equivalent to 30s. meat value, and of course with many animals the depreciation would be much more. By taking the figure at 30s., supposing tluee-fourths Qi the herds to bo attaoked, the actual loss to the THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. country would be no less than seven millions sterling, and would put on an additional penny or two-pence a pound on all meat consumed for some time to come — a much greater national loss than was sustained from tlie cattle plague. Remarking on the action of the Chester magistrates, he pointed out that while Norfolk, with its immense herds, lost only G.876 per cent., Cheshire lost something like 53 per cent. This was a sufficient illustration of the value of the two systems which had been pursued by the respective magistrates. He remembered the first two outbreaks of the disease in this country in 1839, at Mr. Burton's farm, at Langley, and at Mr. Water's, at Scratby Hall Farm. Now, under the new Act, he thought the profes- fession would have a great deal to do in combating with this disease, Now that it liad spread in all directions in the coun- try, the great difficulty would be to attend to the restrictions of the law, and the veterinaries, if appointed inspectors, would find this out, but they would have to do so in order to prevent the spreading of the disease. He presumed, however, they would have very Uttle work left to do by the time the local authorities had appointed them. As yet he only knew in the eastern counties of Norwich and Suffolk having taken action under the new Act, and there appeared to be grounds for be- lieving that, as in the case of the cattle plague, the local au- thorities would have got all into working order when the worst had passed. He had heard of no precautions in this district under the Act, with the exception of those in this city. As to the contagious character — though in a less virulent degree than foot-and-mouth disease — of pleuro-pneumonia, the proper course of action with all those contagious diseases was to stamp them out where first discovered. This had been succes- fullydonein several outbreak of sheep-pox, and he believed if that course were adopted there was no danger of cattle plague again spreading over the length and breadth of the land. He held the opinion that if the new Act was properly put into force pleuro-pneTunonia might be reduced in the number of its attacks and virulence to such a degree that its influence would hardly be perceptible on the meat supply of the country. He hoped the veterinary profession would stand on the defensive, and would act together for the maintenance of their rights as educated men and men of science, for they only successfully could grapple with these contagious diseases, and he doubted not but tliat in these counties they would meet with every as- sistance from the respective local associations when appointed, and have their just claim recognised, and fair and reasonable remuneration for their services. Mr. Clevulajnd said : His experience of the foot-and- mouth disease led him to tlie opinion that if it were neglected in the earlier stages of the disease it might result in dysen- tery. He cited cases whicli had recently occurred in his prac- tice, some of which had resulted fatally. The disease had been reported to be very fatal at one farm in Surrey, and several fa- talities had taken place in Suffolk. This danger showed the necessity that there was of the owner of cattle employing a professional man, as he might find it more economical than allowing his beasts to get into a typhoid condition. Mr. Smith said half per cent, was, as a rule, sufficient to account for the deaths, if animals had the disease under ordi- nary circumstances, and provided due regard were taken for the condition of the beasts suffering from the disease. Mr. OvERED said the disease was more fatal to weanling calves than to adult animals. Mr. Seamajn mentioned cases of calves which had died from the first shock to the system, caused by taking the warm mUk from the cow. A general conversation then ensued as to the best modes of treatment, one v. s. thinking it would be advisable to nurse the affected animals for a time in a cow-house, while another preferred turning them into aclean dry pasture, but all concurred in the necessity of careful nursing, and keeping the animals on dry situations. THE SCOTTISH CHAMBER OF AGRICULTURE. The Committee having considered the communication from the Privy Council on the transit of animals, have agreed, for the approval of the Directors, to report, in answer to the question — How a Sufiicieiit Supply of Food and "Water may be pro- vided for Animals brought by Sea to British ports : 1 . In voyages not exceeding five days and five nights, a supply of food, equal to 41b. per day, of good wholesome oatmeiJ, draked in water, seems sufficient, and very suitable for horned cattle ; a less supply — say lib. per day — would suffice for sheep. In voyages exceeding five days, cut hay, in addition, seems requi- site— the allowance not being less than 1 stone hay and ilb. meal per 2-i hours. Where hay is given, it might be mois- tened with molasses and water to sweeten it ; and even when the water may be bad through keeping the molasses will re- move the bad smell, and sweeten it to the taste, and cattle will eat it readily. Each large animal should have two gallons of water each twelve hours, and smaller animals in pro- portion. 2. It should be compulsory on all owners of animal-carrying vessels to have on board, and to supply to each animal daily, a sufficient allowance of food and water, as above specified. Oatmeal could be carried in no great bulk, and with no risk from fire ; and cut hay, closely pressed, could be put up in convenient parcels for using, and could be stored apart from risk of danger by fire ; while fresh water might be carried in tanks down the ship's sides, without interfering materially with cargo room. A vessel constructed in every way suitable for cattle traffic lias yet to be built. How a Sufficient Supply of Food and Water may be pro- vided for all Animals carried by Railway in Great Britain : 1. It should be made compulsory on every railway company to provide ample drinking-troughs, abundantly supplied with pure water, at all the principsd loading and unloading stations in Great Britain. 2. It should be compulsory on railway companies to expedite the 6pee4 oi animal UwU, lu ug case should they be pei- mitted to run animal trains slower than 18 miles an liour, stoppages included. 3. Were Nos. 1 and 2 enforced, very little food or water would be required for animals in transit in Great Britain ; but if the time of transit occupied twelve hours, it should be com- pulsory on all railway companies to supply water at the end of the first twelve hours after receiving them at the station of loading, and food and water on the elapse of every twelve hours thereafter they are in charge of the railway company. 4). The best and most convenient food for both railway com- panies and cattle owners and stock seems to be oatmeal draked with pure water, given in drink. Tlie allowance should be not less than 41bs. per head of horned cattle, lib. per head of sheep, each feeding time. Such food is easUy carried — not bulky, nor liable to accident by fire, and is more suitable for animals in transit than hard hay or softer food. 5. The only means of supplying animals with food and water on transit, in the present truck, is by pails and men, or by troughs in the trucks. Water could be run into the trough by means of the water-nozzle shown by Mr. Reid, without causing disturbance to the animals, or much delay at the drinking sta- tions ; and Mr. Reid's truck, which the committee understand has been under the notice of the Privy Council officials, might suggest a mode of watering and feeding animals on long journeys. How Animals may be Protected from Unnecessary Suffering by Overcrowding or other Causes during — (1) Sea Passage, («) from Foreign to Home Ports, (i) from Ports in United Kingdom to Ports in Great Britain ; (2) on Landing, and during Inland Transit. During Sea. Passage. — 1. All vessels carrying animals should, on inspection, be licensed to carry only a given num- ber of stock, regulated by the size of the animal and the vessel's cubic space. 2. The present system of packing animals in vessels as deck lo»d} causes then much suffering by exposure to weather, aud 450 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. want of means of supplying them with food and water. To prevent, so far, diseases, tlie animals when so carried should be so arranged on deck as that their heads are to the centre of the vessel, and their bodies protected from spray and seas that may be shipped during the -voyage. A protection on deck, formed of galvanised sheet iron, sprung from the bulwarks of the ship on either side, extending towards the centre of the deck, leaviug sufficient room for supplying food and water, and behind each row for cleaning, would be no appreciable hin- drance to sailing and working, and would protect deck ani- mals from starvation, spray and seas often shipped, and the injuries they sustain by sliding on their own damp and dung. When carried as below, vessels might be ventilated by removing a plank ou each side of the upper deck above where animals are. The open space might be protected by louvre boarding to keep out the sea, and upright iron ventilators, fore and aft, to create a current when the hatches are down, and ample room should be given for supplying food and water. Sucli changes, made under practical builders, in the construction of cattle- carrying vessels, would remove the cause of most of the un- necessary suffering animals endure in transit by vessel. 3. The committee are of opinion — Passages from roiiEiGN to Home Pouts. — (1.) That all foreign-going vessels should be be subjected to tiie closest inspection, and thoroughly cleansed aud disinfected, before before being permitted to take animals on board. (2). That animals only should be taken on board after a strict veterinary inspection, and none but sound animals, which had not come into contact with animals labouring nnder con- tagious diseases, be permitted to be taken on board or carried. (3.) That a log of animal health and casualties during tlie voyage be kept by the captain, in which every illness and death experienced shall be entered, along with the times at which they are fed and watered, and mucked during the voyage, (-i.) That such log should be exhibited to the in- spector at the port of landing, and similar inspection should be made by him at that port, aud no animals labouring, or which had laboured, under contagious or infectious disease, or which had come in contact with such diseased animals, be permitted to be landed in life. Wiiile (5.) Vessels only should be permitted to carry animals which had been specially fitted for the pur- pose, with sufficient standing aud breathing room, properly ventilated, and having the means of supplying the animals carried regularly with food aud water. Passages erom Pouts in the United Kingi;om. — As the committee believe that much of the pleuro experienced in Great Britain is brought by animals from Ireland, the same rules as to cleansing and disinfecting and ventilating vessels is necessary, so is a similar inspection at the port of embarkation and debarkation, and the same consequences for disregard thereof ought to ensue. They also believe that other lung diseases may be induced or hastened by overcrowding and ex- posure to weather, aud, in consequence, the same rules as to the construction of vessel, mode of placing and protecting tiie animal in it, and supplying them with food and water, as sug- gested in foreign-going vessels, should be observed and strictly enforced. On Landing and during Inland Transit. — 1. Wag- gons carrying animals should r.U have spring buffers, aud be coupled same as passenger trains, and should be constructed so as to form a protection against weather and shut out draughts, and at the same time leave abundance of air. The trucks should iu every case be roofed, aud should be thoroughly cleansed and disinfected, and none but healthy animals permit- ted to be trucked. 3. Animal traffic ought to take precedence of all other save passenger ; and if cattle cannot be sent by special train, they should, if possible, be sent by fast goods trains; and in animal traffic, all railways should be viewed and treated as one com- pany, and engine-drivers ought to be put under the same regu- lations as to stopping, starting, and shunting animal trains as in passenger trains ; and a waybill ought to be kept of every lot, containing the time and every incident of the journey. 3. All animals should be watered at the end of the first twelve hours from the time of loading, and fed and watered every twelve hours thereafter ; and they should have water i offered to them before being allowed to quit the station of their destination, During the years 1868-69, the directors made an investiga- tion into the diseases which are believed to be imported into Great Britain, or to be induced in animals through sufferings endured during transit by sea and land, and more especially iu reference to the disease of pleilro-pneumonia ; and they take the liberty of annexing their report, aud the veterinary opi- nions on which it was in part founded. LOUGHBOROUGH AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. MEETING AT LOUGHBOROUGH. At the annual show of tliis association the weather was much more favourable than last year, and there was a numerous gathering. The following is a list of the awards : CATTLE. Judges. — G. Murray, J. Lynn, and J. Savidge. Dairy cow. — Eirst and second prizes, Woodroffe, Stanford. In-calf heifer. — First prize, Lacey, Hoton ; second, W. P. Herrick. Pair of yearlings. — First prize, T. J. Burrows, Rcmpstone ; second, W. P. Herrick. Tenant Farmers' Classes. Dairy cow. — First prize, Cramp, Long Whatton ; second, Nixon, Leake. In-calf heifer. — First prize, Lacey, Hoton ; second, Thirlby, Rempstone. Pair of yearlings. — First prize, Bissel, Widmerpool ; second. Gill, Burton. Bull. — Prize, Eosworth, Dishley. Cottager's cow. — First prize, Henry Belton ; second, Samuel Chester. SHEEP. Judges. — G. Murray, J . Lynn, and J. Savidge. Five long-woolled ewes. — First prize, W. P. Herrick ; second, Bosworth, Dishley ; third, W. P. Herrick. Five loug-woolled theaves.— First and second prizes, W. P. Herrick ; third, Bosworth. Five long-woolled ewes and lambs. — First prize, Georf^e Chapman, Quorndon ; second and third, Bosworth. F'lve long-woolled shearling wethers. — First and second prizes, W. P. Herrick. Ram, used by a member for his own flock. — Prize, W. P. Herrick. PIGS. Judges. — W. Wright and G. Stokes. Sow for breeding purposes. — Prize, Lacey, Cotes. Gilt.— Prize, J. H. Paget, Buck Hill. HORSES. Judges.— J. Story, T. Colton, J. Thacker, W. Wright, and G. Stokes. Hunter. — First prize, W. B. Paget, Loughborough ; second, Burrows, Cotes. Hackney gelding or mare. — First prize, Marriott, Prestwold, second. Burrows. Brood mare. — Prize, E. Warner, Quorn Hall. Gelding or filly. — Prize, Claridge, The Parks. Draught mare. — First prize, Bissil; second, Bowlesworfh, Quorndon. Gelding or filly. — Prize, J. Tyler, Loughborough. Gelding or fiUy. — Prize, Garton. Pony,— Prize, C. W. Chaplin, Ashfordby Hall, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 4S1 coRisr. (of the guowtu of 1SG9.) Judges. — J. N. Smith, and II. Bariowcliffe. Bushel of the best red wheat. — Prize, Lacey, Iloton. Bushel of the best white wlieat. — Prize, Lucey. Bushel of the best barley. — Prize, Claridge. Bushel of the best beans. — Prize, Lacey. VEGETABLES AND ROOTS. Judges. — Burkill, H. Marshall, and H. Smith. Ten ox cabbages. — Prize, T. Carroll, The Colony. Ten globe mangold wurtzel. — Prize, W. P. Ilerrick. Ten Swedish turnipt. — Prize, Bosworth. Ten long white or red mangold wurtzel. — Prize, J. Tyler. Ten ox cabbage. — First prize, Dobell ; second, T. Carroll. Ten long mangold wurtzel. — EJrst prize, withheld , second, J. Tyler, Ten globe mangold wurtzel.— Eir.st prize, Claridge ; second, W. P. Herrick. Ten Swedish turnips.— Eirst prize, Keightley, Thorpe Acre ; second, Ilcuson, lloton Hills. Ten common turnips. — First prize, Woodroffe, Stanford; second, W. C. Woodroifc, Costock. Ten carrots. — First prize, Woodroffe ; second, Woodroffe. Gallon of potatoes of any sort. — First prize, Henson, Acton Hills ; second, Morris, Loughborougli. Collection of potatoes, four varieties, one gallon each. — Prize, Morris, Loughborough. Collection of roots. — Prize, Claridge. CROPPING. (,S.WAEDED 18G8.) Five acres of Swedish turnips. — Prize, T. Carroll. Three acres of mangold wurtzel. — Prize, W. Tidmas, Sultou Bonington, MONMOUTHSHIRE FARMERS' CLUB. MEETING AT MONMOUTH. The Monmouch Farmers' Club held its show in the usual meadow near the Wye Bridge This is the ninth annual ex- hibition which the society has held, the shows having been suspended for three years during the prevalence of the cattle plague, and were again resumed. With regard to the show this year the number of entries far exceeded that of last year, when there were 82, but this year there were 12G. Owing, however, to the unfortunate outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease in the locality, there was no appearance on the part of many of the animals entered. Several of the intending exhibitors were therefore afraid to send their stock, and others were served with notices under the provisions of the new Cattle Diseases Prevention Act, not to remove their cattle from premises which were situated within a radius of one mile of the place where the disease pre- vailed. It is said that the infection was introduced into the locality by an imported animal, which, however, has since re- covered, and no further cases of the disease are reported to have occurred. In the sheep department also several of the classes did not fill. For shortwools, including crossbreds, the Dadnor flock again carried everything before it ; in fact there may be said to liave been no competition. With reg.ird to Mr. Pride's wether lambs, to which the first prize was awarded, the question is left to the committee to decide whether they shall receive the prize, inasmuch as the lambs displayed so much of the Down blood as scarcely to come under the term " longwools." The ewe lambs were an extraordinarily good class, and the breeding ewe class contained some remarkably fine sheep, the whole class being particularly good for first and second places. The pigs were about an average. JUDGES. EoR Stock. — T. Duckham, Baysham Court, Ross ; J. Rogers, Alterynis ; and Rees Keen, Pencraig, Caerleon. For Houses. — J. Theyer, Ampney, Cirencester. For Farms, Roots, and Ploughing. — F. Price, and Thos. Scudamore, Trewen. HORSES. Entire cart horse, William Dukes, Grosraont Wood. Cart mare and foal, William Perkins, Osbaston. Three years old eart colt or fiUy, John Jones, Llwyngaer. Entire horse, calculated to produce hunters and chargers. Fowler B. Price. Brood nag mare in foal, or with foal at foot, George Scuda- more. Three years old nag, colt, or filly, John Haynes, Llanrothal. Two years old, Joseph Frost Llandenuy. YearUng, Joseph Frost, Llandenny, CATTLE. Shorthorn stock bull, two years old, John E. W. Rolls, Hendre. Yearling bull, Warren Evans, Llandowlas. Bull calf under twelve months old, John E. W. Rolls, Hendre. Hereford bull, cow, and offspring, James James, Ambtrley. Pair of cows in in milk, James James, Amberley ; second, Warren Evans, Llandowlas. Pair of two years old heifers, first and second prize, Warren Evans. Pair of yearling heifers, first and second prize, John Walters, Llandenny. Pair of two years old steers, Warren Evans, Llandowlas ; second, John James, Amberley. Pair of yearling steers, William Brown, Lewstone. SHEEP. (Short wools, including cross-breeds.) Pen of four wether lambs. — Prize, A. Armitage, Daduor. Pen of four ewe lambs. — Prize, A. Armitage. Pen of four yearling ewes. — First prize, A. Armitage ; se- cond, Monmouth Hotel Compony. Pen of four breeding ewes. — First prize, A. Armitage ; se- cond, Monmouth Hotel Company. (Long wools, including cross-breeds.) Pen of four wetlier lambs. — Krst prize,T. Pride,the Knowle; second, T. P. Brown, Weir End. Pen of four ewe lambs. — Prize, W. Brown, Lewstone. Pen of four yearling ewes. — First prize, I. Theyer, Walford ; second, T. P. Brown. Pen of four breeding ewes. — W. Powell, Llantilio ; second, J. Loveridge, Daffaluke. Bam. — First prize, J. Loveridge ; second, C. Kearsey, Glewstone. PIGS. Best boar pig, under two years old, — J. F. Clifford-Butler, Llantilio. Best breeding sow and litter of pigs. — John Hill, Mon- mouth. Best breeding sow in farrow. — Chas. Kearsey, Glewstone. EXTRA STOCK. Joseph Frost, Llandenny, nag colt ; James James, Amberley, heifer calf ; James James, 1 steer ; John Jones, Llwynygaer, 5 breeding cows ; Charles Kearsey, Glewstone, 3 hilts ; John Pearce, Wyesham, 1 pig; Fowler B. Price, Welshnewton, pony ; W. S. C. Whitehead, Monmouth, 2 store pigs. FARMS AND ROOTS. Best cultivated farm, of not less than 100 acres. — James E. and F. Hale, Troy Farm. Best and cleanest crop of swede turnips, not less than six acres. — Monmouth Hotel Company. Best and cleanest crop of common turnips, not less than six acres. — Richard Loveridge, The Callow, Walford. Best and cleanest crop of mangold wurtzel, not less than one acre. — Thomas P, Brown, Weir End. I I 452 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. TUNBRIDGE WELLS, GROOMBRIDGE, AND BORDERS OF KENT AND SUS- SEX AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. MEETING AT TUNBRIDGE. The following is the prize list : — HORSES. Thoroughbred stallion. — Prize, J.'Benge, Heathfield. Cart stallion. — First prize, W. Peck, Tudeley ; second, W. Sumner, Groombridge ; third, W. Sumner. Brood mare for breeding agricultural horses. — J)Hrst prize, 3. W. Parable; second, J. H. Sharpe. Two-yearling cart gelding or filly. — First prize, G. Field ; second, Mr. Charlton. Yearling cart gelding or filly. — First prize, G. Field; second, Mr. Cliarlton. Hackney, of any age or ses, not under 14 hands. — First prize, A. J, B. Beresford-Hope, M.P. ; second, E. W. Durrant, Pembury. Pony, not exceeding 14 hands. — First prize. Earl of Aber- gavenny ; second, Mr. Durrant. SHORTHORNS. Bull, not under 2 years old. — First prize, J. W, Larking, Forest Row ; Thomas Couchraan, Wadhurst. Cow in-calf. — First prize, J. W. Larking ; second, G. Field. Two-yearling heifer in-calf. — First prize, J. W. Larking; second, Earl of Abergavenny. Yearling heifer. — Prize, J. W. Larking. CHANNEL ISLANDS STOCK. Bull. — First and second prizes, A. J. B. Beresford-Hope, M.P. Cow in-calf. — First prije, A. J. B. Beresford-Hope, M.P. ; second, G. Field. Two-yearling heifer in-calf. — First prize, Jas. Brotherhood ; second, G, Field. SUSSEX STOCK. Cow in-calf. — First prize, J. Beeching, Balcombe ; second, Tilden Smith, Beckley. Two-yearling heifer in-calf. — F. and T. Reeves; second, Tilden Smith. Yearling heifer. — First prize, Mr. AUoorn, Mayfleld ; second, J. W. Roper. For Tenant Farmers only, occupying less than 300 acres. Bull of any breed, not less than 2 years old. — Prize, T. Barton. Covv in-calf. — First and second prizes, J. Beeching. Two yearling heifer in-calf. — First prize, J. Beeching; second and third, P. Parris. Yearling heifer. — First prize, J. H. Pemble; second, P. Kinninmonth. SOUTHDOWN SHEEP. Ram of any age. — Silver cup, G. Field. Ram lamb. — First prize, Wm. Yates ; second, G. Field. Pen of five ewes exceeding two years old. — First prize, G. Field ; second, A. Patchett ; third, A. J. Beresford-Hope. Pen of five one-year-old ewes. — First prize, G. Field ; se- cond, A. J. Beresford-Hope. Pen of five ewe lambs. — G. Field. LONG WOOL SHEEP. Ram over two years old. — First prize, H. Rigden, Lyminge ; second, Messrs. Hilder and Smith. Yearling ram. — First and second prize, H. Rigden. Pen of five ewes exceeding two years old. — First prize, H. Riffden ; second, W. C. Morland. Pen of five one-year-old ewes. — First prize, H. Rigden ; se- cond, W. C. Morland. Px:, iiO:^Do:sr. SPECIAL ADVANTAGES TO ASSURERS. The entire profits divided amongst the holders of participating policies. The profits applied first ia extinguishing the premiums at a given date, and afterwards in making the policy pay- able during life : this important advantage being secured without the payment of any additional premium. No claim caa be litigated or disputed, except with the consent of the members present at a General Meeting, to be specially convened for the occasion. ANDREW FRANCIS, Seceetaey. THE RENT GUARANTEE SOCIETY, 66, CANNON-STREET, E.G. *#* Rents coUected, and payments to Landlords guaranteed on fixed days; B06EBS0N & TOXFC^^ PRICE ONE SHILLING EACH, Neatly Bownd in Foolscap OctmOf EACH VOLUME CONTAINING from 130 to 180 PAGES OF LETTERPRESS, RICHAEDSOf S EUEAL HMD-BOOKS. WHEAT : ITS HISTORY, CHARAC- TEEISTIOS, CHEMICAL COMPOSITION, nud NUTRITIVE PROPERTIES. By "The Old NoEFOLK Faemee," Author of " Agriculture, Ancient and Modern," &o., &o. THE AGRICULTURIST'S WEATHER- GUIDE AND MANUAL OF METEOROLOGY. By Heney 0. Ceeswick, Assistant Observer in the Magnetical and Meteorological Department of tlie Royal Observatory at Gxeenwiob, Author of several papers on Meteorology. FLAX: ITS CULTIVATION AND PRE- PARATION, and BEST MODE OF CON- VERSION. — By James Waed, Author of "The World and its Workshops," &c. RURAL ARCHITECTURE : a SERIES OF DESIGNS FOR RURAL AND OTHER DWELLINGS. The Ground Plans, Elevations, and Specifications by James Sandeeson, Burgh Engineers' Office, Liverpool. THE AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTOR: or, YOUNG FARMER'S CLASS BOOK.— By Edmund Murphy, A.B. DOMESTIC FOWL: THEIR NATURAL HISTORY, BREEDING, AND GENERAL MANAGEMENT. THE FLOWER GARDEN.— By George Glenny, F.Ii.S., Author of "Properties of Flowers," &c. HORSES: THEIR VARIETIES, BREED- ING, AND MANAGEMENT.— Edited by M. M. Mllbuen. D OGS: THEIR ORIGIN AND VA- RIETIES. HGS : THEIR ORIGIN AND VARIE- TIES. COWS AND DAIRY HUSBANDRY.— By M. M. Milburn, Author of "The Sheep.** &c. The Dairy Department Revised by T. Hoesfaiil. SHEEP AND SHEPHERDING : embrac- ing the History, Varieties, Rearing, Feeding, and General Management of Sheep ; with Treatises on Austrahan Sheep Farming, the Spanish and Saxoa Merinos, &c. By M. M. Milburn, Author of " The Cow," and various Agricultural Prize Essays. XIII. THE HIVE AND THE HONEY B E E. XIV. >ESTS 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. T SOILS AND MANURES, with INSTRUC- TIONS FOR THEIR IMPROVEMENT.— By John Donaldson, Government Land Drainage Sur- veyor. In the Press, in continuation of the same Series, HE IMPLEMENTS OF THE FARM. —By R. Scott Buen, C.E. THE POTATO: ITS HISTORY, CUL- TURE, AND NATIONAL IMPORTANCE.— By S: Copland. idon : Houlston & Wriglit, 65, Paternoster Row ; Rogerson & Tuxford, 246, Strand, W.C Dublin : J. McQlashan, Upper Sackville Street. And all Booksellers. lERSON & TUXFORD,] [PRINTERS, 240, STRAND. J^ No. 6. Vol. XXXVL] DECEMBER, 18G9. Third Series. , THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, AND MONTHLY JOURNAL OP THE ACIRICITLTUEAL INTEREST. TO THE FARMERS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, LONDON : PUBLISHED BYROGERSON AND TUXFORD, 265, STRAND. PRICE TWO SHILLINGS. BOGBRSON AND TUXPORD,] [PRINTERS, 266, STRAND. IMPORTANT TO THOMAS BIGGr, Agricultural and Veterinary Chemist, by Appointment to His late Royal Highness The Prince Consort, K.G., Leicester House, Great Dover Street Borough, London, l3egs to call the attention of Farmers and Graziers to his valuable SHEEP and LAMB DIPPING COMPOSITION, which requires no 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 im- proving 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 Manu- factory 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 61b. 30 „ ,, „ 0 3 0 8 1b. 40 „ „ , 0 4 0 101b. SO „ „ „ 0 5 0 20 lb. 100 „ „ (cask and measure 0 10 0 301b. 150 „ „ included) 0 15 0 401b. 200 „ „ „ 10 0 501b. 250 „ „ „ 13 6 60 1b. 300 „ „ „ 17 6 801b. 400 ,. „ „ 1 17 6 1001b. 500 „ „ „ 2 5 0 Should any Flockmaster prefer boiling the Composition, it will be equally effective. MOST IMPORTANT CERTIFICATE. From Mr. Hekepath, 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 mixtm-o neutral. If it is used according to the directions given, I feel satisfied, that while it effectually destroys vermin, it will not injui-e the hair roots (or ' ' yolk ") in the skin, the fleece, or the carcase. I think it deserves the numerous testimonials published. I am, Sir, yours respectfully, AViLLiAM Heeapath, Scu., F.C.S., &c., &c., To Mr. Thomas Bigg, Professor of Chemistry. Leicester House, Great Dover-street, Borough, London. FLOCKMASTERS. 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 disoi'der 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— suflicient on an average for thirty Sheep (according to the virulence of the disease) ; also in wine quart bottles, IMPORTANT TESTIMONIAL, " Scoulton, near Hingham, Norfolk, April 16th, 1855. " Dear Sir, — In answer to yours of the 4th inst., which would have been repUed to before this had I been at home, I have much pleasure in bearing testimony to the eflB.cacy of your invaluable ' Specific for the cure of Scab in Sheep.' The 600 sheep were aU di-essed in August last with 84 gallons of the 'NoN-poisONOUS Specific,' that was so highly recom- mended at the Lincoln Show, and by theh- o^vu dresser, the best attention being paid to the flock oy my shepherd after dressing according to instructions left ; Ijut 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 dming the dressing, your Specific 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, " For JOHN TINGEY, Esq., •• To Mr. Thomas Bigg." " R. RBNNEY. I^P" Flockmasters would do well to beware of such pre- parations as ** Non-poisonous Compositions :" it is only necessary to appeal to their good common sense and judg- ment to be thoroughly convinced that no "Non-poisonous" article can poison or destroy insect vermin, particularly 6uch 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. DIPPING APPARATUS £14, £5, £i, & £3. THE ROYAL FARMERS' INSURANCE COMPANY, 3, NORFOLK STREET, STRAND, LONDON, W.C. CAPITAL. — Peraous insured by this Company have the security of an extensive and wealthy proprietary, as well as an ample Capital always applicable to the payment of claims without delay. LIFE DEPARTMENT.— BONUS.— Insurers of the participating class wiU be entitled to four-fifths of the profits. FIRE DEPARTMENT - 1st Class — Not Hazardous Is. 6d. per Cent, 2nd Class — Hazardous 2s. 6d. „ 3rd Class — Doubly Hazardous ... ... ... ... 4s. 6d. „ BUILDINGS and MERCANTILE Property of every description in Public or Private Warehouses.— Distillers, Steam Engines, Goods in Boats or Canals, Ships in Port or Harbour, &c. &c., are Insured in this Office at moderate rates. SPECIAL RISKS.— At such rates as may be considered reasonable. NEW INSURANCES.— No charge made for Policy or Stamp. FARMING STOCK.— 5s. per cent., with liberty to use a Steam Thrashing Machine without extra charge. Nearly FIVE MILLIONS Insured in this Office. SEVEN YEARS' INSURANCES may be effected on payment of Six Years' Premium only. LIGHTNING and GAS.— Losses by Fire occasioned by Lightning, and Losses by Explosion of Gas when used for Lighting Buildings mil be allowed for. RENT. — The Loss on Rent while Buildings remain untenantable through fire may be provided against. HAIL DEPARTMENT.— (Crops and Glass.) Policies to protect parties fi-om Loss by the destruction of Growing Crops or Glass, by Hail, are granted on Moderate Terms. LOSSES. — Prompt and liberal settlement. AGENTS WANTED. Apply to JOHN REDDISH, Esq., Secretei-y and Actuarjr. THE FARMI<]R'S MAGAZINE. DECEMBER, 186 9. Plate I.— T O M CONTENTS. SAYERS; A Royal Black-faced Ram: the property of mr. John Irving, of Shap Abbey, Westmoreland. Plate II.— T H E GLOOMY WOODS. Monthly Meeting. Descriptions of the Plates ...... Our Grass Lands.— By Cuthbert W. Johnson, F.R.S. . . The Present Price of Wheat ...... The Herds of Great Britain. Chapter LVIII. The West Dereham The Mangold Wurzel Crop. — By a Practical Farmer . The Preparation of Land for Crops . ; . . . Bath and West of England Society, and Southern Counties Association Council Meeting ....... The Smithfield Club: Council Meeting ... The Butter and Cheese Show at Kilmarnock The Political Independence of the Welsh Tenantry Hadleigh Farmers' Club .... The Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland Royal Agricultural Society of England . . . • The Past, Present, and Future of Agriculture Essex Agricultural Society . . . . • The Use of Concentrated Food. — By the Northern Farmer . The Royal Agricultural Society of Ireland : Council Meeting . An Education Rate and Compulsory Attendance at Schools . The Australian Farmer ....•• Development of the Agricultural Resources of the United Kingdom The New Farm .....•• English Farmers and Foreign Models . . • • The Central Farmers' Club : Continental Farming and Peasantry The Central Chamber of Agriculture : Council Meeting The Game Evil and the Remedy . . . • • Hypothec and the Game Laws : the Scottish Chamber of Agriculture The Sparrows Ground Game and Game Laws . The Southdowns The Irish Land Question : County of Cork. — By the Northern Farmer Echoes from the Autumn Meetings The Ross Agricultural Society Steam-ploughing and Fox-hunting Curious Scene at a Board of Guardians Reviews .... The Basingstoke Root Show . Norfolk Chamber of Agriculture ; Death of Mr. William Cheffins Shorthorn Sales . . Calendar of Agriculture . Calendar op Gardening . Agricultural Reports Review of the Corn Trade during the past Month Market Currencies, Imperial Averages, &c. page. . 465 . 465 . 469 . 470 . 471 . 473 . 478 . 478 . 479 . 479 . 479 . 480 480, 498 . 481 . 485 , 486 . 487 . 488 . 490 . 493 . 496 . 497 . 500 . 512 . 516 . 517 . 521 , 522 . 533 . 534 , 536 . 545 . 545 . 546 . 547 . 548 . 548 . 548 . 549 . 550 . 551 . 552 . 554 , 556 LONDON AND COUNTY BANKING COMPANY, Established 1836. Siiliscribed Capital, ^a,500,000, In 50,000 i^liares of JE»0 eaeli, Paid-up Capital, £1,000,000. Kcserve l^iiiul, £500,000. DIRECTORS. Nathaniel Alexander, Esq. Thomas Tyringhatn Barnard, Esq Phillip Patton Blyth, Esq. John William Burmester, Esq. Lord Alfred Hcryey. William Champion Jonets, Esix. ■Tames Morley, Esq. William Nicol, Bscj. Thomas Stock Cowie, Esq. John Fleming, Esq. Frederick Francis, Esq. Frederick Harrison, Esq. TRUSTEES. P. P. Blyth, Esq. J. W. Burmester, Esq. W. Champion Jones, Esq. AUDITORS. William Norman, Esq. Richard H. Swaine, Bs(i. GENERAL MANAGER.— William McKovvan, Esq. CHIEF INSPECTOR.— VV. J. Norfolk, Esq. INSPECTORS OF BRANCHES.— H. J. Lemon, Esq., andC. Sherring, Esq. CHIEF ACCOUNTANT.— James Grey, Esq. SOLICITORS.— Messrs. Stevens, Wilkinson, and Harries. SECRETARY.- F. Clappison, Esq. HEAD OFFICE.- 3. Lombard Street. MANAGER.— Whitbrcad Tomson, Esq. ASSISTANT MANAGER,— William Howai-d, Esq. The LONDON AND COUNTY BANK opens— ] tinent, in Australia, Canada, India, and China, the United DRAWING ACCOUNTS with Commercial Houses and I States, and elsewhere. Private Individuals, either upon the i)Ian usually adopted by The Agency of Foreign and Country Banks is undertaken, other Bankers, or by charging a small Commission to those rpj^g Purchase and Sale of Government and other Stocks, persons to wliom it may not be convenient to sustain an ^^ BngUsh or Foreign Shares effected, and Dividend Annul- agreed Permanent Balance. . , , ties, &c., received for Customers of the Bank. DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS.— Deposit Receipts are issued for ' '„ .,.^. , «. i i ^ ii r. i p .1 .^ sums 01 Money placed upon these Accounts, and Interest is ^ Great, facilities are also aflorded to the Customers of the allowed for such periods and at such rates as may be agreed Bank lor the receipt ol Money from the towns where the upon, reference 1 leing had to the state of the Money Market. Company has Branches. CIRCULAR NOTES AND LETTERS OF CREDIT are . The Officers of the Bank are bound not to disclose the issued, payable in the principal Cities and Towns of the Con- ' transactions of any of its Customers. By Order of the Du-ectors, WILLIAM McKEWAN, Geneual Managek. FOUNDED AD. 1844. Empowered by Special Act of Parliameut, 25 & 26, Vict., cap. 74. THE GREAT BRITAIN MUTUAL LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY, lOl, CIIIi:Al»!«»II»K, I.01«l>0]¥. SPECIAL ADVANTAGES TO ASSUREIIS. The eulirc profits ilividetl amongst the lioldcrs of participating policies. The profits applied first in extinguishing the premiums at a given date, and afterwards in making the policy pay- able during life: this important advantage being secured without the payment of any additional premium. No claim can be litigated or disputed, except with the consent of the members present at a General jMeeling, to be specially convened for the occasion. ANDREW FRANCIS, Secrkiaky. THE RENT GUARANTEE SOCIETY, 66, CANNON-STREET, E.C. *** Rents collected, and payments to Landlords guaranteed on fixed days. MAEE'S SAFES ARE CHEAPEST AND BEST. 67, CANNON STREET, LONDON, E.C. CIJEAP SUNDAY AND WEEK-DAY READING FOll THE PEOPLE. Now ritblisliing, A VERY CHEAP RELIGIOUS PERIODICAL, Intending subscribers are requested to send their orders without delay, as the back volumes and parts are now becoming vebv scarce. Containing original contributions by several of the Bishops and many other distinguished Divines ; Narratives ; Sketches ni Natural History ; Biography, Jlissionary Proceedings, Juvenile Reading, Poetry, &c., with a Register of Eccle- siastical Intelligence ; the whole combining amusement with 1 As the Magazine enjoys a circulation far exceeding that ot instruction, ma style suited for nil classes of readers. any other chmch periodical, and is read by all classes of A scries ot Parish Churches, with Illustrations of a superior ■ society, it will lie found a very ehgible medium for Adver- kmd IS in course of publication. This series, which will be tisemcnts, which are conspicuously printed, and inserted at of a very extended character, will be found of particular | the most reasonable rate, interest. Vol. LXVI., Imperial 8vo., Embossed Cloth, 480 pages, with highly-finished Illustrations of Parish Churches, price os. 6d, London : Published in weekly numbers, price Ijd., and in monthly ijarts, price 9d., by S. EWINS & SON, 9, Ave Maria Lane; ROGERSON & TUXFORD, 265, Strand, W.C. ; and sold by all Booksellers. FARM.- WANTED, about 200 to 300 acres in a first class agricultural district ; house and build- ings must Ije good. — Address " B. G.," Stradella-villas, Montpelier, Weston-super-Mare. rjno BE LET from Lady Day 1870, on a Yearly X Tenancy, THREE LICtHT LAND FARMS of 4.36 Acres, 508 Aci ■ and 541 Acres, situate in North Notts. Full pai >ulars may be ol)tained on application to Major Laurie, Wii. w House, near New?«rk, O NOBLEMEN AND GENTLEMEN.— FARM WANTED at Lady d;i,y next, from 300 to 500 acres. The advertiser can procure high testimonials from his late landlord, and several other gentlemen. Address, A. B., Mr, Wearer, Stationer, Newark, Notts. ANTED, an ENTIRE CART-HORSE ; he must be young, powerful, and clean-legged; bay, brown, or black, preferred. Address, stating full par- ticulars and price, to Herbert, Post-oHice, Tottenham, near London. URE BRED SHORTHORNS. — A few Pure-bred Shorthorn Bull Calves FOR SALE, from the herd of Sir John Lubbock, Bart., High Elms, Orpington, Kent. For particulars, apply to Mr. Buckingham, The Farm, High Elms, where also the calves may be seen. The Farm is IJ mUes from Orpington Station on the South Eastern line. TO BE SOLD PRIVATELY Ten Pure-Bred SHORTHORNED HEIFERS, and Five Young BULLS, the property of Sir AV. de Capell Brooke, Bart. For Catalogues, with particulars, apply to Mr. J. Sheffield, Geddington Grange, Kettering, Northampton. AGENCY WANTED in the Midland Conn- ties or Yorkshire f(n- the Sale of Linseed and Cotton Cake, Indian Corn, &.C., by a Gentleman, aged 28, with a good connexion, and can give security. Answers, R. H., care of Jas. Williamson, Bookseller, Lincoln. WANTED, a SITUATION as HEAD KEEPER, by a middle-aged man, no family, of great experience in every branch of his calling ; has had the management of veiy large estates as above ; will wait on any nobleman or gentleman in want of such a person, — Address " A.Z.," Post-office, Shirley, near Birmingham. To Landowners, Estate Agents, &c. WANTED, by the ADVERTISER, a TUR- NIP and BARLEY FARM, or one of Mixed Arable and Grass size, from 300 to 400 acres ; Midland Counties jire- ferred. Highest references as to Management, &c. ; reason given for leaving present occupation. Address, Farmer, Post Office, Leicester, FARM S T E W AR D or B A I LI F F.— AVANTED, by a married man, without family, at Christmas, an ENtJAGEMENT ; experience on Ught and heavy soils, and thoroughly understands stock ; good ac- countant ; excellent references. — Address, " H. AV. E,," Hat- field Heath, Harlow, Essex, FARMING. — A ScotchFarmcr has an opening for a PUPIL on a large farm where the old arable land is being improved, and a great extent of natural pasture reclaimed. The system pursued is combined sheep, cattle, and arable farming. Draining, liming, and other extensive improvements going on. Can either work or not, as friends desire. Good hunting, shooting, and fishing. One hour from Edinburgh. Terms £100 per annum. Address in first instance to AV. S., at C. H. May, General Advertising Office, 78, Gracechurch Street, I/ondon. AN Estate Agent DESIRES an APPOINT- MENT as STEWARD, and SECRETARY to a landed proprietor. Is experienced in letting, selling, repairing, and unproving property, and capable of undertaking the private chapel or parish church duties of organist and choir master. Ample security and excellent references furnished. —Address "X. Y. Z.," Mr. Clifford-Smith, 1, Akroydon, Halifax, Y'^orkshire. EMIGRATION to the RIVER PLATE.— The gentlemen, farmers, and farm labourers who intend to Join the colony of 60,000 acres near Frayle Muerto, may RECEIVE every INFORMATION in reference to ma- chinery, outfit, Ac— Adch-ess " S," care of the Rev. Edward Young, of Leny, Clil'ton, Bristol. A highly respectable Farmer's Son, who has had 10 years' experience on a mixed farm in Kent, is willing to assist a gentleman in the management of his land, as long as required, understands land surveying and most acquirements connected with the farm, would render correct sei'vices " where requu'ed" in return for comfortable home, )3articulars exchanged. Address, R. A., South Eastern Gazette Office, Maidstone. PRICE'S BENZODYNE. — Cough; Con- sumptive, Chronic Cough — Bronchitis, &c., immediately relieved and permanently cm-ed by Prices' Benzodtxe, an ethereal extract of Benzoin, the healing properties of which are time-honoured. Price's Benzodj-ne i)ossesses a peculiar mechanical po^\er of i)utting a sudden stop to all wasting diseases as Cholera and Dysentery, and should be in every Hospital, Surgery, and Rectory throughout the world. Pre- (lared only Vjy Mr. Price, Analj'tical Chemist, 2, Lower Seymour Street, Portman Square, London, AV. Now ready, demy, Svo., price 7s. 6d., STRONG DRINK and Tobacco- Smoke; the structure, growth, and uses of Malt, Hops, Yeast, and Tobacco. AVith one hundred and sixty-seven original Illus- trations, drawn and engraved on steel. By Henry P. Pres- cott, F.L.S. London : Macmijll.vit and Co. Agricultural Books, Second-hand. THE " FARMERS' MAGAZINE," from the commencement, in 1834, to 1807. Sixty-five volumes, uniformly half-ljoiind, £5 5s. The JOURNAL of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, from the commencement, in 1840, to 1869 : thirty volumes uniformly half-bound, £5. Apply to AVm, Johnston, 2, Gough-square, Fleet-street. *'LA ANDALUZ A." SOCIEDAD DE ALMACENISTAS (SPANISH WINE R E A R E R S' ASSOCIATION), PUERTO DE SANTA MARIA, CADIZ BAY. For detailed duty paid Price List of the SPANISH WINES shipped and bottled by this Associatian, address JOSE PIODELA, 124, Feachurch-street, E.G., Sole Agent for the Uaited Kiugdoin. Or the different "Wines can be tasted by the Cafiita (Spanish tumbler), at the Retail Shops of "LA ANDALUZ A," 128 and 138, FENCHURCH-STREET (opposite Mincing-lane) 328, STRAND (opposite Somerset -house) ; 70, LOWER THAMES-STREET (opposite Custom-house) ; and 5, SOUTHWARK-STREET (just over London-bridge). Sample Cases, containing one bottle each of twelve different sorts of Spanish Wines, white and red • No. 1, price 25s. ; No, 2, price 54s., including bottles and case. Cheques and P.O. Orders payable to JOSE PIODELA, 124, Feuchurch Street, London, B.C. DEFENSIO NON PROVOCATIO, THE LICENSED VICTUALLERS' TEA ASSOCIATION. Chief Offices and Warehouses. — Southwark Street, S.E. City Offices, — 3, Mincing Lane, and 39, Feuchurch Street. Paris Depot. — Rue Mont Thabor, No. 6. This Association, founded in 1867, and omug its origin to the irregular competition of the Grocers in the ale of Wine, has agents (Licensed Victuallers and Wine Merchants only) in every town in England, of whom "the Teas can be obtained in sealed packets of 1 lb., J lb., \ lb., and 2 oz. The Teas are very strong and very wholesome, are guaranteed pure and of uniform quality, are used by all classes, and universally pronounced the best at the price in the kingdom. Tae-Ping Finest Black Tea 2s, 6d, „ „ Mixed Tea 3 0 5, J, Green Tea 3 6 Caravan, an exquisite Tea 3 6 A sample parcel of 8 lb. forwarded carriage free on receipt of Post-office Order. POPULAR MEDICAL WORKS, PUBLISHED BY MANN, 39, CORNHILL, LONDON. Post Free, 12 Stamps ; Sealed Euds, 16 Stamps. iR. CURTIS'S MEDICAL GUIDE TO MARRIAGE : a Practical Treatise on ITS Physical and Personal Obligations. With instructions to the Married and Umnarried of both Sexes, for removing the special disqualifications and impediments which destroy the happiness of wedded life, founded on the result of a successful practice of 30 years. — By Dr. J. L. CURTIS, M.D,, 15, Albemarle Street, Piccadilly, London, W. And, by the same Author, for 12 stamps | sealed ends, 20, "ANHOOD : A MEDICAL ESSAY on tlie Causes and Cure of Premature Decline in Man ; the Ti-eatment of Nervous Debility, Spermatorrhosa, Impotence, and those peculiar infirmities which result from youtbfiJ 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), REVIEWS OF THE WORIL " Manhood. — This is truly a valuable work, and should be in the hands of young and old." — Sunday Times, 23rd March, 1858. " The book under review is one calculated to warn and instruct the erring, without imparting one idea that can vitiate the mind not already tutored by the vices of Avliich it treats." — Naval and Militarii Gazette, 1st February, 1856. J > " 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." — Sxiii, Evening Paper. Manhood. — " Dr. Curtis has 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 frequentlv, premature old age." — Daily Telegrwph, March 27, 1856. i ^> i & J Consultations daily, from 10 to 3 and 6 to 8. 15, Albemarlb Street, Piccadilly, London, W. f r ^ THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. DECEMBER, 1809. PLATE I. TOM SAYERS; a Royac Black-faced Ram. THE PROPERTY OF MR. JOHX IRVING, OF SHAP ABBEY, WESTMORELAND. Tom Sayers, by Blencairn, out of Nell, took the first prize of £10, when one year and three months old, in an all-aged class of black-faced Scotch rams at the Manchester Meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society, in July last. In the year previous he took first prizes at Kendal and Tem- ple-Sorby. On his way home from Manchester, the ram met with a slight accident, and nev^er appeared a^ain in public during the season ; but he has now quite recovered. One of the judges in the official report styles him " a splendid sheep," and the other dwells especially on "the merits of their first prize shearling ram." Tom Sayers, however, comes of a winning family, as his sire Blencairn took twenty first prizes about the country ; while his dam was one of a pen of five ewes that took twenty-two first prizes, and never were beaten. Mr. Irving has some fifteen hundred black faces at Shap, where he has farmed for twenty-one years, and within the last seven or eight years, the flock has won more than a hundred first prizes. PLATE II. THE GLOOMY WOODS. The gloomy woods | Of Penmanmaur heaped hideous to the sky Start at the flash, and from their deep recess, i Tumbled the smitten cliflfs ; and Snowdou's peak, Wide-flamimg out, their trembhng inmates shake. , Dissolving, instant yields his wintry load. Amid Carnarvon's mountains rages loud j Far seen, the heights of healthy Cheviot blaze. The repercussive roar, with mighty crush j And Thule bellows through her utmost isles. Into the flashing deep, from the rude rocks I Thomson, OUR GRASS LA^DS. BY CUTHBERT W. JOHNSOX, F.R.S. It will be useful if, iu cropping our grass lauds (es- pecially at this period of the year), we refresh our uieuiory by considering what Nature does to promote their pro- ductiveness, and what we can do to aid her in her work. In their natural state the grasses derive a considerable portion of their carbonaceous matter from the atmosphere : consequently if they are not removed they ripen, die, and their constituents enrich the soil. It was iu this way that on peat soils masses of organic matter were accumulated. If the grasses are fed off by wild animals, and these also live and die on the pasture, the same result is arrived at ; as nothing is removed from the soil, that pasture is rather fertihzed than impoverished. In any case, too, there are minute proportions of ammonia, nitric acid, and other substances contained in rain-water and iu snow, which are deposited on the soil, with sundry matters mechanically suspended iu the atmosphere, most of which tend to add to the productiveness of our natural pastures. These small additions are showered over all pastures, and at almost all elevations of the earth. In the gVass lands at the bottom of valleys, and near to streams which are wont to overflow their banks, other fertilising matters are deposited by the flood waters, and it is in such places that the richest grass lands are commonly found. It is there that the wild cattle are the tenants, whilst the more elevated and poorer soils are the habitat of the sheep. Iu either case, as in a state of nature, the wild animals K K [Vol. LXVI,_No, 6. 466 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. carry little or notliing from the land ; the district becomes gradually rather more fertile than impoverished. When, however, man interferes with Nature's quiet ar- rangements, another state of affairs occurs. The culti- vator's object is to carry off from his land as much produce as possible, either in hay or in his live stock. It is then that he begins to diminish in his soil the amount of soluble mineral substances so essential to the vigorous growth of the grasses ; and it is then that, sooner or later, he feels the necessity of returning these to the soil in some fertilizer or other. Let us then briefly inquire into the nature and amount of the substances of which our pastures are thus deprived and are thus replenished. We may usefully ascertain, in the first instance, the amount of some of the mineral matters which the grasses absorb from the soil. The following table will show the proportions per cent, in which a few of the most important of these substances are found in the chief of our natural and cultivated grasses: NATURA.L GRASSES. iWatr Meadow fos-tail grass... 80'30 Sweet - scented vernal grass 83/ Downy oat grass 61 ^ Upright brome 59 Soft brome 76 Crested dog's tail 62'73 Cock's foot 70-00 Seeds ripe 52'57 Hard fescue 69-33 Meadow soft 69-70 Perennial darnel or rye grass 58-85 Annual meadow 71'43 Smootli-stalked meadow grass 79-14 Rough-stalked meadow... 67-14^ Common cat's tail or timothy 73-60 Annual rye grass 57"31 ARTiriCIAL GRASSES. Common red clover 66-00 Purple trefoil 81-01 Cow grass 81-05 Common vetch 77-67 Alsike clover 83-90 Ribwort 69-25 Salad bumeit 84-75 Yarrow 85-56 Lucerne 69-95 Ash. 1-55 1-34. 3-01 3-11 1.36 3-38 1-59 2-61 1-66 1-93 2-51 ■59 1-65 3-30 3-26 1-99 1-85 1-58 1-77 1-11 2-12 1-32 1-15 3-04 PhosI Lime Acid 6-25 3-90 10-09 10-82 7-53 9-62 7-24 8-60 6-41 12-07 8-02 8-73 9-11 10-03 9-13 11-29 10-07 6-71 8-46 5-41 10-59 5-64 7-08 7-81 7-13 5-96 9-31 4-73 10-38 6-64 10-16 5-82 8-14 10-31 8-31 9-64 11-69 5-60 8-80 14-94 6-82 23-63 36-61 34-56 30-78 26-83 19-01 24.-83 13-40 45-95 Mag-, Po- nesia.j tash. 1-38 37-03 3-53 3-17 4-99 3-60 2-43 3-32 3-47 3-83 3-41 3-85 2-44 3-71 3-32 5-30 3 4 10-32 4-52 5-31 4-01 33-03 31-31 20-83 30-09 34-99 39-52 33-06 31-84 34-83 4-673 41-86 31-17 29-40 24-25 38-99 36-45 32-13 34-72 32-82 29-73 3-51 33-36 4-31 30-36 3-01 30-37 3-60 ) 9-99 Let us examine more in detail two only of the sub- stances of which the grasses deprive the soil — the phos- phate and the carbonate of lime. Pirst, then, as to the phosphate. Now, as I have before remarked, in the list of those which appear the most prominently in this class of constantly removing substances is the phosphate of lime, or earthy salt of bones, which is found in not only the seeds of all the cereal grasses, ■ but is the chief in- gredient found in the bones of our domestic animals. In every farm therefore this salt is constantly removing from the soil, not only in all the corn which its holder sends to the market, but in every growing animal he parts with. This salt being composed of phosphoric acid about 55 parts and lime 45 parts, the statement of the propor- tion of phosphoric acid which the seed contains affords a^ pretty accurate statement of the corresponding propor- tion of the phosphate of lime, since the other phosphates, those of magnesia, potash, or soda, are less extensively found in the ordinary plants of the farmer. The propor- tions in which the phosphoric acid exists in 10,000 lb. weight of various farm products has been aseertained by a celebrated German chemist, M. Sprengel, and some of the results he obtained may be very useful to the fai-mer, placed in the following easily formed tables. We may divide these into two classes — the first containing those crops very commonly carried off the farm, and the se- cond those generally consumed on the land : 1. Seeds not consumed on the Land. Lbs, 10,0001b. of the seeds of wheat contain of phosphoric acid 400 „ Seeds of barley 310 „ Seeds of oats ... ... ... ... 70 „ Seeds of beans ... ... 293 „ Seeds of peas ,., .,, ... ... 190 3, The Straw and Roots chiefly consumed on the Land, and whose Solid Constituents are returned to the Soil. Lbs. 10,0001b, of the straw of wheat contain of phosphoric acid 170 „ Straw of barley 160 „ Straw of oats 12 „ Straw of beans 326 „ Straw of peas ... 340 „ Redclover 138 „ Sainfoin 330 „ Cabbages 436 „ Common turnips .,, ... ... ... 73 „ Swede turnips ... 408 Carrots 395 From these results the farmer will readily perceive how considerable a proportion of this salt, so essential to the prosperity of his crops and his live stock, are constantly drawn from the soil by his ripening corn ; and in classing as we have done the crops of the farm, we have included in the list of home-consumed products several which are very commonly removed from the land and consumed elsewhere. The extent of the demands made upon the soil for this salt by growing animals has been estimated by Mr. Hayward. He calculates that the amount of phosphoric acid annually carried away by the live stock from a farm of 100 acres is equal to 413 lbs., or 1,491 lbs. of bones. His estimate is as follows : Acid. Bones. In the bones and flesh of 110 lambs of 351bs. each, at 6 weeks old In 40 year-old sheep, of 901bs. each ... In 4 calves, at 5 weeks old, weighing together 5001bs In 4 young cows, forming 1351bs. of flesh and 351bs. of bone each per annum In 3 young horses, gaining the same as the last The removal of this phosphate of lime from the soQ being thus clearly ascertained, the last part of the inquiry only remains — Is the restoration of this salt to the land pro- ductive of fertilising effects ? Are the plants dressed with manures in which it forms a chief constituent found to absorb an increased proportion of it ? And, if we re- ceive an affirmative reply to these questions, then how is the substance to be procured, as a dressing to the soil, in the most practically useful way ? The chief modes in which the farmer has long been accustomed unconsciously to return this salt to the soil has been, by the use of oil- cake for his stock and of crushed bones for manure. In a more recent period the employment of guano, &c., has been in fact a similar operation. It has been found by Professor Johnston (Trans. High. Soc, 1845, p. 470), that turnips grown upon land dressed with guano con- tained a considerably larger proportion of phosphate of lime than the turnips grown in the adjoining soil, dressed in the ordinary way, the ashes of the turnips grown with the ordinary farmyard dung containing 7.73 per cent, of phosphoric acid, whilst the turnips produced on the land manm-ed with guano (which abounds with phosphate of lime) yielded 19.39 per cent. There is no reason to doubt but that the effect of dressing turnips and several othev crops with oilcake sud ci-u.^hed bQue^ i« t9 mci'ease 145 310 537 777 21 77 16 21 23 77 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. 467 lieir proportion of phosphate of lime. \Vc see ia the in- stauce of laud whose green crops have been led off by sheep, whose food has been varied, that the portions of the field on which they had oilcake given to them be- comes considerably more fertile than those portions on which the stock had to subsist on only the green crop of the field. And every farmer is awai'e, too, that on many soils this superior fertility of the cake-fed portions is ap- parent to a remarkable degree in the succeeding crops for several years. That it is not to the portion of oil or other purely organic matter of the linseed-cake that this increased and lengthened fertility of the soil is to be at- tributed, we may safely conclude, when we remember that the beneficial duration of oils in the soil, and of all those manures, such as whale-blubber or sprats, in which the oil is the chief fertilizing ingredient, is almost inva- riably confined to a single crop ; and, moreover, the pro- portion of fatty matters in linseed-cake is very small (and that amount, too, after it has been consumed by the animal, must be materially diminished). In three speci- mens of linseed-cake analysed by Mr. Gyde he found re- spectively 12.4, 10. .5, and 8 per cent, only of fatty matters. The ashes or solid portions of three varieties of oilcake, however, examined by Mr. Fromberg, were found to contain three per cent, of the earthy phosphates : 1, gold of pleasure, 40.56; 2, English cake, 47.67; and 3, American cake, 38.28 (these ashes constituting of the first cake 6.89, of the second 7.25, and of the third 6.35 per cent, of the entire cake). We have already noted from the results of our analysis of the ashes of the grasses how large a propor- tion of these are composed of lime. This, too, is not Y the only mode by which lime is removed from our soils ; it is also diminished in quantity by its being soluble to a • certain extent in water (500 parts of water being capable of dissolving about one part of lime) ; consequently the soil is gradually and steadily deprived of its lime by the water carrying it either deeper into the earth, or into the drains. The improvement of the hill pastures of our island may, perhaps, be advanced by the consideration of these facts. "The rains," observes the Chemical Society of Scotland (Trans. High. Sac, 1846, p. 313), " which fall on high districts of country naturally dissolve many substances over which they flow, or through which they penetrate. Among these substances lime is one which is always present in onr mountain and hill streams when they reach the lowlands that border them. In course of time, therefore, the soil of every sloping country ought to become poor in lime, from the action of this cause alone ; and as lime is necessary in onr climate to the. luxuriant growth of all our cultivated crops, the addition of lime to such land may be expected to increase its pro- ductiveness." The practice of many intelligent farmers verifies the correctness of this conclusion. Mr. Stewart, of NiUside (ibid, p. 314), found as a dressing for old pas- ture lands, that lime is superior in its effects to even crushed bones. But we have seen that there is another source by which the soils of all cultivated lands are always impoverished of their calcareous matters, viz., in the constitueut por- tion of the farmer's crops which is composed of lime. This is much greater in amonut than is generally under- stood. Professor J. F. Johnston (Chemistry, p. 207, has given the weight of lime carried away in several of them ; it is as follows : Lbs. 25 bushels of wheat, remove from the soil, of lime 50 „ oats 38 „ barley 2 tons of rye grass 2 „ red clover 25 „ turnips % a potatoes 9 9 15 33 126 140 270 There are also several acid matters in the soil, which combine with the lime, and form various salts of lime, all more or less soluble in water ; and this is another means by which lime is removed from the land. There are, therefore, one or two circumstances of great practical im- portance to be regarded in the application of lime ; some of which, we have already seen, have been alluded to by Professor Johnston (^ihid 207). He adds in another place, " The largest doses which are applied in practice alter in a very immaterial degree the chemical constitu- tion of the soil. The best soils generally contain a natural proportion of lime, not fixed in quantity, yet scarcely ever wholly wanting. But an ordinary liming, when well mixed up with a deep soil, will rarely amount to one per cent, of its entire weight. It requires about 400 bushels, or 12 to 15 tons of burned lime, per acre, to add one per cent, of lime to a soil of 12 inches in depth— if only mixed to a depth of 6 inches, this quan- tity would add about two per cent, to the soil." When, therefore, the farmer has by long cultivation hus exhausted or sensibly impoverished his pastures, or is endeavouring to render naturally poor soils more productive, the mode of improving them becomes a very interesting consideration. Hex-e we can only consider general principles, for, as Mr. Clement Cadle well remarks in his recently published prize essay on the improvement of grass lauds (Jour. Roy. Ay.Soc, n. s., vol. 5, p. 347), " the term ' Grass Lands' is so comprehensive that, with the exception of forests, it describes almost entirely the original and natural conditions of the soil before the com- mencement of tillage. Grass land is «till to be found in every conceivable position, of every description and quality, and on every geological formation. All these varying circumstances make it diflBcnlt to treat of its im- provement in an essay, and any rules laid down or opinions expressed will necessarily find dissentients, either from prejudice, or from general rules not being ap- plicable to every locality. The chief and best remedy for the removal of prejudice is time. Few are so wedded to their convictions as not to abandon them after having witnessed the successful working of systems to which they have been opposed ; and although all general rules for farming may sometimes /ail, yet it is possible to lay down principles of almost universal application and value." " It is impossible," as Mr. Cadle well adds, " to give any definite rules for guidance without knowing the kind of land to be manured and other attendant circumstances. T-'herefore I can only reiterate what I have before stated, that in proportion as the land is inclined to grow benty or stalky grass, inclined for seed, ammoniacal manures should be used ; if the land produces thick, short, leafy herbage, then phosphatic- manures must be applied ; I cannot do better than conclude in the words of Mr. H. S. Thompson (ibid, vol. 19, p. 264) -. ' I would state my decided conviction, the result of twenty years' experience, that money judiciously laid out in the improvement of grass land bi-ings in a more certain return than where ex- pended in the growth' of corn. It "is not, as in that case, liable to great injury from an unfavourable seed time, from severe winters, from wet harvests, and the various minor vicissitudes to which grain crops are subject; and if in a very growing season more grass is produced than the cattle can consume, it is always possible to convert it into an additional haystack, a piece of furniture which, however bulky, is never found to incommode the cattle in their winter qnai'ters.' " Now as to the general application of manures to grass land : After a long course of experiments upon the manures adapted for pex'manent meadow land, Messrs. Lawes and Gilbert an-ived at the conclusion (ibid, vol. 19, p. 573), that " the hav crop is a great exhauster of the niiueral i68 THE FARMER'S MAGAZII^E. constituents of the soil, nnd these, owing to the high price of salts of potash, cannot with profit be fully restored in artificial manures. The return of the mineral constituents is hest accomplished by means of farni-yax'd manure, rotten duug, night-soil, and the like, which at the same time bring on to the land a more or less considerable quantity of available nitrogen, but contain of course no phosphates. Peruvian guano, when used alone, may be employed at the rate of from IJ to 2a cvvts. per acre ; nitrate of soda alone, or sulphate (or muriate) of am- monia at the rate of li to 2} cvvts. per acre. The salts of ammonia are, however, relatively too ex- pensive to be employed largely with profit ; and both ammoniacal salts and nitrate of soda are more advan- tageously used in combination with guano. A very generally useful dressing for the hay crop may be made of three parts Peruvian guano, one part nitrate of soda, and one part sulphate of ammonia. Of this mixture 2 to 2 1 cwts. per acre may be employed. With this ap- plied annually, and the application of 10 to 12 tons per acre of poor rotten dung once every four or five years, a good crop of hay may be taken off every year without in- jury to tlie land. The best time of sowing the " arti- ficial " manure is generally in January, and it should at any rate be seldom postponed beyond February. I need hardly add, with regard to other necessary im- provements in grass lands, that it is only general prin- ciples that can be given ; among which we may class the drainage from the land of its stagnant water. It is in speaking of" inferior grass land" that Mr. Cadle observes : " In the improvement of this section of land, draining, if the soil is wet, is the first step to be taken ; unless the stagnant water in the soil is got rid of, it is useless to attempt other improvements, for, as the evaporation con- tinually going on keeps the surface cold, manure is almost thrown away, and the grass is sour, and is therefore re- jected by stock until compelled by starvation to eat it ; hence the animals do not fill themselves and do not thrive, as they otherwise would. This draining may be done as circumstances admit ; but it is desirable, if pos- sible, that it should be carried out in a permanent manner with pipes. I'ailing this, when the value of the land will not admit of pipes, one of the following plans may be advantageously adopted : " 1st. Mole-draining, which is cff'ected with the mole- plough, has been known by me to answer very well, both when perfoi-med by horses and by steam-power; and, although the drains arc not laid so deep as when con- structed with pipes, still they are more numerous, and thus to some extent the lack of depth is compensated for. But the farmer must be careful not to allow moles to harbour in the fields, otherwise they will soon destroy the drains. This mode of draining may be effected at an outlay of from 20s. to 40s. per acre. " 2ad. Tliorns and straw may also be used as a sub- stitute for tiles when the sub-soil is very stift', and they will often last 20 or 30 years, for, after the material it- self has decayed, some soils are found to set firmly enough to leave a passage for the water to escape. "3rd. Plug-draining is also sometimes resorted to where the sub-soil is very stilf ; but I cannot say much as to the lasting character of this system, not many in- stances of its adoption having come under my notice. "4th. Stone is another material often used as a sub- stitute for pipes, and where it is plentiful and the work is properly done the plan answers very well ; where, however, the soil is rocky, drainage constructed in any manner is necessarily a very expensive work. " 5th. Another mode of getting the water from the sub-soil is by the construction of open ditches ; and, though these are very objectionable, the plan is often adopted, especially on the sides of hills and where the water exists only in patches, " Having by either of the foregoing methods relieved the soil of water, the next step will be to remove any bushes or brambles, or on some land gorse and heath, each of which may with a little perseverance be speedily and effectually got rid of by taking care, after once grub- bing up and removing them, to let a man go over the land every summer with a scythe and cut everything off close to the ground. This, if well attended to, will in a few years destroy the nuisance. Thistles should also be cut every summer as soon as they come into blossom, and should never be allowed to seed. The land having been drained will then be in a fair condition for renovation with grass seeds, the sowing of which will prove remu- nerative. A mixture of the grasses may be employed, or a bushel or two of perennial rye-grass may be used ; but this is not so desirable as the natural grasses. Of course, the value of the land is an important consideration in re- gard to all these recommendations, as many things which could not be allowed on land of higher value may be ex- pedient on that of which I am treating. These remarks also apply to dressing and manuring, which come next under consideration. Farmyard manure, bones, special manures, lime, salt, earth, road-scrapings — in fact, almost anything that can be obtained — may with advantage be used on this class of land ; but the first dressing should be as substantial as it can possibly be, with the object not only of manuring the land but also of inducing the growth of a fresh and better herbage. The consumption of roots and the use of artificial food will also be very beneficial. "Wherever practicable, a good harrowing and rolling every year will be found very beneficial. In many cases it will be more desirable on this class of land to break it up and lay down with rye-grass or permanent gi"ass seeds. I have seen many instances in which the land has been made to keep five times the quantity of stock by its having been simply ploughed and sown with rye-grass ; but if rye-grass only is used it will require to be renewed every third or fourth year. This, however, will often pay far better than if the land be left in its original condition. " I have said nothing of fern, which, in some instances, is largely grown on this kind of grass land. I have never been able to satisfy myself that the fern is prejudicial. It grows chiefly on land that is dry and on soils that are liable to get burnt up by a dry summer ; and I have often observed that though on a part of a field where no fern grew the grass had been scorched, yet on other portions where there were ferns it had continued to grow all through the dry weather from the shade thus afforded to the herbage ; still, if the fern grows too thickly, it of course becomes an injury. This, however, with a little attention may be avoided, and the expense of cutting will be recouped by the fern being stored as litter for winter use — thus becoming returnable to the soil as manure. " In some instances in which the herbage has been poor, great benefit has been derived by simply paring and burning the surface, spreading the ashes, and sowing fresh grass seeds. I have seen immense improvement effected on hill lands by this simple process." These remarks will be useful in almost every district of our island ; for there is hardly a parish to be found where Dame Nature's emerald finger has not covered our hill sides with her own grasses. As I have on more than one occasion remarked, we can never watch her operations too carefully. It is only by following in her footsteps and regarding her hints that we can fertilize artificially our pastures. Thus if we use successfully the phosphate of lime and the ammoniacal salts of guano, or the nitric acid of cubic-petre and saltpetre, the chemist finds that the two last named — and even the first — ^have been ever falling in rain water over our pastures, though we did not till recently understand the bounty we were re- ceiving. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 469 THE PRESENT PRICE OF WHEAT. The dulucss Avliicli universally prevails on the produce mai'kets of Europe does not give way on the approach of winter, for the nuniher of hands thrown out of em- ployment is evidently increasing. This deadness of trade and commerce extends to the corn market, where, notwithstanding an increasing conviction that the late wheat crop falls far short of an average and of what it was at one period expected to be, the price continues gradually to decline, although the supplies of English wheat are by no means larger, if so large, as is usual at this sea- son of the year. The stock of old wheat at the com- mencement of harvest was estimated at two months' con- sumption, but the bulk of it was brought to market early, when from its fine quality and weight, it got into the miller's hands, who are using it sparingly with the inferior new wheat. All the continental markets exhibit the same dulness — with the exception of those of Austria and Hun- gary— taking their tone from England and France, Avhich are the chief customers of the other grain-exporting coun- tries. In none of these does there appear to have been an abundant harvest, if we except the United States, whence the accounts are favourable, so that it is not the pro- spect of being overwhelmed with foreign supplies in the future that causes the present depression ; nor, indeed, is is the excessive importations of the year that can pcrma- iientJi/ weigh upon the market, for on a reference to the Board of Trade I'eturns for the nine months of 1868 and 1869 respectively, we lind the following results: 18G8. Cwt. Qrs. Bush. Wheat imported 34-,978,595 or 5,828,338 6 Hour , :2,088,6S7 or 626,606 3 Total 27,067,282 or 6,45i,945 0 1869. Wheat imported 23,576,800 or 5,501,353 2 Flour „ 3,491,790 or 1,047,537 0 Total 37,068,590 or 6,548,790 3 These figiu-cs exhibit an excess of imports in the nine months of the present season over those of 1868 of y3,845 qrs., or about l-240th part of the consumption of the kingdom. Now, supposing that the crop should prove an average, we should require at least eight mil- lion quarters of foreign wheat to meet the consumption ; and it is a question whether, in the remaining three months, during a part of which the foreign ports will be shut by the frost, we shall be able to make up the mil- lion and a-half required. But, as we have stated, the probability is, that a considerable deticiency will be found in the late crop when the thrashing is more advanced, in which case, with slender home supplies, the stock of foreign wheat will be reduced very low before the ports are again opened after the frost. Last year, too, with the largest crop of wheat that was ever reaped, we im- ported upwards of eight million quarters, which were all consumed before the new wheat came in. If, therefore, the deliciency anticipated should amount to one-sixth of an average consumption, or three and a-half millions, we shall require at least from ten to eleven million quarters before another crop is ready for the miller. It is a remarkable fact, which we have before noticed, that with a splendid crop and large foreign supplies, the price of wheat at the close of the season in 1868, was 50s. per qr. ; whilst with a suspected deticiency, and certainly no excess, and foreign supplies little larger than last year, the average price should be tive shillings per quarter less this year than last, taking the six weeks pre- vious io the Gth November ; the respective returns being 1808, 52s. 3d., and 1869, 47s. Id.; so that last year, with the certainty of a more than average crop, the aver- age price rose from 50s. in September, to 52s. in No- vember. In the present year, with a growing conviction of a deficiency and short supplies, the average price has fallen from 50s. 6d. in Scjjtember, to 47s. Id. in November. The causes for this anomaly .are difficult to assign with precision; but some certain data may not be without an influence. The importations have certainly been larger during the last two months than at any other equal period either of the present or the last year ; and pressing upon the market so soon after the harvest, these have occasioned a glut for the time, that has alarmed the mer- chants. On the other hand, the millers generally pur- chased freely of the old wheat tliat was brought forward after harvest, and have been working upon the stock by mixing ever since, which, of course, reduced to that extent the demand for the new and the foreign wheat. Another cause is tlie abundant supply of potatoes at the markets, both in London and the country, on account of the disease, which is still prevailing in many parts. It being doubtful whether they can be pitted, the growers are hastening to get them off their hands, and the markets are glutted. Then, again, an immense number of opera- tives arc thrown out of employ, and these, with their re- stricted means, are necessarily availing themselves of the cheapness and abundant supply of potatoes to eke out their scanty means of supporting themselves and their families. All these causes, operating together at a time when the country is scarcely free from the effects of the financial crisis of 1866-7, which shook its credit to the very foundation, ruined hundreds of thousands of persons previously well-to-do, and put an effect tual stop to all speculation, may well have tended to the revulsion in om* commerce which we now see and feel so acutely. If it is any, it is a poor, consolation, that England does not suffer alone in this struggle. In France, commerce is equally under a cloud, and in Paris and other large cities of that empire, the complaints of the unemployed are as loud as they are with us ; while the agriculturists are as dissatisfied with the present prices, especially as that of wool has fallen to a degree that threatens the existence of the Merino races. What the spring will bring forth it is impossible to say ; but we do anticipate more remunerating prices as soon as the importations fall off. We have had considerable imports from the United States and Canada in the last few weeks; but as the Erie Canal will be closed by this time, and the conveyance by rail is too expensive, whilst the navigation of the St. Lawrence being also closed by frost, we shall not obtain much more wheat from that continent before the latter end of April or May. What we shall get from the European ports depends upon the season. But from the northern and the south-eastern portn, none of the new crops can be got down the rivers to the sea- board until next summer; the shipments from thence must, therefore, be confined to the remaining stocks of '470 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. old wheat now on hand wiich cannot he very great after the efforts made to clear out before the frost sets in. California is the only iiart from which we can look for a winter snpply. They have a large surplus, and have already sent us several shipments of excellent w^heat. which has become a favoni-ite with our millers on account of its weight as well as quality. But this is also the case with the millers of New York and other cities on the At- lantic coast, who will doubtless share with Europe what- ever surplus the Californian grower may have to send. THE HERDS OF GREAT BRITAIN. Chapter LVIII. THE WEST DEREHAM. Stoke Ferry may be the post town, but the approach to West Dereham Abbey is by Downham Market, now the head-quarters of the Swaffliam Coursing Club each November, and a pleasant ride of about four miles lands you at Mr. Aylmer's pretty residence. The Abbey grounds, which are on the opposite side of the road, are girdled by a moat, and a hue old bridge is the portal to them, but there are no ruins. The shepherd lives on the site of the Abbey, which is in the centre of ^some old pasture land, and most of the ewes lamb there. Mr. Aylmer's " Aylmerisms," as Tennyson has it, seem to be neither more nor less than a determination not only to have sheep, but pigs and Shorthorns, well up to the mark, and no one has succeeded better with the three. What Mr. Wiley, his senior by more than forty years, has been to Yorkshire, he has been to Norfolk. Our visit to West Dereham Abbey, three summers ago, was shortly after its herd had passed through the cattle plague crisis. For two months Mr. Aylmer and " his friend indeed," Mr. Robert Overman, did battle with it alone. Vetei-inary professors hardly deigned to come near them, and dis- missed the whole treatment in three half-contemptuous lines. Still the unprofessional efforts succeeded where science could only shriek wildly for " the pole-axe," and out of seventy-nine which Avere treated forty-one recovei-ed. Twenty pounds per head was allowed by the Norfolk Association for those which died, but no money could atone for the loss of General Hopewell. He had been hired from Mr. Thomas Booth for 200 gs., and had only been used for one season when he died, along with several cows in-calf by him. Four bull calves and two heifer calves were his only relics when the plague was over, and two calves came later on. The white Maid of Orleans, a nearly pure Booth cow by Knight of Windsor from Joan of Arc by Vanguard, was in the Garden Croft, but she had been at Warlaby for twelve months, within scent of the pitch braziers, and had come back in-calf to Lord of the Valley. She was there " blooming, and fresh, and fair," but we looked in vain for Rocket, Roseleaf, Phillis, Bashful, Beautiful Stai', Queen of the May (a three hundred guinea purchase). Busy Bee, and Eva. Mr. Aylmer occupies 570 acres on the West Dereham Abbey estate, besides 200 acres at the Whitehouse, 300 acres at the Manor House Farm, and 60 acres of grass land on the Sheep Hills. The land is strong loam, gravel, and fen ; and wheat is the great white crop. The fields are laid out almost with Dutch regularity, and there is a nice eight-acre close for rams near the house, iu which the annual sale takes place. There are never less than sixty score of long-wools, and 150 cattle on the farm, and m some years £400 worth of pigs have been sold out of the yards. A Suffolk cart-horse never sets foot there, and bullock teams are extinct. Mr. Aylmer began Shorthorns about eighteen years ago, by the purchase of a cow and calf at Mr. Bagge's. For many years he has been one of " the faithful waggoners" at most of Mr, Wetherall's and Mr. Strafford's sales. Grundy's Red Knight out of old Venilia got him some good heifers during his two seasons' sojourn, and Lady Pigot's Hilde- brand by Booth's Prince Alfred from John Booth's Hilde- garde left some deep flesh behind him. Both were very cheap purchases, and Hildebrand went to Baron Na- thusius. To them succeeded Booth's General Hopewell, and the herd was just beginning to run into form when Easthorpe Rose, in the home shippon, and Easthorpe Lady in the fen, went down. The entire loss v/as 14 bulls, 21 cows, 4 in-calf heifers, and the four heifer calves, five of which died before treatment. Royal Broughton and British Crown are the present Warlaby bulls. The former is a yearling with a nice fore- hand by Commander-in-Chief, whom he somewhat re- sembles in the head, while he takes after his dam's sire in colour, but has rather more roan. British Crown by Lord of the Valley is an older Warlaby bull, and with fine length and deep flesh on a short leg, and iu fact, one of the best- looking Booth bulls we have ever seen. He had just come to take the place of Ravenspur, who seemed an utter wreck from rheumatism. General Hopewell had no reason to be ashamed of the parentage of a thirty months' bullock in the next stall, and the union of Prince Christian and Daffy Gwynne has resulted in a clever, useful calf. Prince Gwynne. Young Daffy Gwynne is memorable in another way, that she was the sole survivor at the Home Farm. The Sheep Hills was dedicated to the yearling heifers, and a gay, and a thick lot they were, mostly by Prince Christian, a Warlaby bull by Prince of Battersea from Alfreda by Prince Alfred. Princess Christian and Eas- thorpe Strawberry were a little off, but we could fall back on plenty of supports in Easthorpe Lady, Christine, Golden Drop, Phillis 8th, Geneva 4th, &c. We also noticed Strawberry Duchess, thick and level, but with her colour rather against her. Maid of the Alley a strap- per for her age. Mistress Mary, Lady Leonora with those nicely laid shoulders. Duchess 3rd, and a vei'y nice one, Booth head. At the White House Farm we encountered Charmian, a line slashing cow, Phillis 5th, with a re- markable good back and loin. Red Rose, and Graceful. General Hopewell 2nd had a box in the barn, which is a regular thoroughfare during the day. Hence he sees everything, and is perfectly docile. That curly scorp and fine rump have known victory twice in Norfolk and once at the Cambridgeshire show, where he beat Rosolio and Fitzkillerby. His dam. Miss Goldschmidt, own sister to Master Goldschmidt, was a rare cow, and he was her last calf. Calendula, the twelve-year-old matron of the herd was in the Fish Pond field. She breeds regu- larly still; and always heifers, and the roan Cinderella was her March offering. Jessie Hopewell, perhaps the flower of the flock, had pi-ophesied of herself already by a good Prince Chi-istian heifer, and there too were Young Dafty Gwynne, with all the look of her hardy tribe, Phillis 2ud, a good big cow, j\Iaid of Morn, a gay tine walker, Eas- thorpe Lady 4th, a neat little white, Red Duchess, and THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 471 Spring Flower, on her short leg and with her neat down horns. The herd has grown up again with immense rapidity, and this year aloue there have been seven or eight sets of twins, it lias also been reinforced by a couple of pm- chases at JMr. Gamble's sale, one of them with an espe- cially good bag. The calves suck for a fortnight, and then get new milk till they are three months old. There is scarcely any distinction made, except in the case of a very promising calf. About twenty bull calves are sold each year, but every female has its price, and JNIr, Beattie recently carried olf Forest Queen to Canada. The Hock has been carried on, first by Mr. x\ylmer's father and then by himself, for about sixty years. It was originally pure Leicester, and the blood was kept up by rams from St(Jne and the Burgesses, Sanday, Pawlett, and Freestone, of Great Harrowden. They were short-legged, deep, and square-rumped, and one of them girthed 73 inches when made up for show. Not a Leicester ram has been used for twenty years, but Lin- colus from Clarke of Canwick and Kirkham of Bisca- thorpe, with Cotswolds from William Lane and Robert Game have been gradually engrafted on to them till Mr. Aylmer has gradually attained the object of his desire, a grand cloggy sheep, which combines the Cotswold carriage, the Leicester form, and the Lincoln ribs and fleece. For some years past he has only used his own rams. They are larger and heavier than the Leicesters, and just what the county required for its Hampshire and Suffolk ewes. At one time Mr. Aylmer never missed the " Brandy and Water week" on the hills, and he went as high as 120 gs. for a ram, and at first only hired one or two grey- faced Cotswolds. Mr. Lane and Mr. Cother have both taken rams at his sale, where Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, and Lincolnshire chiefly compose the audience. The Norfolk run is on the ram lambs and shearlings, as young sheep travel better over the heaths, and two and three shears are much more difficult to let, which is the reverse of the practice at Biscathorpe. Sir Willliam Bagge, M.P., and other Norfolk members gene- rally attend, and JNIr. Hudson, of Castle Acre was never an absentee. No one had a quicker eye for a good sheep, and the last year that he was present he went round the pens, and picked out six of the very best sheep, and would not be beat for them at the hammer. Five shillings a bid is the regulation. Mr. Aylmei*, who always hand- tups, generally keeps back eight of his shearlings and two-shears for use, and very seldom reserves a ram lamb. One which he used at that age was let for 45 gs. as a shearling, 40 gs. as a two-shear, and 20 guineas as a three-shear. The lambs are dropped in March, and there- fore the young rams make a quick return, as a hundred will sometimes average £6 13s. 6d., and eighty shearlings touch 10 gs. Taking rams and ram lambs altogether, nearly four hundred will be out in the com'se of the season. Prussia and Germany and Sweden buy some, as well as draft shearling ewes, and Mr. Aylmer has also customers in New Zealand and France, where they are bred to cross with the Merino. In fact, he sells no ewes for stock ex- cept to foreigners. He lambs about 3 GO ewes, and for the last two years the average has been li lambs per ewe. They lamb on grass, cut hay, bran, and oats, and then have cabbage and mangolds. Until after lambing they see no roots, and then those are cut up for them. Hence the ewes go on much longer, as broken mouths are almost unknown. Those crones and extra shearlings which are not sold to go abroad are grazed for the London market, and some of the former have gone off at 301bs. per quarter. The fleece average is 151bs. for sheading tups, lOlbs. for ewes, and 121bs. all round. The pasture land extends over some 250 acres, and Enfield cabbage at 30 tons per acre, Italian ryegrass, red clover and white clover, swedes, and mangolds are the principal green crops. For many years Mr. Aylmer was a shower, and had a rare pen of prize ewes at Battersea, and many is the hard tussle he hds had with Mi: Brown, of Marham, whose flock are now pure Cotswolds. Latterly he has ceased to show altogether. Mr. Aylmer's pig-breeding dates back to the Canter- bury Royal Meeting, where he laid himself in with a couple of young sows from Captain Gunter's and Miss Wainman of the Carrhead blood, and crossed all three with a Crisp boar. He has also had a boar from Lord Radnor, but at present he uses his own entirely. When the Norfolk show met at Lynn in 1866, he not only beat Sexton, Stearn, and Crisp for the three best breeding sow s under ten months, but vanquished the formidable Suflolk Ss for the old and young boar prize as well. Since then he has taken the first prize for three sows under eight months in " the fallow year" at Bury Royal. In '68 he was first for three breeding sows at the county show, and had a second at the Leicester Royal as well, and after being beaten at the Norfolk show this year by Mr. Stearn with three white sows, he took a first for five breeding sows as well as a boar. Many of his pigs, which are small whites, go into the county as well as Lincolnshire, and not a few annually to Germany and Prussia. They are very prolific, and several of the sows have had five litters in two years. The pure Norfolk pig sadly needs a regenerator for its thin back, long snout, long ears, and flat sides. Its fruitfulness is its one great recommendation ; Mr. Aylmer's father had a sow which farrowed two dozen twice in succession, and brought them all np by having them divided into two sucking detach- ments. There is a great sale for old sows in the autumn at East Dereham market, and they wiU sometimes be found there nearly eight hundred strong. The north country dealers come to meet them and take them to Yorkshire, where they ai-e sold at £3 to £5 each, and duly gi-azed into bacon. Wj H SI THE MANGOLD WURZEL CROP. BY A PBACTICAI. FAKMEE. The mangold crop is becoming of immense import- ance in British husbandry, and its cultui-e and preserva- tion, its management and mode of consumption by stock, are worthy the most earnest and attentive consideration of every agriculturist. There is no field crop yet known which can approach it in weight and nutritive value. If pro- perly harvested, the roots will retain much of their nutri- tive character for eight or nine months after storing. They are invaluable adjuncts to late spring grazing, and in cold seasons take the place of late grasses, even up to midsummer. All kinds of stock are very fond of them ; they eat them with avidity, and seldom fail to do well up- on them if given with judgment. No fanner ought to be without a mangold crop. All soils will produce them under especial management and suitable manures. The amazing weight of crop on some lands is incredible. The farmer upon whose farm they grew, pays especial atten- tion to this crop, and hopes this season to fatten thi-ee oxen upon the produce of each acre ; the acreage extend- ing to near forty acres. He does not spare for cost if 472 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. he can apply his manures to advantage. A prize crop was produced as follows ; — The land was ploughed about eight or nine inches in depth in the autumn, and laid up dry ; in the middle of April it was ridged at about tweuty-five-ineh ridges, manured with from eighteen to twenty-one horse cart loads of fresh-made long manm*e from the fold-yards ; upon this was sown a mixture in about equal proportions of Peruvian guano, superphos- phate, and broken tallow cakes ; the quantity thus sown approaching two tons per acre. T'pou the ridges, seed to the amount of from 14 to lOlbs per acre were drilled. It came up satisfactorily, and the plants were permitted to grow to about a foot in height before the first hoeing. Horse and hand hoeing and ridge harrowing was the sub- sequent management. It will be observed, that only one ploughing took place. The soil a good constituted loam. The crop was not harvested on the 28tli October. It is intended to prove the weight per acre ; but being caught in these severe frosts, the loss in weight will be consider- able. The manuring in this instance is heavy, but the culture is comparatively inexpensive, although succeeding a wheat crop. The main results in this case may be taken thus : For the expenditure of cost of near two tons of artificial manure, amounting to from ten to about twelve pounds per acre, our farmer obtains a return of about thirty tons of mangold in excess of an average crop of the wheat, which taken at twelve shillings per ton, i. e., eighteen pounds, leaves a clear profit of six pounds per acre. This may appear an extravagant and extraordinary instance, and so it is. The point is, to what extent may it be followed in general practice and management? So far as our observation goes, we know of no limit, if judiciously applied in connection with a knowledge of the nature aud requirements of the soil under culture. This is a subject of great interest — the adaptation of certain artificial manures to certain soils. Every farmer should know this, or he may spend his money in vain. It would appear absolute folly to expend ten or twelve pounds per acre upon the majority of soils ; but truly it is yet for the most part unknown to what extent cultivators may profitably go, in order to produce a root crop. My advice is to try repeatedly experiments of this kind upon a small scale, and abide by the result. One thing is very certain, that British farmers must look upon their green food crops in a very different way to what they have heretofore done. "What crop can a farmer grow equal in value to the instance I have given ? — the half of it from the application of artificial aids, which are at the disposal of every farmer, and who must use them in accordance with his best judgment as to the require- ments of his soil. My chief object, however, in com- mencing this paper is, to call attention to the harvesting of the mangold crop in this unpropitious season. True, many farmers have been fortunate enough to secure their crops before the visitation of these severe frosts and biting winds ; but there is a vast quantity yet out. These have suffered considerable temporary injury. I say tem- porary injury. I mean this, if (he crop is got up in its present injured condition great loss is sure to ensue. The "graving" of mangolds in a frozen or partially-tha\\ cd state is certain destruction. The only true course is to let them remain a-lield till the frosty injury abates, and the juices of the plant or root begin to flow throughout — i. e., begin again to grow, which it will soon do if the season is open : thus temporary injury is got over for the most part. It is desirable to use more caution in taking up, so as not to damage the root, and greater care in the" graving" and covering than would be reqtiisite liad they been free from frosty injury. They have suffered, and they must be treated gently. The graves must neither be "broad nor high ; certainly not ex- ceeding six feet bottom, and be carried up at a nice incline to about 4j feet in height, ending with narrow top. The grave should be thatched down with straw or stubble, and covered with a slight coating of earth, in this way to remain so long as the appearance of open weather continues. On the manifestation of frost every effort should be put forth to make them safe, by additional earthing or covering. The great danger is from over- heating. If this can be prevented, and the wet kept out, they will keep for any reasonable time, and will prove but little the worse for their frosty visitation. It would seem quite superfluous to very many growers to ofl'er advice as to their profitable consumption, seeing they have been so long grown as a farm crop. 'J'here are, however, many persons who are inexperienced as to their nature. The root of the mangold contains a very large proportion of water— in winter cold enough. ' If therefore mangolds are freely given to stock in the early cold winter, they are sure to produce looseness of body in mature cattle, and scouring in young animals. If mangolds must be supplied in the cold weather of early winter, it must be sparingly : the bushel per day for large cattle and a peck or two tor young ones is sutticient, with straw or hay ad Uh'dum. As the spring advances they lose much of their watery nature, aud become about the best food that can be given, and a grown ox will tlien consme with profit from two to three bushels per day. It is best to cut them, for which the turnip-cutter is apphcable ; but stock will eat them readily uncut. There are several kinds of food that act as correctives when mangolds are given freely in early winter, or at other seasons in proportion — such as cotton-cake, bean-meal, Indian corn-meal, clover-hay, bean or pea- straw and old hay. If these and other astringent foods are dealt out care- fully to stock, along with liberal rations of mangolds, no great harm will arise, and more particularly if water is withheld or only very sparingly allowed. vSheep seldom drink when feeding upon mangolds ; and all stock, except cows, should be stinted in water, if mangolds arc their chief food. What a boon to the country, and to Ireland in particular, would a large extension of mangold-culture prove ! The price of meat has for several years been ex- travagantly dear, and the regulations for the prevention of diseases amongst stock are likely to keep it so for a time ; but if millions of tons of mangolds were grown for stock-food instead of corn, what an amount of meat might be produced in this kingdom ! There may be difficulties as to importing stock for feeding purposes ; but this would in a great measure soon be got over by the addi- tional attention which would be given to extended breed- ing. The whole country seems wedded to the orders of culture which produce corn crops chiefly. This must be made a matter of serious consideration, in accordance with the wants of the times. Corn comes in profusely fi'om all parts of the world. Can British farmers grow more profitable crops than corn crops ? I believe they can ; and I further believe they will, ere long, to a far greater extent than heretofore. It may be asked, how is the soil to be manured for all these green crops ? I would refer to Messrs. Lawes and Gilbert's experiments, in answer. They satisfactorily show that foldyard ma- nures are secondary to chemical manures. I would also refer to the extended manufacture of " artificial" manixres, to the advocacy of sewage improvements and utilisation of sewage, to earth closets, and all such aids, but, above all, to the increase of imported manures, and to the at- tention given to discover more beds of guano, which no doubt will be found. At all events, at present there is no lack of these manures, and therefore no hindrance to the extension of root-culture. When such a fatality occurs, then will be the time to curtail it. Such time, however, will never come. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 473 THE PREPARATION OF LAND FOR CROPS. At the quarterly meeting of tlie Ayrshire Farmers' Club, Mr. Dalglish, Tenipland Mains, president of the elub in the chair, Mr. 11. Wallace, Braehead, read a paper on " The Best and most Economical mode of Preparing Land for the Various Agricultural Crops." Mr. Wall\ce said to work land effieieutly and economically, we must have good implements to begin with, and, with a proper knowledge of how to use them, we set out with a fa- vourable start. With your indulgence, I mean to go more minutely into the formation of some of the implements than may seem at first to be necessary, and which I tiiink may be more useful to discuss than those things every one is in the habit of practising. I shall touch on the dilferent implements as they come up in connection with the various departments of work taken notice of, and I mean to confine myself to ray own practice. I cannot presume to dictate to you. I have remarked in former discussions that it is impossible to lay down a rule to suit every district alike ; so, even at the risk of apparent egotism, I shall endeavour to give what has been my own experience, describing everything in the plain prac- tical terirs generally used by farmers. It is well known by all that the green crop prepares for every other crop, and I sliall begin with it, keeping chiefly to that portion of the rotation. There should be no time lost iu beginning to the stubble land as soon as the horses can be dispensed with in the stackyard, leaving the finishing of the stuff to the old men and harvesters. Couch grass and other weeds spread remarkably quick after the reiuoval of the white crop, and the sooner they are checked iu their growth the better, whatever may be the mode adopted. A mode which has been long iu practice is to turn the stubble well over with either a deep or a shallow furrow, and where I have found it necessary to begin with the plough, I prefer doing so with a 4r-horse one and a skimmer, like a small plough, fixed upou the beam before the coulter and breaking exactly tiie same surface. It has a small sock about 5 inches broad at point of feather, and a small rcist 18 inches long by 5 broad, with a natural twist like another reist, fixed upou a strong grubber tine, and attached with a gland to the beam of the large plough, so that it can be lowered or raised to suit the depth wanted. It has no sole shoe or side plate, and is exactly in miniature the same as is now adopted as the double- furrow plough. This is to my mind a very etlicient imple- ment ; so much so, that I have one for every plough, and often use it on land cleared of late lifted potatoes, or where a little foulness is left after green crop. It requires to be as well adjusted as the large plough, and, should any wish to give it a trial, I would warn them not to he discouraged although the first made should not work well without repeated alterations. I got the first idea from the skim-coulter used on the English plough, and was indebted to an ingenious ploughmaker for helping to get it into working order. This implement serves the purpose of trench-ploughing better than two common ploughs. It is difficult with two ploughs to hold the first furrow steady and thin enough to allow the heavy furrow to turn completely over, so as properly to bury the roughness. Where autumn cultivation is not practised, I consider it most essential to use these skimmers in ploughing stubble land for any purpose, as it cleans off weeds which grow principally within three or four inches of the surface, and puts them into the bottom of the furrow, and when covered with the whole body of the clean under-furrow it will smother the most of them, and leave the land comparatively clean for cropping in spring. Of course this is most efficiently done on land of a solid texture, but even on light land it destroys much of the couch grass. There are differences of opinion about deep and shallow ploughing. I am in favour of ploughing stubble land for green crop ten or twelve inches deep, if the subsoil admits of it. It may not be advisable to turn up much retentive clay under a thin surface ; but I would differ with some about the depth light land should be ploughed. To turn up a gravelly, or even an inferior sandy subsoil, will involve a considerable extra expense for manure for a few years at the beginning of a lease, but it will ultimately recompense the liberal hand in the extra crop, besides standing better both extreme wet and dry weather. After ploughing comes the stirring of the land in spring by the grubber, which is a very useful imple- ment if kept iu order ; but in many instances it is more neg- lected than any implement on the farm. In passing along the road, it is remarkable how often you will observe a grubber with thin narrow tines, more as if intended for scoring the land into solid slices than for breaking, cleaning, and pulveriz- ing it. To have this done properly, the tines should have a good body of iron in them — say, Ij inch square, with the square corner first, which makes a good shed or divide of the soil, and is not apt to break or cut the weeds. The other two corners being the broadest w ay of the tine, thoroughly pulverize when properly set with a good rake forward, which I am in- clined to have further sloped than they are generally made ; for when a tine has a good rake, the points get easier in below, and burst up the soil, which not only pulverizes well, but makes a much lighter draught. This will be best proved by describing the extremes. Some grubbers are made straight down in the shank, with only the point bent forward ; and, unless made thin to cut like a coulter (such as I first took notice of), the resistance must be very great, having the whole body of the solid soil before it, to press its way through ; whereas the tine with the rake forward has only the resistance of the soil between it and the surface. This applies to drill as well as to large grubbers ; and, iu passing, I would make a remark on them, although they do not strictly come under the head of this paper. I consider the most of drill grubbers have too many tines, and cannot get into the soil on account of the number of their feet, as we might say. A drill grubber with three tines I5 inches thick is quite sufficient to stir the soil of a 30-inch drill, and will do it much deeper and more effectually than one with five or seven tines, besides being easier drawn when working the same depth. The grubbing operations re- quire more frequent attention of the master than the ploughing, for the ploughman will attend to the latter for his own ease ; whereas he may go with a run-out grubber for days, without thinking anything is wrong, and be merely wasting time baking the land. The two-horse grubber is justly gaining favour, in preference to the large Einlayson. It should be as short as we can get it to clear itself with five tines on two cross-bars, so as they may shift wide to clear in rough land, or close for the last turn in clean land, with two wheels properly balanced near the centre outside of the tines ; this keeps the tines the exact depth wanted, and more equal than ^lith the wheels in front. I have proved the long grubber to be much worse to draw than the short one with the same tines, and would prefer to have it so divided that a tine could be taken out, to guard against choking in very rough land, rather than have a long implement. I have dwelt more upon the implement than the working ol it, as everyone knows that the green crop land must have the number of turns of grubber, harrows, and roller that the nature of the soil and foulness require. There is an endless variety of implements for working land, which it is unnecessary for me to take up at present. Everyone will adopt that which will suit his own purpose best. I need not men- tion what every farmer knows, that before the green crop is put in, the land should be thoroughly cleaned and pulverized, avoiding poaching or baking. This exhausts the mode fol- lowed after ploughing and spring cultivation ; but as I have been in the habit of following out autumn cultivation of the green crop break for nearly a nineteen years' tack, 1 will ne.xt make a few remarks on that subject, as I am decidedly in fa- vour of that system, and avail myself of every dry blink after harvest for that purpose, until, if possible, the whole break is completed before winter. I consider that on light or any laud subject to get dirty after white crop, cleaning in autumn when the weather is suitable is about as good as two green crops in succession. Some begin with the plough, and follow with the grubber. I prefer to reverse this process, because the plough puts to the bottom of the furrow what was before on the top ; and, although the furrow should not be deep, still it takes a great deal of combing with the grubber to bring the weeds 474 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. again to the surface. Besides, as the coulter cuts the couch roots, they are worse to gather ; whereas, by using the grubber jirst, they are drawn out to the very points, and being long like hay, are easily collected by the chain liarrows. The grubber is generally used first about St. Quivox, but it has the objection of being very hard work upon the horses when breaking up the solid stubble the first time, and brings up a large proportion of the soil with the weeds. To obviate these drawbacks, I have adopted the scarifier for three or four years instead of the grubber tine. I find it a much more economical way of cleaning land, and a great ease upon the horses. The scarifiers are fixed upon the grubber tines like ploughshares on each side, welded on to the point of the tine. As, however, they wear down fast, and are somewhat expensive to repair, I have this year got cast metal ones moulded from a wooden pattern, which I have had, after repeated trial, pared down so as to keep hold of the ground, and at the same time scarify it three or four inches below the surface, which is generally as deep as root weeds spread in the soil, except perhaps in very loose sandy land. The scarifier, to take and keep the ground, must be more carefully constructed than many would suppose. It must be hoUow l3elow, so as not to wear plain-soled (to use a homely expression) and run out of the grouud. It should be about 10 inches long, and 8 broad behind, running to a point, with a sheath for the grubber tine above, to fit in as a sock does on the head of a plough. This serves to raise and break up the soil when cut below. 1 cannot describe the under part better than by saying that it is something like the sole of a horse's foot — hollow, with the edges thin and looking downwards. The economy of scarifying as compared with grubbing lies in this, that a pair of horses with a 5-tine scarifier can go lightly over about four imperial acres a-day, and as there is less soil raised with the weeds, it is much easier broken up and separated with the liarrows. The same system is adopted as with the grubber. We follow the seam of the stubble the first turn, and cross it the second, and then harrow well to shake out the weeds ; then follow with the chain harrows one stroke, and cross the same another, which, if the weather is dry, leaves the stubble and weeds rolled up like sheep lying upon the field. While lying in this state, they can be very quickly collected by five or sis women following and throwing them into the cart as it moves on slowly. This in ordinary cases \nll leave the land so free from roughness, that the scarifier will get working freely, and will miss no part of the surface the third or last turn. After this the land should be harrowed, carefully hand-picked, and the weeds carted off. The weeds and stubble thus collected in dry weather may be carted into long heaps, as narrow as to allow the carts to go on at one end and off at the other, and when as high as the horse can conveniently go over them, they may afterwards be topped up like a narrow stack, with a little thatch upon them. They will take a heat, and when broken up during winter will turn out like old dry thatch, and will be very useful either for littering courts or for bedding the dunghill, which serves to increase the manure, and keep the horses from sinking when carting over the soft dung. When the land is cleared of weeds, it may be left in this state till after the lea-land is all ploughed, and the last thing done before the hurry in spring begins. It should be plouglied a good depth, not too broad, with the skimmer on the beam of the plough, such as I at first described, which will scrape off into the bottom of the furrow any short pieces of weeds missed by the weedcrs. Should workers be scarce for hand-picking, weeds may l)e pretty well got rid of by leaving them upon the ground duiiug the winter, when separated as described, and when a dry day in winter can be got, another harrowing or two will keep them from catching the ground, and the frost and wet will so destroy and rot them, that they may be ploughed down without the danger of many appearing again. But by all means get them off the ground if possible, for couch, and what farmers call knot or pearl grass are very tenacious of life. This so far completes the autumn cultivation, which has this advan- tage over others, that aU the treading of the land in the clean- ing process is first, and the ploughing last, and being done after the heavy rains are mostly past, leaves the land loose, and in many cases ready for drilling ; it also greatly facilitates work in spring. Some of our more inland friends may think these remarks on autumn cultivation not interesting to them ; but, perhaps, they might put it to good purpose also. I tried it ast autumn at Kirklandholm, after oats, upon a piece of tliin clay land not very suitable for green crop, and got it thoroughly cleaned by this system, dunged it, sowed wheat, and have reaped a much better crop off the portion thus treated than off better land in the same field green-cropped and more heavily manured the previous year. This system might do for sowing down with oats in the same way where the climate is not suitable for wheat. Some may be ready to say this would only do in very dry years. Certainly this is a great ad- vantage, but those who make a point of carrying out this mode every year prepare for it, and it is astonishing how they succeed, even in a year such as this, for you can scarify on clean stubble when you cannot harrow ; indeed it is the better of some softness to make it pare easily the first time ; and by not taking in too much ground at first you can leave the scari- fying when it will do for harrowing, and return to it when too wet. It is impossible, in the limited time of a club meeting, to dwell upon the preparation of the soil for every kind of crop. And much of that would be so commonplace that I will only touch npon some of the crops, in closing. Before, however, leaving the green-crop, I might give you the draught of some of the different sizes of ploughs and grubbers, which I tested by the dynamometer, as I was not satisfied with the labour some of them gave the horses. The four-horse plougli does not take as much horse power to turn the same body of soil as two common ploughs. The large one, taking a furrow ten to eleven inches deep, was seven cwt. of draught ; the two- horse plough, seven inches deep, was four and a-half cwt.; and the four horses with the proportionate breadth went so much more lightly and speedily over the ground that they turned as much surface in the same time as two small ploughs. The reverse is the case with the scarifiers. I havg tried them on the large Pinlayson tines, but could not get them to take the ground like the two-horse one. I disposed of this, and have wrought a large grubber for two years with seven scarifing tines, which has not only the same tendency of running on the ground, but is about five cwt. draught on three horses, where- as the two-horse one, with five tines is only 2J cwts. These I tested this year when going through light land the last turn and same depth. Besides being much heavier to draw, it is not so handy to lift when showing a tendency to choke, neither does it accommodate itself to the hollows like the two-horse scarifier or grubber. Workmen should be cautioned to be ex- act at the joinings of every breadth, as a great deal of time may be wasted by not attending to this. I have persisted in using the broad implement for the sake of this ; but I am persuaded that the disadvantages mentioned are more than counterbalanced by any advantage iu the breadth. There are many ways of preparing land for a good seed-bed for grain crops, such as pressing, drilling, &c., which I cannot enter into. AU land should be ploughed with a good drill for the seed, and as solid a bed as possible, especially for wheat, [f so\TO on light land it is apt to throw with spring frosts. I am not in favour of ploughing in wheat, as it noes not get an evenly cover on land so loose as to require this, for it does not turn clean with the plough. In such circum- stances it is more apt to mix with the soil than cover, and consequently gets a loose bed. The furrow presser suits very well ; but I have found nothing to give such a solid well- covered bed as the common double-reisted plough, with as narrow a drill as can be held. The only objection to it is the want (if speed. The land should be ploughed so as to leave an even surface after the harrows. There is generally sufficient attention paid by ploughmen to the turning of lea, while they are often very careless about red land, which, to ray mind, is the most important, as the surface of lea ploughing only lasts for a year, ^^'hereas red land, when badly ploughed, shows for years, till broken up again. From the short time I have used the double furrow plough I expect it will obviate the fault of unevenly ploughing, and is likely to supersede some of the implements I have taken notice of. But I will not go into its merits until it is further proved. I will only add that I will leave the ploughing of lea land to the judges present. For my own part I like it well turned over in light land — what we would call a little faeey, with the fog well covered, well packed, and as good a drill as possible. I will not go further into the preparation for white crop, but in conclusion say that there is one very important cleaner I have not spoken of yet, and I often think of the correct remark made by an old farmer, who, when grubbers were first introduced and much talked of, said, " I see uae use for your grubbers : I would pit in as THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 475 much dung as draw out the dirt like Venus turpentine out of a horse's foot." Mr. C.u,DWELL (Knockslioggle) said : The use of scarifiers, as described by Mr. Wallace, was not practised in his quarter. They generally found, if (he land had been thorouglily cleaned witli tlie previous green crop, that there were no weeds to get rid of. But he believed that on light lands weeds grew more readily than on the soil he was accustomed to, whicli was an earthy land with a clay subsoil. He had no douljt that on land which had not previously been green cropped the system described by Mr. Wallace would be thoroughly ellicieut. Mr. Reid, jun. (Chuic), said: In the district of St.Quivox tliey could not do without taking off the weeds. Mr. KoBEiiTSON (llyehurn) said green cropping was carried on to a very limited extent iu the district he came from ; in fact, most farmers thought it was the worst thing they could do with their land ; and if it was not for the necessity of raising a few potatoes they would not green crop at all. In his district the practice was to have two white crops and a hay crop, and then let the land remain in pasture for five, six, or seven years before it was broken up again. If the land was properly manured and laid down it was not likely to be very [foul when broken up. The only difficulty they had was that they were sometimes at a loss to know what was best to do with tlieir stubble land. The way they had found most profitable, when they were fortunate enough to get a dry spring, was to dung it and plough it down iu the autumn, and give it a second furrow iu spring, and then sew their seed. If they had a dry spring, they found they had in this way a better crop than when the stubble was ploughed iu spring, that their hay crop was better and seeded better, and that it left the land better for pasture. Although it involved more labour and ex- pense, they believed that it repaid the extra cost_of the two ploughings. Mr. Stevexson (Silverwood) " said he believed the practice . that Mr. Wallace followed would behest for his own soil; but / iu the locality he came from they knew nothing about drawing out the couch grass in the way Mr. Wallace had described. A farmer on a heavy clay soil would not be acting as he should do it he allowed his land to get into a condition like that. The way he had found most beneficial for preparing land for green crop in his district, where they had a heavy soil and subsoil, was to plough very deep in the end of the season, as soon after the harvest as possible, and leave it in that state till the spring, and then to grub it and work as little on it as possible. It had, of course, to be got -into a certain state to be fit for the brairding and growth of the seeds sown, but the less work they made upon it, and the less they went on it with horses and grubbers, the better. Some wrought the land, grubbed it, and drilled it in the end of the season, and left it in that state during winter. They considered that by this mode they had it in better order in the spring for the crops that were to be sown. But his experience was that the other way was the best. The reason why he preferred the grubber to the plough in spring was that if the land was properly ploughed to a suflicient depth iu the end of the season, and if there were frosts during winter, it was in a better state for the brairding of the seed in spring than if it were ploughed again. In the spring to turn up clay soils to the sun and drought they were apt to get it iuto a cloddy state. No doubt these clods could be bioken by clod-crusliers, rollers, and harrows, but that entailed considerable expense ; and if the land could be put into a proper state without that, so much the better. He agreed very much with what had been said by Mr. Robertson. In the district from which he came thsy found that pasture paid better than green crop. Mr. Brown (Ardneil) said he had been much gratified with the paper that Mr. Wallace had read. Where land was in a foul state his system was all right, with this exception, that he did not approve of the deep-ploughing in autumn with a skim sock and reist, unless it was to get an early crop, such as potatoes. If the land were clean, he would approve of Mr. Wallace's plan. He always in such a case used a four-horse plough with a skim, and ploughed very deep, sometimes twelve inches deep or more. He thought both on light and clay land the big plough should be more used than it was. He believed that to plough the stubble and the few weeds that might be on the surface well down was a very good way to get rid of them — he did not think they would cause any trouble afterwards. Another advantage of going over the land in autumn with a skim sock and ploughing down was that, unless the winter proved a very wet one, they would not require to open it up again in the spring. If they had to turn up the land in the spring either by a plough or grubber, they allowed the drought to get in, and in such a season as last, they had ditticulty in getting a braird of turnips or mangold. But in the way he had described the land required almost no grubbing. It was consolidated by the winter's rains, and the capillary attraction worked up from the bottom, and they had no difficulty in get- ting a braird. He thought that was the best mode, either for light or heavy land, unless it was very foul. In regard to the ploughing of land again for oats, he approved very much of the plan mentioned by Mr. Robertson, though there would be a difficulty in getting dung to plough in for the oat crop where there was much green crop. As regarded implements, he thought if the proper system of preparing land was taken, fewer implements would be needed. They had implements for the breaking and crushing of clods, but he thought farmers should never raise clods. The land that rose in clods should not be green-cropped at all. Clod-raising and clod- breaking was bad farming, and sore upon horses. One implement he had recently seen, which he thought would be very useful on light land, was a sowing machine which sowed nine drills at a time. A great advantage on light land was to get it early ploughed, so as to let it get consolidated, and then in the spring by using this sowing machine they could get the seed put down as deep as they liked into consolidated land, and it only needed further to be harroM'ed and rolled. By this means they could always get the seed put in at the proper season. Another new implement that has been used was the double- furrow plough. He had seen it but seldom at work, l)ut from its construction he did not think it would prove a very useful implement. It might work very well on red land, though he was a little sceptical of its going very deep ; but he could not see how it could be useful for lea ploughing. It never could iu its present shape, as it cut a furrow that would not do for heavy solid land. A plough that cut a rectangular furrow would not do ; the furrow must be cut triangularly, or it would not lie over on its edge as it ought to do. That was the great drawback to the steam plough. Another strong ob- jection to the double-furrow plough was its difliculty of draught in going up a hill. He thought the implements they had were generally as good as they were likely to get. Mr. Whyte (East Raws) said : Mr. Wallace's paper met his approbation completely, so far as regarded Light soil. The style of working, however, was considerably different where he was located. There principal object in preparing the soil for seed was to render it as loose as possible, so as to be penetrable by the atmosphere, and encourage the germination of the seed. It was a little different on lighter soil, where they spoke of having to consohdate it ; and the style of work- ing, of course, must be essentially different. With regard to cleaning, he thoroughly approved of Mr. Wallace's plan. Where the soil was foul with couch grass or other weeds, it was a good plan to pull them up with a grubber before ploughing down. He had seen this done advantageously even upon their heavier soils. It was rather an expensive job, and was more expensive on heavy than on light soils; but it could be as effectually done on the one as on the other where the season was suitable. It was often more advantageously done duriug autumn than in spring. He had seen it to be very ad- vantageous, when the weather was suitable, to put on a top- dressing of dung, and plough it down again without green crop. He had found the land thus in better condition both for a crop of oats and pasturing after than if it had been green- cropped. Mr. Stevenson (Ilillhouse) said: Every soil which was expected to carry artificial plants must abound more or less with those powers from which fertility was derived, by which vegetation must either flourish or decay ; yet it was evident that those powers might be rendered more or less active by proper or improper raanagemeut. The proper preparation of the soil, so as to obtain that free and loose condition suitable for the reception and germination of the seed, and finally the perfection of the crop, was of primary importance, being the foundation on which all successful cultivation depended. Tlie axiom of an old writer of the last century might be adopted by all farmers : it was that their object should be to make a heavy land light and a light land heavy. A social necessity demanded that every means and every faculty should be em- 476 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ployed to improve aud extend tlieir cultivation — the increased consumption of agricultural produce in this country annually rendering necessary an increased supply. If they continued in the old beaten track, foreign growers would take the lead and monopolise the trade. By a skilful employment of labour, the application of machinery and other superior implements of husbandry, and the use of fertilising and enriching manures, much had already been done ; but as progress was the motto of the age, they must press forward to reach still higher at- tainments and greater improvements, so to be able to pro- duce at a cheaper rate, aud increase the products of the soil. They might well expect that, after the lapse of ages, the art of cultivation, which was one of the most ancient as it was one of the most important aud generally practised, would now have reached perfection. Yet there was still much ditfcrence of opinion and many discussions as to the very first principles of agriculture. On the one hand it was maintained that almost everything depended upon the atmosphere and the mineral constituents of the soil ; that the great secret of successful farming consisted in keeping the soil in a state suitable for the germination of the seed, and having an adequate supply of the mineral constituents, as these might be discovered from the ashes, the organic food being supplied from the atmosphere. On the other hand it was alleged that neither the air nor the ashes of plants needed to be considered, but only proper cultivation and supply of the soil with or- ganic matter — their belief being that it was upon lutmits or the decay of organic matter in the soil tliat the crop mainly depended. Agriculture was much in- debted to Liebig for the discovery of his mineral theory, but he considered that he had carried his views too far — as the air, the light, the organic aud inorganic matters of the soil all acted together in providing food for vegetation. The soil was the great laboratory in which the food was prepared, and any process or operation wliich stirred the soil and brought fresh portions to the influence of the atmosphere, promoted those changes in the organic and mineral ingredients, and rendered them available for the nutrition of crops. In this manner the stores of the soil were opened up. Tillage operations not only accomplished tliis desirable result, but also prepared the soil for drawing from the atmosphere fertilizing matter. The atmosphere was to the farmer ^^■hat the sea was to the fisherman : he who spread his nets the widest caught the most. Not that all laud derived equal benefit from this maga- zine of wealth ; but land received and profited as the industry and intelligence of man rendered it capable of drinking in the fertilizing matter. Ploughing, which was the chief operation, ought to be executed according to the nature and condition of the land. On strong clay and loams and those of a deep staple, tlie plough should go to a considerable depth ; but upon thin clays and barren sands the benefit of deep ploughing was very questionable. More depended upon the nature of tlie soil, the condition of the land, and tlie judgement of the farmer, than upon any general rule ; as the depth to wliich the oots of plants penetrated into the soil in search of sustenance aried as much according to the properties of the soil as the ature of plants themselves. Eut every intelligent liusband- inan was aware of the superiority of a deep staple over that which was shallow, and when deep it possessed the advantage of suifering less from extreme heat or from tlie injurious etfects of rain. And the roots going deeper into the soil, aiforded proportionate strength to the lower part of the stem, and maintained its freshness with greater vigour in time of drought. To maintain and improve the properties of a soil, he did not consider it expedient to go to hastily into the sub- soil, but gradually increase the depth of furrow, so that the vegetative stratum might not only be deepened, but by the amelioration and gradual incorporation of the soil with some of the virgin earth below, no injury, bat benefit would be derived by all plants which penetrated far into the ground. If this was not done the ground by slow degrees became im- poverished, for besides being deprived of the influence of the atmosphere, a crust of hard and almost impenetrable earth would be formed below that portion upon which the plough was usually made to act, and thus constitute a barrier between the surface and the subsoil below. Without saying more he would again express how much pleased he was with the essay which had that night been read. Mr. YoujNG (Kilhenzie) understood Mr. Wallace to say that after getting the land thoroughly free from weeds, he did not think it desirable to plough it till the spring. Now in the quarter wliere he came from they considered it better to plough at this season, and leave the land exposed to the action of the atmosphere and frosts in winter. Mr. Wallace said his remarks applied to light land. Heavy laud he always considered better to plough at this season. Mr. Young said the double-furrow plough stood much higher in his estimation than it did in Mr. BroAfn's, and he believed before many years they vcould see it at work on every farm. He knew a gentleman of great experience who had tried the implement — and who in that respect had the advan- tage of Brown — and he spoke most favourably of it. When the reaping machine was first introduced, it was said by many farmers that it might do for fine level land, but not for general use ; but now it was at use on all sorts of farms. He be- lieved it would be the same with the double-furrow plough. Ilisexperience was that it was a benefit to cultivate the land deep ; even where the soil was not good he thought it would be better to plough deeper than they did. Mr. R. M. CuNNiNGiiiME (Shields) did not think they could have got a better hand to expound this subject than Mr. Wallace. Any one who liad been in the habit of going through the St. Quivox district must have been struck with the great improvement which has taken place within the period of eleven months on a certain farm not many miles from Ayr, since it came into Mr. Wallace's possession. Those who had known Mr. Wallace for any length of time must be be aware that he was a great enthusiast in regard to imple- ments and machines. Indeed, he knew no farmer who was so thoroughly up in the mechanism of nearly every implement and machine needed on a farm. Tlie double-furrow plough was all the rage just now; but he believed Mr. Wallace was the inventor of another double machine, viz., a double carrot- sower, which sowed four rows at a time. Their discussion to- night had turned so much on the best mode of cultivating the various kinds of land, that he was afraid they had lett out of sight the other branch of the subject, viz., what was the most economical. Perhaps the modes that had been described were the most economical as well as the best : but he thought no one had dwelt on that point, which he considered most essential, because they were obliged at present to do everything in their power to reduce the expenditure if they could not increase the produce. It was only the other day that he got notice from a party in Glasgow that the city manure was to be raised so much per waggon. He saw also that the price of Peruvian guano was to be raised 10s. per ton, and very likely other manures would follow suit. Now, unless they could either reduce their expenditure or increase their produce it was impossible they could meet their engagements or succeed in their profession. To get at the best and most economical mode of working their land was of fundamental importance to farmers. He had no doubt that steam cultivation was the best and most economical ; but in its present state of development it was not suited to the farmers in this county. It was a pity that some such body as the Highland Society did not start an experi- mental farm wherein farmers' sons and others could be in- structed in the various methods of farming at one and the same time. A farmer, who had been nearly his whole life-time working away at the same system, knew little beyond what was his own custom, and if he was obliged to change, perhaps near the end of his life, to another and different district, he must be greatly at sea as to how to manage his laud properly, or at least to the best advantage. Though a young man, he could speak from experience on this point. It would be a great matter for the farmers of this country if something of the kind that he had indicated could be set agoing ; and it would be well if the Highland Society would do something of the sort with the vast sum of money it had lying past doing little good. It might do far more good to agriculture in this way than by its shows. With regard to the subject of dis- cussion, being from the same district as Mr. Wallace, he had pretty nearly described his own practice in preparing green crop land. Mr. Robertson had said something about the benefit of ploughing stubble land twice ; and he was of opin- ion that especially with heavy land, it would be very beneficial to plough it twice. He had heard that in Ross-siurc, where they had been much troubled with grub-worm, they had re- sorted to the plan of ploughing lea land twice. About Janu- ary they ploughed two inches deep, and with a double-furrow Tfi?] FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 477 plough tliat could be most expeditiously doue. Then in the beginning of Marcli they ploughed across five or six inches deep, and generally there were a few frosty mornings at tlial season, so that the land mellowed down beautifully under the harrows. The laud prepared in that way also admitted better of drill sowing than when it was only ploughed once, because if the lea land \>as ploughed early it was often so wasted and consolidated by the winter's rain that tlie rootlets of the crop had raucli dilliculty in forcing tlieir way tlirough the soil. Seeiug Mr. Brown was so much taken up with drill-sowing, he believed he would find it better for that system to do away with prize ploughing he seemed to admire so much, and to follow the mode he (Mr. C.) had spoken of. With regard to the double-furrow plough, he had himself used it for a little time, aud he thought a great deal of it. lie believed there was such a demand for it that the makers were at present un- able to fulfil their orders. He had no doubt it would curae to be generally used. There was a mode he was pursuing this year ou his heaviest land which had been recommended to him by those who tried it — that was to plough his green crop, break a good depth of furrow just at ])reseut, and imme- diately follow it by cross-ploughing aud drilling. A gentle- man in a neighbouriug county, who had a good deal of heavy land, told him that by doing this lie found his land was better prepared and he got his turnips in earlier than by the usual system. He hoped to be able at some future time to state whether he had found it an efficient mode. The Ch.vieman said he agreed generally with Mr. Wallace so far as he had gone ; but to exhaust such a wide subject would recjuire six days' discussion instead of one. There were a few things he would suggest in counoction with his own practice, seeing it was as practical men they were looking at the question. In the locality where he was placed, they had little to do iu breaking down land at all, believing as they did that the less ploughing and harrowing it got the better. It was their aim in tiie upland districts to keep the " bone" iu the land, for as soon as the bone was broken their crops were gone. At the same time, they had patches near the water edges of ditTereut kinds of soil — light land, loam, and also an earthy clay. In regard to the cleaning of land, he had the mis- fortune to go to aplace, when a young man following the plough, where a holm by the water side was covered with nothing but coucli grass and pearl grass. That was what he had not been used to ; but he thought there must be some mode of getting quit of them. He did not know any plan to adop, but he considered that the great rule to guide a person at his pro- per calling was his natural instinct (a laugli). When Adam cultivated the garden of Eden — (renewed laugliter) — there were no Farmers' Clubs to assist him, but he believed he would work ou as well and economically as the best of them. Well, this field that he spoke of, the soil of which was a deep loam, was lying like a hay field with couch grass. He got a com- mon plough with three horses, and ploughed as deep as he could go, burying iu the couch grass, and never taking any of it off. He found that if couch grass was buried six inches be- low tlie surface it would rot. It was not easy, however, ma- naging this with a common plough ; but he found afterwards, by employing aii old smith well up in plough-making to put a sort of broad sock ou the plough to turn over the furrow, aud then going in other six inches with a trench plough, putting the soil over the top of the first furrow, that he had in this way done with the weeds, and was never more troubled with them again. Although green crop did not suit the land in his locality, it was necessary to green crop as much as would grow some potatoes. To me^t this purpose they selected out of the lea break the driest and sandiest spot they could find, and to pulverise it properly he found the best way was first to scarify it with a common plough, as " ebb" as it could possibly be done, say 1| or 2 inches deep — tumbling the furrow right on 'its back. This was done across the ridges. Then in spring, as soon as it was dry, the harrows were put over it ; alterwards it was ploughed two inches deeper up and down tbe ridges. Then the plough went over it two inclies deeper still, and the work was done. This system, of course, was only adapted to the particular locality he was placed in. As to the double-furrow plough, he had no doubt from its construction that it must be more economical than the common plough. Mr. Browm's objeetiou to the shape of the furrow would no doubt be removed so soon as the makers knew the kind of furrow that was wanted. But he was uotjprepared to condemn the kind of furrow made by the double plougli. The furrow generally formed at ploughing matches might suit some localities, but iu his locality, with a stiff clay land, to cut a furrow of triangular shape, as was the general custom at ploughing matches, was ruinous to the crop. This system of ploughing caused unnecessary labour to the horses, while by it there was too much drill put upon the furrow, the land was too much tortured, the bone of it was too muck broken, aud the seed was too much covered. He greatly pre- ferred the old-fasliioncd plough that made a furrow five inches deep by eight broad, with none of their turned up socks to run it up to a triangular ridge. He liked to have as much drill as covered the grass, and kept a body in the furrow so that at least half of it would be below the seed. Tlieir prize ploughing was horse-murder and man-murder, compared to what it ought to be. To have the coulter set plump down was much more difficult to draw thau when set like Mr. Wallace's grubber tiues. Then look at the pressure upon the point of the sock when the irons were set wide to bring up so much drill. The horses sweated, aud there was nothing to balance the plough but sheer force of arm. Altogether, he believed, the form of furrows adopted at ploughing matches to be a curse to the country (laughter). Mr. Brown (Ardneil), in answer to Mr, Young, would say that his chief objections to the two-furrow plough were that it did not cut a furrow that would work on stiff lea land, and next that it would be very difficult to draw up a steep hill. The latter objection could never be obviated. With regard to what Mr. Cuuninghame had said about ploughing lea land twice, he would not object to that if it were a cure for worms. But he did not believe it would be. Two years ago, in the spring, the country was overrun with worms, while last year there were almost none. Mr. Dalglish was displeased with the furrow in prize-ploughiug, and so was he when carried to ex- tremes ; but he liked to see the furrow well set up and properly packed. When it was so the water went easily away, and the seed was saved ; whereas with a rectangular furrow the water was apt to lie on the top. The opinion that the plough was worse to hold in triangular ploughing was, he ventured to say, contrary to the opinion of every first-prize ploughman. Mr. Wallace, in replying, said it was a very happy circum- stance when one could hit upou spots of land like Mr. Cald- well's, which were so clean that they needed no special pro- cess for getting rid of weeds. But it would be strange if, even on such land, there should not be sometimes a little couch grass ; and therefore even on such land he would begin with the scarifier. A system he often adopted when the land was very clean, lest there should be any patch of couch grass left, was to put women ou it with grapes : the land was in this way very speedily gone over when it was not very foul. But even with this plan weeds sometimes escaped the eyes of the workers, and though he had tried this mode this year ou very clean land, he thought it better to stop the work and go over it regularly with the scarifier rather than have a single root left. With regard to the double-furrow plough, he had had two working upou lea, and he thought Mr. Brown was entirely mistaken about them. As the plough was made of iron, like another plough, the irons could be set by any ordinary black- smith so that the furrow could be cut to suit the taste of each farmer. He quite agreed with the chairman as to the shape of the furrow ; but tlie double plough could be made to cut the prize furrow if it was wanted. Mr. Brow u was also quite mistaken as to the draught of the plough. This had but lately been tested, when, ou the same land, the draught of the ordinary plough was found to be 4j cwt., while that of the double-furrow was only 4^ cwts. He believed it was easier for three horses to draw the double plough than for two to draw the common pbugh. Mr. Caldwell asked how Mr. Wallace accounted for two furrows being cut with only half a cwt. more draught than a single furrow. Mr. Wallace said he accounted for it by the fact that the double-furrow ploufjh had wheels, and it was easier drawn on that account, just as a cart was easier drawn with wheels than without them. A vote of thanks was tendered to Mr, Wallace for his paper, on the motion of Mr. Murdoch, Holehouse, after which the meeting broke up. 478 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. BATH & WEST OF ENGLAND SOCIETY, AND SOUTHERN COUNTIES ASSO- CIATION. The meeting of the Council was held ou Tuesday, Oct. 26th, at the Grand Pump Room Hotel, Bath. Mr.T.'D. Ac- land, M.P., in the chair. There were also present Messrs. E. S. Allen, M.P., H. G. Andrews, R. G. Badcock, J. Townsend Boscawen, R. Brembridge, C. Bush, R. H. Bush, Thomas Danger, F. iH. Dickinson, E. S. Drewe, Mark Farrant, Henry Fookes, John Gray, Jonathan Gray, Meade King, Joseph Lush, H. A. F. Luttrell, H. Middleton, R. Neville-Grenville, M.P., John C. Rams- den, Richard James Spiers, Robert Trood, II. Williams, W. Smith (Official Accountant), aud J. Goodwin (Secre- tary and Editor). The Council resolved that the Taimton meeting shall commence on Monday, Juue 6th, aud having approved the Stock and Poultry prize sheets, ordered that tliey be forth- with printed and circulated. Prizes are offered for Devon, Hereford, Shorthorn, Sussex, and Channel Island Cattle, in the sheep classes for Leicester, Cotswold, Devon Longwool, South Down, Hampshire Down, Shropshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset and Dorset Horn, Exmoor, aud other Mountain sheep. In the horse classes there are prizes for agricultural stallions, for mares aud foals, or in foal ; in the hunter classes, for mares or geldings, foaled before the 1st of January, for those foaled in 1866, for fillies or geldings foaled in 1867, for colts or fillies foaled in 1869, for hacks, mares, or geldings, and the usual prizes for ponies. The Council have resolved again to reduce the charge for horse boxes in the show-yard to the iiniform rate of £1 for each animal. In the pig classes the usual prizes are offered for animals of the large and small breeds ; and in compliance with a requisition signed by breeders, four separate classes have been established for Berk.iliire pigs, which, however, will not be allowed to compete with animals of the large or small breed. ]\Ir. Miles, of Exeter, again offers three prizes for proficiency in horse-shoeing. Among the special conditions affecting the exhibition of stock are the appointment of " two inspectors to ex- amine sheep on their admission to the show-yard, with instructions to report to the Stewards any cases in which sheep have not been really and fairly shorn bare," and that '■ all cattle will be required to be paraded in the ring at least once a day, at the discretion of the Stewards." Tenders for the sole right of printing and disjjosing of the Society's Catalogues of Stock, Poultry, and Imple- ments, for a term of five years were received, aud a ten- der of Mr. Alfred Gadsby, of the Steam-machine and Ge- neral Printing-office, 10, Crane-court, Fleet-street, Lon- don, was accepted, the consideration money offered by him being to £110 per annum. The Committee appointed to consider the duties and salary of the Secretary aud Editor recommended that as increased duties have fallen on the Secretaey since the amalgamation with the Southern Counties Association he should receive an addition to his salary of £50 per annum. They also recommended that the salary of the Accountant should be increased to £60 per an- num. To both of these recommendations the Council gave their assent. Tt was resolved that until further orders the CouncQ meetings shall be held at Bristol instead of at Bath. Mr. Ramsden having presented an invitation to the Council from a public meeting of the inhabitants of Guildford and neighbourhood for the Society to hold its meeting there in 1871, a deputation was appointed to visit th« town, tQ iaspect tli« gvouud, gftered i9X shw \ yard and fields^ and to report to the Council at the next meeting. New Meubees. — H. Compton, Manor House, Lynd- hurst, Hants ; A. Greenfell, Shalford, Guildford. THE SMITHFIELD CLUB. A Council Meeting was held on Wednesday, Nov. 3i'd, Present: The Duke of Marlborough, president, in the chair; Messrs. H. Aylmer, J.Baldwin, J. N. Beasley, W. B. Canning, J. Clayden, J. Druce, S. Druce, T. Duckham, B. Gibbs, R. Hornsby, C. Howard, J. Howard M.P., H. W. Keary, R. Leeds, E. W. Moore, H. Over- man, J. Painter, W. Sanday, J. T. Senior, W. Torr, Lord Tredegar, J. S. Turner, and Jacob Wilson. The honorary secretary was authorized to apply for the usual licence from the Privy Council for holding the Club's Show. A committee was appointed to make the necessary arrangements as to disinfecting cattle conveyances. The Council prepared a house-list of the eight mem- bers whom they recommend to be elected on the Council in place of those who retire by rotation at the close of the ensuing Show. The ofi'er of the Agricultural Hall Company to pro- vide, at a cost of £15, temporary accommodation for any animals that may be taken ill during the Show, was accepted. It was determined that the Club's annual dinner shall take ])lace in the new dining-hall attached to the Show, on Monday, Dec. 6, at 4.30 punctually. The stewards and hon. secretary were requested to make the necessary arrangements connected therewith. Authority was given for the preparation of the pieces of plate and silver cups offered by the Club at the ensuing Show. The following were duly elected members of the Club : The Earl of March, M.P. C. McNiven, Perrysfield, Godstone — Milburu, 76, Church-lane, E. R. Wood, Clapton, near Ouudle J. Unite, 291, Edgware-road J. G. Unite, 291, Edgware-road F. J. Uuite, 291, Edgware-road J. Hart, 244, Whiteohapel-road N. Stilgoe, Manor Farm, Adderbury, Oxon Wni. T. Franklin, Ascott, Walliugford J. Pulley, Lower Eaton, Hereford F. Dodd, Rush Court, AYallingford C. Stepheuson, Woburu, Beds J. C. F. Ramsden, Busbridge Hall, Godalming J. E. Heasmau, Augmering, Arundel E. Benjafield, Stalbridge, Dorsetshire J. Mason, Eynsham Hall, Witney T. Franklin, Ascott, Wallingford J . Frauklin, Milton, Wheatley, Oxon P. Turner, The Leeii, Pembridge, Hereford Sir A. de Rothschild, Bart., Aston Clinton, Tring J. Reid, Graystoue, Alford, Aberdeen T. C. Booth, Warlaby, Northallerton The Earl of Raduor, Coleshill, Highworth. The Council determined that the report on the live stock exhibited at the show be written, as for the last two years, by Mr. H. H. Dixon, The Council, having considered whether by the rules certain entries of live-stock could be received, came to decisions on the same, and gave instructions accordingly. The thanks of the meeting were voted, to the President for kk coiid.ugt iu the ohm, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 479 THE BUTTER AND CHEESE SHOW AT KILMARNOCK, Our great exliibitiou of dairy produce iu Kilmarnock is growing iu extent and importance year after year. Six tables, placed across the building, were covered with cheese, three with butter, and five with tlie produce in other departments of the show, and with plants and flowers supplied by nurserymen about Kilmarnock. The committee made an ell'ort to have tlie dairy produce placed and the judges set to work early on the forenoon of the Tluirsday, so as to be ready for public admis- sion at nine o'clock on Friday. And a whole day was needed, for it was not an easy matter to examine and compare a thou- sand cheeses, and ultimately to select the best where none were bad, liundreds were really good, and dozens so fine that the distinction would seem very slight except to experts at the work. In the prize list the first class engrosses generally the most attention, as it shows better than any other class the re- spective positions of the difl'erent counties in the competition. The Galloway counties maintain their leading position. Wig- townshire has five prizes in the first class, and one of these is the highest; Kirkcudbright has four, of which one is the se- cond ; and Ayrsliire has three — the fourth, fifth, and eighth. Of 37 competitors who are distinguished by the judges, 11 are from Wigtownsliire, 10 from Ayrsliire, and six from Kirkcud- bright. In the second the position of Ayrshire is not so good. From Wigtownsliire seven are distinguished, while tliere are three from Ayrshire, and five from the Stewartry. Passing over the loaf cheese, which are made iu comparatively few dairies, we find that Ayrshire lias been very successful in the fifth class, being distinguished in seven instances, including the first and third prizes, while five are distinguished from Wigtownshire, t\vo from Kirkcudbriglit, and one from Lanark- shire. In the large eighth class, limited to Ayrshire, Mr. AUan, Munnoch, a regularly-good cheesemaker, carried off the highest honours. It is a very obvious remark that success depends a good deal upon what the Scotsman, terms, not inaccurately, " the accident of a nice selection." For instance Mr. Gairdner, Baldoon, is first in the first class, and Mr. M'Gufiie, BarrhUl, Stoueykirk, is not placed amongst the 27 distinguished competitors ; and in the second class Mr. M'Gufiie is first, and Mr. Gairdner, the great man of the year, is merely commended, with two prize-takers and eighty highly- commended competitors — three of whom are Ayrshire ex- hibitors— before him. In the fiftli class Mr. Nisbet, Games- hill, a steadily-good Ayrshire maker, is first, beating Mr. Sawers, who was third in the first class, and first in the very important sweepstake, and also leaving in the distance Mr. M'Gufiie and some more of the most famous men from Wigtown- shire. These things show that Galloway must take care of its laurels, and tliat Ayrshire men have no reason to despond. They also show that a good cheesemaker is not lowered in po- sition by defeat, as some of the best Galloway makers are no- where in each of the classes. Competitors may find it ad- visable to leave as little as possible to the " accident" of se- lection, and the best way to avoid it is to have a person of ap- proved skill to assist in picking out the cheese for competition. Differences which seem scarcely appreciable at home may turn the balance at Kilmarnock. In the butter, as in the cheese, the evidence of progress is to be found not so much in higher top quality from year to year, as in the increasing number of really good makers. We still incline to the opinion that the value and importance of the show would not be much diminished by reducing the number of classes for butter. We cannot see much utility in having separate classes for Ayrshire, when this county is so able to take care of itself in open competition. And we certainly do not see very clearly the advantage that is to accrue from giving a great number of prizes for cured butter, when our proximity to large markets makes fresh and pow- dered butter more valuable. In the cured article the Ayrshire farmer is kept down to the price of the best qualities pro- duced in Munster or in Denmark, while iu supplying tlie best quality of fresh or powdered butter, he has all the advan- tage of a restricted area of supply. The wheat was very good on Friday, tliough not equal to the remarkably fine samples of last year. The oats and barley were also good. The cab- bages seemed unsurpassable, and the mangold were wonder- fully good, though not up to the enormous weight wliich Mr. MaosoH reached. Jasst year, One of lus lot? of §U weishe\l ll-ilbs., or an average of 191bs. each. Last year his largest were nearly 2'ilbs. eacli — the heaviest we ever saw in any part of the United Kingdom. — The Ayr Advertiser, THE POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE OF THE WELSH TENANTRY. At a meeting at Aberystwith, the following resolutions were carried : That this conference considers it to be a subject of sincere congratulation, and a strong proof of the development of po- litical principles iu the Principality, that so many of the elec- tors should have voted at the last election in accordance witli their convictions uotwitlistandiug the great pressure to which they were subjected by landlords and others. That it is the duty of all who honour political honesty to assist those who have been called upon to suifer for resisting the coercion attempted to be practised upon them as respects their votes, and to compensate them as far as possible for the losses they have undergone. "That this conference deeply sympathises with the anxi- eties and suflTerings of those who have been evicted from their holdings, or otherwise injured in their circumstancdes iu con- sequence of the conscientious exercise of the francliise at the last election. That for the purpose of rendering such assistance as may be necessary, it is recommended that a fund shall be raised : 1. By siibscriptions and donations. 2. By collections in every chapel throughout the Principality. 3. By a guarantee fond of £20,000. That the fund shall be vested in five trustees, three of whom shall form a quorum, to sign cheques, invest and draw money, and make payments for such claims as have been ap- proved of and accepted, in the manner to be from time to time settled. That the following 'gentlemen be the first trustees of the fund, and iu case of tlie death or resignation of one or more, the survivors shall elect a successor : Mr. E. M. Richards, M.P. ; Mr. II. Richard, M.P. ; Mr. S. Morley, M.P. ; Mr. G. O. Morgan, M.P. ; and Mr. J. Roberts, Liverpool. That all apphcatious for compensation shall be considered, iu the first place by the general committee for each county, to be elected at this meeting, and that they shall report upon each case separately, after collecting and considering all the available evidence, and that the decision of a quorum, if una- nimous, shall be considered final ; if otherwise, that it shall be referred to assessors to be hereafter elected for each county. Committees were then appointed for the several counties. HADLEIGH FARMERS' CLUB.— The annual root and poultry shovif of this Club has just been held. Mr. C. Frost, of Wherstead, took the first prize for mangold grown on sound land ; and Mr. J. Norman, of West Bergholt, the second ; Mr. J. G. Rand, the first prize for swedes ; and Mr. R. Rand the prize for other kinds of turnips. Mr. W. Gurdon, of Branthara, was the first prizeman for kohl rabi ; and Mr. J. Brown for all sorts combined. The weight of Mr. Frost's prize mangold was .Sl^ tons per acre. In the evening there was the usual tea-dinner at the 'White Lion. The chair was occupied by Mr. J. Rand, who was supported by the members for West Suflblk (Lieut.-Col. Parker, ana Lord A. Hervey), and a large party — GO in one room and 32 in another ; the whole company afterwards making common cause in the larger apartment, when the tea and its accessories were removed. In the course of the after-tea discussion, Mv. Gurdon remarked that in 1864 he took the first mangold prize with 40 tons per acre, and he did not appear to have been beaten since. Mr. Gurdon recommended an increased culti- vation of kohl rabi. Mr. Postans, one of the judges, stated that Mr. Frost, the first mangold prizeman, had this year 73 roots to the rod, while Mr. Gurdon had 100 roots to the rod in 1864. Mr. R. Rand, who had achieved considerable success in turnips, said he had not used anything more than common ; his habit was to use farm -yard manure — about ten chaldrons' load to the acre— after having made as good a fallow as he conW, 480 TJIE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. THE HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND. At tlie first ordinary mouthly meeting of tlie directors of tliis society for the season, Mr. Walker, of Bovvlaud, in tlie chair : On the report by the committee appointed to conduct tlie trial of implements, which took place on the farm of Nether Libertou on the 17th of August last, the directors awarded the following premiums : First, Silver Medals to Brigham and Bickerton,'Berwiek- on-Tweed, for side-delivery reaper. John Doe, Errol, agent for A. C. Bamlet, Thirsk, for self-delivery reaper. Brigham and Bickerton, Berwick-ou-Tvvecd, for two-horse manual delivery reaper. J. and A. Douglas, Stranraer, for rotary hand-delivery reaper. John Gregory, Weston, South Shields, ,for one-horse manual delivery reaper. R. L. Mactaggart, Edinburgh, for mower, manufactured by W. A. Wood, Loudon. Lillie, Goodlet, Elder, and Co., Ber- wick-on-Tweed, for combined reaper and mower. Robert Mitchell and Son, Peterhead, for double furrow plough. David Bobertson, 153, Queen-street, Glasgow, for Phillips' pneumatic fire extinguisher. Second, Medium Silver Medals to Brigham and Bickerton, Berwick-on-Tweed, for side-delivery reaper. Alexander Jack and Sons, Maybole, for two-horse manual delivery reaper. Andrew Hogarth, Kelso, for Border Chief reaper. John Pringle, Edinburgh, agent for Samuelson and Co., Banbury, for Eclipse reaper. Picksley, Sims, and Co., Leigh, Lancashire, for mower. Brigham aud Bickerton, Berwick-on-Tvveed, for combined reaper and mower. Thomas Pirie and Co., Kinmundy, Longside, Aberdeen, for double furrow plough. Third, Commendation Medals to John Pringle, Edin- burgh, agent for Samuelson and Co., Banbury, for side- delivery reaper. Lillie, Goodlet, Elder, and Co., Berwick- on-Tweed, for two-horse manual delivery reaper. John Doe, Errol, agent for A. C. Bamlet, Thirsk, for one-horse manual delivery reaper. John Fowler and Co., Edinburgh and Leeds, for double furrow plougli. A letter was read from Mr. Malcolm Macgregor, sending an extract from the minute of meeting of the Lord Provost and Council as trustees of Professor Dick, held on the 27th Sep- tember, containing the election of Mr. William Edwin Duns, Y.S., Dunbar, to the chair of cattle pathology in the Edin- burgh Veterinary College. The board approved of the ap- pointment of Mr. Duns, and the Secretary was instructed to intimate this to the agent for Professor Dick's trus- tees. The Secretary stated that on Monday last he had, along with a deputation from the society, attended the introductory lec- ture delivered by Professor Williams, at the Veterinary College, when the session was formally opened by the Magistrates of Edinburgh. Mr. Gillon, of Wallhouse, the chairman of the Society's Veterinary Committee being unable to attend, he (the Secretary) had congratulated the College on the number and respectable appearance of the students already enrolled. Mr. Menzies stated that a deputation from the Royal Col- lege of Veterinary Surgeons had requested an interview with the trustees for the Veterinary CoUege and with the deputa- tion of the Highland Society. After being introduced by Professor Williams, they stated that the object they had in view was to induce the trustees and the Highland Society to join with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in insti- tuting preliminary examinations for veterinary students on en- tering at the various teaching schools. The trustees had agreed to take the subject into consideration, and he (Mr. Menzies) had stated that the directors had already approved of such examinations taking place, and that he felt confident that the society would gladly aid them in their endeavours, but that he would bring the subject before the directors at their first meeting. Consideration of the matter was postponed till the ne.xt meeting of the board. The Secretary mentioned that at the request of Mr. Stflir Agnew, he had sent for Lord Granville's use, in taking the Pharmacy Bill through the House of Lords, a statement of what is required by the society from candidates for their di- ploma in veterinary surgery ; and he laid on the table the Act as amended (11th August 18G9), by which all persons holding the society's veterinary certificate have now the power of dis- pensing medicines for animals under their care. A communication was submitted from the veterinary depart- ment of the Privy Council Office, dated 31st August, intimating that a committee had been appointed by the Lord President of the Council to consider and report — (1) "How a sufficient supply of food and water may be provided for all animals brought by sea to British ports, and for all animals carried by railway in Great Britain ; and (2) liow animals may be pro- tected from unnecessary suffering, whether in consequence of overcrowding or from other causes, during their sea passage from ports abroad to ports in Great Britain — from ports in the United Kingdom to ports in Great Britain— also on their landing, and also during tlieir inland transit." The letter also expressed a hope tluit the society would furnish the committee with any information, or «ith any aid which it might be in their power to give. The Secretary stated that as the board meetings were ad- journed at the time, and as the Privy Council Committee had to report before the 1st of November lo tlie Lord President of the Council, he had at once replied to the letter, and forwarded the last number of the Society's " Transactions," in which there was a report of considerable length on the subject, the directors having considered the matter so important that they oft'ered a premium in 1868, aud awarded the gold medal to the author of the paper considered the best. The board approved of the course followed by the Secretary. Printed copies of letters by Miss Burdett Coutts on the humane treatment of animals were circulated among the di- rectors ; and Mr. Menzies stated that, at her request, he had had an interview on Tuesday with her, when she expressed a desire that the directors would aid her in the object she had in view. The directors expressed their sympathy with Miss Burdett Coutts' kind endeavours, and remitted to the District Show Committee to consider what course was best to betaken to further her wishes. The Secretary reported that, in accordance with the in- structions of the last general meeting, the directors had, at their meeting held on the 30tli June, resolved to petition in favour of the " Seed Adulteration Bill ;" and a petition had therefore been forwarded to Mr. M 'Lagan, of Pumpherston, M.P., for presentation. THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENG- LAND.— The following special prizes will be offered by the Oxfordshire Agricultural Society at the show in 1870 : £12, and a second prize of £8 for a pair of cows, in full milk, spe- cially adapted for dairy purposes. In the Oxfordshire Down class,£15forthebestlO ewes, without reference to age, who have suckled lambs to June 1st ; ^£10 for the best 10 ram lambs ; and £10 for the best 10 ewe lambs. In the Cotswold class, £15 for the best 10 ewes, without reference to age, who have suckled lambs to June 1st, and £10 for the best 10 ram lambs. £10 for the best Berkshire boar, sow, and litter, the latter to be under twelve weeks old, and £10 for the best pair of Berk- shire boars from one litter, under six months old. The Right Hon. J. W. Henley offers £5 to supplement the above prizes, for the best Cotswold ram of any age. The High Sheriff also offers £100 for the best cultivated farm within a certain dis- trict, and other prizes, for butter, &c., will be forthcoming. TITT*: FARMEPt'R MAGAZTNE. 481 THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE. At the meeting of the Blaudford Farmers' Club, Mr. J. Forester ia the chair, Dr. Ingrah read a paper ou the above subject. He said : The iraportauce of agriculture to all the interests of the human race is so fully and frankly acknowledged aud recog- nised that it would be a waste of time to expatiate on the at- tention to which it is entitled, or to insist ou the superior advantages which those nations enjoy by whom it is most skilfully practised. I might indeed claim for agriculture a pre-eminence over every other art, but that might be consi- dered invidious in these days, so content myself with the assertion that it is satisfied to stand side by side with the arts aud manufactures of the country, to promote the general weal, and take its legitimate share in the public estimation. The antiquity of the art of agriculture is undoubtedly beyond that of all others. From tlie earliest accounts of the Eastern na- tions, we have reason to believe that agriculture has at all times been understood in more or less perfection, as on it they depended, not only for the luxuries, but the necessaries of life; I shall define agriculture as the art of cultivating the ground, and of obtaining from it tlie produces necessary for the support of animal life. It is therefore an art wliicli has ever been the source both of the necessaries and conveniences of life. Moses, following the example of the Egyptians, made it tlie basis of tlie State. Accordingly he apportioned to every citizen a cer- tain quantity of land, and gave him not only his right of till- ing it himself, but also of transmitting it to his heirs. The custom of marking the boundaries of lands by stones, which had prevailed in early tunes, he perpetuated by an express law, and against him who removed them without authority a curse was denounced. Joshua divided the whole country, of which he had the entire possession, among the Hebrews, running it out with the aid of a " measuring line." Tlie occupation of the husbandman was held in honour, not only for the profits it brought, but from its being supported and protected by the laws of the State; security being au indispensable element of hu- man progress. All who were notset apart for sacred duties, as the priests and Levites, were regarded by the laws, and were in fact, agriculturists. It is true that the rich aud the noble did not place themselves on a level with their inferiors, but none were so distinguished as to disdain the culture of the soil. Aud it became natural to speak of a man, engaged in the highest and noblest services, as "putting his liaud to the plough." A history of agriculture from the eaitiest period down to our own times would be the history of the labours and progress of man in the most important department of his industry ; and thus, through its whole course, would con- tinually give us indications of his progress in the arts of civilization. My limits will only allow me a brief view of the art at some periods, with a few casual allusions to the subjects connected with it. We may imagine a period when man sub- sisted on the spontaneous productions of the earth, and the easy gains of the chase, on fruits, vegetables, and animals, all of which were obtained, witii little exertion, in suflicient quan- tities to support a limited population in the temperate regions where the human race is said to have originated. But all is conjecture previous to tne first record in which Cain appears as a " tiller of the grouud," and Abel as a feeder or " keeper of sheep," ottering the " firstlings of his flock." Here we find the two grand divisions of agriculture — the tilling of the soil — requiring the active labour of the head and hand, and the raising of animals, or the more passive watchfulness of shepherd life. It is only reasonable to suppose divisions con- tinued as the human family increased. The change from a state of nature in which the first of the race must have lived, to the pastoral, or to any other higher mode of living, must have been gradual, the work, perhaps, of ages. Experience and observation, on which improvements in the modes of life usually depend, are gained by slow degrees. Ileliance on the spontaneous fruits of the earth was found to furnish only a precarious existence. The race was doomed to toil, aud neces- sity soon sharpened the power of invention. In the course of time, during which the race multiplied, and wandered about from place to place, the countries watered by the Euphrates, the Tigris, and the Nile were found to be the most productive, and the dwellers in their fertile valleys naturally became en- gaged in tilling the soil ; and we read that " Noali became * husbandman and planted a vineyard," while tlie dwellers in the hilly countries of Syria, and the lands east of the Medi- terranean, which were better adapted to grazing, very uaturally became the owners of flocks and cattle. We all know that the chief riches of the early Jewish patriarchs consisted of cattle and fruits. Thus we read that Abraham was " very rich in cattle," while Lot had " flocks and herds, and tents ; " and their united stock increased to such a number that the country could not support them, and they were compelled to separate, the one departing to the east, and the other to the west. So Jacob gave his brother Esau no less than 500 head of cattle. Still later vve find that Moses was a shw-pherd. Sharagar, at the time of liis appointment as a judge iu Israel, was taken from the herd ; Gideon was found tlirashing ; and Saul, though a king, when the news of the danger to one of his towns reached him, was driving a herd of cattle from the field. David was fond of feeding his ewes ; aud Elisha, when sought to receive the mantle of a prophet, was found ploughing with twelve yoke of oxeu. Of Uzziah, king of Judah, it is said " he loved husbandry." We know that Chaldea and Egypt, from the remotest times, were noted as the lands of coru. The exceeding fertility of the valley of the Nile, a strip of couutry only a few miles in width, gradually sloping down to the river, and extending from ■too to 500 miles, is well kuowu. It was overflowed during three months in the year, from about August to November, and the subsiding waters left the richest possible top-dressing of slime aud mud. Then the cultivator has only to cast in the seed, turn in a herd of swiue to tread it in, and await the abun- dant harvest. Such a country, bound on either side by the desert and the mountains, was not suitable for grazing, as was the region lying east of the sea, or the land of Canaan, a region occupied by keepers of cattle, who moved from one district to another with their herds and flocks, like the wandering Arabs of the present day. Such a mode of life was in some respects agricultural, but still it gave few indications of any settled system of agriculture, like that which prevailed iu Egypt at the same period. The agriculture of a people must, of course, be much influenced by the climate and natural features of the country. Its progress must also be dependent in a degree by the extent of the population. The wants of a limited and scattered population are comparatively few and easily supplied ; there is no stimulus to exertion or improvement, and hence can be do settled system of agriculture. Mankiud, in a par- tially civilized state, will not work for the love of it, nor will there be need of real hibour so long as the few fertile spots furnish au easy siqiply for all their wants. It is only where population increases that real improvements commence and civilization really begins to advance, and then progress is gradual and generally slow. In the beginning the real nature and value of the products of the earth must have been learned by the evidence of the senses. The nutritious qualities of the cereal grains, as wheat, barley, &c., must have been first dis- covered before there could have been any motive for their cul- tivation, aud probably they were cultivated for ages before the idea occurred of increasing the natural fertility of the soil by manures. The processes employed must have been extremely artless at first, being confined, without doubt, to simply preparing the ground to receive the seed, without auy attempt to stimulate its natural productiveness. So far as I have read, Egypt, Chaldea, aud Cliiua were among the first nations wliicli extended the limits of agricultural practice in ancient times. This h shown by the recori s which go back with some degree of certainty to remote ai.t;- quity. In these countries it is probable that animal power was first applied to agriculture, and among the hieroglyphics tu the tombs of Egypt is found the representation of an imple- ment resembling a pick, which was used as a plough. Fiom Egypt a Knowlpdge of agricultttre extended to Greece, and in J, h 482 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. the days of her glory the art of farming had attained, in some of her provLnces, a high degree of perfection. We know the Greeks had fine breeds of horses, cattle, sheep, and swine, and knew also some of the uses and value of manures. But the Romans had a higher appreciation of agriculture than the Grecians. Rome had an agricultural literature unsurpassed by any nation, ancient or modern, except perhaps our own, Germany, or America. An extract or two will sliow the ideas then prevailing. Says Cato — " Our ancestors regarded it as a grand point of husbandry not to have too much land on one farm, for they considered that more profit came by holding a little, and tUling it well ;" and Virgil says — " The farmer may praiss large estates, but let Mm cultivate a small one." Varro, an- other weU-knowa Roman writer, says — " Nature has shown us two paths which lead to a knowledge of farming, experience and imitation. Farmers, hitherto, by experiments have esta- blished many maxims, and their posterity generally imitate them, but we ought to not only imitate others, but make expe- riments ourselves, not directed by chance, but by reason." I could give many interesting extracts from the ancient Romans which are worthy of reflection even to-day, but time will not permit. Sufiice it that they paid much attention to the breed- ing of stock, to the art of ploughing, and the care and preser- vation of manures. StiU the ancients suffered much inconve- nience in their agricultural operations from their failure to apply the mechanical forces of nature as a substitute for hard labour. Corn was ground by hand, and in hardly any cases were the gigantic forces of nature brought into subjection, and employed in the service of man. Even the water-wheel was not known tiU more than a hundred years after Christ ; and the wind swept over the hills of Europe till the 11th century with- out turning a single mUl, while the mighty power of steam lay hid for ages, till at the call of genius it came forth to alleviate the toils of man, and accomplish the work of a thousand hands by a single wave of its stalwart arm. After the desolation of the Roman empire, which extended over France, Spain and other European counties, agriculture was extremely depressed, and the condition of the serf, to whom the tillage of the soil was left, was in most cases of the most hopeless character. In this country also, at the period referred to, agriculture was ex- tremely rude, the greater part being covered with forests and marshes. The results of the labour of the agriculturists were so uncertain and insecure on account of the total inefficiency of the laws, that all attempts at improved agriculture would have been in vain, even if individuals had been induced to engage in them. The consequence was famines, and misery, and poverty. I fix upon the 15th and IGtli centuries as the time when Europe awoke from its lethargic slumbers. The invention of printing, the Reformation, and the discovery of America, excited mental activity, and aroused a spirit of en- terprise. At this time villainage and feudal despotism began to disappear. These causes created intellectual vigour, which in its turn stimulated inquiry in every branch of knowledge, and led to discoveries and inventions which tended to promote the comfort and happiness of all classes of society. From that time to the present the slow and gradual elevation of the middle and lower classes has stimulated intellectual and moral power, and agriculture has gradually and steadily advanced. The first work on agriculture published in this country was the " Boke of Husbandrie," in IB'i-h, by Sir Anthony Fitz- herbert, who styles himself a farmer of forty years' standing. Among the sayings of this author are these : " A husband cannot thrive," says he, " by his come without catteU, nor by his catteU without come," and he adds, "shepe, in myne opinion, is the most profitablist catteU that any man can have." A quarter of a century later followed Thomas Thessor's " Five hundred points of good husbandry." It is a sort of doggrel verse ; but it went through many editions. Then ap- peared the whole art of husbandry, by Barnaby Goodge ; "The jewel-house of Art and Nature," by Sir Hugh Platte, from whom we learn of the introduction of white clover into cultivation in England. Sir Richard Weston wrote about 1652 on the husbandry of Brabant and Flanders. Hartlettb made important contributions to the agricultural literature of ttie 17th century. But the experiments and writings of Jethro Tull, in the early part of the 18th century, are among the first important attempts at real progress in the agriculture of modem times. Writers hitherto had confined them- selves mainly to plain statements of the practical oetaUs of fariaing, recoBuaending such new practices as appeared to them worthy of adoption and condemning the errors of their contemporaries. Tull was a man of genius, and did more — he struck out new paths of practice, invented new modes of culture, and his investigations into tlie principles of fertility fairly entitle liim to the credit of being a great original discoverer, though the errors into which he fell in his generous enthusiasm, very naturally brought more or less dis- credit upon his whole theories. But we can excuse his failures, and the errors of his system, when we consider that he, like all his predecessors, was groping in the dark, before geology had made known the elements of the soil and of plants, and shown how the latter derive their support and nourishment. I must pass by the labours of such authors and agriculturists as Arthur Young, to whom the agricultural world is more indebted than to any other man ; for his writ- ings had a powerful influence in creating a love for farming among the learned. Among the admirable works at the close of the last century or the beginning of tlus, may be mentioned "Elkington's mode of draining land," " Davidson's Phyto- logy," Donaldson's " Modern Agriculture," and " Synopsis of Husbandry," " The Gentleman Farmer," by Lord Kaines, Anderson's Essays, and Sir John Sinclair's works. We thus find from antiquity, until the present century, the art of agri- culture had made but little advancement in its mechanical or scientific operation. It had, of course, been long known that certain forms of vegetable and animal matter might be used with success for the reproduction of various forms of animal and vegetable life ; but the present century inaugurated the science of agriculture, and it was reserved for the chemists of modern times to determine the nature of the element of vegetables and soils, and to ascertain their native value. I began by speaking of agriculture as an art — the knowledge of all the conditions of the life of vegetable, the origin of the elements, and the sources of their nourishment from its scientific basis. From this knowledge we derive certain rules for the exercise of the art, the principles upon which the mechanical operations depend, the usefulness or necessity of these for preparing the soil to sup- port the growth of plants, and for removing every obnoxious influence. No experience drawn from the exercise of the art can be opposed to true scientific principles, because the latter should include all the results of practical operations, and are, in some instances, solely derived therefrom. Theory must correspond with experience, because it is nothing more than a reduction of a series of phenomena to their last causes. A field in which we cultivate the same plant for several succes- sive years becomes barren for that plant in a period varying with the nature of that soil ; in one field it will be in three, in another in seven, in a third twenty, in a fourth forty years. One field bears wheat and no peas"; another bears beans and turnips, but no barley ; a third gives a plentiful crop of tur- nips, but will not bear oats nor clover. What is the reason that a field loses its fertility for one plant, the same which at first flourished there ? What is the reason one kind of plant succeeds in a field where another fails ? These questions be- long only to this century, and can only be answered by science. What means are necessary to preserve to a field its fertility for one and the same plant ; what to render one field fertile for two, for three, for all plants ? These last questions are put by art. If without the guidance of just scientific principles, in trying experiments to render a field fertile for a plant which it otherwise will not bear, our prospect of success is very small. Thousands have tried experiments in various directions, the result of which is a mass of practical experience, forming a method of cultivation which accomplishes the desired end for certain places, but the same method frequently does not suc- ceed. It, indeed, ceases to be applicable to a second or third place in the immediate neighbourhood. How large a capital and how much power are wasted in these experiments ! Very different and far more secure is the path indicated by science. This exposes us to no danger of failing, but, on the contrary, it furnishes us with every guarantee of success. If the cause of failure or barrenness in the soil for one or two plants has been discovered, means to remedy it may easily be found : the most exact observations prove that the method of culti- vation must vary with the geognostical condition of the subsoil. In basalt graywrache, porphyry, sandstone, lime- stone, &c., are certain elements indispensable to the growth of plants, and tlie presence of which renders them fer- tile, This fully explaius thq differenge ii the necessary THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 483 methods of culture for different places, since it is obvious that the essential elements of the soil must vary with the varieties of composition" of tlie rocks, from the disiutegvatiou of whicli they originated. Wheat, clover, turnips, for ex- ample, each require certain elements from the soil. They will not flourish where the appropriate elements are absent. Science teaclies us what elements are essential to every species of plant, by an analysis of their ashes. If, therefore, soil so found is wanting in any of those elements, we discover at once, through the laboratory of the chemist, the cause of its barren- ness, and its removal may be readily accomplished. In a former address I spoke of the labours of Sir llumpluey Davy as being eminent in the agricultural literature of the country. I desire now to draw your attention to the greatest of all liv- ing writers on agricultural chemistry, Barou Justus Von Liebig is the most industrious and original agriculturist of the day. His pubhshed works have led to more close observation and experiment, and excited more discussion than those of any other chemist. His days are not ignobly, frivolously, or vainly spent — " Mentoria bene aetse vitse multoruaique bensfactorum recordatio." He utters his views with fearlessness, and sup- ports theiu with a vast amount of research. His work on agricultural chemistry, published some years ago, contain what is called " The mineral theory, which holds that the good of plants is obtained from organic nature." This theory, as you all know, has been attacked by distinguished chemists and and practical farmers, who have contended that the food of plants consisted of both mineral and organic elements, and that nitrogenous organic manures were the most important. A more recent work of his on the " Natural laws of hus- bandry " ought to be on the bookshelves of every scientific agricidturalist. It contains his mature views on agriculture, after IG or 18 years of experiment and reflection. The funda- mental basis of it is still the so-called mineral theory. He is rather severe on practical farmers who have derided the teach- ings of science. He says — " I have never yet met with an agriculturalist who kept a ledger as is done in other pursuits in which the debtor and creditor account of every acre of land is entered. The opinions of practical men seem to be inherited like some practical disease. Each regards agriculture from his own narrow point of view, and Ibrms liis conclusions from what he does himself." Farmers ought to take these remarks, coming from such a source, to heart. The whole gist of the mineral theory regarding the food of plants is summed up as follows : " Plants contain combustible and incombustible constituents ; of the latter, which compose the ash left by all parts of the plant after combustion, the most essential elements are phosphoric, silicic acid, potash, soda, lime, magnesia, iron, and chloride of sodium. The combustible constituents are derived from car- bonic acid, ammonia, sulphuric acid, and water. By the vital process of vegetation the body of the plant is formed from these materials, which are therefore called ' the food of plants.' All the materials constituting the food of our cultivated plants belong to the mineral kingdom. The gaseous elements are absorbed by the leaves, the fixed elements by the roots. The former, however, being often constituents of the soil, many also reach the plant by the roots as well as by the leaves. The gaseous elements form component parts of the atmospheric, and are, from their nature, in continual motion. The fixed elements are, in the ease of land plants, constituents of the soil, and cannot, of themselves, leave the spot where they are found. The cosmic conditions of vegetable life are heat and sun-light." I consider the recent work of Liebig the most valuable in a scientific sense ever contributed to agriculture. The nature of seeds and soUs, and the treatment and growth of plants, are discussed at length and in a familiar manner. But the most important information relates to the different kind of manures, and their effects on soils in relation to the food of plants. The great object of Liebig seems to be to impress upon tlie agriculturist the importance of the phosphates as manures, and to show the comparative importance of organic manures, such as ammoniacal elements. Experi- ment upon experimen tis multiplied to prove this posi- tion. He contends that it is not the ammonia, as is generally supposed, but the phosphates in guano which render it so valuable as a manure. Bone-dust and the excre- ment of animals are held to be the most essential manures. It will be seen, therefore, that the much agitated subject of farm fertiUzers continues to he of intense interest to every agriculturist, whether he be the mere fabourer, or the intelli- gent working farmer, whose motto is — Practice with science. The investigations which are being made in the laboratory of the chemist, the farmyard, and in the field of nature, operate to increase new interest in behalf of the superlative import- ance, not only of the ordinary facts that attract attention, but also of the abstract truths that guide unerringly to the goal of perfection. The proper manipulation and fertilization of the soil furnish the great basis for national wealth and prosperity. It is only by means of manure that the equilibrium of the soil is restored. Like the farmers of Plauders and America, and other nations, we, too, have our strenuous and prejudiced ad- vocates of the numerous modes of practice detailed by agri- cultural lecturers and autliors, as well as the novelties occa- sionally presented by " Model Farms." There is every shade of inteUigence from him who simply knows that a cabbage grew and that he eats it, to the man, like Liebig, of sound mind and sound body, wlro interrogates the silent operations of nature to reveal to him structures of animal and vegetable life, which are infinitely more beautiful and grand than the most ponderous and artistic edifice that has ever been raised on the surface of our globe by the hands of man. What vast amounts ol labour and capital have been wasted in testing the value of fertilizers ! Tanners, as I have before observed, oft repeat the same experiments a hundred times without its be- ing known to one another that they do so ; but few of the re- sults of their labour and capital are recorded. Experiments in the field to be of value must be exact ; if not, the tendency is to confuse ratlier than instruct. I have heard of an expe- rimentalist who when planting potatoes used as fertilizers farmyard manure, guano, bone-dust, phosphate of lime, wood- ashes, plaster of Paris, salt, caustic lime, oyster-shell lime, water slacked-lime, and muck treated with salt and lime. Each kind of manure was treated separately, and in diffe- rent parts of tlie field, leaving the same quality of soil throughout, and all done with a view of ascertaining what kind of manure was best for the potato. No attention, was paid to the chemical or mechanical qualities of the soil, its true requirements, or those of the crop about to be grown. The men who thus blindly grope in the dark are the first to advocate dogmatically some extreme notion in relation to organic or inorganic, to long or short manures. I freely admit that among the more intelligent even of agricul- turists may be found the advocates of organic and inorganic manures, deep drainers and sliallow drainers, as well as those favourable to the many intermediate shades of difference, with- out any modes in particular. The true explorer should not be guided by the dupes of any theory in particular, but rather seek from every source that wliich seems most rational and in best obedience to nature's unerring laws. Perhaps it may be instructive as well as interesting to our own farmers to give in this place a shght synopsis of husbandry as practised in Japan. It is really an abstract from the writings of Lieljig. He says, the educated farmer, who has insensibly come to look upon England with its meadows, its enormous fodder produc- tion, and immense herd of cattle, and in spite of these with its great consumption of guano, from boues, and rape-cake, as the beau ideal, and the only possible type of a truly rational system of husbandry, would certainly think it surprising to see a country even much better cultivated without meadows, without fodder production, and even without a single herd of cattle, either for draught or fattening, and without the least supply of guano, ground bones, saltpetre, or rape-cake : this is Japan. The Japanese peasant holds first to one indispen- sable maxim, namely, without continuous manuring there can be no continuous production. In Japan the farms are small, and the only producer is man. His excrements are collected with scrupulous care, and in the cottages of tlie poorest peas- ants the excrement cabinets are kept neat and cleanly. Along the highway and foot-paths of that country stone ware recep- tacles are placed in the ground for the use of travellers. The excrementary matter is mixed with water, and applied m a liquid form, for the Japanese farmer knows no other mode of using it than by top-dressing. With an area about equal in extent to Great Britain and Ireland, Japan sustains a popula- tion far larger, and exports considerable quantities of food to other countries, while we are compelled to import annually many millions of bushels of wheat and many tons of beef, butter, cheese, pork, and other provisions. My hearers will perceive, therefore, that in agriculture, nations which esteem hh2 484 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. themselves liiglily cultivated and civilised, receive instmction iVoiii the Japanese, wlio are considered harbarians. " Genius is of no country, her pure ray Sheds all around as generous as the day." Morrison states that among the branches of industry in China agriculture, according to the laws and maxims of the Empire, still retains all its original pre-eraiueuce. Among the several grades of society the cultivation of mind rank first, those of land are placed next, manufacturers the third, and the exchangers of commodities, or merchant, rank lowestof all. After givinga brief description of the mode of farming adopted iu Flanders, and tlie manner in which the soil is manured, as described by Mr. Chambers, in the Edinhurgh Journal, the lecturer proceeds : These brief sketches of foreign husbandry enables us to think, inquire, compare, reason, and improve. The remarks so far prove that farmers in all countries know, and everybody else should know that crops are not an affair of chance, but like all other liuman operations are governed by scientific and natural laws. Plants are endowed with functions by which they help themselves to grow. In common with animals they breath, absorb gases, and secrete humours ; not being able to change the composition of the atmospliere, we are obliged to cast into the ground the sub- stances with which to nourish and improve the crop. And here is a wonderful dispensation of Providence, if we would but learn the lesson half as truly as they do in Japan. Every noxious material and foul agency which injures and destroys human beings in cities can be neutralized aud made to enrich the soils. Therefore it is that 1 repeat that if every man in Britain could be made to understand that the philoso- phy of manure is to absorb into the soil everything noxious to the human being upon that soil, both population and agriculture would be benefited. The injurious matters of the cities would be speedily transferred to the lands that gave food to these cities ; and each live by the other iu beautiful harmony. Again, I say a knowledge of the philosophy of manure is as useful to tlie citizen as to the farmer. Some author has said that there has been enough of the elements of bread aud meat, wool and flax drawn from the surface of the earth, sent to London and buried iu the ground, or washed into the Thames, to feed and clothe the entire population of the world for a century, under a wise system of sanitary regulations, and of agriculture aud horticulture. Down to this hour great cities have ever been the worst desolators of tlie earth. It is for this that so many of them have been frequently buried many feet beneath the rubbish of their idols, brick, stone, and mortar, to be exhumed in after years by some antiquarian Layard. Their inhabitants violated the laws of nature, which govern the health of man, and secure the en- during Droductineness of the soil. How few comprehend that it is only the elements of bread and meat, evolved during the decomposition of some vegetable or animal substance, that poison the air taken into human lungs, and the water that enters the human system iu daily food and drink. Before leaving this branch of the subject, I would illustrate the feed- ing of plants in a familiar simile. It is in vegetable as in animal life. A mother crams her child exclusively m ith arrow- root; it becomes fat, it is true, but alas! it is very ricketty, and gels its teeth very slowly and with difficulty. Mother is ignorant, or never thinks that her offspring cannot make bone, or what is the same thing, phosphate of lime, the prin- cipal bulk of bone, out of starch. It does its best, but were it not for milk and bread and a little meat and soup, it would have no bones and no teeth. We keep poultry, and what is true of fowls is true of a cabbage, a turnip, or an ear of wheat. If we mis with the food of fowls a quantity of egg-sheUs, or chalk or Urae, which they eat greedily, they will lay more eggs than before. A well-fed fowl is disposed to lay a vast number of eggs, but caunot do so without the materials for the shells, however nourishing in other respects her food may be. Let farmers lay such facts as these, which are merely matters of common observation, to heart, and transfer the analogy, as they justly may do, to the habits of plants, wliich are as truly alive and answer as closely to evil or judicious treatment as their own horses, cows, sheep or fowls. I mention in another part of my discourse, meteorology. Well, there are few sciences the study of which is more useful to the farmer than this. A soil piay contain all the atoms required tp feriu s luxuriant crop, yet if the temperature of th*; ground or of the air above it be too low, vegetables make uo progress. Again the eartli and atmosphere may have a due degree of warmth aud light, as well as abound in all the food of plants in an available form, except water, and the absence of this element will be fatal to the hopes of the husbacdman. Atmospheric air, light, heat, electricity, rain, dew, snow, and frost exert a controlling iuflueuce over the growth of all cultivated plants. A knowledge of the natural laws by which these generaFy invisible and imponderable bo- dies are governed, so far as researches have revealed them, is ahke valuable and interesting. The atmosphere and the nume- rous phenomena of which it is the theatre should command more attention in this country than they have hitherto received, if we intend to keep pace with the progress of physical science in Europe aud America. The atmosphere is mainly composed of two distinct gases, which are invisible, but not imponderable bodies, and everywhere surround the planet Like an ocean. It has a mean depth of some forty -five miles. The gases wliich form the air are called nitrogen and oxygen. Gaseous com- pound of phosphorus, chlorine, and sulphur are constantly dis- charged from decaying animal and vegetable substances into the atmosphere. Tliese gases fall to the earth again in rain water. It is one of the laws peculiar to all gases that the pressure of one in auy given space does not in the least prevent several others from occupying the vacancies left between storms of gas that seem to repeleacliother with singular aversion. The facility with whicli the atmosphere takes up vapours when water evapo- rates is familiar to all. This capacity to hold immense quantities of waterimbibed from the ocean, lakes, rivers, the foliage of trees, and moist earth in a volatile condition to be distributed over broad continents, is a wonderful provision of nature ; but the fiUing of the air with water, like a wet sponge, is less remark- able than the contrivance for squeezing the sponges, so to speak, and causing the diffused moisture to fall iu gentle rains, snows, and dews. The drying of the atmosphere, after it is saturated with water, is a phenomenon without which it would never rain, nor would there be any springs, rivers, land plants, or animals on the globe. This precipitation is effected by a change of temperature, which change is the result of the revolution of the earth on its axis and of solar heat. Day and night, spring, summer, autumn, and winter, witli tlieir ever-varying temperature, varying winds, and clouds, and con- stantly changing humidity, are all results of fixed laws, which invite the research of every reasoning mind, but especially of the agriculturist. Much might be said on the subject of solar heat on agriculture, but I can only take a popular view of this subject. At the time of seeding in spring, a single day is sufficient to warm, to the depth of four inches, a mellow soil recently ploughed. Two days of sun is supposed sufficient to warm six inches, and six days twelve inches. The fall of warm rain on a well-drained mellow soil greatly hastens the heating of the earth. On the contrary, the falling of a cold rain, or much cold water in the ground, greatly retards the use of tem- perature in tilled land. Heat and water should be studied together if one would obtain a clear idea of their joint inllaence on vegetation. When water evaporates it expands to 1,G96 times its former volume, and renders latent or insensible a considerable amount of active heat. Hence, a piece of wet ground, from the surface of which a good deal of water evaporates, is always cooled by the constant loss of sensible heat which rises in vapour and departs into tlie atmosphere. Heat and water are the fruitful parents of clouds ; so early and late frosts are produced by the radia- tion of heat during clear nights from the foliage of plants and other terrestrial bodies. Every farmer should have a ther- mometer, rain-gauge, aud kuow the degree of heat most favour- able to all his crops. The due temperature and moisture of the soil are as much elements of production and profit as good manure and skilful tillage. To learn the well-authenticated results of clearing forests, in drying up natural springs, aud changing climates, regularity of rains, &c., I refer you to the writings of Humboldt, Forbes, and other meteorologists. We fear that, as yet, few agriculturists are so far advanced in the sciences of meteorology and climatology as to make all tliat can be made of the water, winds, solar heat and light, which Nature so bountifully supplies. Taken as a whole, however, our country has a climate whose mean temperature and fall of rain greatly favour the production of human food and a portion of our clothing. Still, it behoves us to take every advantage of soil, climate, natural product, iiud s"ch vahiable trees for THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 4bo timber, fruit, and fuel, as may Ijc properly cultivated. Pasbing to another subject, I would remark that it is absolutely neces- sary that we should know how to calculate the value of l.»bour-saving machines, and designate between the good and the worthless. Some plod along, and will hardly use what are called "new-fangled notions," when there are ini])lemcnts that serve their cost every year for seve- ral years. But it may be replied, " All this is mere book-farming." To this I reply that, however such men of antiquated ideas may berate the idea, there is no cj[uestion but " book-farming" puts money into the pockets of the thoughtful, industrious tiller of the soil. Progress is the predoraimmt feature of the world we live in. Every art, every science, every calling, are making rapid strides along the path of improvement. Thought itself receives an onward, accelerat- ing impetus in the grand march, as is evidenced in the great discoveries of the age. I regret to say there cannot be found in any other calling so many who reject the printed knowledge which the press may send to their doors. The mechanic, the lawyer, the physician, the merchant, &c., are eager to learn, from whatever source, all they can respecting their several em- ployments, knowing that it is only in their intelligence they can keep pace with their fellow-craftsmen. Why should the agriculturist hesitate to glean knowledge from books, papers, lectures, or societies like tliis ? If his neighbour tell him of a better way of cultivating his crop, he has the confidence to give it a trial. Why, then, should he scout the same thing in a lecture or in print ? Especially when by such means the good knowledge is borne to the homes of thousands. But, perhaps, says our doubter, " your book farming is conducted by your genteel farmers in kid gloves, who, too delicate to dig and get practice, ean spin very line theories." Does our theoretical man detail some new pro- cess ? Then don't go straightway and serve your whole crops to it ; but if there seem to be a measure of reason in his ar- guments, give it a limited, but fair trial. If it prove success- ful, acknowledge yourself as a great gainer. If it prove unsuccessful, you may be a gainer stiU, especially if you are the thoughtful man you should be. You may, perhaps, evolve some new idea that in the end will not only richly reward yourself, but if imparted to others add to the geueral stock of knowledge. Then let none despise book-farming or lecture- farming, but as you would add dignity to your profession, and gold to your purse, as yon would increase the fertility of your soil, and gather knowledge for the mind, strive to be a thought- ful and diligent reader, and an active and critical thinker. In a recent extract from an American journal, the president of an agricultural society gave utterauce to this truism — " That country which has the most intelligent labouring population will excel in every branch of industry." If you want your son to learn the profession of law, or medicine, you know well enough liow to have him taught ; you send him to school, and give him a good education, ard then place him with those who can best teach him the particular profession in view. In everything but agriculture we see and ffC'l the advantages of professional education of in- telligent labour ; but in agriculture the impression often seems to be different. We feel reluctant to confess that others arc better farmers than ourselves ; that they succeed better than we, because they understand their business better. The idea seems to be that agriculture, like the goddess of wisdom, was fuU-grown, and that if we can only continue as our fsthers did it is enough. How strange this idea, that a business involving the science of chemistry, of natural philo- sophy, geology, botauy, meteorology — in short, a wider range of knowledge and philosophy than any other, should be the only one that every man should claim fuUy to understand ! But the question returns. How shall we learn ? To the present generation the answer is. Learn from your neighbours, learn from addresses, from lectures, from newspapers, magazines, and publications of the day, from societies like this, from farmers' clubs in villages, meeting weekly or monthly for discussion — in short, use every means to compare your opinions with those of other men. for future generations we hope better things. We trust ampler and better means will be provided for giving all nho desire it a thorough agricultural education. Law schools, medical schools, and schools of divinity which we have in abundance, are constantly imparling to their respective stu- dents the means ot intelligent labour in their future profes- sions ; but how fe\T and scattered are the academies for the farmer ! I am glad to admit that this subject is attracting much more attention than formerly. The question now is as to the best mode of educating men to the profession of farmers. The prejudice which has too long existed, and which it must be admitted has arisen from a wrong idea of the education proposed, is fast giving way to the light which ex- perience is bringing to bear upon this aU-impurtaut matter. As I have already declared, no one thinks of preparing his son to be a physician, attorney, or divine, without providing the means of acquiring a knowledge of the studies best calculated to prepare him for the pursuit he is to follow. When I urge the same consideration upon the farmer in regard to the pur- suit of agriculture, it is not unfrequeutly said that more is necessary than to teach the lad in the field the routine of farm labour, the practice pursued as to the manner of pre- paring the land, the times of sowing, &c. This is all import- ant, and I advocate no system of education that will dispense with it. lu conclusion,! would observe that if there is a man in the world who has cause to be pre-eminently thankful for his condition in life, that man is the farmer. It is strange that anybody should even doubt this fact. Stranger that so many young men should desire to leave their fathers' farms for a city counting-room ; and yet nothing is more common than to find enterprising youths panting to exchange the plough for a yard-stick or a ledger. Poor fellows ! how often they get sick after a trial of it for a few months or years, and how heartily they wish themselves back upon the farm. The farmer can take tilings cooly. The current of his life, compared with others, need not move so swiftly ; if intelligent, he need risk little. With the aid of science and mechanics, his success is almost certain. There is no great crisis in his aU^airs ever and anon staring him in the face by day, and giriug him the night-mare in his sleep. He ought to be a comparatively happy man. Familiarity fl ith nature, in all its varied forms, exerts, or may exert, the kindest inilueucc upon the family, regarded in a moral and social aspect. The hills and vales, the meadows and forests, the trees and flowers, the birds and insects, all nature's beautiful things, when they are studied and loved have a humanizing, almost sanetifyiug effect upon the soul. I can understand Robert Bloomfield, the poet, full of emotion and enthusiasm, describing rural life as a iarmer's boy in seed time, at harvest, tending; cattle and sheep, and other occupations of husbandry. Well did he say that "the occupation of a farmer was the most powerful fulcrum upon which virtue's most powerful lever acted on the family circle." Mr. Flower said Mr. Ingram had given them a very ex- cellent idea of the way farming was carried on in other countries, and in ancient times. He could have wished that Mr. Ingram had spoken somewhat more fully on the future of agriculture ; but perhaps that would form the ground-work of another lecture. Mr. John Ford said that the chief thing which they, as farmers, wanted to know, was as to the best sorts of manure for their lands. The purchasing of manure was very expen- sive work, and if Mr. Ingram could give him a little advice as to what sort to use for the producing of red clover on his ground after wheat he should be very much obhged to him. lied clover was one of the most useful plants they could grow, but though he had tried it on his farm he could not succeed. Mr. Flower said that he had a piece of land, which, according to the terms on which he held it, he had to sow with clover every tliird year, and he had now as good a crop as any one could wish to see. It entirely depended on the soil as to having a good crop. The Chairman said there was one part of his address which reminded him of his own experience when in Scotland, where he made the acquaintance of a farmer, from whom he learnt more of farming than from any one else, and he (Mr. Forester) considered that by such lectures as they had listened to, very much valuable information was diffused abroad. ESSEX AGRICrLTURAL SOCIETY.— A meeting of the general committee was held at Chelmsford, 31r. J. Gurdon Rebow, M.P., in the chair. It was agreed that next year's ex- liibition should be held at Saffron Walden. A gratuity of £25 was voted to the secretary, Mr. R. Emson, in consideration of the extra labour sustained by liim in connection with the Colchester show. 486 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. THE USE OP CONCENTRATED FOOD. By the Northern TiRMER. The general scarcity of roots that prevailed during the feeding season of 1868-9, necessitating the utmost economy in their use, and compelling feeders to find substitutes which would enable them to finish the usual number of animals with a greatly decreased proportion of the bulkier articles of food, must liave taught many useful lessons, and shown to many a farmer not only the possibility, but the excellent policy, of using a portion of concentrated and nutritious food, in conjunction with the home-grown. Few of those who even for the first time last season gave the mixed diet for cattle a fair trial, and proved its value by actual experiment, wiU be likely to discontinue the practice, and revert to the old system of giving roots ad libitum. The advantages that accrue to the farmer from the systematic use of concentrated food are numerous ; the most obvious being the increased number of cattle which it enables him to feed on a limited area, the superior quality and finish of these cattle, and tlie greatly enhanced value of the manure. Many sanguine feeders go so tar as to say that half the profit at least which is obtained from this mode of feeding must be credited to the manure ; the marked improvement of the land to which it is applied, and the superiority of the crops for some years, going far to corroborate this assertion. Let us here, however, glance at the immediate results ohtainable by the introduction of cake and meal as constant and indispensable articles of food, hoping to show by a plain statement of every-day experience that, independent of the manure, a profit is to be obtained. To be successful, however, no half measures will do ; from the day the animals are tied up to fatten, the food, both bulky and concentrated, must be supplied with unvarying exactitude ; a meal on no account being permitted to be missed, and the hours of feeding observed with the stiictest puuctuality. The labour of attendance being considerably diminished from the fact of the quantity of roots being so much lessened, more attention can be paid to the minor comforts of the animals ; the skin can be more frequently brushed, and the bedding oftener shaken up, and refreshed. A mixed diet having rather a binding tendency, the cattle are easier kept clean ; the bed is always drier, requires less changing, and they are at all times more comfortable in consequence. With a large quantity of roots, the evacuations are nearly always in a semi-fluid state, causing great discomfort, and considerably adding to the trouble of attendance, to say nothing of the positive injury to the health of the animals and hindrance to their progress, which such a habit of body can scarcely fail to induce. The first and most important aid to increased profit when the mixed system ol diet is followed, is the extra number of animals that can be sustained, the increase being about a half more. Tliis can be effected without cutting down tlie weight of turnips supplied to a minimum, there being no necessity in ordinary years for so doing, but just keeping in moderation, and allowing 84 lbs. per head as the daily allowance for each animal on the average — large beasts that will weigh over 8 cwt. when finished getting rather more, and those which will not exceed from 5| to 6 cwt. getting proportionately less. The farmer, therefore, who fed 30 head when he gave a full supply of roots can with more ease finish 45 when he sub- stitutes a less bulky but more nutritious article of diet for a portion of the roots. He has thus the profit of feeding 15 animals which he could not otherwise have ; and if he is a good judge of his business, and able to select good thriving cattle and lay them in worth the money, the extra return from that number will form a very respectable item in the year's receipts. According as the feeder acquires experience and practically tests tlie exact quantities of each variety of food on which they will make paying progress, he will add to his stock, becoming loth to lighten the number, even although the turnips should partially fail. After a couple of years, his dependence will be more upon the concentrated food than upon the home-grown j and, knowing by actual test how very far a small quantity of roots can be made go, he will, rather than have his stalls empty, purchase turnips, hay, and straw, to enable liim to keep up the extra number. What mode of farminfr, it may very fairly be asked, can possibly be more beneficial than this ? While obtaining a profit, and we contend a large one, by the immediate business in hand, to wit, the feeding of cattle, the farmer is pursuing the very best method of ensuring success for the future. Every ton of purchased food, whether con- centrated or in the form of ordinary farm produce, is, besides affording a valuable article of food, giving a secondary profit by largely adding to the manurial condition of the soil, and increasing its permanent resources. The opinion at one time largely prevailed amongst agricul- turists that the superior quality of manure made was quite suflicient to repay tlie feeder for his outlay in feeding stuffs, and that, save and except an improvement in tlie finish of the cattle, and a shortening of the time otherwise taken to prepare them for the butcher, there was no immediate profit. While the use of these foods was restricted to wealthy amateurs, such an opinion might carry some weight, and even appear reason- able, but now when the demand for evei-y kind of supplemen- tary food is yearly increasing, so much so indeed that it can scarcely be supplied, and when tenant farmers have become the largest consumers, the fallacy of that idea is abundantly proved. However valuable the future results likely to be obtained from the use of a certain article, it is evident that the farmer who possesses only a working capital, and who is dependent for a living solely on the produce of his farm, cannot afford to speculate, but is actually compelled so to manage his affairs as that the profit he is to derive from his capital wiU in a great measure return to him within the year. This is the view we take of the matter in hand ; and being assured from botli experience and observation that it is correct, we can with unlimited confidence press the subject on the notice of those who still depend altogether upon turnips and hay in feeding their cattle, or who, while disposed to vary the food, may never have, up to the present, gone so extensively into it as to enable tiiem to form a decided opinion. In using these foods the farmer has an extensive choice, the low rates at which grain now rules in all the markets of the kingdom enabling him with great propriety and with a reasonable certainty of profit to give it largely to his cattle in conjunc- tion with the oleaginous foods, which, however cheap other stuffs may be, should never be overlooked. The different varieties of cake should form the basis of all mixtures, their effect on cattle being so marked ; and although at present linseed-cake is just about double the price of oats, it wiU pay to use a portion of it at each meal. Indejjendent of its liiglily nutritive property, linseed-cake has the effect of pre- serving the bowels in tliat state of freedom and openness so essential to health, the very droppings of the animal being indicative of health and progress. Rape-cake, although not so popular an article of food as linseed, is highly valuable, the results being but little inferior to that obtained from the latter. It is of a more binding nature than the linseed, and hence the quantity of turnips given when it is used must be rather larger to obviate the tendency to costiveness. Linseed- cake having been long the favourite, the price has been con- tinually looking up ; and feeders have been of late years com- pelled to turn their attention seriously to rape-cake, the increased demand for which having very considerably enhanced its value. Too much care cannot be exercised in the purchase of cake, so as to have the article pure, whatever the price ; to deal only with responsible and well-tried houses, dis- tinguished for the probity and honour of their dealings ; as well as subjecting the article before purchase to every test that one's own experience and judgment can dictate. The actual loss in cash by buying a bad sample is serious enough ; but the loss of time in the thriving of the animals, not to speak of the positive deterioration and loss of condition so THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 487 frequently resulting from the use of a spurious or adulterated cake ought to be sufficient to induce extreme caution on the part of the purchaser. By mixing the two varieties of cake in equal quantities, an excellent article of food is produced, the intestinal action being equalised as far as possible, and the linseed correcting the costive tendency of the rape ; and the feeder can give a rather larger daily allowance for the same money. We have never seen the slightest necessity for cooking cake in any way, or going to the slightest trouble in preparing it for fattening cattle, other than passing it through tlie break- ing machine, to get it crushed into managable pieces. Thi owing it on the turnips as they are supplied at each meal is aU tliat need be done, and when accustomed to having it given regularly, many of the animals will show their appreci- ation of its value by not touching a slice until the cake is thrown in. Some of them may not take quite so kindly to the rape for a few days ; but after fairly knowing the taste of it, they appear to relish it quite as well as tliey do the linseed, carefully licking up the smallest particle that may adhere to the troughs. Although the price of rape-cake is about &i less than linseed on the average of years, it yet appears from the trials wliicli have been made tliat there is little, if any difference in the results when given to cattle. We have ourselves always used the two cakes mixed in equal quantities, a mode wliich we have no intention of changing, for reasons already given ; but at the same time, as fine a lot of bullocks as we have ever seen, were fed from first to last on rape-cake alone, the daily allowance of turnips barely amounting to f of a cwt. The average price received for these cattle, thirty in all, was £27 a head ; most of them aged three years and two months, two of tliem however being only two years and two months, and sold separately at £26 10s. each. As a specimen of what may be done with rape-cake as a feeding stuff we consider tliis to be quite conclusive ; the result being at once satisfactory in a pecuniary point of view, and highly creditable to the feeder ; the lot of animals thus fed being the admiration of everyon* who saw them shipped, ourselves included. We may here remark, before passing from the subject, that to work up a lot of cattle to this value by five months' feeding on the amount of bulky food stated, the feeder must begin favourably, as with- out breeding and bone, wliich of course includes size, and a fair amount of condition, he can scarcely hope to be success- ful. The general diffusion of Shorthorn blood makes it a matter of no difficulty to procure the right sort of stores for tying up ; and, no man should grudge a little personal trouble in going to distant markets to procure them, should he happen to live in an isolated locality. If possible, an indifferent animal should never be bought, buUocks with flat ribs or drooping quarters being almost invariably slow feeders ; and, moreover, to some extent, spoil the appearance of a nice lot, when ranged in the stall. i3elicacy of constitution, if at aU apparent, should also be rigidly avoided, a vigorous habit of body being highly conducive, if not absolutely necessary to speedy fattening. After all, the prime cost of really first- class cattle is but little over tliat wliich should be paid for secondary lots ; the difference in cost at time of purchase bearing no comparison to the advantages gained in economy of food, saving of time, and amount of money realised when disposed of. The satisfaction and laudable pride which a man cannot but feel when possessed of a superior lot of thriving cattle, although not counting for much in hard coin, is stUl so altogether a desirable and pleasing state of mind, as to make it worthy of an effort to obtain. To resume : a portion of the grain grown on the farm, as we have already noticed, may with great propriety be used in feeding cattle in conjunction with cake ; or, if the corn should be of superior quality, the coarser varieties of wheat, and middUng qualities of barley and oats may be purchased, the low prices ot the present season affording an excellent opportunity for so doing. The wheat and barley must be ground, and, if preferred to be given as a separate feed, mixed with cut hay, meal-seeds (if to be got handy), or any substance of the like sort, which will be eaten with a relish and add bulk to the more nutritious food. It is not necessary to grind oats into meal, brnsing being sufficient, the allowance to each beast being sprinkled on the turnips, the mixture forming a most appetizing feed. Although averse to everything which increases labour, and adds to the expenses, and in consequence avoiding those articles of food which require to be prepared by a cooking process, we must take exception to two descriptions of grain which are greatly improved by boUing ; viz., barley and Indian corn. Eitlier of these grains when boiled, are eaten with great avidity by cattle, and form a cheap, highly nourishing, and consequently profitable article of food. Late in spring, when turnips and mangolds begin to get scarce, a very small quan- tity wiU suffice for a beast ; when boiled barley or Indian corn is given in addition, this food having bulk besides being nu- trftious. Supplementary food which combines these quaUties becomes doubly valuable as the close of the feeding season ap- proaches, and the stock of roots becomes well nigh exhausted. It being so much the custom for farmers to clear out their stalls when food gets scarce, even although the occupants may be little better than half finished, the markets become glutted very frequently, and prices are forced down below the paying point. It thus often happens that cattle are sold at a sacri- fice which, had they been kept but a few weeks longer, would have realized a handsome profit. That instances of this are of more than occasional occurrence, many men know to their cost ; and the fact of their being so affords a powerful argu- ment in favour of the extended use of concentrated food ; as in the event of running short of roots a farmer is not necessarily compelled to dispose of his cattle, but may hold them until the markets take a favourable turn. With the aid of cake and corn, stock, when of a good sort, can be prepared at a very early age for the butcher, an undoubted advantage, as there cannot be a question but that the quicker the return the greater the profit. It is also much easier to obtain one pound for each month of the beast's age when finished at two years, than it is to do the same thing when kept until the age of three years ; and the risk ot holding over is avoided. The difficulty of fattening young cattle, steers more particularly, on turnips and hay alone, consists in the tendency they have to keep growing, which they will do, to such an extent as to entirely defeat the object of the feeder. When supplied with cake, or a mixture of cake and corn, they then both grow and fatten, and all the more rapidly if highly bred, reacliing a splendid maturity at the age of two years, and richly rewarding their owner for his spiritedness in taking advantage of nature's gifts ; even although the outlay from beginning to end may have been considerable. We do not by any means advocate extravagance in the use of concentrated food; as whatever the quantity or quality of the food given, the fattening process cannot be hurried beyond a certain limit ; Nature will not permit her laws to be tampered with, and a reasonable time must of necessity elapse before maturity can be reached. A large quantity of rich and expen- sive food may be given by those to whom the outlay is no consideration, the parties doing it being perfectly satisfied with the idea that although the difference in the value of the cattle when sold over cost price scarcely pays the cake bUl, the great improvement in the land that will follow from the ap- plication of the manure so made, wiU in time repay them. The ordinary rent-paying farmer cannot, however, afford to argue in this way, but must, if he has his own interest at heart, so arrange liis expenditure as that each animal will have a fair prospect of earning a profit on the day it leaves the stall, after all expenses have been deducted. Taking five months as the full time required to prepare a large sized bul- lock for the butcher, £3 IBs. wiU have been spent on concen- trated food, the daily allowance being limited to six pounds. At present rape cake stands the farmer as nearly as possible a penny a pound, linseed l^d., and corn, secondary qualities, barely three farthings. A mixture of all three will, therefore, permit two pounds to be given at each meal ; and yet restrict the weekly expenditure to 3s. 6d. Six pounds of this food, from 70 to 901bs. of turnips, and a fair proportion of sound and sweet hay, will in five months bring out a healthy thriving beast to great perfection, returning his owner from £12 to £15 in addition to his original cost. THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OP IRELAND.— At a meeting of the Council in Dublin, it was resolved, on a division, to hold the summer show of 1870 in Dublin. The numbers were tMrteen for Dublin, and, as may be assumed, six for Drogheda, where it was also proposed to hold the meeting. 488 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. AN EDUCATION RATE AND COMPULaORY ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOLS. At the meeting of the Boroughbridge Agricultural Society, tlie llcv. C. 11. Saj.e rciul the follovviug paper: Local taxation lias of late become the .subject of earnest dis- cussion. There have bceu loud curaplaiuts of its amount and unequal incidence, and in particular of its unjust pressure upon the lauded and agricultural interests. These complaints have come from such quarters, and have been supported by such arguments, as have secured the official promise of an inquiry. It may perhaps be doubted whether — after a vigorous investiga- tion, extending to the very principles of political economy and dealiug with the history of the past as well as the present — local taxation can be proved to press unjustly on the landed interest in general ; but there seems, at any rate, great reason to believe that it may be found to be somewhat unevenly dis- tributed, and to weigh severely on the agricultural interest — that is, on the occupier as distinguished from the landlord. It may, indeed, be said that all charges on the occupier even- tually fall on the landlord. This is true ; but in the ease of all new or largely increased charges (and many millions of our local taxes are such) it is only after a time, and by indirect process, that the charge reaches the landlord, especially in leasehold tenures. The present keen competition for land, which is intensified by other than economic considerations, is greatly in favoiir of the landlord in many new arrangements ; and, though it may be urged that new terms which involve no great advance of rent, are, considering the increased value of some produce, a compensation for increased taxation, it may be doubted whether they are an equivalent one. It is at this time, when the question is in hot dispute and inquiry is pro- mised, that it is seriously proposed to add n heavy education rate to existing local taxes. The proposal is most strenuously urged by a party which seems open to the suspicion of dealing with education as a political, rather than a social, or moral, or even economic question. The education of the people is sud- denly taken up, like any other question of the day, by some who have hitherto taken Uttle or no part in the work of the education of the people, but who appear to see in it oppor- tunities of advancing their party, and themselves in their party, and of weakening establishments and what they would call sectarianism in general. There are not however wanting ad- vocates of a general or partial education rate amongst zealous and well-tried friends of education, and of religious education. They see in some remote districts the means of education not provided under the present system, or ill-provided, and owners and occupiers alike ignoring their duties. In large centres of population they see needs, in their behef, beyond the reach of voluntary effort. In every place they see an altogether dis- proportionate burden of cost thrown upon the clergy, parents iudiifereut to advantages provided, children irregular in their attendance, and altogether withdrawn at an early age ; and they are so impressed with the overwhelming importance of education, that they grow impatient and can see no remedy for these evils but an education rate and compulsory at- tendance. But will not the heavily taxed ratepayer, before he consents to those measures, ask — Are they necessary, and how would they work ? The advocates of change are some- what inclined to ignore the statistics of the National Society and of the friends of the present system ; but, to take their own statistics, it is not deuied that there has been a vast increase of the means of education, and of the number of children under instruction, and that this increase is pro- gressing in a greater ratio than ever ; but it is argued that the quality of the education in schools not under Government in- spection is utterly insufficient. By the very terms of the pro- position this would seem to be as yet a mere assumption, and it is one that would admit of being easily tested, if all that is wanted is accurate information. There is no reason why in- spection should not be made obligatory in every school ; and the most enlightened and logical friends of education have long pleaded in vain for extending payment for results to all in- spected schools. It would seem to be time to revolutionize the whole present system when it is proved to be— first, inade- quate ; and, secondly, incapable of extension or improvement. But, how would an education rate work ? It would destroy the voluntary principle. It is remarkable that some who wish us to rely entirely on the voluntary principle in religion should be in h.istc to discard, as found wanting, the voluntary prin- ciple in education. Yet, that the maintenance of schools by rate would eventually supersede and destroy the voluntary ele- ment, which has achieved so much, can hardly be doubted. It would destroy denominationalism. That education so pro- vided must be secular is, with its chief advocates, its highest recommendation. But the speculative philosophers and tlie statesmeu who desire this change must be prepared for the unflinching opposition of the Church and her people, who have covered the land with their schools, and of the powerful bodies of conscientious Nonconformists, who are perhaps still more averse to such secularization. The school maintained by rate must be administered by the ratepayers, either in vestry assembled or represented by managers, elected by vestry or by rate-payers. Would the practical effects of this be to improve the quality of teachers and of education ? It is not easy to imagine a satisfactory mode of electing such managers — of ad- justing the claims of numbers versus property, of the different religious bodies, or the several parties which exist in most parishes. In some parishes such a body might be found in- convenieutly variable, in others dangerously unchanging. It is not always found that vestries choose for office the most competent persons, or that the most competeat persons seek or accept office. There are many parishes in which the most educated persons habitually stand aloof from parochial busi- ness and from parochial contests. It may be urged that if such important issues were at stake the best men would be forward to act. But the charge of the poor is quite as solemn a trust, and the funds administered by the Board of Guardians are much larger, and yet the best man is not always elected guar- dian. And would a Board of Guardians prove an efficient Board of Education ? And does the state of union schools en- courage the experiment ? And what was the kind of master provided by the ratepayers some forty or fifty years ago ? Have not some of the older of us not very satisfactory and somewhat grotesque recollections of that village potentate ? No school can flourish without the constant and almost daily superintendence of some competent authority. Without this, the annual inspection will not secure efficiency, much less tone and character. Now, however competent some of the rate- payers might be to exercise such superintendence, could it be expected that, as a matter of fact, they would, when it is not easy to get such persons to attend a formal meeting of any kind? and that, simply because every man of mark is al- ready sufficiently engaged by more pressing affairs. At present, in the rural districts, the clergyman employs much time and labour and influence of various kinds in bringing children to school. He is, in such districts, as many inspectors of schools know, the mainspring of education. It may be safely said, as a general fact, that nothing but a compulsory law could suc- ceeed in bringing under instruction those children with whom the clergyman fails. How would it be when the clergyman is set on one side, which would be the inevitable result, whether the object or not of the introduction of the secular system? Are the people of this country prepared for a compulsory law ? How would the system work ? Would it work at all ? AVe are told that we are already committed to the principle by the Factory Acts. But is the half-time system to the point? The cases and their conditions are utterly dissimilar. In the manufacturing districts the population is concentrated. The school is close to the home and the factory. The opera- tion of the Act can be easily and adequately checked. The employment admits of the half-time arrangement. Above all, the price of labour enables parents to dispense with some small l)art of the earnings of their family. In rural districts ail these conditions are reversed. And how is attendance to be enforced ? and by what agency or rather by what agents ? It must of course be required, in the first instance, by enactment, The fabmer's magazine. 489 enforced by pen.dty. Will it be direct and positive euaetmeul, that all children of a certain age and of certain stages of pro- iieiency, sliall attend school a certain niiniber of days or weeks in the year? or indirect and negative that no children under a certain age, or in certain stages of proficiency, shall ha em- ployed ? Any one conversant with the working of a village school, and the pleas for absence on ground of health of child or others, or necessary domestic occnpation, will suspect that a regular statf of inspectors, visitors, policemen, and doctors, would be necessary to carry out such a system. ]5utluive we come on the fundamental and intractable difficulty because an economic one? Can the employers, the ratepayers — who, be it remembered, administer the system — be expected to sur- render willingly a cheap source of necessary labour, and to co- operate in its suppression ? Can they be called on to make this sacrifice on any principle of political economy ? And the parents — can they be told in this day and in this country — it is true your children are many, and that the law compels you to feed and clothe them, and that your wages are insufficient, but the law also says that they must and shall go to school ; at any rate, that they shall not work, or only a part of their time ? Is the poor labourer to face the awkward dilemma of line, or, in default of payment, prison suit and prison tare, or of ragged garments audworse than prison food at home ? Tlieu what are to be the relations of tlie ratepayer, managers, and the schoolmaster, elected, employed, and paid by them, and who must at least report absentees and keep registers? Must he report defaulters andjdeliuqucnts under the act, or must the policeman on his information — and to whom — to the magis- trates or to the possibly delinquent managers themselves ? Such a system must, of necessity, break down, and would, in the i)rocess, presently develop evils of its own far worse than the imperfect education of those children who will always be the difficulty of any system. The truth seems to be, if we could only be content to recognize it, that as there is no royal road to learning ; so, in this country, as it is, there is no par- liamentary road to universal education. Legislation may do much; fiicilities maybe given; difficulties may be removed; cases provided for in which owners and occupiers neglect their duty ; experiments may be cautiously made as to setting apart some less busy season of the year, though it is hard to say which that would be ; children of very tender age exempted from ilcldwork; the religious difficulty provided for by a con- science clause, and educational deficiencies supplemented by evening schools. l?ut all this is not what is wanted by those who wish to take education out of the hands of those who have done and are doing so much for it. They want a revolution, and all in their own sense, it would seem, without taking into account the claims of those who have at such cost of zeal, labour, and money, achieved such great results, or the waste involved in, or the risks to be rnn by such funda- mental changes. Mr. C. CliVKKE was against compulsory education, and stated that having liad considerable experience willi regard to farm-servants, he found those that could neither read nor write turned out the best servants. He was opposed to education being earned to too great an extent, and lie would have farm-servants able to read and write and learn the Bible. Mr. LoM.vs said he would not use coercive measures with regard to education, or interfere with parental authority. The clergyman of a village was the proper person to induce children to attend the school, and he would not have parents interfered with as to the education of their offspring either by the parish constable or the police officer. Such a system would be derogatory to their feelings as Englishmen. He had seen from the newspapers a report of the Prefet of the departement of the Calvados on the subject of education, and one of the reasons assigned by him for the non-attendance at elementary schools was the extension of the gratuitous system. He gave statistics to prove that the pupils whose parents did not pay anything were the most irregular in their attendance, the most insubordinate, and the greatest dunces. The reasoning in support of the accuracy of the statement of the Prefet was that the rural population of the country esti- mate the value of a thing by what it costs (hem, and that if they had to pay for the education of their children, they would be more energetic in seeing that they got their money's worth. Mr. Scott said that as Englishmen they might feel justly proud of tlieir nation's greatness, for they stood pre-eminent in agriculture, manufactures, and commerce, but to know that their education was not in keeping with their position in other respects was humiliating. Neither expense nor pains had been spared in order that the children of the poorer classes should be educated. A village, however small, witliout its school, was the exception, the cost to parents was nominal, and yet they found that these facilities for learning were not appreciated — a fact fully evidenced by the number of children running about in a state of semi-wildness, and thus rendering the school-accommodation beyond what appeared to be re- quired. It was therefore obvious that some steps should be taken to induce parents to avail themselves of the existing means of educating their children, and they might trust that tills could be accomplished without resorting to compulsory measures, which might be attended by consequences of a more serious nature than was at present anticipated. He thought an educational rate quite unnecessary, for in the rural districts they found that voluntary contributions were in most cases sufficient, and if it were found expedient to augment them, he had no doubt but the present contributors would readily respond to further calls. Again, if the rating scheme was adopted, the country would be deprived of the benefit of the benevolence of those of the nobiliy and gentry who so kindly bear the entire expenses of schools, and which, in numerous instances, they had so munificently erected at their own cost. His experience as a master proved, as a rule, that the best educated were the most eligible servants. They spent their evenings more profitably, and read themselves up in what they were engaged, and so fortified the mind with matter for reflec- tion on the following day and otherwise improving themselves. He had no fear of losing their best labourers, for if all the ad- vantages of the agricultural labourer were taken into considera- tion, tliey would find that he was as well off as those in the manufacturing and mining districts. A few years ago there was a feeling that they could improve their condition by emigrating to the iron districts, but tiiere were numerous instances where they had returned, and in a much worse state than when they left. It had often occurred to him the dress and general appearance of their Sunday-school children was a fair criterion by which to judge the condition of the labouring classes, and from observation he had noticed that in this there was a striking contrast in favour of the children of the agri- cultural districts as compared with those of the manufacturing and mining. Mr. Bi:n:nett said that he should like to see every child in this country educated, but not under the un-English system of compulsory education. There could not be good and sound education without the Scriptures, because if religion was not taught the intellect must flow into a wrong cliannel. The young wanderers in tlie large cities and towns under no paren- tal control belonged to the State, and, therefore, the State might educate them eompulsorily. Mr. Harlanb considered that children should have a plain education, otherwise they could not form correct opinions in after life. He did not approve of compulsory educa- tion, which was not in harmony with the feelings of the people of this country. Moral suasion was the best to pro- mote education. Mr. LoMAS said he was glad to state that in tlie Ripon workhouse the children received a good plain education, being taught reading, writing, and arithmetic, and the knowledge imparted to them was sufficient to fit them for mechanics in any ordinary trade. Mr. Jacob Smith said he did not soe how it would be possible to work out a system of compulsory education without creating great dissatisfaction and disturbance in the country. People looked upon a compulsory system with much aversion, as there was no want of an educatioeal rate, the geuerality of parishes having sufficient funds from private sources. He was glad to find that a great improvement had taken place in farm labourers, who were becoming more respectable, and they in- variably, as far as he knew, sent their children to school. It was said that farm servants did not work as they used to do twenty years ago, and that agriculturists were not so well served, but he would ask did farmers work now as they did at that time ? If masters did not labour so hard, how could they expect servants to do so. The fact was there was more civili- zation, and consequently, the more people became enlightened the less hard labour was done, farmers could not expectinen to be the beasts of Ijurden they used to be. 490 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. THE AUSTRALIAN FARMER. The well-known Shorthorn breeder, Mr. Hobt. M'Dotj gali, read the following paper before the general annual meeting of the Victorian Agricultural Society, in the public rooms of the Sir Henry Barkly Hotel, at Heidelberg, on Thui-sday, July 15 ; the president of the society, Mr, Henry Stooke, J.P., in the chair. My utterances will chiefly refer to the sinews of Victoria. Pew of the drawbacks felt by this colony astonish mc more than the dearth we suffer of this life-giving element — real, right farming men. Had Victoria been in her present stage of advancement some forty years ago, and at that period sub- jected to the neglect and indifference of which she has now good reason to complain, then I could easily account for so great a misfortune. In the state of knowledge then prevailing in regard to distant lauds, Australia (hardly heard of by name in farming communities at home) was considered, for sheer remoteness, wholly beyond the reach of agricultural people, and only to be found out, in some unfrequented ocean, by such men as Columbus or Cook. That this was the state of our knowledge in such matters at the time alluded to is not with me, gentlemen, a matter of history, but, safer still, of the soundest recollection — a recollection carried back at this moment by an unfailing memory to the time — not when I was a boy, no, beyond that indeed — to the time when I was a " bairn." And in those days of " auld lang syne " little was known, I can assure you, in the rural districts of my native country of this " field of fortune " for the right farming man. No, the poor fellow sat in his bothy the long winter night, " Crooning o'er some auld Scotch sonnet," and deriving no information, or inspiration either, it is to be feared, from any source beyond or above the poetry of his nation and Nature's bard. Even the " second sight " (with which he was probably profusely though unaccountably en- dowed) never revealed unto him the marvellous contrivances for the diffusion of knowledge that yet lay dormant in the wo mb of time. He never dreamed of the rapid revolutions of the steam-press, nor of the fruits thereof — penny newspapers driven like chaff by the wind into the plough-furrow at his very feet, as we often see these magazines of information dis- posed of now-a-days. No ; the whole of the news-printed matter carried weekly by the postman into his parish would fall short, I really believe, in quantity — not of course in quality "—of what you receive to-day in one paper alone, namely in the " muckle bairn " of Collins-street, the Atistralasmn. Really I think I am within safe bounds in saying so. As far as I can at this moment reckon, ten, or at most twelve copies of weekly newspapers (daily were not then dreamt of) were all that found their way into my native parish at the time referred to. An ordinary farmer's Ubrary consisted of the Scriptures, Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, a work or two of Baxter, Burns, and Robinson Crusoe. To this may be added, wherever young " callants " were growing up, two or three reputable " chap books " — the one of which class I best recollect at this dis- tance of time being the " Witty Exploits of George Buchanan.'" This, then, gentlemen, was the state of" book-learning" in an ordinary farmer's family in my native country during my early boyhood, and I feel certain tiiat some of " the fathers " now present are sufficiently reminded by what I have said that my locality was not in this respect an exceptional one. It was not. But let us contrast—gratefully contrast — the extra- ordinary facilities for acquiring knowledge of other lands that are enjoyed at the present day to the state of matters I have briefly touched upon relative to times past ; let us but do this, and we shall soon see cause enough to excite our wonder and regret. What rural district in Great Britain or Ire- land but has resounded ere now with the most tanta- lizing accounts of the flesh-pots of Australia ? the gold, milk-and-boney with which Victoria is overflowing, and yet few of the class we so much require — right farming men --come here. What has bewitched them? Our land, our climate, our fare, our remuneration, and particularly our prospects, are each and all better here than at home ; and yet the man at home will " thole the factor's snash" sooner than take advantage even of Grant' Land Bill. This fact is sin- cerely to be deplored, particularly as regards men of families, a class whose prospects would be very much brightened, and whose circumstances would be materially improved, if trans- planted into the fertile soil of Victoria. A notion was some time , ago propagated in this colony, that an augmen- tation of our farming men from abroad would do us injury— that it would, in fact, be the means of lowering wages, and thus directly ruin the working man. This, I think, is a great mis- apprehension. Britishers are not, like the inhabitants of some other countries, divided into " castes," the lower of which is destined to perpetual serfdom. No ; from among us whether it ought to be traced to our education or pedigree, the working man of to-day emerges into the employer of to-morrow. So much is this a fact, that when I look around from the hill whereon I reside, almost every man of those I knew to dwell within the scope of my survey has come here as a working man, with little or no capital ; yet all these are to-day, and have been for a long time past, employers of a large amount of labour. And I have personally good grounds for being posi- tive in this assertion. Eew or none of the farming men who come here at the present time, provided they be strong and healthy, can well be poorer than I was on my arrival ; never- theless, by being industrious and provident, I, in a few years, became an employer ; and so will those " new chums" of to- day who vnU make up their minds to be useful. Of such there will always be a constant accession to the number of the em- ployers. Bearing this fact in mind, and that every additional member of this class will absorb at least three (on an average) of the employed, I think the cry " They come !" which has been ofcen alarmingly reiterated, may be seen to be founded on a fallacy. There is nothing to my mind clearer than that it is the employer and the best producer who are not only mainly but solely instrumental in upholding high rates of wages ; and that the class who exercise the most depressing influence on these rates, little as the unhappy men themselves think so, will be found to consist of idlers and swagmen. It has often occurred to me that it is an unspeakable misfortune to many of our working men that this fine colony presents such extraordinary facilities for them to migrate " all about" — facilities that are, indeed, both natural and artificial. With regard to the first, the climate is wonderfully conducive ; for the traveller can lie down at night, with his face to the firmanent and his clotted head resting on the root of a gumtree. With regard to the second, the squatter, who was once a prince, though now un- fortunately somewhat reduced (more ways than one) in " sta- tion," prided himself on keeping " open house" for travellers. The melancholy consequence of which privileges — natural and artificial — have been, three months' work, nine months' idleness, and two great " bouts" of drunkenness in the year, to our great swagmen ! The three months' work is thus usually ap- portioned : Sheepshearing one month, harvesting two months ; and the " wind-up" at the termination of each of these periods, consists of the " great bout," that " knocks down" all. After going through \ which ordeal, the " swagman," till the com- mencement of next shearing season, does everything in his power, by his presence and conduct, to reduce the current rates of wages. Por it is obvious that the man who produces nothing cannot possibly increase our wealth ; how then will his idleness conduce to raise our rates of wages ? Alas ray friends, his con- duct has quite the opposite tendency. The producer has to sup- port him, in all its vagrancy — a tax that renders him less capa- ble of paying high rates to his own men. It will be thus seen, I think, that the presence of idle men cannot, in more than exceptionable cases, ever conduce to raise wages; but that there is a moral certainty that it generally tends to lower them. So far, have I depicted the mischief the " swagman" inflicts on others ; let me now briefly review some of the ways in which his roam- ing habits affect himself— i and that very injuriously THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 4di The disadvantages that result io farming men from going " on the tramp " are botli numerous and serious, and ought never to be incurred by a man of the right stamp. If a man be known in one locality to be a good hand, do you think he should migrate to another, where he is a stranger, in quest of higher wages ? Certainly not. A good man gets most wages where he is known to be useful ; and he is received where he IS not known with distrust, consequently at reduced rates. For such an one to leave his usual neighbourliood without the gravest reason would be a step similar in folly to that of the tradesman who would give up his business connection without asking or receiving anything for his " good will." If even a horse be good aud usei'ul, are not its good qualities most ap- preciated where the animal is known ? and how much more is this the case as regards the farming man ? Besides, if a man really have any feeling, physically of mentally, in his compo- sition, he is likely to be subjected to unbearable hardships to his person, and insults to his mind, when " on the tramp." All day every conceivable peril awaits him, and at night he is sure to suffer the indignity of being made acquainted with strange bedfellows. In short, when a robust, sturdy farming man once forgets and degrades his manhood so far as to take " the swag " on his shoulder, little or no hope can furtlier be entertained of him ; for he of choice adopts that particular course of life which of all others, in the estimation of people of experience and observation in this colony, is the most likely to enfeeble his body and to contaminate his soul. And there is no doubt whatever upon my mind but his career in- evitably tends to a realization of these deplorable conditions. No task-master would inflict upon the poor fellow severer work than the miserable man undertakes voluntarily while waddling along under his bed in the day time, nor at all sub- ject hiiu at night to such " evil communications " as he ex- poses himself to at the squatter's " free banquet" in the bush. If the " bothy system " has done so much miscliief (and I really think it has), as Scotch pliilanthropists of the present day assure us, what amount of demoralization must result from this " hall of pannikens," to which the most worthless and reckless congregate at night, and from which they migrate with refreshed bodies perhaps, but in all likelihood with minds still further debased, in the morning ? What amount indeed ! no human being can tell. But all these evils to which the poor swagman exposes himself, and of which I have given but a very faint and imperfect outline, may be easily avoided by the man who would prosper. " By habit and repute," as Scotch lawyers would say, this latter type differs about as much from the one I have been formerly dilating on as the beaver does from tlie fox. The eye of the man who woidd prosper is directed, from the very dawn of his colonial career, towards the accumulation of some material wherewith to construct for hunself a home. It is very probable that he is not ex- tremely good at any one operation of the farm ••, but that is of little importance, since he has made up his mind to do every- thing, from the biggest to the smallest, with the greatest pos- sible care. Others may perform some services excellently ; he will execute everything creditably. Others may do a great day's work ; he will do great work in a season. Others will make a story to get themselves out of a scrape, and their false- hoods, as it is said of curses, will return to roost upon the heads of the inventors ; he will own his error and regret it, aud by so doing inspire liis employer with confidence in his truth and honesty. Others cannot be trusted out of sight if there be temptation in their way ; he will transact aU his com- missions, whether in town or country, and will bring every- tliing home alike in good time and in good order. Others may be dissatisfied with their lot and clamour for liigher wages, so as to have a longer spree ; he is thankful with what he has, and his shadow never darkens the threshold of a grog-shop ; he wastes nothing, but preserves all his earnings, not because he is mean or miserly, " But for the glorious privilege Of being independent." In short, his conduct attracts the attention, not only of the man to whom he proves a profitable servant, but to all around liim. He forthwith gets higher wages than others : he is en- trusted, to any amount, by those who know him, and com- mended by such to those to whom he is a stranger ; and in his case, now, is the proverb — " honesty is the best policy" — receiving a practical illustration. By this time, he has saved some means, by his earnings. Yes ; aud he has succeeded in performing a greater achievement. By his carefulness, truth, and liouesty, he has formed for himself a character that will be henceforth seen to best advantage on a farm of his own. Unless a man have some means and character, he is not likely, in my opinion, to prove a very profitable occupant of a farm. An Act of Parliament to facilitate the acquiring of a farm, to such an one, is all veiy well, and truly proper ; but an Act of Parliament to plant the penniless and the useless upon a farm, cannot, in the nature of things, be productive of any great blessing. On the contrary, it must surely and inevitably en- tail misery on the recipient of the farm, and mischief on the nation bestowing it on him. The truth of what I say will appear plain to us, if we only contemplate a man in possession of land who has no earthly means to produce anything out of that land. In such a case, of wlmt use can the poor fellow's presence be there ! Has he not either to starve, " right off," or to " slope P" But this is only his personal predicament— and a very sad one it is, certainly ; but let us see whether his presence " on the land" is of any advantage to the nation. I have already said, I think, that the non-producer does not in- crease our wealth ; if this be a fact, how can a man, sitting idly and helplessly on the land, be of any use to us ? Since he produces nothing, it is very obvious he cannot be a custo- mer to the man who does so ; therefore, in his present posi- tion, he is worse than useless, as far as I can see. Compare, however, to his present sterility the fruitfulness with which he might be made to abound, were the exertions of which he is capable not misdirected and misapplied, and you will regret that ^his usefulness has been fdiverted from' its proper chan- nel. Were this man (is he imaginary ?) who is spending his time uselessly, because he has no means, to be furnished by some substantial employer with the implements of husbandry, with plenty of food and fair wages, don't you think such an arrangement would be an advantage to the parties immediately concerned, as well as to the country at large ? The slightest shadow of a doubt of that truth has never crossed my mind. And very dissimilar to the condition I have been describing will be the case of " the man who would prosper," when en- tering " on a farm of his own." He will have, as I have already said, both means and character to utilise a small farm. A small farm, too, with careful husbandry, will be sufficient to realise for the diligent and thrifty man, not only necessaries sufficient to meet all his present requirements, but even a com- petency for his old age. From the extraordinary extent of land that the early class of colonists here generally possessed, an opinion has grown up with too many farmers of the pre- sent day, that the husbandman cannot make a living, except on a large farm. But this is wholly a fallacy. The small farm with the large crop yields always a profit, whereas the large farm with the small crop, which is seen but too often, is sure to entail a loss on its owner. Inquire and see the modest bounds v/ithin which the four corners of Tiptree Hall Farm are compassed ; yet what an enormous quantity of food for both man and beast is annually raised off that little plot of ground — ground that was originally very poor, too ! Here hkevtise great crops may be generally, though not with equal certainty, owing to the nature of our climate, grown, if a careful and generous system of farming be pursued. Yet, I often see fields when ready for harvest that I would decline having the crop thereof in a gift for the reaping, all owing, not to an unfavourable season, but to sheer neglect and sloven- liness on the part of the occupier. But this negligent style will not do for " the man who would prosper on a farm of his own." Under his supervision, from first to last, everything must be done with care. Care is the main stay, indeed, of the prosperous farmer. So much is this a fact, that when I see a farmer " better off" in the world than I am myself, I at once conclude so — " that man is more careful than I am." Again, when I see one in circumstances behind me, I ejaculate — " Poor fellow ! he is still more careless than I am." It has not escaped your notice, gentlemen, I feel sure, tiU now, that the degrees of comfort or prosperity I have here indicated are usually ascribed, in most instances, to skilLfulness, cleverness, or roguery, as the humour fits. For my part, I never saw any reason for going so far abroad to account for dissimilarities in the circumstances of farmers. No ; I trace such distinctions almost invariably to care — more or less care. Whenever a young man, indeed, enters into my service, my first instruction to him is to do whatever he lays his hand to, right — to do every- thing with care. And I always expect him to become profitable 492 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. or the reverse in exact proportion to his observance or neglect, as the case may be, of this mandate — do everything with care ! I have ah-eady° expressed an opinion that a moderately small farm is sulticient to bear crops enougli for the purposes of the grain-growing fanner. Tins, also, liolds true, I think, as regards the stock farm. Undoubtedly, from the enormous numbers of cattle and sheep that many men of the present time hold in Australia, vi'e are apt to think that one cannot live at all by stock unless his run be measured by miles. But this assumption, on a closer scrutiny, will not be found to be borne out by facts. The estate of the irentleman iu England (Thomas Booth) who, in May last, sold two heifers and a bull-calf, for the sum of 2,0U0gs., is only 320 acres in extent — a ])lot of ground, we would call, half a section. Yet from off this little bit of land the owner could easily convert horned cattle alone into money, to the amount, I dare say, of from £25,000 to £30,000 sterling. But this state of matters, at Warlaby, has been brought about througli care, and the cul- tivation of right blood. Here a stockholder relies upon the illimitable nature of his connlry and tlie innumerable nature of his herds and flocks. And what with us, is the upshot F Simply this : 1 say it advisedly, that I know men in Australia who own filty thousand sheep, or the equivalent of cattle, as the case may be — fifty thousand sheep observe, that no sane man would take in a gift, unless it were for the purpose of manuring a piece of ground with tlieir carcasses. And really, gentlemen, the man wlio would take them for anything else, would find himself at the year's end, out of pocket. Such stock, in the present state of the market is assuredly not worth one year's keep ! But ought we to marvel at the immense quantities of inferior stock that are at present spread over tlie surface of this beautiful country ? Not at all. We sec powerful agencies often at work for the spread of this unpro- fitable rubbish. All of you must yet recollect the determined effort that was made, a few years ago, by that institution (the Collins-street print) that seems solely to exist for the unen- viable purpose of putting light for darkness and darkness for light, no less with regard to agricultural interests than to political ones — the determined effort, I repeat, that was made by this print to inundate this fair colony with the worst kinds of stock in creation ! I yet shudder when I remember tlie fearful invasions it brought upon us of Chinese sheep and of Egyptian asses, and when it coolly contemplated to get a law passed, under which every man would be compelled to eat tripe, and to ride npou a donkey. And, wonderful to relate, within half-a-dozen of years of this ludicrous attempt to revolutionize our whole system of stock-farming, I have known a man lately to quote the sayings of the " rauckle bairn" of Collin-street in reference to an agricultural matter. He certainly did, and in support of his arguments, proposed to produce his authority. Of course, I, as itbecometh au old man, good-naturedly acquiesced ; yet, with the observation — ". Call Sampson that lie may make unto us sport !" But the man who would prosper on his farm must keep the best kinds of stock, no less than grow the best kinds of grain. I have myself declined an offer of 200 guineas, a few days ago, for a calf nine months old. Now, it is probable tliat this calf, at that age, would yield me some profit ; but it is wholly impossi- ble that those calves, still older, that I see sold, weekly, in the market, at £2, can leave their owners any profit wortii speak- ing of. We may also add to the disadvantage appertaining to the latter kind, the well-known fact, that the inferior animal consumes the greatest quantity of food. These two considera- tions alone ought to be a sulficient inducement to the farmer to possess himself of the best kinds of animals. Once the right blood is procured, there is no difficulty or mystery about rearing right beasts. They then, in obedience to the immuta- ble laws of nature, grow up, unerringly, " after their kind." But while they are so progressing, it must be observed, tliat there is no economy in starving them. On the contrary, tlie proper course herein, as in every other thing, is the most pro- fitable [one. You can easily prove this to be a fact. Take two animals of the same breeding and promise. Give a suf- ficient quantity of food to one of them for thirty mouths, and spin out the same quantity for the other over the space of forty-two months, and you will find that the former one, in thirty months, is by far the superior animal ; over and above your having " quick return.s" therefrom. In fact, the greatest mismanagement you can possibly perpetrate upon farm stock, is to starve the poor things. If the farmer will only be advised by me, and I have paid close attention to the matter for upwards of forty years, let him promote the comfort of liis stock. And lie cannot well do this, whether he keeps sheep or cattle, if he have horses running at large. Horses roam about so restlessly, and nip every sweetest morsel so bare, that stock following after them get only the refuse. Besides, horses do au incalcu- lable deal of mischief to pasture, when galloping about, ^^ith tlieir feet. So niucli do I dread their antics in this way, that I would liave no horse running at large in my field, unless it were one that is daily used for some purpose, and thus kept somewhat depressed in spirits. Moreover, in the present state of the horse market, I do not think a farmer can afford to rear this animal on his grass land. For my part were I to be offered a present of so many foals to-morrow, unless I had every prospect of get- ting £30 a-pieee for these animals, when three years old, I would decline having them. I think my horned cattle are more profitable stock than horses at that price. Besides that price is not likely to be realised. No doubt in hke man- ner with every other kind of stock, there will be always a wide distinction made iu the market between the common and the superior sorts. I had occular demonstration of all that the other week, when Mr. William Lyall sent a grazing mob he had of tlie former kind, into market, which fetched him 40s. each, while a lot of that gentleman's own breeding averaged £18. This'shows unmistakably the propriety of cultivating right blood in horses, as in other stock, if we breed them at all. But, in my opinion, it is better for the farmer to devote his grass land to other purposes ; and while he preserves it from tlie horse, to do so doubly from the pig. No greater loss can be voluntarily incurred by farmers, tliau is done by ihose who are reckless enough to turn out their pigs upon their own grass land. In my neighbourhod there are some people who avoid this loss, in a certain measure, by turiug their pigs into the land of others ; but, even this is only a negative advan- tage. The pig, from his nature, \\ herever you turn him at large into pasture, wastes himself; therefore, have him con- fined within narrow bounds — have him of the best sort, too, and never be without him, for he has a function to perform, and that is to utilise what would otherwise go to waste. There is only one other of the domestic animals of the farm, that I will say anything of, upon the present occasion. In the history of man, theie are certain early stages whereat the dog must have been of great service and comfort to him, and I am of opinion that an all-bountiful and all-wise Creator, iu his goodness, saw fit to provide the dog for the use of man at those comparatively early periods. But between the man of that time and the Victorian farmer of a.u. 18(59, a wide gulf intervenes ; and I certainly think it is now high time for us to drop the consideration of this animal out of our domestic economy. Iu advancing this opiuiou, I will be no doubt re- minded that the dog is becoming more fashionable of late, in certain quarters, and that dog-fights, dog shows, &c., are held, unseemly as such exhibitions to me appear, in broad daylight. I am aware that this is a fact. But this exertion of the de- praved nature of man to embrace the dog again, iu our era, is merely like the volition of the men of the Jrgiis, iu endeavour- ing to revert to the donkey, and is that particular symptom of retrogression in animals, which we stock farmers usually term " breeding back." And this, in my opinion, is not a sulficient justification for propagating, or even tolerating the canine race by the farmers of this colony. Eor of all animals harboured about a farm, I really think the dog is not only the least profit- able but also the most mischievous, unless kept on a chain, and I could never see the use of him, so kept. But once let him at large, and he does mischief, even of his own instincts, but more immeasurably, if employed by his owner. You all know how readily quiet stock of any kind will thrive and fatten to what wild sorts will. Now, the reason is this. The wild sorts are continually in a state of restlessness and alarm ; they are never iu comfort, and they destroy their own pasture by the action of their feet. AVell, then, employ a dog to drive and hunt the quiet kinds, and you at once and unfailingly realize in their case the exact conditions we so much deprecate in reference to the wild sorts. So much have I always been imjiressed with the truth of this, that although I am now up- wards of twenty years established, in a small way, " on the land," I never yet permitted a dog to be used in my service. And were I to do so, his presence, I feel" certain, would have turned me out of house and home long ere now, through the loss accruing, from cows slinuing their calves alone. THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. 493 DEVELOPMENT OF THE AGRICULTURAL OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, RESOURCES At tlie first meetiug ol' the Hexham Farmers' Club for the winter season, Mr. John Hope, juu., of Hexham, read tlie f'oUovving paper : Wheu we consider the great importance of British agriculture iu its relation to the supply of food to the people of the United Kingdom, we think we have introduced a subject worthy of the attention of all who take an interest iu the prosperity of tlie British Isles. We may say, in commenc- ing-, that we liave no extravagant theory to present to you, or Utopian scheme to enforce, nor even to indulge iu flights of imagination ; but in a sober, rational, but earnest manner to present to you some considerations of a matter-of-fact charac- ter, that may tend in some very luimble way to tlic develop- ment of the agricultural resources of this country. We do not expect — in our time at least — to see turnips growing on the top of Skiddaw, potatoes on the crest of Snowdon, wliite wheat on the summit of Ben Nevis, nor even cabbages on the rid^e of the Dunkeroon Mountains of Kerry. As the quantity of laud in these islands cannot be increased as the inhabitants increase, and as we do not possess the resources of Brothe. Jonathan in being able to go " further west" as found neces- sary, we must make the best — the very best — use of what re- sources are at our disposal. Iu tliis age of wonderful schemes, it is not very likely that any great engineer will be able to hift us from our insular position by drifting us down South — say, between Madeira and Morocco ; therefore, we must be content with our temperate and rather foggy, uncertain climate. However, it has this important advantage that it is able to grow the finest beef and mutton in the world. Ad- hering very closely to tei-m firmn and to figures, tlie essence of facts (which may interest the intelligeutas much as a frivolous romance the thoughtless), we may take stock of our advan- tages Cr. and our disadvantages Dr., and strike the balance fairly, and wherein we fail in natural advantages iu compari- son with other countries of more higlily-favoured climates, let us make up by dint of indomitable resolution, knowledge, industry, labour, and a wise, but liberal expenditure of capital, and the illustration of the tortoise and the hare may be applied to us as a nation, with a wider range of meaning than lias been heretofore applied to the individual. Our statistics are from the highest autliorities — Parliameutary Blue Books, Board of Trade Returns, and other sources of reliable informa- tion. According to the census of April, ISGl, tlie number of inhabitants in the United Kingdom, including tlie Channel Islands, Isle of Man, &c., were 29,334.,710, and uow in Oc- tober, 1869, taking into our careful calculation the annual addition to our population, our numbers will be about 3H millions, and we venture to say that a census taken now would reveal something like the following results — 31,401,000, and in fifty years more, according to the present ratio of increase, our people will have doubled their numbers, and, still further to show the development of the Anglo-Saxon race, we may say that the United States doubles its population iu 25 years. " Should the same rate of increase go on (we liere quote from C. A. Coke's Book on Census) England and Wales — not United Kingdom — in 1901 may be expected to number thirty- six millions of the human race, whicli, in tlie succeding fifty j'ears, or in 1951, may be increased to seventy-three millions, nearly four times its present inhabitants. This, however, is a point none can determine. We can but estimate the probabili- ties of tlie future by the increase of past years. On an ave- rage 373 persons reside on a square mile of surface in Eng- land. With the exception of Belgium with 400 persons to a square mile, it is one of the most densely populated countries on the face of the earth," and forms about tlie 33.333 part of the inhabitants of the world. The supply of food to the nation is one ever increasing in its urgency and importance, and brings us to our subject ; and we beg to remind you that the foregoing consideration elevates this question to a far higlier platform than a mere material issue of personal profit and loss ; it assumes an aspect of beneficence and Divine good- ness, and we believe that the Almighty, working through his pre^t^r? ijiap, i^ Ijo^mtpoBsly rsisiijg \jp and scattering abroad on tlie earth the chief earthly blessing — abundant food, and we also know, and it teaches us valuable lessons as individuals and as a nation, that He can withhold, as we have seen iu part these last two years. If it is granted (and we do not tliink it can be legitimately contradicted) that our population numbers 31. J millions, we may ask the question. How much corn is required annually for our ow'n consumption ? Some political ecouomists of eminence calculate that one quarter of corn is required on an average to feed every mau, woman, and child for one year, and some also of good authority calculate six bushels per head. As the truth generally lies between ex- tremes, so probably it may do so in this case. In our calcula- tion we will assume the medium quantity to be nearer the truth, and then we find we will require about twenty-seven million quarters of corn for the food of the people of the British Isles. Taking the Board of Trade Eeturus for 1868, which is the latest and best authority we could get, we find the following results for the United Kingdom ; i^wy^/z/f/.— 3,396,890 acres of wheat— (310,000 acres in-' crease over 1867, partly in consequence of the failure of the turnip crop, a greater breadth of land being sown with wheat) — 1,780,201 acres of barley ; 1,488,470 acres of oats. Wales. — 130,553 acres of wheat ; 151,608 acres of barley; 257,153 acres of oats. Scuilniid. — 124,683 acres of wheat ; 219,515 acres of bar- ley ; 1,011,430 acres of oats. i/^/„«f/._386,790 acres of wheat ; 188,252 acres of bar- ley ; 1,699,919 acres of oats. For tlie present we will only concern ourselves with wheat or human food, our time being very ranch limited ; we may, if spared, at some future time, return to the whole subject again. We had, in the United Kingdom in 1868, 3,951,018 acres of wheat, or in round numbers, four millions of acres ; taking 3^ quarters per acre (some say more), as an estimate, we find tliat, in 1868, we grew in these Isles about 14 miUion qrs. of corn. According to the Economist, our importation of wheat for 1868 was in round numbers, rather over 8 millions of quar- ters, which practical agriculturists say can be grown at home. For a period of years past, our average annual importation was 10 millions of qrs. of corn. The annual increase of corn required is about 200,000 qrs. for the increase of population. And now taking into account the proportion of rye, oats, and barley consurr.ed for human food, you will find our original estimate, of the annual consumption per head, to be very near the truth. We look upon every effort that is made for the increased productive power of our Isles as being to the credit or profit side of our country, and we also look upon all laud that is farmed under its productive power for want of capita), knowledge, industry, energy, or other causes as being to the debtor or losing side of our country. Leaving this corn ques- tion for a time, we will now turn our attention to the question of beef and mutton, and taking Dr. Wynter's statement of the annual consumption of Loudon as the basis of our calculation, we find it requires (exclusive of fish, fowls, rabbits, ham, bacon, &c.), 1,500,000 sheep, 250,000 oxen, 30,000 calves, 30,000 pigs, and taking into account the fact, that the popu- lation of London, in round numbers, is 3 millions, whicli forms about the tenth part of the population of the United Kingdom, in round numbers 30 millions (the Marl-Lane Ex- press ol Xhn 11th instant, in speaking of the corn question, makes use of the same quantities, and as ours was written a week previously, this is a coincidence and also a confirmation), and we find tliat we require, as near as we can come for our annual consumption, 15,000,000 sheep, 2,500,000 oxen, 300,000 calves, and 300,000 pigs. The cattle imported are as below specified. We arrived at the conclusion by adding one-third to the first eight months, made up and published by the Board of Trade, so as to bring in the last four mouths of the year, and thus get a comprehensive survey of tlie whole. 494 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Cattle, all kinds, 134,731, sheep and lambs 386,394., swine, and hogs 39,304. There are also comparatively minor im- ports of salt, beef, pork, bacon, hams, &c., which we do not take into account. It will be observed that, in comparison with our corn importations, our importation of live cattle is of a very minor character. The following figures will show the number of live stock in the United Kingdom in 1868, with the increase and decrease over and under 1867. Came.— Cows, 3,625,137, increase 53,343 over 1867; other kinds, 5,458,379, increase 399,800 over 1867 ; sheep and lambs, 35,607,813, increase 1,789,861 over 1867 ; pigs, 3,189,167, decrease 1,031,933 under 1867. The high price of pigs and sheep in 1866 had the effect of in- creasing the number in 1867, and the very large decrease of pigs in 1868 was caused by the high price of food in that year. We see how wonderfully the law of supply and demand (the only just standard of value) can regulate our supplies of food with a precision that is perfectly astonishing, and with results that are of most reliable data for our information, and help us to understand the science of political economy, and to know that the balance can be kept without any " paternal goven- ment aid" or centralising influence. We know that all " flesli is grass," and this leads us to consider where these vast herds of cattle are fed. In the ever green pastures of the Emerald Isle, or the renowned northern grazing grounds of Old Cale- donia, or the more extensive but none less renowned valleys of " Old England." We will now concern ourselves as to the quantity of land and crops required iu the manufacture of beef and mutton (and at the moment keep out of our view the crops of potatoes, &c., required for human food). We again take the returns for the year 1868. The total area of the United Kingdom is 77,513,000 acres, of these 33,164,584 is under permanent pasture, and 11,659,855 under corn crops (a part of which, barley, oats, beans, and peas, are used for cattle food), and under turnips, mangolds, &c., 3,783,131. The total acreage under crops being 45,652,545, which leaves a balance of 32 millions of acres of what is called waste lands, which we will not take upon ourselves to specify, as the Board of Trade say, " that land capable of cultivation, but lying waste and untilled, is erroneously returned under the heading of bare fallow or uncropped arable laud." We import in vast quantities oats, barley, maize, peas, beans, millet, lentils, &c., the quantities of which we cannot now go into, and also immense quantities of linseed, cotton, rape, and rubsen-cakes, contaioing, as our agriculturists have found, the highest and most nutritious fl.esh-forming substances, with least possible waste, in the shape of ash moisture, and other useless matter, and also containing, as a matter of neces- sity, the richest manurial value (in fact, being worth nearly half the cost for that only), and with Peruvian guano, advanced 10s. per ton last month. This item forms a very important estimate in the grazier's calculation. Linseed cake is in its nature the quickest article that can be manufactured into beef, &c. ; it is, in fact, concentrated ready for immediate tranformatiou into the living organism. In this wonderful arrangement of indirect manure purchase we see the compensating clause of nature, and also how " the liberal soul shall be made fat" in increased fertility and larger crops. We know that turnips contain an average proportion of 90 per cent, of water, and being now rather an uncertain crop (to a certain extent), and the corn land being required for food for man, not for cattle (as per statement of foreign corn imported, as previously stated), we find we are fairly brought to the question of " the development of the agricultural resources of the United Kingdom." We have about 33 millions of what are technically called waste lands. Of these there are (published in 1863) 3,000,000 acres occupied with woods and plantations; 7,000,000 acres in Scotland consist of sheep pasture, at a consi- derable elevation, and but 'little improved; 8,000,000 in Ire- land unenclosed, generally quite uuimproved ; 3,000,000 acres are mountain and bog ; 13,000,000 acres consist of unim- proved, and very unproductive lands lands of every other kind. While we admit most freely that a large portion of land is farmed in very high first-class condition, we also are compelled to say, from practical agricultural authority, that a very large proportion is cultivated in such a way so as to be very unpro- ductive, and also very unprofitable. We desire to say that in the matter of reclamation of waste lands much has been done, but more remains to be done ; and we further de- sire to say that we look forwarcl to the future of our country with promise, because the spirit of enterprise is abroad, and young England is putting on armour for the foe. There are new victories, bloodless conquests, to obtain over the vast resources of the forces in nature, and countless laurels for agricultural heroes to obtain (not following the blind example of kingly rulers of the empires of the world, keeping vast ar- mies in readinesss to destroy their feUow-creatures), in which you wiU receive the blessing of the poor, the hungry, and too often famishing portion of our people, and in which you will know that " peace hath her victories not less renowned than war." In the few suggestions that we have to make we feel the need of much wisdom in touching on those great questions which lie before us, and we wish to speak with perfect fearlessness, and also with perfect kindness, forbearance, and humility, knowing, as we do, that many older and wiser heads than ours have failed to solve or settle the following problems, which bear directly on the solution of our subject. The conveyance of land should be shorn of its cumbrous and expensive charac- ter, and be placed on a simple and equitable footing, so that the sale of land may become as simple (though not quite so quick) as a quarter of corn. As it is, the premium charged and the delay attendant is a disgrace to our legislators. The law of landlord and tenant might be so contrived as to be " not one-sided justice" to either, but with such covenants for the mutual protection of the rights and properties of each, as to produce a good understanding between them. In homely lan- guage, we may say that they sail in the same boat, their in- terests being identical, and where this is not the ease improve- ment is stopped, and land deteriorates in value. Good leases and fair compensation for improvements on both sides, and in cases of disputes a reference to a wise arbitrator would much tend to this desirable consummation, as will also the consider- ation of the next point. A settlement of the game-law ques- tion, probably by the medium of a mutual compromise between the landlord and tenant, treating rabbits simply as vermin, to be quickly destroyed as a nuisance, leaving the landlord the en- joyment of the hares and winged game as, already suggested by a number of tenant-farmers and landlords, and thus doing away with the prolific source of dispute, the "gamekeeper,"the tenant himself seeing that the hares and winged game are looked after for his landlord's shooting. We believe this question will soon be settled by the sheer force of common sense, and we heartily wish it a speedy burial. The waste lands to be improved so as to develop our resources and employ our able- bodied paupers who either will not or cannot get work. As land is a sound investment, it is to be hoped that there need be no lack of capital after the bursting of the " bubble limited liability," with its extensive depressing results ; and after the money lost in foreign loans and quixotical enterprises, we doubt not that money would be to be had on a safe though slower investment in the reclamation and improvement of the land of our own country. No more wilful waste sliould be countenanced in the matter of sewage, which is nothing else than " national loss," and the utOization of it will be a source of national gain. The sanitary laws alone (apart from the question of finance) wiU compel us to take up this ques- tion. The manufacture of meat should be more encouraged, primarily as a source of profit in the animal, and secondarily as a fertilizing power to aid in developing our resources. Let it be proved that the quality of a farm is before its quan- tity, so that as far as possible every acre of land may be brought up to the liighest state of efficiency, so as to double its pro- ducing power and sell off £300 or more instead of £100, and still under liberal treatment maintain its efficiency. As rents liave increased so have our crops and power of producing corn and cattle. This shows that it has stimulated enterprise by introducing improvements on every hand in the shape of drain- age, machinery, &c. Free trade showed this country the necessity of flinging aside notions of standing still, and in- duced us to go on with the spirit of progress, so that it has not by any means been an unmixed evil to the agriculturist, but otherwise. The lack of good education in an agriculturist is simply undeveloped power, for if in any age the aphorism is true, " Knowledge is power," it is so now. The leading general principles of science should be taught, so as to enable the farmer to grasp the leading principles of cause and effect in all its varied relationships with the laws of nature ; character of soil with regard to its capacity of bearing cer- tain crops ; the nature of the growing plant, its culture and proper aourisbmeat^ the knowledge of the laws of life »ad THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. 496 health of the living animal, so as to develop all this know- ledge in a utilitarian way, with a view to increase and profit. This knowledge must go hand in hand with " experience" to he of a strictly practical character, it being quite impossible for any man actively engaged in the business of farming to sit in his study all the day long. This can only be done by the hterary man. " We must have men of thonght," but we must also " have men of action." Better dwellings are in many places required by our peasantry ; better houses often mean better morahty. The better education of the working power of the farm would enable the labourer to take a deeper in- terest in his work and an intelligent pride iu the best perform- ance of the same. A well-educated peasantry would also prove the best safeguard of our country's prosperity, and would help to solve the puzzling social questions awaiting solution, to wit, pauperism, crime, and other kindred questions. We most cordially sympathise with all men who are labouring in an earnest and thorough way for the amelioratiou and solid instruction of our working people. We believe the training and developing of a nobla race of men and women to be of vital importance to our nation. We do trust that the Irish question will receive at the hands of some of our great states- men such attention as will result in wise legislation, so that iu the physically highly-favoured sister isle, among the warm- hearted— but often misguided — sons and daughters dwelling there under the shade of the shamrock, there may exist be- tween them and us — as between old Caledonia's people and ourselves — a spirit of mutual coufidence and amity, and that in very truth we may all be loyal subjects of our most gracious Queen, and that these isles may be indeed the United King- dom of Great Britain and Ireland. And now, in conclusion, we trust that the present commercial duluess and gloom, the result of fradulency and swindling, and great dishonesty in high and also low quarters, may speedily be dissipated, and that a brighter period may dawn, in which the eternal princi- ples of justice and truth may be fully recognised and practised among our countrymen, so that the name of Britannia may be handed down to posterity as — " Great, glorious, and free, First flower of the earth, first gem of the sea." Mr. M. Smith said they must be all very much delighted with the excellent paper read. He was glad to find they had a townsman able to produce a paper showing so much talent and research. The paper referred to the waste land in the country. There were lords of the soil who were opposed to the cultivation of tliis land. It was a shame that they should be so if it was for the good of the commuuity. It was the duty of every many who held land to see that it was applied for the benefit of the nation at large. The late Duke of Nor- thumberland was told that if he allowed the enclosure of Hare- shaw Common he would have to pay compensation for taking minerals from it. But the Duke asked if its enclosure would be for the good of the country at large, and on being answered in the affirmative he said, " then let it be done." Every man who held land ought to be guided by the same consideration as the late Duke. He (Mr. S.) believed the time would come when, by Act of Parliament, landlords would be compelled to have their laud improved for the benefit of the country at large. He concluded by moving a vote of thanks to Mr. Hope for the paper he had read. Mr. W. F. Catcheside, in seconding the motion, referred to the condition of the agricultural labourer. He thought the question of education was at the root of the condition, not only of the agricultural, but other labourers. If the labourer had a better education and a more thorough understanding of the work carried on at the farm he would acquire an interest both in the management of the farm and his work, which would produce the best results, making him more contented than we usually find him to be. It would also be beneficial to farmers to have scientific knowledge, some smattering at any rate of the causes of sterdity of soUs and other scientific questions of that description. He had great pleasure iu second- ing the vote of thanks to Mr. Hope for his very interesting paper. Mr. W. Trotter, the Secretary, said there was one point upon which Mr. Hope did not go so far as some farmers would like, and that was with respect to the game-laws. He did not know whether, as secretary of the club, he was acting wisely in referring to this matter, but he believed a man did his duty best wbeu he spoke gut what he thought, There w»$ no enl so injurious to good farming as the abominable hares and rabbits trailing about through the crops, and if there was to be a change in the game-laws let it be thorough, and not a half- measure. It was no use leaving hares to tempt the labourers. Educate the labourers as well as you liked, but when a hare would cross his path, the spirit of adventure being in him as strongly as in any gentleman of the land, he would have a blow at it (laughter and applause). There was another thing which stood in the way of the development of agriculture, and that was the option landlords had of turning tenants out of their fiirms at a few months' notice. That might have answered fifty or a hundred years ago, when the farmer put nothing into the land but what he took out of it, but now farmers went into the manure markets and spent as many hundred pounds in improvements as their farms were acres in extent ; and that the landlords should have the option of turning them out at six months' notice was neither fair nor just. He hoped some change for the better woidd soon take place with respect to this matter. Mr. J. Lee, of Dilston, the chairman said a great expendi- ture of capital was required in the development of the agri- cultural resources of the country, and by some means greater security would have to be given for the investment of that capital. Capital would not float into anything unless there was sufficient security for the payment of it. No person in that room would go to his landlord and expect to get £1,000 without giving some acknowledgment for it. Now, that was what the farmers did to the landlords ; they gave their money without an acknowledgment. It often happened that the far- mer had no better security than that the landlord would not take advantage of liim. To the honour of the landlords of this part of the country, they did not take an unfair advantage of their tenants, but there were exceptions to that rule. Many cases occurred in England where the landlord came in and took advantage of the improvements the tenant had made upon his farm. Something should therefore be done either to com- pel the landlords to grant leases for a fair number of years or compensation for improvements authorised by law or custom. They would all agree that Mr. Hope had read a good paper. He quite approved of what Mr. Hope said about the education of labourers and about labourers' cottages. In many cases the cottages were now good, but in some cases they were still bad, and where this was the case the farmer ought to bring it under the notice of the landlord. Mr. Hope said he had intentionally understated rather than overstated the game question, as mixing among different classes of men, and having a slight knowledge with respect to carrying on popular agitation, he thought this was the better course to pursue. As an outsider he did not wish to presume too much. He sympathised with the view ex- pressed by Mr. Trotter, but he was anxious that landlords and tenants, rich and poor, should dwell together in feelings of amity and good wUl towards one another. Seeing the necessity or more intimate communion he avoided anything that would aise up hostility between the classes. In the advocacy of measures half a loaf was better than no bread, and they might take half a measure when in the end they expected to get the whole. It was new information to him that landlords could turn out farmers at six months' notice. When a man had a lease upon a farm — The Secretary : He cannot be turned out in that case. The CuAiRMAJM : Oue half have not leases. Mr. Hope : If they wanted leases they should rise up throughout the country as one man, and they would get them. No legislators that ever lived could resist the force of such an expression of opinion. With regard to tlie investment of capital in farming, why not have security for it? If he was a farmer and had not a lease he would speedily leave his farm. Mr. Pattison : Alter the system if you can. Three-fourths of the farmers have not leases. The Chairman said the land was in the hands of a few Oivuers, and that constituted the difficulty. Mr. Hope confessed that they had given liim startling in- formation. If he had known that three-fourths of the farmers had not leases — Mr. Pattison : More than three-fourths. Mr. Hope said if he had known that he would have gone carefully into the matter. But if landlords did not abuse their power the law, practically speaking, was not so had as it wovUd seem. 496 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. THE NEW FARM. To be or not to be, to lie fallow or not to He fallow, that's the question. It does one good, though. As iu the land the rootlets, so in the mind the thoughtlings, in cousidei'ation of the soil's rest, are grateful. But if you will take my word for it, I am glad — right glad — to meet again. And as for matter — as for stuff to say — you cannot believe what a lot I've been storing, if you will only be patient. First of all let me record the delightful experi- ence of yesterday. It had been pouring torrents all night and throughout the forenoon — torrents of rain, with Avind and lightning fearful to behold — ^just such weather as baffled so terribly the advance of the Prussians to Waterloo, making old Wellington squeak for it — and the hot-tempered river, ah'eady peat-stained and choleric enough, began to rise foi'iously, to my joy ! Joy indeed ! " Wherefore rejoice? what triumph brings he home ?" Why already his subdued wave acknowledges sullenly the success ot the plan we have been adopting to prevent his undermining our meadows, as he has for several years been employed in doing, to his satisfaction, and that too of sundry landowners down-stream to whom he has been gratuitously presenting unexpected " surplus." You will remember my mentioning our busy operations raising stone in the river bed for the purpose of repairing the bank. Well, just as we had carted it a short distance and were about to commence reparation, a young engineer officer came on a visit, whose brains, as he is clever and an enthusiast, I determined to utilise. Having walked him down our deep slopes to the scene of action, he at once pointed out, as really is the case, that, however carefully we might face the bank with boulder- stone, still the insidious undercurrent would continue to eat away its base until some morning the whole slice would slip down in hopeless consternated debris into the triumphant tyrant's jaws. He also forbade our building out piers down stream, the effect of which he showed would be just to divert the current a few yards, only to return exasperated in what is termed a " backwater," to an assault upon the soil below the stonework. Instead, he directed us — and the simple idea at once recommended itself so forcibly even to the gutta-percha-brained labourers employed, that they threw themselves with a will into the work— to build out at intervals of a hundred yards, and at an angle of forty-five degrees vpstream, half-a-dozen thick walls of a jetty character slojjing down from the level of the bank to a stone's thickness on the river bed. He selected the most projecting points of the bank to throw them out from. The result of this work is that the stream gets caught irretrievably, and there is an elbowfnl, so to speak, witliin each jetty, of dead water "which acts as a buffer against the intruding torrent, directing it to move on just round the corner. TJiei-e is no more undermining — no more eating of the base. Already there are indications of a slimy deposit where before the tale was of abstraction. It was the success of this plan, then, that I preferred to ■watch yesterday to partridge shooting. And there I sat, so doing, with my gun beside me, on a sod for some hours. For is not success sweet in all sorts and cases ? Whether it come by demolition of the Irish Church, by the looking into a loved one's eyes, or by the staving ofl' of a can- tankerous, greedy river. There is no difference iu kind, as logicians say, only in degree. Quality the same. Sir, only a question of quantity, as might be written refleC' tively on comparison of a peasant's home-happiness with that of the Baron banker. There is another matter in which I have been recently interested, the results of which I will record, having had several inquiries in consequence of my former statements on the subject. I refer to the autumn planting of the diseased potato tubers. Last year, through the wayward- ness of the man who had received the order, and owing to my absence from home, the diseased tubers thrown out of the crop on raising were left in a heap uncovered through a slight frost. They moreover fermented, and when planted were to a great extent half mud. The con- sequence was that very few plants appeared above the surface in the spring. Hoping on, I left them, until fairly frightened by the gardener's remonstrances that we should have no potatoes whatever for the use of the house unless I did something quickly. It was long after every one else had planted their spring cro]) that I gave the re- luctant order to plough up the ground, and we planted the small round tubers reserved by the gardeners out of the crop which I had raised the year before from diseased plants. Thi-ee weeks since we stored our crop, a most prolific one, of mealiest roots free from all sym])toms of disease. To-day and to-morrow I plant nine inches deep, or rather with nine inches of soil on them, the small ones of this crop which were carried mider cover and spread thinly until wanted. What a saving of trouble in the spring time is it to be thus forward ! A friend who tasted our potatoes last year, and was informed how I grew them, was quicker on the feather than myself, following im- plicitly my own directions to replant at once the diseased tubers, as they were taken up, in ground ready prepared for the purpose. He has a capital crop, with some but comparatively few gaps, while the weight at the roots is considerably greater than in the case of the spring planted. He had not finished taking the crop up when I saw him last. I will report progress in my next. Another gentleman's gardener, who doubted my recom- mendation to plant the diseased tuber, still ventured to put iu some sound, or apparently sound seed, as I recommend, late in autumn, with nine inches of soil over- head. He reports that the produce is much heavier than that of the spring-planted in the same field. Here again is a fact in favour of autumn planting which my gardener, whom I rejoice in having converted to my side, has just gleefully mentioned to me. In a plot of outside garden which I allow to a man-servant, he managed to leave a potato tuber behind in the ground when the crop was raised last year. This struck out so manfully in the spring that the gardener persuaded him to let it grow on. It came up between the pea rows. The only extra nursing that it got was that during the very hot weather one bucket of water was thrown over it. The result was that twenty-six tubers were taken up, seven weighing over a pound each. I have two beside me which have been laid on the pantry shelf for some time exposed to the sunny air. The biggest were all cooked. JNIy tape, however, measures these to be in circumference across ten inches, lengthways one foot. The whole produce of the root, old Melon tells me, was thirteen pounds of excellent mealy tubers. The sort is called hereabouts the Scotch York. Since writing the above I am thankful to have finished the planting of an acre during beautiful weather, in a kind bed. We are now bnsy with the walnut harvest. What brown fingera TEE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 497 and staiueil nails the juveniles display ! while at any nionieut of the day they can prodiu'e from their stores in pocket or drawer any reasonable amount of delicious kernel, cliesnut, filbert, or walnut. There is old Melon's boy up on a slight bough, waving to and fro before my window at this moment while I write. The old man got an awkward fall from a ladder some three weeks since, and is more wary of climbing. Tiie cook is busy in the preparation of fruit after a plan of which we knew nothing until a I'rench lady taught us some days since. She divides into quarters, subdivided again, such of the huge apples and pears (which wc are wont to store) as have fallen from the tree, and, being consequently bruised, would not keep in the usual way. I had the precaution to allow a considerable growth of grass under the trees, so as to save the fruit as much as possible in its collision with Mother Earth. These quarters cook bakes in the oven, as the sun is uot hot enough now to serve our purpose, and they arc then hung up in paper bags in the store-room to be decocted when wanted, after the various modes of fruit-preparation that sweet ladies are proficient in. Such dried parcels are a great help to the larder of the French peasant in winter time. Quite a Robinsou Crusoe idea, is it not ? You re- member how he stored his grapes. By the way, I have just had a youngster translating a passage for me out of a Latin Robinsou Crusoe, some interesting old Friar having converted our old friend into that guise, a volume of which was picked up for me in Paris. It is surprising how rapidly boys progress co)i amore iu the unravelling of a strange language when the subject interests, being already familiar to thera. How they roared with delight as, dictionary in hand and grammar beside them, they made out that old " Robinson did not fall out of his tree that night, but sli^pt calmly until morning !" the point of the passage being improved by the sight of old Melon before our window, limping and groaning whenever obliged to stoop, owing to his late mishap as related above. There are symptoms of a hard winter, in the fact that yesterday some twenty missel thrushes were hovering over and dipping into the Irish yews upon the lawn, taking a feast of such delicious berries therefrom ! A whole wedge of wild-geese passed over-head yesterday : but the most beautiful sight of any is to watch five lovely swans that have found their way up to the pool in the river beneath our house. How they revel amidst the American weed, a great plantation of which has sprung up quite lately therein ! And there they sail so smoothly, and yet iu a spirit of such suggestive wildness, up stream to a gravel- bed beneath the bridge, where I fear they have a pate of salmon spawn, descending thence so grandly with the flood for their afternoon feed upon our bank again ! "Where they sleep I don't know : what I do know is that the night has quite suddenly closed upon my task. I can see to pen no more without a candle. But without-doors it is delicious ; and you won't be angry, gentle reader, if I hurry forth, having such sympathy with Moore in the verse — " How dear to me the hour when daylight dies, And sunbeams melt along the silent sea ! For then sweet dreams of other days arise, And memory breathes her vesper sigh to thee." ENGLISH FARMERS AND FOREIGN MODELS. Some quarter of a century or so since, there was very commonly to be encountered a bad style of Englishman, whose great ambition it was to pass for a Frenchman. On the strength of having been once or twice on the Continent, he broke his English, let his hair grow, and laughed at his countrymen who liked roast beef. Since then, however, a very remarkable revulsion has taken place, and English habits and customs prevail far more abroad than French fashions do here. That is to say, iu good society, to which the well-bred Englishman has given much of its tone. The foreigner, in fact, is just at present more prone to imitate us than we are to follow his lead. Still, of course, there are exceptions, and agriculture is one of these. For long past the farmer has been doomed to hear how much he has to learn from other countries, how sadly behind he is, and so forth. To be sure, he has generally gathered all this from certain weak-minded outsiders, who publish themselves in the daily Journals, or edge their way into agricultui'al discussions. Never- theless, so it was — the stigma was cast ; and if even Mr. Mechi could enlighten us no further. Monsieur or the Baron might do much to dispel our ignorance and incite our energies. And now even this hope is gone. The foreigner is far more ready to learn than teach. When Dr. Voelcker and Mr. Jenkins were visiting Belgium the other day, as a deputation from the Royal Agricultural Society of Eng- land, the astonishment of the people was something ex- traordinary. In the Doctor's own words " they could not understand how two persons should have come over from England to Belgium to see what they were doing there !" Or, as they themselves said, " All that we have learnt of good agriculture we have picked up either directly by going to England, or by reading English agri- cultural publications." And yet it was but a month or so since that Mr. Wren Iloskyns, styled by a contemporary one of the representative agriculturists of his age, drew attention to the petite culture of the Continent, whereby they can " obtain many crops while the steam horse is getting one ;" while further, " as to meat pro- duction (to us by far the most important problem), the quantity of beasts fed and meat produced, is far greater in Belgium than that in England." We took the liberty of questioning some of these statements at the time they were made, as we trusted that it would not be on the strength of such arguments that Talpa would go down to posterity as " a representative man." And what has followed? At the Farmers' Club, Mr. James Howard has just called his brother M.P. to order in this way:—" Soou after my return from Bel- gium, I was greatly surprised at the contents of a letter addressed to the Times by the accomplished author of TaliM., putting in a plea for ' jtellte culture' Mr. Hoskyns remarked, ' that the number of beasts fed, and meat produced per acre, are far greater in Belgium than in England ; it is said that figures may be made to prove almost any theory. It is true that Belgium has 1,257,269 head of cattle, which is larger in proportion than the stock of English cattle ; but to come to the conclusion from such a fact that the Belgium meat supply is greater than ours is a fallacy as I will show. In the first place the draught power on oxen in this country is infinitesimal, in Belgium it forms a large proportion. In England as soon as a bullock is big enough he is slaughtered, whilst in Bel- gium he is kept on for years for draught purposes. Again, take the startling fact, that whilst Belgium has but some M M 498 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. half luillioii sheep, we have over 35 millions; to say nothing of the superior size aud weight of our animals, I feel convinced that were we in possession of full and reliable statistics it would be conclusively proved that England produces far more meat per acre than any country in the world, with, perhaps, the exception of the rich growing land of Holland." This sounds tolerably conclu- sive. But, again, as to thepeiite culture, Mr. Howard says " There really is little practical information to be gained from the small farms ; but throughout the greater part of France they preponderate. There arc thousands of one, two, and three acre farms, held by peasants who fill up their time by working for the larger farmers. The size of farm considered necessary to support a family is about 4 hectares (10 acres). A couple of cows are gene- rally kept on such holdings ; these supply the family with milk and butter. They are yoked to the plough, and •draw the cai't to market. Not an uncommon sight is a bullock and a pony yoked to the plough, or a horse and an ass. I remember once seeing a horse, a bull, and an ass drawing a harrow. These farmers work from sunrise to sunset, doing double the work for themselves they would for an employer ; and they live far harder than the English peasants. These small farms grow little beside wheat, rye, oats, clover, and potatoes; occasionally, a patch of turnips or beet is to be seen. Thirty bushels of wheat is consi- dered an excellent crop." This is precisely the view of the matter we ourselves took a fortnight since when we said some little good might be found associated with very much that was wretched ; as that these small farmers make it pay by managing to live when and where an English la- bourer would starve. The general tone, in fact, of Mr. Howard's paper is against foreign agriculture when put in comparison with our own. And in reading this paper we should bear in mind that its author is no " prejudiced" tenant-farmer who has left home for the first time, quite wiUing and ready to find there is no place like old England after all. On the contrary, Mr. Howard is a citizen rather than a countryman, a commercial man rather than a farmer, an old traveller rather than a young one, as, above all, one whose very business it should be to readily recognize the improvements achieved on other shores. But even further still, Mr. Howard enjoys a practical knowledge of agriculture ; and associating these advantages with quick and close observation, it is almost impossible to imagine anyone who should speak to such a subject as Continental Farms with greater authority. The lesson he here teaches us is that we have little to learn elsewhere. There may he something to think over as to an extended culture of beetroot, or a better system of irrigation ; as even any greater attention to these matters would seem to depend very much upon circumstances. Mr. Howard himself says that the French farmers unquestionably enjoy both in soil and climate great advantages over the English ; and notwithstanding all Dr. Voelcker says to the con- trary, we are inclined to think that jn the culture of beet for sugar and spii'it the advantages of the French in the way of climate are far greater than we have yet taken into consideration. The value of the opening address at the Fanners' Club was pointed by this speech of Dr. Voelcker, and by another from Mr. Sewell Read. But surely the honour- able member for Norfolk went all wrong when he inferred that for the last twenty years or so there had been greater and more general improvement in Continental farming than in our own. Dating from the establishment of the Royal Agricultural Society — a very good laud-mark — the ad- vancement of agriculture in many parts of England has been very remarkable, as an inspection of Messrs. Howards' and other implement-makers' books and works would tend to show. Indeed, Dr. Voelcker " must say that, after a lapse of fifteen years, he had found the agri- culture of Belgium in pretty much the same condition as it had been." Mr. Sewell Read, however, was not speak- ing from any such experience of his own, but from what he had read ; and the more we hear the less do we come to trust in anything we may have so far read about " the agriculture of the European continent." Every other day or so we are told how many eggs are imported and how we neglect this highly lucrative branch of our business ; but surely an English farmer, without hegoes in for j5(?/i7^ ezi/tere, can employ his time better than by pulling on a pair of feather breeches and setting himself to hatch eggs ? And we are by no means so cer- tain that he is going to grow sugar quite so profitably as is inferred. After all, as Mr. Wren Hoskyns says, to us by far the most important pi-oblem is the number of beasts to be fed and meat to be produced per acre; and here, according to Mr. Howard, England beats the woi'ld. Moreover, Mr. Howard says even so much with still all authority, for he would seem to have been in most parts of the world. Just three years since, he read a paper at this same Farmers' Club, in London on " Things in America," which may be becomingly associated with that on the " Farming and Peasantry of the Continent." We, of course, do not know whether the author himself would wish to convey this impression, but it certainly does seem, from a compari- son of the two addresses, that an English farmer might profit more by a tour through the States than from one on the Continent. Our traveller is almost everywhere impressed with the 'cuteness of the American, as he only occasionally gathers a wrinkle in Europe. On Wednesday, Nov. 3, the Journal Committee of the Royal Agricultural Society officially announced that which we did some two or three weeks since, viz., "that the Editor and Dr. Voelker had carrried out their tour in Belgium very successfully, and that their report will be published in the next Number of the Journal." We shall be bold to say, further, that this report will put the famous farming in Belgium still lower than Mr. Howard has estimated its value as an example to English- men. ROYAL AaRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. TVfoNTHLY Council, Wednesday, Nov. 3. — Present, the Duke of Devonshire, K.G., in the chair ; the Earl of Lichfield, Lord Chesham, Lord Kesteven, Lord Tredegar, Sir Watkin W. Wynn, Bart., M.P. ; Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Barthropp, Mr. Booth, Mr. Bowly, Mr. Bramston, Mr. Cantrell, Colonel Challoner, Mr. Clayden, Mr. Clive, Mr. Davies, Mr. Druce, Mr. Brandreth Gibbs, Mr. HoUand, Mr. Hornsby, Mr. Wren Hoskyns, M.P., Colonel Kingscote, M,P., Mr. Leeds, Mr. Milward, Mr. Pain, Mr. Rigden, Mr. Sanday, Mr. Shuttleworth, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Torr, Mr. Wells, M.P., Major Wilson, Mr. Jacob Wilson, Professor Simonds, and Dr. Voelcker. The following new members were elected : — Aitkiu, James, Peterborough Bradshaw, Richard, Tubury House, Abingdon Brown, William Henry, Brookfield House, Bellbroughtou, Stourbridge Dear, Henry Cliarles, Nortli Stonham Park, Southam^itou THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. 499 De Sckroder, Baiou, The Dell, Staiucs, Berkshire Godson, NichoUs S., Hook Norton, Chipping Norton' Hilton, Robert S., ]\Iilstead Rectory, Sittiugbourue Jonas, Henry, 4, Whitehall, London, S. W. Maxwell, Captain J. 11. Heron, Springkell, Ecclefechan, Dumfries ilerriman, Edward Baverstock, Marlborough Neve, Richard, Beuenden, Stapleliurst Parldn, Paxton W., Ridgemount, Bassett, Soiithaiapton Perkins, William, Minster, Ramsgate Rayment, Edward D., 307, Vauxhall-road, Liverpool Sadler, WiUiani, Ferrygate, Drem, N.B. Senior, James, The Penuecroft, Stafford Wyles, Robert, Little Ponton, Grantham EiNAXCES. — Colonel Kiugscote, M.P., presented tlie report, from which it appeared that the Secretary's re- ceipts diu-iug the past three months had been duly exa- mined by the Committee, and by Messrs. Quilter, Ball, and C'c, the Society's accountants, and found correct. The balance in the hands of the bankers on October 31, was £1,341 10s. Id. The quarterly statement of sub- scriptions and arrears to September 30 and the quarterly- cash account were laid on the table. The arrears then amounted to £1,572. The funded property had been raised to the sum of £20,000 New Three per Cents., and an additional sum, the balance of £8,000, which had been ordered to be invested as a Reserve Show Eund, had pur- chased £4,612 7s. Sd. New Three per Cents. This re- port having been adopted. Colonel Kiugscote stated that the committee had received two letters from members of the Council asking for payment of their services as judges at the Manchester meeting, which the committee begged to lay before the Council. A discussion having ensued on the laws of the Society as bearing on the subject, as also on the custom of the Council with respect to it, the Presideut suggested that notice of a definite resolution on the subject should be given. Mr. Sanday therefore gave notice that at the next monthly Council he should move " that the rule for the uou-payment of judges who arc members of the Council be rescinded." JouRNAii. — Mr. Thompson (chairman) reported that the Editor aud Dr. Voelcker had carried out their tour in Belgium very successfully, and that their report will be published in the next number of the Journal ; they had applied to be allowed to have an illustrative map litho- graphed, at a cost not exceeding £40, which application the committee had endorsed. The committee also recom- mended that not more than 6,000 copies of the next number of the Journal be printed. — This report was adopted. Selection. — Mr. Thompson (chairman) reported that the gentleman who had been highly recommended as a member of Council to represent the county of Kent had died within the last few days ; they therefore recom- mended that the election of a member of Council to fill the existing vacancy be postponed until December. This report having been adopted, Mr. Thompson called atten- tion to the pending revision of the bye-laws, and suggested that the existing rules as to weekly councils should be made applicable to only one intermediate meeting between the monthly councils dui-iug the session of Parliament. This suggestion, having been seconded by Colonel Chal- loner, was carried unanimously. General, Oxford. — Colonel ChaUoner reported that the authorities of Oxford having requested infoi'mation as to the water supply of the showyard, the Secretary had been instructed to acquaint them with the conditions of their agreement. This report having been adopted, it was moved by Mr. Torr, seconded by Mr. Milward, and carried unanimously, that the names of Mr. M. W. Rid- ley, M.P., and Mr, Robert Leeds be added to the list of the committee. Implesient. — Colonel Challouer (chairman) reported that the proof of the Oxford prize sheet, with conditions, had been adopted, subject to a few minor alterations. This report was adopted. Stock Prizes. — Mr. Milward reported that a list of prizes for the Oxford meeting had been provisionally agreed to, and ordered to be printed. It was recom- mended that the name of Mr. N. Stone be added to the list of the committee. This report was adopted. A letter having been read from Mr. Mason, High Sheriff of Oxfordshire, it was proposed by Mr. Thomp- son, seconded by Mr. Jacob Wilson, and carried unani- mously, "that Mr. Mason's offer to give a piece of plate of the value of 100 guineas for the best-managed farm in a district named by him near Oxford be accepted ; that the council, however, are not prepared to ofl:er a second prize ; and that the Society do appoint, aud defray the expenses of, judges aud a reporter, and fix the conditions of competition, all details to be arranged by the Journal Committee after communicating with Mr. Mason, it being understood that the report shall be first published in the Journal of the Society." A memorial from the breeders of Norfolk and Suffolk polled cattle having been read, the Secretary was instructed to inform the memorialists that the Stock Prizes Com- mittee had complied with their request — viz., that prizes should be offered for the above breed of cattle at the next country meeting of the Society. A letter from Mr. Swannick, on the subject of pigs being entered for exhibition which do not comply with the regulation of having had a litter within a certain time, or being so far gone in farrow as to farrow before September 1, was referred to the Stock Prizes Com- mittee, Education. — Mr. Holland (chairman), in applying for the renewal of the grant of £200, gave an outline of the result of this year's examinations, as has ah'eady been published in the last report of the Council, and stated that all those gentlemen who had passed the examinations were, with one exception, about to become either farmers or land-agents. Mr. Thompson having asked whether the result of this year's experiment had been satisfactory to the committee, and received a reply in the affirmative, a discussion arose as to the maximum age at which candi- dates should be admitted to compete for the Society's prizes ; but the recommendation of the committee, that the maximum age be fixed at twenty-one, Vt'as ultimately adopted, and tiie grant was unanimously renewed for the year 1870. The judges of potato-diggers reported that the ad- journed trids had taken place on October 6, at Manches- ter, and that the prize of £10 had been awarded to No. 573, Messrs. Coleman and Morton. A protest having been lodged against Mr. Nixey's Devon cow "Pink" (No. 630), on the ground that she had not produced a calf within the time specified in the conditions (12 months before the date of the show), and Mr. Nixey being unable to certify that she had — the Council decided that the prize awarded to the above-men- tioned cow had been forfeited. An application to have an authorised inscription en- graved on a piece of plate, purchased with prize-money won at Manchester, was granted. The Oxford meeting was arranged to commence on Monday, July 18, and to close on Friday, July 22, at 4 o'clock. Reports on the recent International Horticultural Ex- hibition at Hamburg, and on the taking of samples for analysis of the guano from the Guanape Islands, both for- warded by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, as M M 2 600 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. well as a report on the exhibition of the Agricultural So- ciety of New South Wales, held at Sydney, forwarded by the Secretary of State for the Colonies, were laid before Council. It was moved by Mr. Thompson, seconded Ijy Col. Kingscote, M.P., and carried unanimously. (1) That the Council at its rising to-day stand adjourned to Wednesday, December 8, at 13 o'clock. (3) That a committee consistin<,' of any members of Council who are willing to attend, shall meet ou Tuesday the 7th of December, at 12 o'clock, to prepare a rejiort to the general meeting — the report to be laid before the Council the following day. (3) That the half-yearly general meeting of the Society be held on Thursday, December 9, at 12 o'clock. The Council then adjourned until Wednesday, Decern-, her 8, at 12 o'clock. THE CENTRAL FARMERS' CLUB. CONTINENTAL FARMING AND PEASANTRY. Tlie first monthly meeting of the Farmers' Club, after tlie usual summer recess, was held ou Monday, Nov. 1, at the Salisbury Hotel, wlien there was a very good attendance of jnembers. The chair was taken by Mr. R.J. Newton, of Campsfield, Woodstock, and the subject for discussion intro- duced by Mr. James Howard, M.P. The Chaiiiman said : Gentlemen, this being our first meet- ing after the somewliat lenglhened recess, I beg to express the pleasure which I feel at seeing so large a number of members present, showing, as it does, that tlie interest in these discus- sions is not at all slackening but increasing (elieers). Perhaps before we commence the business of the evening, it jnay not he out of place if I take a very short review of the crops wliich have been produced this year (Hear, hear). In the first place, we have been permitted to secure our cereal crops in first-rate condition. That is so far very satisfactory. We have secured a somewhat bulky crop of wheat (;V voice — " Of straw" — and followed by cries of " Hear, hear.") — Of straw : thank you for the correction. I regret to say that the yield of wheat, in proportion to tlie straw, and I may add m proportion to the acre, is not quite as satisfactory as it might be. The barley crop comes ue.Kt in importance. In several parts of the country which I travelled through during its growth that did not look promising. Afterwards it somewhat improved, and it seemed as if we might secure a fair crop of barley ; but as far as I hear, and as far as my own experience goes in thrash- ing, the crop of barley is somewhat more disappointing than the wheat crop. We next come to a crop which has tiiis year been more extensively sown than usual, in consequence of the failure of the seed crop : I allude to beans and peas. During the first stage of their growth our friend Mr. Meclii predicted that we should have tliis year one of the most extraordiixary crops of beans and peas ever grown; whereas, so far as my experience enables me to judge, we have harvested the worst (Hear, hear). Neither can 1 congratulate the members of the Club upon the satisfactory price of wheat in proportion to the crop (Hear, hear). The price of barley is fair. With regard to the supply of winter food for our stock we are in a better position (Hear, hear). We have secured a good crop of hay, and, generally speaking, in very good condition. The mangold crop is upon tlie whole a fair one — not the heaviest that I have ever known, but certainly not the worst. Swedes and turnips are, I think I ni.ay say, generally well planted. Owing to the second cheek which they received during September, they are not large. 13ut still, upon the whole, we are in a much more satisfactory state with regard to the supply of food for our stock than we were last year. That there can, indeed, be no question about. It is much to be wished that our herds of cattle were in a more healthy state (Hear, hear). It is well known that foot- and-mouth disease has been raging, and is now raging, in many parts of England. Happily, we have not yet had another outbreak of cattle-plague. Although there were some statements in the newspapers which might have led us to suppose that that had occurred, yet I hope and be- lieve the idea was a mistake. The spread of foot-aud-mouth disease, however, shows that it behoves tiie Privy Council to take precautions against tlie introduction of foreigu dis- eases amongst our cattle, and so far as I can judge, tlieie is no effectual way of preventing that except the isolation or ' separation ot foreigu stock from English (cheers). I tliiuk expnneuce sliows that there ought jo be separate markets for , foreign cattle, and that they ought not on any account to be allowed to mingle with English stock (Hear, hear). It may be objected that we are interested in such separation, because it would help to raise the price of our own cattle. I am sure I express the ieeliug of my brother farmers on this subject, when I say that that is far from being tlieir motive ; but see- ing that we have to meet the competition of the whole world in the sale of our oxen and our stock, we have a right to demand that our stock shall be protected as far as possible against im- ported disease (cheers). The discussions of this Club have, I believe, liitherto been almost entirely confined to home agri- culture, home taxation, and subjects immediately conueeted with English farming. The subject for discussion this even- ing— it lias been somewhat altered by Mr. Howard from that printed on the card — is " Continental Earming and Peasantry." This is breaking quite new ground, and to my mind it appears a step in the right direction. Although the farmers of Eng- land may feel tliat in the aggregate English farming is quite as good as that to be found anywhere else, yet I think we ought to take a wide view, and if we are to be the pioneers of good farming it would be well for us to see what has been done, and what is being done on the continent, for the advance- ment of agriculture there (Hear, hear). It will probably be found that there are many points in the carrying out of farm- ing ou the continent which are well worth the consideration of the members of this Club, and some which it might be well for us to adopt. However that may be, the subject is in good hands — those of Mr. James Howard, who I am happy to say is to be the chairman of this Club for the next year (loud cheers). Mr. Howard is thoroughly acquainted not merely with the agriculture of England, but also with tliat of the continent, and I may add, that in order to secure the best in- lormation that can be obtained on the subject of continental farming, that gentleman has travelled some 4,000 miles. Such being the case, we shall no doubt have a most interesting and instructive paper, and one well worthy of the consideration of the members of this Club ; and I will now call upon Mr. Howard to introduce the subject (cheers) . Mr. James Howard, M.P., then said : A few days ago, as I was reading Dr. Norman M'Leod's account of Ills recent journey entitled " Peeps at the far East," the thought occurred to me that the title of the paper I am about to bring before the Club should have been " Peeps at Continental Farming;" for, within the space usually devoted to any question discussed in this room, it would be impossible to traverse the whole field embraced by my subject. 1 believe we have arrived in this country at a position, when, as a nation, wc are proud of our agriculture, proud of the rapid progress made in the cultivation of the soil, proud ot the perfection to which our live stock has been brouglit — proud, may I say, of our mechanical achievements in farm operations, proud, as the Chairman has remarked, of having been able to compete with the whole world ; further, we are proud that other departments of industry and other nations have come to recognize the scieutilic status British agri- culture has attained. — I confess that I share in this pride ; actuated by this feeling, and believing that in the art of farming England is in advance of every other nation, the conclusion is naturally arrived at that we have little to learn from other countries. Like thousands of other Englishmen, for years I travelled backward and for- ward to France impres'^ed with flie notion that thf only lessen THE PARMER'S MAGAZINE. 501 we could learu from the f^irmers across the Channel was the one to be k-arned from some of our enthusiastic amateur friends at home, viz., pnictices to he iicoidctL During the first luternatiouid Exhibition at I'aris in 18.55 I had occasion to visit some h\rge and well-managed French farms, my insular prejudices from tliat time became abated ; from time to time since that period, particularly during the International Exhibition of 1807, other farms, both large and small, in dilferent parts of France have come under my obser- vation. On my return to England, after the close of tlie Paris Exhibition, I addressed the loUowing letter to the President of the lloyal Agricultural Society of England : " My Lord Duke, — I desire to draw the attention of the Council to the important question of growing sugar-beet in England. During the Paris Exhibition I made several excur- sions into the country with a view to see some of the most celebrated farms, at each I found a' large portion of the land devoted to the gro-.vth of this root. Upon inquiry I learned that the profit on the crop was far greater than upon any crop grown in England. I have been assured, by agriculturists from various parts of Europe who have visited nie, that they sec nothing in our soil or climate to prevent the growing of sugar beet of excellent quality. As it is a question of national importance, I venture to suggest that the Council should send a small deputation to the Continent, to obtain reliable in- formation upon the subject, and upon the best mode of making sugar from the beet. M. Decrombecque, of Lens, in the north ; M. Dailly, of Trappes, near Versailles ; Baron lloths- child, of Eerrieres, near Paris ; M. Cail, at La Briclie, near Tours, have very complete sugar factories and line large farms ; the last named lias nearly 4,000 acres. I believe a well- selected deputation to visit the best farms on the Continent would bring home a vast deal of information on many subjects beyond the particular one in question, and which would prove advantageous to British agriculture. " To His Grace the Duke of Richmond." In reply I received the usual official acknowledgment from the secretary, Mr. Hall Dare ; but as no mention was made of the subject in the succinct report which usually appears after each monthly meeting of the Council, I am to this day in ignorance whether the subject ever came before the members or not. When I wrote to the President I was not aware of the intention of Mr. Duncan to establish a beet-sugar factory at Lavenham in Suffolk. Believing that some account of Continental agriculture would be interesting if not advan- tageous to the English farmer, I determined, at the time I have named, to bring the subject before this Club. Last year I was prevented from carrying out my intention by an attack of illness and other circumstances ; instead of taking a holiday at the sea-side this autumn, I determined upon a tour on the Continent ; the object I had in view was to note down facts upon any topic that might come under my obser- vation, and more particularly to acquire information upon the subject alluded lo in my letter to the President of the lloya Agricultural Society of England. Wherever I went on myl tour I was received «ith cordial welcome; information was readily given, and what was very gratifying, England was always referred to with the greatest respect and the most kindly feeling. If tourists on the Continent, who know any- thing of farming, would strike otf into the rural districts, leave for a time the usual sight-seeing of cathedrals, picture galleries, antiquities, and other similar objects, which I may say I enjoy as much as most folks, I believe they would find travelling far less monotonous, and return home not only with more infor- mation but with many more pleasant reminiscences of their trip. I have obtained a good deal of information from per- sons in various parts of Europe upon the condition of agricul- ture in their localities ; 1 purpose giving some of the statisti- cal and other facts in an appendix to my paper, as I think the information is worthy of being placed on record for those who may feel an interest in the inquiry. I M'ould first invite attention to the agriculture of France. French agriculture has long had what many have advocated for England, vix., a Government De- partment of Agriculture, presided over by a Minister, who takes under his paternal wing the whole family of French agriculturists. The collection of statistics, agricul- tural colleges, veterinary colleges, experiincnlal farms, me- clianical museums, schools, roads, drainage, horse-breeding, chemistry, the necessary supply of food for the people, an experimental implement factory, and a hundred other things arc under his control, and the expenses of these various institutions are defrayed by the State. Again, the State establishes horse shows and agricultural meetings. The whole country has been divided into twelve districts, in each of wliich a show, terinel a " Coiicour Rrt/ional," is held, and large sums are distributed, with a view to stimulate improve- ments in the various departments of farming. At these shows everything is under the control of an Inspector-General of Agriculture, the whole expense being borne by the State. Further, the French Government, with a view to raise the general standard of farming — oU'ers in each of the districts £:300, and a silver cup worth another .£120, called the " Pre- mium of Honour," as a prize for the best managed farm on which tha most useful improvements have been introduced. With all these various agencies in full force, one might expect that agriculture throughout F'rance would be stripped of ever}'- thing primitive, and that the motto of the new French Agri- cultural Society " Practice with Science, Progress with Pru- dence" would be everywhere realized. If an intelligent English agriculturist were to form his estimate of French farming by wiiat he could see from the railway between Calais and Paris, he would, from the small number of animals and other indica- tions, come to the conclusion that the whole country was going to the bad. This, however, is not the case. Improve- ment is very slow, scarcely perceptible, except to tho.se who make an inspectiou at long intervals. In England, it was many years before such farms as the Earl of Leicester's in Norfolk, the Duke of Bedford's at Woburn, and Earl Spen- cer's in Northamptonshire exerted any marked influence in farms throughout this country. So in France, there are scat- tered up and down farms which are as far in advance of the general agriculture of the country as were the farms of the spirited noblemen I have referred to at the beginning of the present century. The farms i have alluded to, have many of them received the " premium of honour," and are exerting a quiet but powerful iutluence in their respective neighbourhoods. Notably among such farms is that of M. Decrombecque, at Lens, about 50 miles from Calais. M. Decrombecque is a very remarkable man, although upwards of 70 years of age he is full of energy ; is well read in agriculture, and knows Eng- land, he is familiar too with English methods of farming, of which he has not been slow to avail himself. His farm is 1,200 acres in extent. Half the land is his own, purchased out of profits made by farming, and I ought perhaps to add supplemented by sugar making ; indeed, he told me he had very little capital when he commenced 46 years ago. On the occasion of my visit in the harvest of 1867, his wheat crop was very fine. I saw also 500 acres of beet-root, all on the ridge, without a single blank spot in any part. He estimated that the produce would weigh about IS tons per acre. The land had all been ploughed 10 to 1 8 inches deep, with huge ploughs drawn by ox-teams, 16 in a team. On all the large farms I visited I found two sets of ploughs, one set for ordin- ary ploughing, and the other for deep work called " charrue profonde." Thirty horses, and 80 working oxen were kept, the latter only working half time. M. Decrombecque has had a sugar factory on his farm for many years ; he thinks that farming without this adjunct must lie a very slow affair. 300 to 400 cattle per year are fatted on pulp from the sugar factory. He has adopted the " box" system, which he came over to England to see nearly 20 years ago. He finds great advantage, and I call particular atten- tion to the fact, in keeping the cattle in darkness ; the animals are not so troubled with flies, they eat better, and he has found that they arc much sooner ready for the butcher than when kept in daylight. An operation I saw going on I thought worth making a note of. As soon as, and sometimes before the wheat was carted, heavy flexible or spiked chain harrows were run over the surface with a view to set the annual weeds and shed corn germinating. The operation is expeditious, and not very costly ; and M. Decrombecque, after many years' experience, finds he is amply repaid for the trouble. He prefers it to any system of paring or shallow ploughing. Another highly cultivated farm is that of M. Gustave Hamoir, at Saultain, near Valenciennes, about 300 miles north of Paris. This gentleman is a very superior and intelligent man — quite my notion of what a farmer ought to be — observant, shrewd, well informed, and in manners, tiie gentleman. In M. Hamoir's district the country is covered with sugar factories, and the 562 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. properties are much .subdivided — 25 acres la one plot being considered quite a large field. One-third, and even one-half the laud is cropped with beet-root. There are a few farms of 400 to 600 acres, but the general run is about 30 to 40 acres. Tor five years M. Hamoir has had fully half of his farm cropped with beet, all the rest wheat, except small portions for growing fodder, clover and lucerne. Guano is becoming less esteemed, as it does not produce so good sugar-beet as oilcake, which now is applied to the land as manure. M. llaraoir, like M. Decrombecque, ploughs his land some 16 inches deep for the root crop. The reut in this district is liigher thau in any other I kuow — the average is said to be 72s. per acre, and in large plots it sells for as high a price as £100 per acre. The price of land is enhanced from the fact that the French far- mer does not and will not appreciate any other investment than land, aud wiU therefore buy at almost any price when the opportunity offers. M. Hamoir says he has known land sell as high as £193 per acre. His opinion is that it would be better for all interests that the small farmer should not be a proprietor or landowner, especially at the price he has to pay. The interest of his money invested in ordinary securities would enable him to hire, even at a high rate, double the quan- tity of land he can hold as an owner ; but this course is not adopted because of the ignorance which prevails, and the fear of investing money in other ways. Another reason, says M. Hamoir, and at least as powerful a one, is that of the short duration of leases, which are for 9 years. The tenant stands in fear and dread that at the end of his lease he may be ousted for some other competitor. I will now give you a picture of a very different district, that of Sologne, about 150 miles south of Paris, in whcli M. Edouard Lecouteux, Editor of the Joiinud (V Agncultvre Pr(d)fp:c, has a farm, and to the improvement of which poor region he has devoted himself. In this part of the countj-y there are large estates, some being 5,000 acres in ex- tent, let off however in farms varying from 500 acres down to 2 acres. The rent of the large farms is from 5s. to 8s. an acre, and the freehold value as low as £3 10s. to £8 per acre, and much of it is held upon the " metayer" system. M. Leconteux states in his graphic style, " that the peasantry aud small farmers are possessed by the demon of property in laud ;" they buy land and have no capital to work it with. Not much wheat is groxro in this district, and the yield is as low as 15 to 18 bushels per acre. In well cultivated fields the yield may reach 24 to 30 bushels per acre. Eye is tlie principal crop grown, the pro- duce being 18 to 24 bushels per acre. The wages are Is. 8d. per day in summer, and Is. 3d. in winter ; no extras in har- vest, but some piecework. Low as these wages are, they are said to have doubled within a few years. In my letter to the Duke of Hichmond I referred to the large farm of M. Gail, which is situated at La Briche, near Tours, 200 miles south- west of Paris. M. Gail is proprietor of one of the largest en- gineering establishments in France, a great builder of locomo- tives. In the early part of August, 1867, I accompanied him to his farm of La Briche. It consists of about 3,800 acres, which he has reclaimed from waste land — bog and wood. Being a thorough utilitarian, not a tree or a fence of any kind has been left : the whole is laid out in large fields, some nearly a mile across, which have been drained, aud good hard roads made through tlie whole property. One good cen- tral homestead and eight minor ones have been erected. It requires but a glance to be convinced that the proprietor of such a place is a man with an iron will. The central home- stead, the most wonderful place of the kind I have ever seen,- is worth making the journey to see. The corn barn, with a triple roof like a railway station, is 366 feet long and 130 feet wide, and 32 feet high in the walls. It will contain 1,250 acres of uuchrashed corn. A line of shafting and pulleys runs down the ceutre throughout the length. Tlie thrashing machine, a portable one, is drawn forward as the thrashing is accomplished. Everything is on the same scale — sheds for 600 bullocks, a co- vered fold for 3,000 sheep, a huge granary for thrashed grain, tramways to every part, a large beetroot distillery at which the roots are made into sugar or spirit according to the pros- pect of the market. Every vehicle on entering and leaving the homestead passes over a weigh-bridge at the gates, and the weight of the load is recorded and charged to or credited to the respective fields.^^The farm is cultivatedon the three course shift : 1st, v.'heat ; 2nd, beetroot ; 3rd, clover. I rode over 1,250 acres of fine beetroot, beautifully cultivated. Little attention IS given to the hoeing of corn by sugar-beet growers, as the land is supposed to be thoroughly' cleaned when under the root crop. Boys sent to reformatories in France are employed in agriculture till their turn comes for the conscription. The reformatories are called agricultural colonies, and are distri- buted over the rural districts. I found at La Briche 130 of these boys, from 14 to 18 years old ; they work in gangs, un- der a superintendent sent with them from Mettray Reforma- tory. During the winter evenings they are taught reading, writing, arithmetic, and measuring. The condition of the la- bourer in this part ot France, as in most others, is a very hard one. At each of the eight homesteads I have referred to, is a married couple, who supply food to the labourers em- ployed in their division ; the greater part of whom are unmarried. The team-men sleep with the cattle two in a bed, or rather in a box, on a sack of straw, a rude floor being put up at one end of the sheds. Up to that period I had never seen men so nearly reduced to a state of slavery. I arrived at the farm abo\;t daylight, and found all liands at work. The hours in summer, I learned, were from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. ; and, mark you, till noon on Sundaj's. The wages, witjiout any perquisites for these long hours, are Is. 8d, per day. A good crop of wheat was being cut, the men using fagging-hooks : 5s. was the price paid for cutting and bind- ing an imperial acre ; and the wages paid by M. Gail are higher than the current wages of the neighbourhood. In spite of the rigid condition in which the labourers of La Briche work, I noticed a deal of apparent good feeling, as well as an approach to familiarity between employer and em- ployed. The men addressed M. Gail with a kindly saluta- tion, whilst, to my astonishment and intense amusement, this gentleman of polished exterior, living in great style at one of the most elegant houses in Paris, saluted the various foremen by kissing them on both cheeks, receiving a cor- responding salute in return. I managed to keep my risible faculties under restraint until arriving at the blacksmith's shop, when a similar scene between M. Gail and the foreman, a grimy son of Vulcan, proved irresistible. M. Gail is a shrewd man of the world, and noticing my amusement, re- marked that comforming in tliis way to the custom of the pro- vince had given him a hold upon the people he could not have obtained had he totally disregarded their notions of " equality and fraternity." At the time of my visit I thought the condi- tion of the farm labourer of La Briche might be exceptional, but I find upon inquiry that it is not at all an unfavourable specimen of the condition of the French peasantry, and that a franc per day lias not been an unusual scale of pay. This condi- tion oi things is now beginning to bear the fruit it might be expected ; ground down in this manner, the peasantry have been flying to the cities. About a month ago an article on the sub- ject appeared in a newspaper published at Vendorae, 450 miles south of Paris. It commenced by saying "that the fact of the depopulation of the agricultural districts is the gravest thing we have to register at present. It is nothing less than life or death for the whole country." Agriculture inFrance, says the writer, has till lately followed its traditional course, and al- lowed all other industrial pursuits to outstrip it. Wages have been kept down, and with a view to this object marrying has been discouraged by proprietors and farmers. Families have become proverbially small, even among the labouring popula- tion ; then there has been the conscription — an army of 700,000 to 800,000 men is no slight drain upon the rural population of a nation. It is not difficult to perceive how the present condition of things may lead to a solution of the European question, by rendering a large standing army in France an impossibility. Things have reached such a pitch in the district of Vendume that the owners of some of the richest land in France, the Gount de Gouvello and others, unable to find tenants, have been compelled to resort to the co-operative system for the working of the farms. With respect to the live stock of France, there i.s little to remark upon either the breed of cattle or sheep or the method of feeding. The Swiss race of cows are in high repute for their milch qualities. The Gharollais are handsome, but, like nearly all the native breeds, they are being crossed by the English Shorthorn or Devon. At the fat cattle show of Poissy and at other exhibitions I have seen beautiful specimens of cattle thus bred. Except the Merinos, the native breeds of sheep possess precisely the qualities which an English breeder would shun. Downs, Leicesters, and THE PARMER'S MAGAZINE. 603 Osfordshires are, however, obliterating the native defects ; and I may say the same of pigs. Yorkshire, Berksliire, and Essex have changed the " iindeaiC appearance, which the pigs had when I first went to France. There is nnmistakeahly througli- out France a marked improvement in the live stock of the farm. M. de la Trehonnais lias greatly contributed to this advance; he has been the means of introducing into France many liundreds of our best bred cattle, sheep, and pigs. I believe the efforts of tlie French Government, whatever may have been the cU'ect of its fostering care in other departments, have unquestionably had a marked and salutary effect on the breed of horses, aud it is not improbable that ere many years we may have to resort to France for a supply of the best riding and carriage horses. Horse breeding establisliraents termed llanis have been carried on by the State for many years. For a trifling fee the farmer can at these establishments obtain the use of tlie best stallions. Stallions are also sent from these Haras to various districts of the country, and with a further view to encourage the breed of good horses the Government grants a handsome premium to the owner of a good stal- lion approved by the Government inspector ; without a certificate from the inspector a horse is of little value for stock purposes. Passing over the improvement in riding and carriage horses, the breed of draught horses is greatly changed. The Perclieron, in particular, has been brought to great perfection. They are not big, but are active and very powerful, and for our hilly districts would prove, I believe, a valuable breed. Tlie French give the English credit for knowing horseflesh, but maintain we are careless about our horses' feet. Certainly, in the horse shows 1 have attended the condition of the feet, as well as the shoeing, have shown considerable care. To any one who desires to see a stable of fine Percheron horses well managed, I would recommend a visit to the Northern Kailway stables in the Place lloubaix. The farms I have hitherto called your attention to are large ones ; there really is little practical information to be gained from the small ones ; but I cannot pass them over without a few remarks. Throughout the greater part of France small farms preponderate. There are thousands of one, two, and three acre farms, held jby peasants who fill up their time by working for the larger farmers. The size of farm considered necessary to support a family is about 4 hectares (10 acres). A couple of cows are generally kept on such holdings ; these supply the family with milk and butter. They are yoked to the plough, and draw the cart to market. Not an uncommon sight is a bullock and a pony yoked to the plough, or a horse and an ass. I remember once seeing a horse, a bull, and an ass drawing a liairow. These farmers work from sunrise to sunset, doing double the work for themselves they would for an employer ; and they live far liarder than the English peasants. These smaU farms grow little beside wheat, rye, oats, clover, and potatoes ; occasionally a patch of turnips or beet is to be seen. Thirty bushels of wheat is considered an excellent crop. Leaving out of the question the Vine districts, rows of apple, pear, and plura trees are often to be seen skirting the little farm. There is a very material difference between the habits of the French peasantry and the Englisli agricultural labourer. The French are sober, live very hard, scrape together every penny they can lay hands upon with a view to becoming one of the hard- working, hard living farmers I liave described. In drawing my observations upon France to a close, I would remark that the French farmers unquestionably enjoy both in soil and climate great advantages over tlie English. It may be that for centuries France relied too much upon her natural advan- tages, and thus reduced the fertihty of her soil below the standard of England. Many attribute the smaller productive- ness of France to the pernicious effect of the " Code Napo- leon," in the distribution of the land : that the subdivision of the land to the extent it has been carried in most ])arts, off"ers an efl'ectual barrier to agricultural improvements 1 think few practical men will doubt. But I will not jusV now pursue this question further, but will resume it before I finish. Just one word on the government department of agriculture. A considerable number of influential landowners and agri- culturists of France have come to regard the government patronage of agriculture as an incubus and some time since commenced the organization of a National Agri- cultural Society, somewhat after the model of the English one ; but it is said that Imperialism has frowned at this attempt at independent action ; at all events, I learn that the scheme is placed for the present under the ban. Before proceeding to describe the agriculture of other couu- ries, I propose to discuss the question of beetroot sugar. The growth of beet for the manufacture of sugar and spirit forms the most important branch of farming in France, Belgium, and Germany. It has proved to be such a source of national wealth to those countries that it naturally takes precedence of all other agri- cultural topics. For the past ten years the growers and makers have supported a newspaper (Journal des Vahricaids de Sucre) devoted to beetroot culture and sugar-making. I juention this as an indication of the importance of the trade. That sugar could be extracted from beetroot was known as early as 174-7. The discovery was made by Margraf, a chemist of Berlin ; but his discovery excited but little attention. About the close of the last century another Berlin chemist, Achard, gave to the world an account of the process carried on at his beetroot-sugar factory in Silesia by which he extracted some four per cent, of sugar. The scientific men of the Continent from that time were aronsed to the importance of the subject. The attention of Napoleon having been directed to it, he determined upon introducing the manufacture on an extensive scale, his view being the breaking-up of the the colonial prosperity of Great Britain, by excluding from France and the Continent the im- portant colonial produce of sugar. The first factory was es- tablished about 1809, since which time it has made steady and, considering the diflicidties, fiscal and otherwise, rapid progress. In less tliau thirty years from its introduction no less than 50,000 tons of sugar were made from beet ; and, according to the last return, there are now in France 470 beetroot-sugar factories, in 15elginm IIG, and in Prussia 255. In the ZoUverein 2,500,000 tons of beet are annually con- verted into sugar. In Austria, Hungary, Russia, and other parts of Europe the process is also successfully carried on. To France, that which was commenced as a military expe- dient has proved to be not only an important department of national industry, but the must powerful stimulant to French agriculture. The late Mr. Frere wrote six years ago as fol- lows : " When we see what a mighty agent the introduction of beetroot as an industrial crop has proved for the re- generation of agriculture in the north of France, we may see reason to note and ponder such statistics in our minds, even if at present we cannot advantageously turn them to practical aceount." To show the appreciation in which this branch of industry is held in France, at an agricultural meeting held a few years ago at Valenciennes, a triumphal arch was erected on which appeared the following inscription : " The growth of wheat in this district before the production of beetroot-sugar was only 122,000 qrs., the number of oxen 700 ; since the introduction of this sugar-manufacture the growth of wheat has been 146,000 qrs., and the number of oxen 11,500." Since I have looked into this subject, I am surprised that it did not sooner occupy the serious attention of English agriculturists. Per- haps the indifference arose from the failure of early attempts made at Chelsea, Wandsworth, Minety, Belfast, and other places, as well as from a settled belief that our cHmate \yn% not adapted for the growth of the particular kind of beet required for the manufacture. Tliat the climate and soil of the drier parts of England are well suited to the growth of the root is clearly set at rest not only by the analy- tical tests made by Professor Voelcker upon roots grown in England, in Belgium, and in France, but by the practical re- suhs obtained by Mr. Duncan at the sugar factoiy in Suft'olk. The per-centage of sugar in beet is upon an average es- timated on the continent at about ten or eleven per cent., whilst the roots analysed by Professor Voelcker, grown at Barking with London sewage only as a manure, contained 13 per cent., equal to the very best Silesiau. That the sugar-beet requires for its perfection a better climate than ours will, I be- lieve, be proved by further experience to be a fallacy. The temperature of the north of France and Germany is far more suitable to its growth than tluit of the southern parts of those countries. What I learned to be of most importance is that the months of August, September, and the early part ofOctober shovdd be warm aud sunny ; for it is in the latter stages that the sugar is formed. To ensure the best results great care is ne- cessary witli the manuring and proper tillage of the soil, the choice of seed, the subsequent cultivation, and the harvesting. At Cologne I visited a large concern belonging to the Rhenish Beetroot Sugar Company, a firm composed of three partners, i04 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. In addiliou to tlie roofs grown on flieir own extensive farm of 7,200 imperial acres, which I shall notice presently, large quantities are bought of the surrounding farmers at 20s. per ton, the pulp being given back free. The firm has issued printed instructions for the guidance of the farmers of the neighbourhood. "1. In order to grow good sugar-beet it is necessary lliat the land intended for the roots should he ploughed at least 10 inclies deep before the winter ; as the frosts render the soil as fine as ashes, it enables the farmer to work the laud readily in spring, and the rapid growth of the plant is greatly facilitated. 2. From experience it is proved that roots planted in ground freshly manured either with farm- yard dung or compost, sulfer from unequal growth and various kinds of insects. Tlie quality also in most eases is inferior. It is better, therefore, to highly manure the previous crops and avoid the direct application of manure to the beet-field. 3. As soon in the mouth of April as tlie land has become suffi- ciently warm (say 45 to 50 deg. Eahrenheit) the sowing of tlie seed should commence, for according to all experience the earliest planted beet are always the best. Drilling in all cases is to be preferred to sowing by hand. The cultivator should always bear in mind that tlie soil should be as fine as meal, yet not too loose so that the seed is not deposited too deep. 4. If sown by hand the roots should be in li-inch squares; within the radius of the Cologne fortification, a rich district, the row should be 12 inclies wide and the roots 8 inches apart, so that they do not become too big. If drilled with a machine the distance should not exceed 15 inches, and thinned out at 10 inches. 5. As soon as the plants are visible, hoeing between the rows should commeuce. The growth of the weeds is thereby checked, and also the ever-forming crust, which shuts out the air, is broken, and insects and vermin are destroyed. When the plants have six leaves the thinning or singling out should be begun. Frequent hoeing subsequently is also ne- cessary to keep tlie land from becoming bound. AVhen in tlie month of July the heads of the roots show above ground, which heads are totally useless for the sugar mauufacture, their development must be checked by moulding-up, which operation also facilitates the getting up of the roots when ripe. C. Leaves are to a plant what lungs are to an animal ; therefore nothing damages the beetroot more than taking olf the leaves before harvest. Such a senseless course reduces the value of the crop one-half. 7. Koots, which are to be kept for several weeks or perhaps mouths before being taken to the factory, should be quite ripe wlien gathered, .should not have beeu exposed to frost, and should have been havestediu a fresh or moist condition. The roots are seldom ripe before the middle of October, yet frequent frosts occur at the beginning of November ; the beetroot cultivator must, therefore, make haste to harvest his crop before the frost commences, and postpone all other work until the crop is secured. If a long drought has occurred, the grower should wait until a good rain has fallen, for roots which are harvested in dry weather and after a long drought will not keep. 8. The raising of the roots is best performed by means of spades or shovels ; forks are not suitable for this operation, for from experiment too many roots get pricked, and pricks are a certain cause of decay, whereas a smooth cut with a shovel is not so injurious. In any case, however, wounding of the roots must be most care- fully guarded against. 'J. The leaves of the gathered roots sliould be cut off with a sharp knife close to the eiown, also the under-leaves, which in most cases are decayed, must be re- moved by the hand or tiie knife, because they induce rotten- ness, and if left on are troublesome during the washing pro- cess. 10. Hoots which are to be conveyed to the factory within three or four days of gathering should be plentifully covered with leaves, because the suu's rays beget decay of the roots, aud rotten roots produce dark-coloured juices, which are valueless. If the roots have to be taken to the factory later, they must be thoroughly well covered with earth, either in pits or heaps, so as to protect them as well from the heat of the sun as from the frost, and thus prevent their losing quality or quantity. The beetroot cultivator should remember the well-know n proverb, ' Out of the earth, into the earth,' i. c, the earth not only produces but preserves. 11. The pits or heaps should be three feet wide aud one spit dee}), and of any convenient length. The roots should be laid with tlie heads outwards. The work of covering up as well as the removal to the facloiy should be carefully performed, so as to avoid tli(^ bruising or wounding of the roots, as their soundness is of the utmost consequence. Heaps which are three feet wide should not be more than three feet high, so as to keep the roots cool and prevent their sprouting. The roots should be covered up imiiiediatchj with at least two feet of earth in order to avoid thoroughly the admission of air, for every change of tempera- ture is injurious to the roots. Ventilation by straw-chimneys or other methods must be most strictly avoided. If the heaps cannot be completed before night, a thick layer of leaves should be used as a temporary covering to prevent damage by night frosts. 12. In carting the roots to the factory great care must be taken against bruising or breaking off the tap- root (the tap-root is richest in sugar), for roots handled roughly soon show black spots aud quickly rot. 13. That the foregoing rules are attended to properly, the inspector ap- pointed by the Sugar Factory will satisfy himself from time to time by actual observation." If I do not mistake, these rules contain matter for reflection, and may suggest to the thoughtful English farmer some useful lessons in the cultivation aud harvesting of the ordinary mangold crop. The processes pursued in the sugar factories of the Continent are very simple. The roots, being first washed in a machine, are dried and pulped, the juice pressed out by hydraulic machines, followed by the usual refining process. At the great manufactory I have referred to at Cologne, at which 150 tons of beetroot are converted into sugar daily, the process of extracting the sugar is unique, and far more perfect than at any other factory I had the opportunity of inspecting. Indeed, tlie whole arrange- ments are most complete. Every department was thrown open to nie, and every process explained without the least reserve. When the inspection of the factory was finished, a carriage and pair, belonging to one of the partners, was politely placed at my disposal for a drive round their extensive farm. To leturn, however, to the sugar making: instead of extracting the juice from the pulp by pressure, as is the general practice, the pulp is put into a kind of colander placed inside a cylindrical vessel ; when filled the colanders are put in action by the steam engine, aud a rapid rotatory motion is imparted to them. The juice is thereby thrown off by centrifugal force. The result of this plan was said to be that 2 to 3 per cent, more sugar was ob- tained than could be extracted by the process of pressing. In Prussia the manufacturer has to pay the Government duty of 14s. 6d. per ton on the roots instead of 17s. 8d. per cwt. on the sugar, as in France. Tlie I'russian maker has therefore a greater inducement to extract every particle of sugar. This arrangement, again, has led the German cultivator to be much more particular in the choice of his seed. Tlie best descrip- tion I met with is the " Improved Vilraorin," propagated by M.Louis Vilmorin, of Paris, who claims to have had recourse to the process of selection aud the establishment of pedigree in plants long before Mr. Hallett was heard of. M. Yilmorin informs me that the Vilmorin beet is more highly prized in Germany than in France, and accounts for it by the fact of the duties being levied in the different manner I have described. The refuse of the beetroot after the sugar has been extracted forms an important article of cattle food, and is held in high estimation. About 18 to 20 per cent, is the proportion of pulp left ; the worse the quality of roots, the smaller the quantity of pulp. It is preserved in deep pits generally bricked like a grave — very often, the expense of bricking is avoided — a covering of earth is laid upon the top. The pulp is generally consumed within the year ; but if well covered up it can be kept sweet and good for two years, or, as I was assured, even for three years. Much controversy has taken place both as to the relative value of pulp as feeding stuff and as to its real money worth. Many practical men maintain that a ton of pulp is equal in value to a ton of roots. I think the money worth is best settled by the price it fetches. The average price at the factories I visited will amount to about 13s. per ton. Although horses do not like it, bullocks, which cr.nnot be fat- tened on the root alone, can and are sometimes fattened for the English and foreign markets, without any other food than the pulp. Pigs do well upon it when cooked. Slieep will eat about 121bs. a-day of raw pulp. It is unquestionably more easily digested than the root itself ; but cows kept upon it are said uot to produce much milk. I was fortunate enough to obtain a debtor and creditor account of a sugar factory upon the Continent, the locality of which, for obvious reasons, 1 am not at liljerly to indicate. The proprietor is a large farmer^ THR FARMEIVS MAGAZINE. 505 III it betwceu 13,000 and li,000 tons of roots per annum are made info sugar. The total expenditure, exclusive of the interest upon the money embarked, wa? £19,500, the total receipts about £33,000, kaviug, as will he seen from ihe sub- joined statement, over £13,000 for profit and interest of money. Summary of Expenses and Keceipts of a Beet-Root Sugar Factory during One Year. Oiitffohifj E.rpenscs. 11,000 tons of beet-root at factory, including cartage, £ maintenance of carts, seed, at 19s. per ton ... 13,300 3,600 tons of coal, at 15s. 6d. per ton 1,025 130 tons of coke, at 24s. per ton ... ... ... 160 350 tons of lime, at 8s. per ton ... ... ... HO 12^ tons granulated cliarcoaH . , t^-. „„^ , „ -,(.- c\ i 1 J I, 1 ?• at £ii ner ton ,., loo ~k tons powdered charcoal ) 1,200 sacks 350 1,500 filtering bags for hydraulic presses 50 1,600 pulp hags 100 Cloth and canvas ... ... ... ... ... 25 Baskets 20 Workmen's wages ... ... ... ... ... 2,060 Salaries of manager and foremen employed all the year round ... ... ... ... ... 600 Expenses of carriage outwards, and in connection with sales ... ... ... ... ... ... 450 Gas 80 Grease and oil for lubrication ... ... ... ... 75 Acids and soda used in process of manufacture ... 15 Insurance ... ... ... ... ... ... 70 Various other expenses not before included 400 19,585 Riceijds. £ s. d. 912 tons of sugar, at £25 per ton 23,800 0 0 123 tons of sugar, free of duty, at £42 10s. per ton 5,227 10 0 49^ tons of sugar, at £36 per ton 1,782 0 0 l,084|tons. Pulp, 2,800 tons, at lis. 4d. per ton .. Molasses, 105 tons, at £5 per ton „ 105 „ at £5 10s. per ton „ 120 „ at £7 per ton Scnm used as manure ... Outgoing expenses 29,809 10 0 1,586 13 4 525 0 0 577 10 0 840 0 0 50 0 0 33,388 13 4 19,585 0 0 Balance 13,803 13 4 In addition to the sugar factories I have alluded to there are immense numbers of distilleries for extracting spirit from the beet. In France the number reaches 500. The distilling of spirit is said to be far more profitable than the manufacture of sugar. On many farms both processes are carried on, and a few years ago — stimulated by the high price of raw* spirit, the result of the vine disease — many sugar factories were converted into dis- tilleries. I learned the other day, from a French engineer in- terested in u new patent Still, that he is engaged in the erec- tion of a large distillery near London for extracting spirit from beetroot. The whole cost of the distillery is estimated at £16,000. As the partners are people of experience they have doubtless satisfied themselves that the difficulties experienced by other persons are to be overcome, llence the question as to making spirit from beetroot being a profitable process will speedily be put at rest. After an inspection of the distillery at Cologne, I paid a visit to the farms cultivated by the firm. Tlie company holds five farms, divided into plots of about 1,500 acres, in all 7,200. M. Joest, one of the paitners, is manager in chief, with stewards under him at the several farms. The accounts ap- peared to be most accurately kept, and tlie land well and care- fully managed. The course of cropping is 1st, rape, highly manured ; 2ud, wheat ; 3rd, rye, slightly manured ; 4th, clover; 5th, oats or wheat, manured; 6tli, sugar-beet, without manure; 7th, rye ; Sth, clover ; 9lh, oats. Forty bushels per acre is con- sidered a good crop of wheat ; of sugar-beet, twelve-and-a-half tons per acre. As in France deep ploughing is practiced for beet- root, thirteen to fourteen inches being the rule. I saw one field of beet, containing some hundreds of acres, and, on observing the leaves on certain portions to be crinkled, was told that it was an indication of good quality. The Vilmorin and the Gerlibogt arc the varieties most highly spoken of. Great care is taken of the tap roots, as they are said to contain the most sugar. Great care is also exercised in not injuring the leaves, especially in tlie latter stages of the growth. Here, as in many otlier parts of tlio continent, Indian corn is gruwn and cut green for fodder ; as 1 found in America, it is everywhere highly spoken of. 1 found that Browick wlieat had been introduced, and, after careful experiments as to yield, is preferred to any other variety. On these farms I found the use of the clod- crusher for consolidating land planted with wheat was under- stood, but on no other farm out of France did 1 find the value of this practice recognized. From tiiis neglect in consoli- dating the laud, a large portion of the w heat all over the con- tinent grows tall and weakly, and gets laid long before harvest. A large number of working oxen are kept, of the Birkenfeld race ; they are fed on pulp. The men, as in France and other parts of the continent, sleep in the stable with their bullocks and horses. The wages to farm labourers are paid all in money, and are from Is. 2d. to Is. Od. per day in summer and Is. to Is. 3d. in- winter. Labour is said here, and in almost every part of the continent I visited, to be becoming both scarcer and dearer, and in this district wages have risen during the last twenty-five years from twenty-five to fliirty per cent. Children arc not allowed to be employed in agriculture in Prussia until fourteen years of age ; the Prussian national system of education being a compulsory one. 1 have not time to enter upon the question of education, but would observe that it seems to be appreciated, and the farmers I conversed with found no practical inconvenience, inasmuch as one por- tion of the children goes to school in the morning and the other portion in the afternoon. I was told by one farm-manager that where the burgomaster happens to be a large farmer, the school arrangements are not always enforced in busy seasons ; as my informant sUIy said, the burgomaster sleeps. The next farm I -visited was a very beautiful place-— Ostendorf, a few miles from Cologne — belonging to and farmed by M. PfeilTer. It consists of 1,410 acres, 360 of which are in wheat, 360 in beet, and the rest in clover, Indian corn, and potatoes. Two self-acting reaping machines were in ope- ration, cutting down some fine fields of wheat, and a third machine stood ready. The implements upon this farm were very numerous and various, but, with the excepti(m of those of English manufacture, they are rude and badly made ; and, I may say, this remark applies generally to the con- tinent. iU. Pfeiil'er fats off ISO oxen a year, llis oxen all work on alternate days, except those which have got fresh in condition. These are put into a stall for a few ttceks, to make them up for ijiarket. This alternate plan of working bullocks I found was considered by all the large farmers throughout the continent to be the most profitable. In ad- dition to this large force, M. Pfeiffer keeps twenty working horses. M. Pfeilfer has a fine beetroot sugar factory, aud, in addition to the beet of his own growing, buys large quantities from the neighbouring farmers. The price paid is 19s. a ton, Slbs. per cwt. being deducted for dirt. A price is put upon the pulp, which is prohibitory, M. PfeilTer preferring to con- sume it with his own animals. The wages on this faim throughout the year are 14d. per day ; in the summer months the working hours are from 5.30 a.m. till 8 p.m. The women get lOd. per day. As in France and Belgium, in tliis part of Germany there arc a great number of small holdiugs. In Prussia there are 900,000 farms under four acres in extent. The small farms hereabouts are much better cultivated than in many other parts of the continent. As there really is nothing for the English farmer to learn from them, it would be useless for me to take up your lime in describing them. AVhat I have said with respect to the same kind of farm in France is of general application. Baron Eisner von Gronow, a large landed proprietor in Silesia, is a well-known agriculturist. In his district the four-course system is followed. The farm- ing may be judged by w hat is considered a good average yield, viz., 12 bushels ol rye per acre, 10 bushels of wheat, 15 of barley, 10 of oats, and 5 tons of mangold. Tlin wages of labourers iu the diatrict are Id. a day in v.iufer, aud 5d. in spring .and autumn, and 7id. to lOd. in harvest lime. Inibour is said to be becoming a little scarce, aud wages arc rising. 606 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Twenty j'ears ago Baron von Grouow informed me that the wages were not more than 2|d. a day in winter, and M. for mowing and binding an acre of wheat. Leaving Germany I passed on into Austria, paying a visit to Mr. Smallbones, a gentleman well known to many in this room. I cannot, however, stay to describe this gentleman's beautifully managed place, nor the agriculture of that great empire with its farms of tens of thousands of acres. The homesteads are of immense size, as the animals are all brought home at night, if kept in the field they would be stolen. This practice of bringing home the cattle prevails throughout Europe. In Austria a law exists against the sub-division of what are termed peasant farms, the maximum size of which is 60 acres, and the minimum 15 acres. When a proprietor dies his eldest son takes the land ; an assessor is called in who fixes the amount to be paid to the other children ; the eldest son it is said is often crippled by this arrangement. No class of tenant farmers exists, all are proprietors except in a few dis- tricts and rare instances. The labourers I found to be badly ofi", wages being about Dd. to lOd. per day. At one village I went to, I had an opportunity of seeing how they were lodged. One large barn-like building, with only a ground-floor, I found divided into two rooms. In one 40 feet long 20 feet wide and 10 feet high, I found six beds and four families, in the other somewhat smaller, were five beds, and three families. Small- pox having broken out a fortnight before, I was told some tenants of this wretched abode had been removed in order to thin it. There was one common cooking-stove to the whole, and to add to the wretchedness of the place it was infested with rats. A more deplorable seene"it had never been my lot to witness. To return to Mr. Smallbones, his cattle had re- cently been attacked with foot-and-mouth disease. As he had found considerable benefit from a certain remedy he gave me particulars of, I sent it home at the time, for publication in the newspapers. The remedy has been tried by many people in diiTerent parts of the country, and in all cases that I have heard of, with good effects. My own cattle have recently been attacked, and recovered very rapidly under the treatment. The recipe is as follows : "Take honey lib., muriatic acid I^ oz., mix them well with a wooden spoon in an earthenware vessel ; apply with a wooden spatula about a small dessert spoonful to the tongue, three times a day, leaving the animal to distribute it over the inside of its moutli by the champing motion which is sure to follow its applica- tion." For the feet : " Take aloes ^ oz., rectified spirit half- pint, alum ^ oz., dissolve them in one pint of water; mix, and apply a little twice a day between the claws," In addition to the above treatment, rye-meal, ground very fine should be placed in the manger, a little being dusted on the noses of the animals in order to induce them to eat ; the meal being almost impalpable, they could lick a little without increasing irrita- tion. On leaving Vienna I passed through the beautiful country of Styria, and crossed over into Italy. Be- fore, however, I say anything upon the agriculture of Italy, I would take you back for a few moments to Belgium. As Dr. Voelcker and the Editor of the Roi/i!? AgricnJlural Jotirnal, have recently spent someweeks in Belgium, with aview to the early publication of a report upon the agriculture of that country, I shall content myself \vith a very brief sketch. Belgium has long had the reputation of l)eing the best fanned country on the Continent. I had so often heard it held up by English travellers as an example to the world — I had read such glowing accounts of the farming to be met with over there — that when I saw the country for the first time with my own eyes, I must say my expectations were very far from being realized. Certainly no one can visit Belgium without perceiving at once that the country is occupied by an in- dustrious race, and that great pains are taken in the cultiva- tion of the land ; but to one who is accpiaintcd with the highest style of farming — who knows what appliances and require- ments are needed for carrying on such farming — as sueii an one rides through the districts occupied by the cottiers and small farmers, he cannot hut be impressed with the absence of the necessary capital for the full development of tlie resources of the soil. These remarks do not apply to the fine large sugar-beet farms I shall shortly allude to ; hut great farms, as I will show presently from figures, are the exception in Belgium. I can readily understand how people with a slight knowledge of rural affairs may be misled on paying a visit to that country. A great deal of the land is naturally rich, and a large breadth being grown with coarse corn, rye, bearded wheat, and sprat barley, the crops under these conditions of course look big, and their bulkiness is calculated to deceive the uninitiated. I remember at one of those enjoyable Tiptree gatherings hearing a London wine merchant exclaim on seeing a field of Rivett's wheat, " What magnificent barley '." Like France, agriculture in Belgium is in prossession of a State department ; and, like France, the land is much sub-divided. There arc a quarter of a million peasant farms under two acres, about 20,000 farms of 30 acres, about 10,000 farms of 100 acres, and about 1,000 farms of 250 acres and upwards — the average being about 11 acres. Bather more than half the country is cultivated by the owners of the soil. But in Flanders, however, there are few proprietors ; the rent of land, as has beeu asserted, is by no means extravagant ; nor do I think you will conclude that the peasantry are overpaid. In Hainault, the highest rented province — very fine land— ac- cording to the last ofScial returns the rent averaged 35s. per acre; in Luxemburg, the lowest, it was 12s. 9d. per acre; the average throughout Belgium was 27s. per acre. The ave- rage wages of the farm labourer is Is. Id. per day, without food, the maximumbeing Is. 8d. and theminimum 8jd. per day ; wages, nevertheless, are said to have advanced 25 to 30 per cent, since ISiC. These figures were given to me by the Inspector General of Agriculture. From inquiries I made among the older labourers, I found that 6d. per day was no unusualpaybut a few years ago. I had travelled through Belgium several times, but had never set foot upon a farm until last year, when I went over to Brussels to act as a judge of implements. The trial of mowing machines took place a few miles from the city. The meadow selected was naturally a rich soil, but the crop of grass was poor, and the field had evidently not been invaded by the roller for many a long day. The farmer attributed the poor- ness of the crop to Providence — he said he had expected a better one, as he had got the Priest to pray for it ! I remarked that Providence should not be lield responsible for the omission of rolling ; whilst my colleague, M. Hamoir, dryly told him he thought the prayers would be answered if he put on plenty of dung ! I mention this as one of many instances I have met with of superstition. It is not an uncommon sight, especially in the Rhenish provinces, to see the image of a patron saint erected at the head of a field, in the hope that the crops would be thereby protected. On the occasion of my visit to Brus- sels Show, I went across the plains of Waterloo ; it was just previous to harvest. The farms here are large, much of the land is fine, hut neither my brother nor I thought the crops, considering the fine season, were what we should be satisfied with, nor had either the hand-hoe or horse-hoe been kept going ; the poppy and corn-flower were iu great luxuriance. In July last, landing at Ostend, I stayed there a few days, and made excursions in the neighbourhood. The farmers seemed plain, plodding i)eople, knew very little of what was going on in the agricultural world : their houses seemed comfortless, and their living very frugal. The rotation of many farms is rye, oats, potatoes or sugar-beet, then rye ; no wheat. I found very little in farm practice worth noting down. Ploughing up the land before the crop is carted is general in this, as well as in most parts of the Continent. One farmer showed me his flock, of which he appeared very proud. The Flemish breed are long-legged, small-scragged, narrow ani- mals, wliich cannot pay the farmer to breed. The same man had some leally good Shorthorns and pigs. Boars in this neighbourhood travel Hke stallions, fresh blood being obtained every year. The labourers seemed dejected and iu a low con- dition. I looked in at a village inn and had a conversation with the landlady, from whom I learned that she never saw a farm labourer in her liouse, except after dinner on Sunday, when a few would drop in to have a glass of beer. She drew a gloomy picture of their condition, remarking, "Poor things ! they have not much comfort in this life." At Baron Peers's, at Oosteamp, near Bruges, I found a better state of tiling — good cattle, Hampshire Down and Oxfordshire sheep, white Yorkshire pigs, better paid and better fed labourers, and higher rents. The Baron adopts the following rotation : Wheat, rye, oats, clover, flax, potatoes or mangold. Two, and, as in this case, three white straw crops in succession is not an uncommon practice ; to an Englishman it seems unscientific, and none hut thoroughly good land could long stand such treatment. The Baron thinks highly of the practice of growing a little chicory, TFT^: li^ARMBR'S MAGAZINE. 507 wliicli he sows in May ; the tops are cut twice during the summer and autumn for green food ; the roots remain in the ground all the winter, and are said to be the best food to give to ewes after lambing. At Becrnem, a few miles beyoud Baron Peers's, is a large Government reformatory, well worthy of a visit ; a farm of GOO acres and a garden of 40 acres are attached. The lads receive an excellent training ; but I have not time to describe what I saw. You will doubtless have an opportunity of reading an account of the institution in the report of Dr. Voclcker and Mr. Jenkins. I would refer the members of the Club to some valuable information from Baron Peers, wliich will be found in the appendix to my paper ; also to that of M. Leclerc, Inspector-General of Agriculture, who has Idudly sup- plied me with statistical and otiier information. A few miles from Brussels is the parish of Dilbeck, containing 2,750 acres. In this village, which may be considered an average specimen, there are five or six farms of 88 to 150 acres, ten from 37 to 45 acres, many of about 20 acres, and a large number of 2, 3, aud 4} acres. M. Verheyden is the principal farmer of the place, occupying 140 acres at a rental of £240, and is a plain, but keen, thoughtful man. The cottier farmers work for the larger ones, and get Is. 3d. per day. M. Verheyden told me that the small farmers above the cottiers could never live and pay their way by mere farming ; that their mainstay was fruit, vegetables, and poultry ; that, if not too far from a large town, a steady man with a careful M'ife might get on. The rent of a 10-acre farm, with house, is about 55s. per acre in this parish ; and he further said that the farms in his neighbour- hood were increasing in size ; that wages had more than doubled — twenty years ago they were only Gd. per day, without food. Leases are for nine years, without covenants as to cropping. He informed me, in reply to an inquiry, that farmers were no politicians, and voted as their landlord wished. I heard from M. Verheyden a good deal on practical matters, but I must not dwell, for I wish to say something of the finest farm I saw in Belgium, viz., that of M. Dumont at Cliasspart,nearFleurus. The extent is about 1,500 acres, divided into five farms, with a homestead to each. At the central homestead is a large sugar factory aud grain distillery. The homesteads are connected by iron tram- ways, which intersect the whole farm : 13 kilometres or 8 miles of tramway in one farm was a novel sight. The rail is used to bring home the beet and other crops — to take back manure, pulp, &c. I had been for days previously among the cottier farmers, who . use great wlieelbarrows for carrying otf their crops. Two-thirds of the land is the property of M. Dumont ; the other one-third is hired. The rotation adopted is — 1st, beet ; 2nd, wheat and oats, half of each ; 3rd, clover and flax, half of each ; 4th, wheat. M. Dumont adopts the English practice of cutting wheat before becoming quite ripe. The almost universal practice on the Continent is the very uneconomical one of leaving it till dead ripe. I saw one splendid field of sugar-beet of 175 acres, which was estimated at over 20 tons an acre. The tops of the sugar-beet are cut oflf, and given to the sheep on the pas- tures. An acre of flax is on the average worth £31. M. Dumout keeps over GOO head of cattle. Large numbers are fed upon pulp and the residuum of the distillery. Pleuro- pneumonia has made such ravages that M. Dumont and many others have adopted the practice of inoculation ; the pus is obtained from the State Veterinary College, and inserted at the tail. If the operation is performed in hot weather tlie tail drops off through mortification setting in, but when done in cool weather no injurious consequences ensue. Having suf- fered much from this fatal disease among my cattle I was de- termined to try it, but have hitherto been prevented by order of the veterinary inspector of the county, who has acted on the advice of Professor Simouds. The Professor opposes the practice ; but those practical Belgian farmers who have had extensive experience regard it, to use M. Dumont's own words, as a " sovereign remedy." For foot-rot in sheep M. Dumont gave me the following receipt, wliich he has found an un- failing remedy : " One pound of Egyptiac, half-a-pound of sulphate of copper reduced to a fine powder, one ounce avoir- dupois of bi-chloride of mercury reduced to a very fine powder ; these materials should be mixed up with strong vinegar until they assume a proper consistency." The sheep are fed under cover, the prevailing plan on the Continent ; a sheepfold is a very rare sight. Tlie food is 121bs. of pulp per head per day. Wages on the farm are Is. 8d. per day in summer, and Is. 3d, in winter — no board and lodging ; but the employment is conlbnioiis, and not inlermillcnt, as in tlie small-farm dis- tricts. The people seemed comparatively well off. Chassart is in the Walloon district, Waterloo being in sight ; it is the district for large farms : however, I passed a good many large homesteads unused, the land belonging thereto having been cut up into small farms. That such holdings required no home- stead accommodation is a suggestive fact. M. Dumont's farm is one well worth a journey to see, and the pleasure of my visit was greatly enhanced by the kindness and hospitable reception I met with. Soon after my return from Belgium, I was greatly surprised at the contents of a letter addressed to the Times by the accomplished author of Talpa. Putting in a plea for " pciite culliifcP Mr. Iloskyns remarked, "that the number of beasts fed, and meat produced per acre, arc far greater in Belgium than in England ;" it is said that figures may be made to prove almost any theory. It is true that Belgium has 1,257,269 head of cattle, which is larger in proportion than the stock of English cattle ; but to come to the conclusion from such a fact that the Belgium meat supply is greater than ours is a fallacy, as I will show. In the first place the draught power in oxen in this country is infinitesimal, in Belgium it forms a large proportion. In Eng- land as soon as a bullock is big enough he is slaughtered, whilst in Belgium he is kept on for years for draught purposes Again take the startling fact that whilst Belgium has but some half million sheep, we have over 35 millions ; to say nothing of the superior size and weight of our animals. I feel con- vinced that were we in possession of full and reUable statistics it would be conclusively proved that England produces far more meat per acre than any country in the world ; with perhaps, the exception of the rich growing land of Holland. With the best information at my command, and altogether waiving the question as to the number of oxen and cows kept in Belgium for draught purposes, I then make the total quantity of meat raised per acre to be only 98 lbs. in Belgium against 148 lbs. in England and A¥ales. Except upon the large farms, very little stock is to be seen. The taxation of Belgium does not appear to weigh heavily on the land. There are no poor-rates — no taxation for the church. The cost of punishment of crime and the support of the prisons are borne by the State. The whole amount of taxation which falls upon the land is about 2s. 6d. per acre per annum. Schools for boys and girls exist all over the country. Education ; is not compulsory; but few parents' neglect to send their children to .school: the expense is borne partly by the State aud partly by the parish. For informationuponthese and kindred subjects I would refer members to the appendix to my paper, in which will be found a good deal of practical information from reliable authori- ties, I w'onld now for a few moments direct your attention to the subject of irrigation. Some four j'ears ago I spent a few weeks in Egypt, I was so impressed with tlie astonishing results obtained by the simple application of water to land in the valley of the Nile, that I came home under a strong conviction that in England, notwithstanding the difference between the two climates,'we do not reap half the advantages we might do from the water which a beneficent Providence sends us. By the aid of very primitive pumps, worked by a mule or bullock, or a couple of donkeys, sufficient water is often raised by the Egyptian farmer to irrigate thirty, forty, or fifty acres of land, which fields produce prodigious crops of a kind of clover called " burseem." My recent visit to Italy and Switzerland has confirmed me in this opinion. I am aware that water meadows in England are almost as old as the hills. The prac- tice of irrigation is, however, confined to a very few localities — not one farmer in five hundred in England, I venture to say, knows anything of the subject, or has ever given the matter serious consideration ; and 1 believe there are reasons which liave produced the indifference, for which, I think, the State is in great measure answerable. To the consideration of this part of the question I will return presently. The practice of irrigation in Europe is carried out on the greatest scale, and with probably the best results, in the plains of Lombardy and Piedmont. In Lombardy, out of a total area of 0,000,000 acres, upwards of 1,000,000 are artificially irrigated ; upwards of 3,000 miles of main or minor canals have been cut in the province, beside a vast extent of small arteries belonging to private individuals. Although some of the main canals are 508 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. used for tlie purposes of navigaliou, tliey aremaiuly coustrucled with a view to a comprebeusive plan for irrigating the country. The grand canal, which brings the water of the Ticino to Mihui, has been in existence some 700 years, and lor tliis long period lias the practice of irrigation been carried on. I would also remark in passing that for almost a longer period a por- tion of the sewage of Milan has been utilized ; I believe the credit is due to the monks of the monastery of Chiaravalle. I visited some of the fields which had been irrigated for cen- turies; aud, although uot furiiished with all the modern appliances to be seen at the irrigated fields at Bedford, the re- sults are most satisfactory. I may meutiou that at Bedford the growth of Italian rye-grass by town sewage is a most com- plete success ; as many as six crops have been raised this year, realising some i'20 per acre. I visited an irrigated farm of DO acres near Milan, rented by a M. Antonio Monti, and at which the water is used eleven times over, from the point at which it reaches the farm to where he parts with it to his neighbour. The rent of the farm is about G4s. per acre. The rent was considered a low one, as £5 an acre is not an unusual rent. The grass I saw growing was 24 days old, and was fit to cut. Seven crops had jreviously been mown since the beginning of the year. The grass in the irrigated fields is perennial. A good deal of the arable land is susceptible of irrigation. After a wheat crop cabbages are planted. The wheat in one field I saw was cut on June 24th ; on July 7th the cabbages vv-ere planted, aud on the 24th of August (the day I was there) the ground was completely covered. The cabbages are sent to the Milan market. The land was irrigated once before the cabbages were planted, and once after. On this farm I saw a fine dairy of 18 Swiss cows. Having heard much of the milch qualities of this breed, I in- quired into the quantity of milk produced, and found it varied from 38 to 4-4 gallons per day. The cows are fed on grass from the irrigated meadows, and are milked at noon and at 10 o'clock at night. The price realised for milk, which is fetched from the farm by the buyer, is from 5d. to 5jd. per gallon. On this farm of 90 acres, one-third is irrigated meadow, and the other arable. Six men, four women, and three or four lads are employed. I would call special attention to the mode of paying the labourers. They are paid 5d. per day all the year round. Each family has in addition one-third of the produce of 2J acres of Indian corn. The land is set apart for the labourer by the farmer who finds horses, implements, and seed. The labourer performs the work, and gets one-third of the produce. A good crop of Indian corn is reckoned to yield 48 to 54 bushels per acre. On tliis farm I had another opportunity of seeing how the labourers are lodged. A box suspended from the stable roof furnished a bed for the horseman. In some adjoining rooms, without windows, I found several beds. Being one man doMn with the fever I speedily made my exit, but anything more wretched and indecent can scarcely be conceived. Families never have more than one room, but often two or three families occupy the same apartment. M. Chizzolini, who is an engineer by profession and also a lauded proprietor and farmer in the neighbourhood, employs a centrifugal pump, driven by a portable engine, for pumping back the water \vhen it has reached the lowest part of his farm, a plan with which he is well satisfied. The watered plains of Lombardy present a most rich and luxuriant appearance ; the kind of grass is tlie very opposite of the blue grass found on some of the western plains of America, which, as the Yankees say, is " as crisp as hair and wants lathering before you can mow it." On leaving the plains of Lombardy I i)assed over the Alps to Swit/.erland. Everywhere along the hill-side are to be seen devices for catching and spreading the water on the grass slopes ; then again it is arrested on its way to the valley aud turned over the meadows and fields of maize ; indeed, as tlie fertility of the country depends upon the utilization of the water, every little stream is turned to the best account. In the neigh- bourhood of Verona I had an opportunity of examining the " Metayer" system, the cultivation was very slovenly, nud the crops scant. The infiuence of the practice may be judged from a remark made by one of a company of fanners and endorsed by the rest, " That it saved them irom anxiety." I thought \\ ithout anxiety our own agriculture would have been in the slate I found tlieirs. When in Spain some years ago I passed through districts which, in the time of the Moors, were most fruitful, through being irrigated, but which, through the neglect of the Spaniards in not maintaining the works left tliem by the Moors, are now barren wastes. In drawiugmy observations to aeonelusion, I would remark that the question is olten asked by thinking men. What is the next great step which can be taken in agriculture ? I rememljer some tiiree years ago no less a man than Mr. Gladstone, when talking to Mr. Clayden, Mr. Leeds, and myself upon increasing the meat supply, propounded this very question. I smiled and remarked as gravely as I couki, that I did not see how we could make another move until he repealed the raalt-tax. In England, cultivation on the best farms has arrived at a state of perfec- tion in the growth of cereals and root-crops, that I believe it is idle to expect any very great increase in the produce per acre — the general uveraee of the country will unquestionably be con- siderably raised. I am uow speaking solely of tlie higliest style of farming, with a view to discover what next step is possible. I take it that the great question of the day is — not so much how many more cattle or sheep can be fed on bought feeding stuffs — as how they can be raised and profitably kept upon crops grown upon the farm. In other words, how a greater supply can be economically produced. I believe no gentleman present will differ from me in the opinion that, if upon a given portion of his land, especially if friable soil, he could always command a supply of water for irrigation, a larger quantity of green food could be raised, and if so, it would furnish the means of keep- ing a greater number of animals. Is there any great difliculty, mechanical or otherwise, in placing the power of irrigating the lands in the liands of a vast number of English farmers F Along our valleys, where water is to be obtained in abundance at a few feet from the surface, a centrifugal or chain pump, worked by a horse or an engine, would supply sufficient water for the irrigation of scores of acres. More, however, than this, I take it, is required ; the water in our rivers, I maintain, should not be the exclusive property of individuals, but be free for the good of the whole people. M. Durand, a Ereneh Agriculturist of remarkable energy, alive to the im- portance of irrigation, determined to avail himself of the water of the Aveyron. Tor this purpose he turned a branch of the river, constructed a small canal two miles long, and erected a weir at the junction. With the earth dug out, he made an embankment, to prevent the flooding of fifty acres of his land, whilst on other seventj'-five acres he turned tlie water brought by the canal ; this arrangement enabled him to keep double the number of cattle and sheep, as well as to raise one third more corn. I'or thirty long years however he was at war with opponents, but at length he succeeded in putting down all ojiposition and was rewarded by the State with a gold medal for the work he had accomplished. The livers and run- ning water of France are not under the control of private individuals as lu England. The water only belongs to the owner of tlie land through which it flows during its transit ; when it passes his boundary he has no further control over it. As long ago as I6C9, Louis XIV. abolished the feudal rights of the proprietors in rivers, the ownership thereof being re- served by the State. Owing to the want of energy in France, the great boon secured by this enactment has nor been taken advantage of to any great, extent. Far be it from me to advo- cate such spoliation or confiscation as was ado))ted by France, but I sincerely wish that the Rivers Commission, which is yet pursuing its inquiries, may see its way to recommend to our Government the placing of all rivers and watercourses under a central authority, having power to buy up the acquired rights of individual owners, in order tliat the water of the rivers, not only for irrigation, but in other respects, may be as free for the benefit of the whole people as the air we breathe. I would also express a hope that the commission will see its way to some jdan for securing our rivers and streams against being polluted by the fertilizing matter which now runs to waste. I have called attention to the wages and sta(c of the Con- tinental peasant more prominently than I shuuld have done in consequence of the condition of the English farm labourer having of late occupied so large a share of public attention. Whilst I am sensible of the degradation aud comparative poverty of the peasantry in some parts of our own country, and whilst I am a strenuous advocate for tlie better housing, the better education, and the adojition of other means of raising their position, I say fear- lessly that their condition is superior, and if they would spend less in beer, would be incomparably superior to any of the same class upon the continent. 1 was talking over this subject the THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 'M olliei" day with two of my own men, who are ongaged going about to start iiiacliiuery. In this rmiiloynicnt tliry have during tlie past ten I years travelled half over Europe ; tiiey were both brought up as agricultural labourers. One said to me, speaking of the continental labourer, " I'oor things, I have often pitied them, they do live hard with their black bread and broth, and cabbage and red-herring, and such like." lie also said, " You know, sir, they can't do what I call a day's work, for there is nothing inside 'em." This man, thongli no political economist, remarked, " You know, sir, their labour don't cost much, aud tlieir masters don't get much work out of 'em." The notion that a minute sub-division of land has a tendency to raise wages is a great mistake. Go into almost any part of England where small lioldings pre- dominate, and there will be found not only a lower scale of wages, hut what is worse, a want of continuous employ- ment. In a tour 1 made last spring through the counties of Tinperary and Cork, I found precisely the same results: work on large fai'ms was continuous; on snuill, intermittent. Tlie same state of things I found to exist in every part of the continent. Anotlicr conclusion I have arrived at is, that in all countries nothing tends to keep back agri- culture so much as insecurity of tenure. Leases are all but universal on the continent, hut wherever I went there was the same complaint, the same reason for not making permanent improvement, the leases were said to be too short, the tenure too insecure. The province of Gron- ingen, in Holland, possesses, I believe, the greatest agricultural weiilth of any part of Europe : lirre the tenancy is hereditary. I mention this not by way of advocating the principle of ilsity or perpetuity of tenure, but as a proof that the ten- dency of lenglh of leinire\& io increased production. Whilst I am opposed to the land being cut up into small liold- ings, I would not have it supposed that I think it desirable a whole country should be divided into monster farms. To such a state of things I am ecjually opposed. I believe that to be the best condition of things for all interests, when there is a considerable variety in the size of farms, so that a farmer with a family of sons has a chance of finding for them a choice of holdings suited to the means at his command. In many estates I think we have gone far enough, too far in some parts of England, toward the utter extermination of small farms. I maintain that a few — aud mark, I say a few ; too many would be as great an evil as none — a few even of cottier farms, with a good orchard aud well-stocked garden attached, which tlie industrious, thrifty peasant might look forward to occupy- ing when he begins to decline in life, would tend to clieer him along in the path of labour, and would, 1 believe, do more to elevate the class than all the prizes given at our agricultural meetings ; aud the large farmer v^ould, in my opinion, be benefited by securing the services of a better class of labourers. Lord Lichfield, on a part of his estate, adopted some such practice; and the little farms with convenient homesteads at low rents arc offered to the most deserving and thrifty of the older labourers as prizes for good conduct. On the general question of large aud small farms, 1 have no hesitation in pronouncing in favour of the former. I would call particuhir attention to the fact that even the Trades Union League or Congress, which met at Brussels a year or two ago condemned the system of " peliie cidtiire" and resolved that when communism or community in land was gained, in order to produce food cheaply, it would be necessary to farm on a great scale ; so that, as was argued, the rapid processes and costly machinery found so economical in manufactures might be brought to bear with eifect in the cultivation of the soil. With the land cut up into small farms, that a greater number of people can manage to live or exist upon it is undoubtedly true, but the question then arises, what is the more desirable conditionof things — a system under which the greatest population can subsist upon a given area, or a system under which the largest amount of food can be raised at the least cost ? That the small farmer can produce as cheaply as it can he raised on a large scale I apprehend no practical man will maintain ; and again, when the conditions are favourable, as in Belgium, tlie crops of the cultivator of a kw acres are as a rule far inferior to those of the large stock farmer. There are many writers at the present day whose only notion about the use of land is, how it can be made to support the greatest popu- jaiioii. Lord Palmerstou once uiadc the— since trite — reinark that, " dirt simply meant matter lu Die Wrong place,'' so of over-population when a broad view is taken, when it is con- sidered what millions of acres of virgin land throughout the world invite the industry of man, upon which he could subsist in comfort and independence, we must conclude that there is no such thing as over-population, a wise and beneficent Providence has given us a world large enough ; yea ! far larger than is required for the present family of man. Take alone the great prairies and plains of the Western States of America, capable of supporting million on millions. I remember the impression the sight of them made upon me. It occurred to me that Lord Palmerston, on seeing them, would have exclaimed ! "Over-population, why it simply means men in the wrong place ;" The system of " petite culture " pursued in Erance and other parts of the Continent has undoubtedly this injurious eifect. Under such a system the creation of a class of intelligent tenants with sutlieient capital to devclope the resources of the soil is rendered impossible. In England the power of the soil to produce com is maintained chielly through the medium of restorative crops consumed 1jy cattle and sheep. The proportion of crops in England and Scotland is one-third exhaustive and two-thirds restorative. In the beetroot districts Erance and Belgium have followed the example of England ; but over a wide extent of the country the system of cropping followed is exhaustive. The simple object of the cultivator is the raising of corn aud other crops which can be at once taken to market and turned into money. What I say of Erance on this point is true of every country in the world where farmers are without capital — they cannot afford to wait for the more slow but more certain results obtained by the more scientific practice of modern agriculture. Our agri- cultural statistics in England are not very reliable ; I wish, only for the sake of drawing comparisons, they were more exact. An eminent Erench Professor of Jigriciilture, after full inquiry, and a long tour in this country, calculated that with less than lialf the extent of cultivated land, England pro- duced double the quantity of animal food, and in proportion nearly twice the quantity of corn. In England, the bare fallows are only one-tenth of the extent of corn crops, whilst in Erance one-third annually is in fallow. This will to prac- tical farmers sufficiently indicate the difference between the system produced by the two countries. I believe the difierent resufts in the two countries are not altogether attributable to existing conditions ; a great deal is to be accounted for on the score of diil'erence of race. 1 have seen Lower Canada aud I have seen Canada West, and the diil'erence betw ecu the energy of the two races is palpably written on the face of the two divisions. English self-reliance, Eughsh perseverance and energy of character, have overcome difficulties which the Erench, notwithstanding the aid offered by government, have been unable to conquer. I would say, in conclusion, that I verily believe, were pelile cidlure to become as general in England as in Erance and Belgium, meat would, with our teeming and ever-increasing populatiou, soon be at famine prices. I would finish by remarking that I have yet to see the country which can compare in Agriculture with our own beautiful little Island. Mr. J. K. EowLER (Prebendal Earnis, Aylesbury) said: Hav- ing gained some acquaintance with the state of agriculture on the continent during the last two or three years, he could en- dorse the substance of what Mr. Howard had placed before them. As one of the judges at the Great International Ex- hibition held at Altona last September, he wished to say some- thing about North Germany, Schleswig-IIolstein, and portions of Denmark. He was sorry that Mr. Howard had not given them more information about the grazing districts and the dairy farming of Holstein. It was not to be expected that that able paper would dwell on every portion of Europe (Hear, hear) ; but, coming as he did from the Vale of Aylesbury — a large grazing district — he had felt the greatest pleasure in visiting many of the farms of Holstein during the last^few weeks. He wished first to thank Mr. Howard for the able manner in which he had treated a question of great interest to this country, he meant the cultivation of beet-root for sugar and the possible production of spirit by the same means. About 14 years ago he (Mr. Eowler) was consulted by the Marquis de Champonois, who wished to establish in this country a large manufactory for the production of beetroot spirit. A manufactory was established at Fulham, but after a great deal of trouble it failed, because the Erf-uch-wiue-s'rown 510 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. spirit proved better in the result than the beet-root spirit. Tlie oidium having found its way into tlie French vines, it seemed at first probable that the beetroot production would answer ; but as soon as that evil had disappeared, away went the chance of beetroot spirit being introduced in this country, as the spirit made from wine was cheaper and better than from beetroot. As regarded sugar, the question of the cultivation of the beet- root was, he thought, of great importance. This year lie had grown 10 or 12 acres of white Silesian beet, and, having been at great pains to obtain good seed from Belgium and IVauce, he had a good crop. He found from an able paper of Dr. Voelcker that they could grow in this country beetroot con- taing as large an amount of saccharine matter as was yielded in the best crops of France, North Germany, and Belgium, and therefore he was sanguine with regard to the manufacture of sugar from beetroot. At Altona he was suprised to observe the enormous superiority of England over every portion of the continent, especially in live stock. The sheep of Lord Chesham, Lord AValsLngham, and Lord Sondes surpassed all other sheep so immeasurably that the foreigners were per- fectly staggered. There were agriculturists from almost every part of Germany, Denmark, and Belgium, and they could really hardly believe that the animals to which he had just alluded were sheep (laughter). So accustomed had they been to see inferior animals in tlie show-yards, that they could scarcely believe that the Shropshire Downs and the Sussex Downs were sheep at all (laughter). With regard to the Shorthorns, he need not say that the English won every prize. But he observed indica- tions of a feeling prevailing in Belgium, in Germany, and es- pecially in Holland, that the English Sliorthorns give no milk, and that was one of the reasons vvfliy the farmers did not use valuable bulls which were reared in this country. They seemed to believe that no milk could be obtained from animals of English breed. In one gentleman's dining-room he saw pic- tures of dilferent races of cattle, and amongst other represen- tations of that kind was one of a Yorkshire cow, with scarcely an atom of udder or teat (laughter). There was a general idea that English animals were good for meat, but quite the reverse as regarded milk. He agreed with Mr. Howard, that English farmers need not fear a comparison with the continent, as re- spected the condition of farm labourers. lie found very little attention paid to that matter ; but, nevertheless, the labourers seemed happy and contented. Baron Schroeder, a very intel- ligent geutleraan, who took great interest in the exhibition at Altona, told him that with all the education which prevailed in Prussia, the labouring people felt the greatest objection to progress, especially in agriculture. He said, that when En- glish machines had been bought to cultivate his land, they would not use them, that they rather took pleasure in seeing them broken, and that when they were sent to a blacksmith to be repaired, he would say, " Send them back to England, where they came from, and would have nothing to do with them." It was, however, pleasant to observe the interest with which everyone at the Exhibition viewed these English im- plements for the thrashing of corn, the cutting of roots for cattle, and so on. Tliroughout Mecklenburg Schwerin and in some other parts of North Germany, he was struck with the extent to which English machinery was used, and the excellence of the crops. But, on the other hand, in travelling for a dis- tance of 300 or 400 miles, vid Berlin and Dresden, he found that the country at the side of the railway was not fenced. That was sufficient to show what must be the state of agriculture, and he had no hesitation in saying, that it was in many places one or two- hundred years behind the agriculture of this country (Hear, hear). He might remark, that he had never tasted better beer than he met ^with throughout the whole of Germany. It was, he believed, only for about iJO years that beer of that quality had been manufactured, and now the Ger- mans were the greatest beer-drinking people in the world. They had, he believed, no odious malt-tax to oppress them (cheers). He hoped to see the day when the beet-root culti- vation of this country would be improved, both in quality and quantity, and. sugar manufactories would be established ; and he also trusted that Mr. Howard would, from the voluminous information which he must have collected, be enabled to give them a fuller account of sugar cultivation on the continent. Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., said : The paper to which they had listened that evening was not only valuable in an agricul- tural point of view, but it was also most valuable in its politi- cal aspect. He was sure the farmers were represented by Mr. Howard in the House of Commons in a way which very few who sat with him there understood or appreciated (Hear, hear). He could only thank Mr. Howard for what he had aid that evening. It bore out a great many of the conjec- tures which he had formed, and the few opportunities which he hadj had of observing farming on the continent enabled him entirely to endorse it. He wished just to ask Mr. Howard one or two questions having reference to what he had said. Mr. Howard said that guano was in many cases going out of fashion, and oilcake as a dressing for manure was coming into fashion. Did he mean linseed or rapecake ? Mr. Howard : Rape cake. Mr. Bead : Then he would like to know whether Indian corn was suited to the soil and climate of this country as a fodder-crop, because any new fodder-crop would be a great ad- vantage to English farmers (Hear, hear). As regarded the question of small farms, what Mr. Howard said in his paper about the Continent entirely bore out what he had asserted in reference to England, viz., that when a small farmer succeeded, he really and truly did the work of two labourers, and lived at the expense of one (Hear, hear). There seemed to be no dif- ference whatever betw een the small farmer in England and the small farmer on the Continent ; but there was this dilTereiice between the two races, that whereas as a rule the people of Eng- land lived up to and even beyond their income, those on the Continent for the most part lived very considerably within it (Laughter) . After what they had heard about the condition of their agricultural labourers, although not a very pleasant one, stiU it was a satisfaction that poor though their lot miglit be, the labourers on the Continent were worse paid and worse cared-for (Hear, hear). He was very glad indeed that Mr. Howard had upset the theory of Mr. VVrcn Iloskyns as re- garded the produce of England when compared with that of Belgium (Hear, hear). Figures, and above all statistics, might prove anything you pleased ; for he was bold enough to say in the House of Commons — when it was put forward that in consequence of the large number of stock that was kept in France, the farmers there had a great deal more meat to dispose of than English farmers had — that the figures given were entirely erroneous, and that as regarded the meat- producing powers of France, he believed three-fourths of the cattle were eitlier milch cows or working oxen. Mr. Hovi'ard had entirely confirmed that view. On the whole, he thought they might gather from Mr. Howard's able paper a great deal of hope, and a certain amount of confidence as to the future of English agriculture. But J ohn Bull was very apt to be con- ceited and self-satisfied, so let him just throw out this reflec- tion, not with the view of making farmers uncomfortable, but in order to put them on their guard. Let it be remembered that the improvements which had taken place on the Conti- nent ware of very recent growth ; and although the agri- culture of the European continent was now so far below their own, yet he was couvinced from what he tiad read that if they went back 20 years tliey would then find it down in the very depths, consequently they would see that foreign agriculture had since risen in much larger proportions than they them- selves had (Cries of " No"). Foreign agriculture would, they might rely upon it, go on improving ; and although they might at present be able to cope with the whole world, if they did not go on improving more rapidly than they had done lately, instead of being the foremost, they might, in the course of time, be the last in the race of agriculture. The Chairman : Not in your time or mine (Hear, hear). ^ Dr. VoELCivER said he was very glad to hear Mr. llead emarking that in small farms on the continent — lie supposed he meant to say in some parts of the continent — the progress of agriculture liad been very rapid during the last 20 years. He (Dr. Voelcker) wished he could say that with regard to Belgium. Some 15 years ago he made an agricultural tour in that country, and it was probably well-known to most gentle- men present that he hpd recently, in company with Mr. Jenkins, the Secretary of the Royal Agricultural Society, spent six weeks more in Belgium for a similar purpose. He must say that he found Belgian agriculture in pretty much the same condition as it was 15 years ago. (Hear, hear). In the case of pigs and of horned stock there was indeed some improvement. AVhen he went there 15 years ago he took with him some young companions who, on first descrying a pig from a railway carriage, thought it was a donkey THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 511 (laughter). It was almost us large as a doukey, and it had lop ears haugiug dowu the sides (laughter). Tigs of that kind had now almost entirely disappeared, and the improvement was mainly due to the imporlation of English stock. A very large number of English pigs had been sent to Belgium, and even the smallest formers took pride iu having improved their breed of pigs by the introduction of English blood (laughter). He wished he could say that there had been a similar im- provement in the ease of corn crops, hut he feared that instead of grovviug more corn than it did 15 years ago, liclgium now grew less. lie must not, however, make any more general remarks with respect to Belgian farming, lest he should thus take the cream from tlie lleport which will appear in the - Joiirmil of the Royal Agricultural Society (laughter). He could not help remarking that he never felt more proud of English farming than he did during his recent visit to Belgium. One of the greatest compliments that he had ever seen paid to British agriculture was the astonishment expressed by some of the more intelligent men with whoin he came in contact that two persons should have come over from England to Belgium to see what they vrere doing tliere (laughter.) They could not understand it, and several of them said, "All that we have learnt of good agri- culture we have picked up, either directly by going to Eng- land, or by reading English agricultural publications (laugh- ter) ?" While he was on his legs let him make a few observa- tions with respect to a branch of agriculture for wliieh he be- lieved there vras a great future in England, the cultivation of beet-root. He thought that one of the greatest mistakes that could ever he made was to suppose that the climate of Eng- land was not suited to the cultivation of sugar-beet. So far as he eould judge it was far better suited to it than the climate of Holland, and better tlian that of a large portion of Belgium (Hear, hear) . He had found that after ordinary eare they could grow quite as large a per-centage of sugar as was ob- tained iu Belgium. In fact the actual result was in favour of England as compared with Belgium. He believed the unfa- vourable result as regarded Belgium was mainly due to the unscientific way in which the beet-root cultivation was prac- tised tiiere, people there not paying suflieieut attention to the importance of deep cultivation. He made this remark in order that gentlemen might not go to Belgium to learn the rational mode of growing beet-root. He would rather advise them to go to North Germany, for example, the neighbourhood of Magdeburg, where the cultivation was carried to the utmost perfection. The cultivation of beetroot sugar iuthe North of Germany had tended more than anything else to raise the general agriculture of large districts of country, and he be- lieved it would produce a similar effect in England. It would show the necessity of paying attention to the proper work- ing of the soil, or deep culture. The tendency of the sugar- beet was to go into the soil, but only when the soil was pro- perly prepared. If the soil and the subsoil were badly worked, the root would come out eveu, if they grew the right kind of seed. It was sometimes said that if beet grew out of the soil the seed eould not be of the right sort, but that was a mistake. If the soil was properly prepared it would grow in it, and it was of great importance to pay attention to this matter, so as to, by all possible means, prevent the beet from grovviug out of the soil ; for in the portion of the root which was exposed to the air and the sunlight there was very much less sugar tliau in the portion which grew iu the soil. In the previous week, in making an analysis of beet-root grown iu England, he found that while the per-centage of sugar in a portion of the root wliicli was covered by the soil was i\ per cent., in a portion which grew above the soil the per-centage was but 4 per cent., or just one half. It was essential to pay attention to that iu order to prevent the root from growing out of the soil if it was to be used for the purpose of sugar making. The manufacture of sugar in Belgium had assumed large proportions. It was unquestionably a very remunerative manufacture, and he be- lieved it would be found so in England. Only that morning he had received a letter from Belgium, in which a sugar-beet manufacturer there expressed his astonishment that such a thoroughly practical people as the English had not paid any attention to the cultivation of beet-root. He believed there was a great future in store as regarded the cultivation of heet-root sugar in England (Hear, hear.) Mr. Crosskill (Beverley) said he had always understood that the reasou why beet-root sugar was produced to sucli an extent in Eranee was that its eultivalion was still favoured by the system of protective duties which was established by the lirst Napoleon. He thought that before the British farmer imitated the contiuental farmer by cultivating beet for the manufacture of sugar, he should be quite clear about the statistics, and ascertain whether the duty on colonial sugar was not one great cause of the success of heet-root cultivation abroad. He was strongly of opinion that there was something in that view, and that the comparative neglect of beet-root sugar in this country was much more likely to be owing to free- trade than to any lack of enterprise on the part of tlie EugUsh farmer. He was sorry he was not able to add anything of value to Mr. Howard's information respecting continental farming. About twenty years ago he lived iu the neighbourhood of Sleswig Holstein and North Prussia, hut after such a lapse of time his information would not be deemed reliable. Mr. Read spoke of the enormous improvement which foreign agriculture had made during the last twenty years, and seemed to think that the agriculture of the Continent had im- proved much more in proportion than that of England. It should however be borne in mind that there was much more room for improvement on the Continent than in England, and that it was much more difficult to maintain a high rate of pro- gression wlicn youliad nearly reached the top of the tree, or were at any rate much higher '^m the scale than those with whom you were compared (Hear, hear). Mr. Howard remarked on the comparatively small amount of stock kept in many parts of the continent of Europe. One great difficulty of many con- tiuental fanners in that respect — he spoke now more parti- cularly of that part of Germany where he once lived — was to obtain a large supply of good permanent grasses. In parts which were far removed from the sea coast a very dry climate prevailed ; iu many places the soil was sandy ; and, after the spring especially, it became much more difficult to fatten cattle than it was in this country, where the climate was more humid. On coining to England he used to be struck with the degree of greenness in the aspect of the country, which was wanted abroad ; and that accounted to some extent for the dif- ference in the amount of stock. Mr. Fowler spoke as if one great object of farmers should he to encourage the drinking of a large amount of beer (laughter), reminding him of an agent of Messrs. AUsopp who came to his neighbourhood and declared that beer was the great civilizer of the human race (renewed laughter). He (Mr. Crosskill) believed that one of the chief means of improving the condition of the agricultural labourer was to keep him away from the beer-house, and lead him to spend his money on something better than beer (Hear, hear). He felt exceedingly obliged to Mr. Howard for the able manner in which he had treated the subject, and he was sure he ex- pressed the feeling of every one present when he said that his paper was able, instructive, and exhaustive. It was, in fact, just such a paper as might have been expected from the gen- tleman who read it (cheers). Mr. W. Eve (Union Court) said he had spent some time on the Continent, and especially in North Germany, and had noticed a great similarity of soil. That was particularly the case iu Mecklenburg Scliwerin ; the farms there were almost exclusively arable, and the labourers generally lived in the house of the farmer, all mingling together at meals. He could not at all support Mr. Fowler's statement respecting the quality of the German beer. He had found it horrible stuff (laughter), and only obtained good beer at Hamburg, where it came from England, and he paid 3s. for a bottle. There was one point which was very important in connection with farming on the Continent, namely, that there were hardly any waste lands on the farms (Hear, hear). There were no large hedges, no large game preserves to destroy the crops. The cost of tillage was greatly reduced by the straightness of the boundaries, and there were no wide hedges to serve as a refuge for vermin, or for the seeds of weeds. He did not attach much importance to the fact mentioned by Mr. Fowler, that a great deal of the railway was not fenced in. The Can- terbury and Whitstable Railway was not fenced till recently. The large flocks which were turned upon the land in Mecklen- burg Scliwerin did not appear to sutfer from the railway. One subject of great importance to this country, which had not been mentioned, was the importation of eggs. He had not the most recent statistics, hut he found that in 1866 the value of the eggs imported into this country from the Continent was upwards of £1,000,000. He thought English farmers 612 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ought to consider whether it would not pay them to heslow more attention upon eggs tlian they had done hitherto. There was also a large and increasing importation of milk from the rich pastures of Switzerland, and that milk, which was im- ported in tins, was a good deal better than almost any of the London milk (Hear, hear). It was about as cheap as that, and very much purer. Mr. Albert Peix, M.P., said, having visited the Continent only four times in his life, he had not very much to oifer on this subject ; but he could not lielp saying that it was a re- markable fact tliat a man of science, as he might term Mr. Howard, and at the same time of practical experience, had ar- rived at the conclusion that the im))rovement of Continental farming was fouud in connection with large occupations, and not on the smaller farms which many persons seemed to con- sider so desirable (Hear, hear), lie had no wish to enter into the social questions involved in that subject ; but he thought they might gather from Mr. Howard's paper that the production of beet-root sugar was more developed on the Con- tinent in connection with large than in connection with small occupations. Tliat was, he believed, in harmony with expe- rience in England. Mr. lIowAKu observed that he stated distinctly that the large beet-root farmers buy of the smaller ones. Mr. A. Pell : Then, again, it appeared that the large beet- root cultivators \^■ere manufacturers as well. Mr. Howard saul there w-as invariably a large farm attached to a manufactory. JMr. A. Pell said what he wished to point out was, that the improvement of farming on the continent, was so far as he could judge from Mr. Howard's paper, in connection with the larger occupations rather than the smaller ones. With every desire to see facilities afforded to those in this kingdom who wish to occupy smaU farms, he must say that when so much attention was called to the practice of the continent and the advantages to be derived from tlie system ot German and of i'rencli cultivation, it would be well to attend to what Mr. Howard found to be tlie result vtipeiU culture on the continent. Mr. Howard's remarks \iith regard to irrigation on the con- tinent were, also w^ell deserving of consideration. So much attention has been bestowed of late years to tlie getting rid of water below the surface of tlie land, that men had rather overlooked the useful application of water upon the surface, and he believed there «as a great deal to be learnt from Switi;erland in that respect. He believed, too, that the time had arrived when the sewage of the great towns, instead of being wasted, might be rendered available for agriculture. He thought there was a great deal to be done in that way. Great stress had been laid by Mr, Howard upon the cultivation of beetroot for sugar. Sugar was no doubt an admirable thing, but he was not quite sure that mutton at 8d. or 9d. per lb. was not better (laughter). Tor liis own part he was rather inclined to adhere to turnips and a good flock of sheep than to turn to sugar cultivation, believing that there would be great ditficulty in getting manu- facturers to leave them a profit He could not sit down witli- out thanking Mr. Howard for giving them results of so much labour and thought in such an admirable form. The Chairman said, that in closing the discussion of that evening he wished first, on the part of the Club, to tender to Mr. Howard their warmest thanks for the able, practical, and instructive manner in which he had dealt with the subject of continental farming (cheers). The paper had necessarily assumed the shape of a lecture, and the brevity of the discus- sion was no doubt owing in a great degree to the fact that but few of them had travelled much on the continent or seen continental farming carried out. In his (the Chairman's) opening remarks he observed that there might be many points in continental farming in which it would be wise for English farmers to follow ; and they must all judge for themselves how far that was the case. One thing was clear from Mr. Howard's paper — namely, that the peasantry on the continent worked much harder and had much less pay than the English labourers, about whose bad treatment so much appeared in the newspapers. As to the regret of Mr. Eowler that Mr. Howard had not entered into the subject of grazing and dairying in Holstein, he would suggest that that gentleman might himself introduce that topic at some future meeting (laughter). Mr. J. Howard, M.P., then replied. In reference to what had fallen from Mr. Eve and others, he was, he remarked, fully sensible of there being many omissions in his paper ; but in the space to which he was necessarily limited, it was impos- sible to present every phase of contiuental farming (cheers). He had endeavoured to call attention to the more salient points (Hear, hear). As to what fell from Mr. Pell, he must remind that gentleman that he offered no advice to the farmers of England about changing their practice. He told them what he had seen, and he presented his facts by way of sug- gestion for them to ponder ; he had not taken upon him- self to offer any advice whatever. He was glad, however, that Dr. Voelcker, who was such a high authority, agreed with hira, that the subject of sugar making was well worthy of the attention of English farmers. As to Mr. CrosskiU, he was, no doubt, an advocate for that free breakfast table of which they had all heard so much, and, of course, if that were secured, English farmers need not trouble themselves about sugar duties (Hear, hear). Mr. IIe.U), M.P., then moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Howard, for his paper, which he described as one of the best, most important, and most instructive papers the Club had ever had. The motion was seconded by Mr. H. Tretuewy, and carried unanimously. Thanks were afterwards voted to the Chairman, and this terminated the proceedings. THE CENTRAL CHAMBER OF AGRICULTURE. A Meeting of the Council of the Central Chamber of Agri- culture was held on Tuesday, November 2, at the Salisbury Hotel, Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., in the chair. The attendance was very thin, nearly every one present making one or two speeches during the meeting. Mr. T. Willson moved that the subject for discussion at the Pebruaiy meeting should be the best mode of providing for the future maintenance of turnpike-roads and highways. The motion having been seconded, The Chairman said it had been suggested that as a Bill on the subject was likely to be introduced into Parliament next session, it might be well to wait until they had seen it before discussing the matter, especially as it had already been dis- cussed once ; but he thought they ought rather to endeavour to lead legislation than wait to see a Bill, and then criticise it. If they threw out some useful hints for legislation they might possibly be adopted in a Bill. He thought, therefore, the dis- cussion of the subject in February would be very timely. jMr, Genge Andrews said he should prefer a discussion on local taxation to one on turnpike roads, the latter being a minor branch of the former. The Chairman considered it desirable for the Chamber not to discuss local taxation till after the report of the committee on that subject was before them, as would probably be the case by February. Mr. BowEN Jones observed that the system of compensa- tion for unexhausted improvements had not been discussed — a subject the importance of which was increased by the attention now being directed to the Irish land question. The Chairman said he admitted that that subject was a very proper one for discussion, intimating at the same time that he thought it was well to leave room for the considera- tion of important questions which might crop up during the sitting of Parliament. After some further discussion the motion was agreed to. Mr. W. Gardner moved a resolution which had been pre- pared by tlie Business Committee, viz : " That in the opinion of the Council the corn averages, as at present taken, are THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. '.1 '' fallHcious, aiul that the buyers' returns slioukl be limited to purchases from growers only." He said what was tlius pro- posed was so much to the jioiiit, and so evidently necessary, that he should content himself with simply moving it. Mr. B. Smytuies, having been asked by the Cliairman to second the resolution, said he should have been happy to do so; but at a meeting of his Chamber on the previous Satur- day it was declared to be their opinion that the produeeis should make the returns, and he felt unable to take that course. The returns made by tlie buyers were felt to be very imperfect. Many indill'erent samples were not returned at all ; and the consetjuence was, that the averages were struck much higher than they should be. The primary object being that returns should be made of all corn sold, it was thought that it would be best attained through the producers. Mr. C. Clay then seconded the resolution. He thought it was best, ou every account, tiiat the purchasers should con- tinue to make the returns. If growers were compelled to make them, the returns would be much worse even than they are now. The purchasers made returns on larger bulks than the growers could possibly do. Moreover, the latter were scattered over the country, and had not the same facilities for making returns as purchasers. To require the growers to make returns would be to place a burden on the siioulders of the agricultural community which they ought not to bear. Mr. 15. SwiTiiiN moved as an amendment " that the re- turns be made by the sellers." He did not think the trouble thus entailed upon the sellers would be as great as IMr. Clay seemed to imagine, as the returns would of course be limited to what was sold in the market. What he proposed was al- ready the practice in the North of England and in Scotland, where it worked well, and was not attended with any practical inconvenience. Mr. May said that, so far as he could learn, the buyers at Birmingham and Wolverhampton made no returns. He would like to know whether or not it was compulsory on buyers to make returns. The Chaium.vn observed that it was compulsory in certain markets. Mr. Vauden believed that in many cases no returns had been made for years. In his opinion the evil would be com- pletely removed by landlords being compelled to pay the tithe. Every man would then know what he had to pay, and the whole thing would be greatly simplified if an average of the last 10 years were taken and the tithe rent were made payable by the landlord on that average. They all knew tliat there was an immense amount of corn sold for which no returns were made, and what he suggested would very much lower the average price of wheat aud of barley. In his neighbourhood a great deal of barley was used for feeding, and tliere should be returns of the light consumable portion of the crop, as well as of what was sold. Mr. WiLLSON said, with a view to regularity in the pro- ceedings, he would second the amendment. This question had been discussed in Leicestershire, where it was viewed as one of great importance, corn rents being paid in that county. He did not think the payment of the tithe by the landlord would meet the difficulty. Mr. DucKiiAM said, having taken great interest in this question for some years, he wished to make one or two re- marks. That the present corn averages were, as the resolution drawn up by the Business Committee stated, fallacious could not be questioned, inasmuch as the great bulk of the corn grown in this kingdom was not returned at all, particularly in the agri- cultural districts, where the corn was purchased by factors in agricultural markets, where the population was sparse, and where corn was sent by rail or water to the distant markets and sold to large millers, who made their returns in an irregular and unbusinesslike manner, no account whatever being taken of the original price of the corn.. That the returns should be made by the growers only was, he knew, an opinion held very extensively ; but there would, lie feared, be great difficulty attending that. The majority of the farmers of this country were against agricultural statistics, regarding the obtaining of them as inquisitorial ; and if they were compelled to make returns of the corn, they might say that this was done for the purpose of opening their landlords' eyes and increasing the rents (laughter). He knew that was a general feeling, thongli, perhaps, the most enlightened and advanced agriculturists did not fear the adoption of a good system of collecting agricul- tural .statistics (iloar, heir). In liis opinion, relurus should be made by every buyer. When this subject was discussed at Hereford, it was felt that the average price of corn, since the passing of the Tithe Commutation Act, was so near an ap- proximation to the standard during the whole period, that it would be best to recommend the adoption of the averages under which the tithe was commuted; and that under the present system the man who had had the benefit of a high range of prices might leave the farm, and his successor have to pay a high rate of tithe without having the benefit of high prices to compensate him. Tlie Herefordshire Chamber felt very strongly with regard to the fluctuating p.iyments under the existing state of things, and therefore recomineaded the adoption of the standard at which tithes were commuted, and the dropping of the averages altogether. He (Mr. Duckham) thought that if the present system were continued, all buyers should return to the Inland llevenue Office the quantity of corn which they bought aud the price which they paid for it. As there were revenue officers in every county in England, and almost in every parish, he could see no difficulty in extending that over the whole area of the kingdom ; but in his opinion there should be no price returned except that of the original purchase from the grower. Mr. Smytiiie.s said the only question to be considered was what arrangement would be most convenient ; and he thought that buyers being, generally speaking, better men of business than farmers, would make the returns better, and with far less trouble. He agreed with Mr. Duckham with respect to tlie tithe averages, and thought that after the experience which they had had it would be better to have a fixed sum. In that case it would not signify one farthing whether the tithe were paid by the landlord or by the tenant ; for when there was no longer any fluctuation the charge would be deducted from the amount otherwise payable as rent. Mr. John Blick thought it would greatly conduce to the correctness of the returns if the local authorities in diff'erent towns would draw the attention of corn buyers to the present state of the law. Buyers had evidently overlooked the fact that they were liable to a penalty of .£20 if they failed to make returns, while to make a ialse return was a misdemeanour. Mr. Duckham remarked that though that was the law it was never carried into eflect. Mr. Joseph Sjiitu believed that if the number of towns from V liich the corn averages were obtained were increased, there would be a better chance of getting proper returns. In the east part of England the corn inspectors came round, and every separate sample that a buyer purchased was returned such a quantity at such a price; and the leturns made were assumed to be, and he believed were, correct returns of tli business transacted in the market. The difficulty was that a few of the more prominent markets were selected for the making of returns, aud the lesser markets, which were perhaps at a greater distance than others from a railway, and therefore had not the advantage .of commanding the best prices, were entirely omitted. The Chairman said tlie Norfolk Chamber was one of the first to consider this question, and they pointed out what seemed to them a practical and easy remedy. He objected to the present mode of taking the averages because the corn which found its way into the averages was all the best of the corn, and because the best corn was frequently returned two or three times over ; the addition to the cost made by removal from small markets to large ones, and the merchant's profits, entering into the returns. It had been proposed that the growers should make the returns. He would ask whetlier it would be well to have 30 or 40 returns instead of one ? Would it be right to give that trouble to growers, who hated trouble as much as they hated anything in the world, instead of leav- iu'' the returns to be made by persons who were generally good men of business? (Hear, hear). He did not believe that agriculturists would be at all beuefited by such a change. He quite agreed with Mr. Duckham as regarded the tithe com- mutation, and thought that the £100 being so well fixed there should be no more variation. He admitted that the seven years' average did occasionally hit some people hard. For instance, he took a farm about the time of the Crimean War, and the result was that during the seven years he paid £150 more than the average of the £100, aud his successor had an advantage in the way of drawback, selling his at a high price and paying a sm?ill amount of tithe. He thought it would be 514 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, a great eonveuieuce iu the assessment committees to have the tithe put at a fixed sum instead of their being raised everj' year. Every one who had been on such a committee must know that altliough the difference might he trifling it caused a great deal of trouble (Hear, hear). He would appeal to the mover of the amendment, whether, considering the feeling which had been evinced, he would press it. Mr. SwiTniN said that although his opinion was not changed by what he had heard, he would not press the amend- ment. The amendment was accordingly withdrawn, and the original resolution then passed unanimously. Mr. DucKiiAM moved the following : " That in the opinion of this Council all agricultural produce should be sold by weiglit only." Tliat resolution was, lie observed, very closely connected with the one which had just been adopted, inasmuch as the averages were taken from the imperial bushel of corn. But it was a very important question what was the imperial bushel of corn. In some markets the imperial bushel meant a bushel of corn by measure, while in others it meant a bushel of corn guaranteed of a certain weight, the weight being in some cases 601b., in others 631b., and in others again 62|lb. In other cases the imperial bushel was altogether sunk, and instead of it tliere was 721bs., 821bs., ISOlbs., and so on, the weight varying iu dilferent markets. When they wished for information they liad to work a sort of Rule of Three sum iu order to obtain any information that was reliable, and wheu they saw a market report in a newspaper it was impossible for therato understand it unless they were acquainted with the practice of the neighbourhood in which that newspaper was printed. He thought that now that there was sucli an ex- excellent system of transit extending through the length and breadth of the land, there should be a uniform system estab- lished for the transaction of business. Tt was the opinion of the Business Committee, which sat on the previous evening, that weighing would facilitate the business of the farmer mucli better than measuring. It was much easier to put up a lot of corn by placing it on the scale and weighing it than to put it up by measure ; for, however well a man might measure, there were great chances of difference being found, and he believed no two men could measure a thousand bushels of corn and arrive at the same result (Hear, hear). Whilst the Business Committee were for recommending the Legislature to adopt a uniform system, tliey also thought that system should be the one whicli would be the least liable to promote litigation, and that in that respect selling by weight would have a decided advantage over selling by measure. Mr. AYiLL&ON seconded the resolution. Mr. BowEN Jones said : As one of the deputation from Shropshire, he wished to observe that tliis question was fully considered by his Chamber two years ago. The report of the discussion on the occasion was circulated through tlie Secre- tary (Mr. Clarke) among the members of the Council, and he could not add aaytliing to what was contained in it. He en- tirely concurred iu Mr. Duckham's remarks, especially in what he had said about measure. They were actually selling by weight already, because the Winchester measure, though re- cognised as an authoratative measure in this land, was con- nected with different weights iu different districts, and he be- lieved it was often, and, indeed, generally the case that when grain was sold by measure the weiglit was declared at the same time ; consequently they were selling by weight without any uniformity at all. Mr. G. A. May wished to know whether it was intended that selling by weight should be made compulsory on dealers as well as growers. In the large market of i5irrainghara buyers sold by a long weiglit, and by a short one, not only grain ; but also butter and cheese. Did Mr. Duckhaiu wish sale by weiglit to be made compulsory upon all P Mr. DucKiiAM : Yes. The CiiAiRiiAN inquired whether there was at Birmingliam a difference of weight for the bushel ? Mr. May : Yes. He sold wheat there on the previous Thursday, and had to weigh it up again from 63 to 631 bs., because it was going to an adjoining county. A man bought of him at 631bs., and he had to weigli up at 631bs. for him to sell. Mr. SwiTHiN said: The Worcestersliire Chamber discussed this question a loiig time ago, and came to a conclusion very similar to that embodied iu: the resolution. It was felt, that in taking up the newspapers to look at the reports of different markets without having some knowledge of the several locali- ties referred to, they could obtain no more idea of prices than if the accounts given related to a foreign nation. Mr. A. Pell, M.P., said that at a meeting of his own Chamber on the previous Saturday a resolution was adopted similar to that which was now under consideration. It was thought desirable that the agricultural produce of England and Wales should be sold by one fixed standard of weight, and that such standard should be made compulsory. The practice, indeed, in the midland counties ran on all-fours with the resolution ; and therefore lie gave it his warm support. Although the clerk of the market expressed the average in quarters, and these were presumed to be imperial quarters, yet, as a matter of fact, at Northampton and Leicester wheat was really delivered by weight, and by a fixed weight. Tliere was, indeed, a difference of weight as between the two mar- kets. For instance, in Northampton, if a quarter of wheat was sold without any reference being made to weight, the seller would send in 18 stone gross weight ; whereas in Leicester the seller would, under similar circumstances, be bound by the custom of the market to deliver 18 stone net weight. Probably in neither case would the thing be brought to the test of the Inishel and the strike. The buyer would see that the corn was as good as the sample ; and, having done that, he would have it put in the scale. As to measuring, that would not be thought of. The law, as he understood it — he did not wish to speak positively on the subject — required buyers and sellers to deal by measure ; and iu tiic midland counties it had become the universal practice to deal by weight. It was very undesirable that the practice should not be coincident with the law. It was not a nice state of things that men should set at nought any law whatever ; and he be- lieved the present law on that subject was but little regarded. Even the averages of which they had been talking before were practically affected by this state of things. When they read accounts of the prices of wlieat at Leicester and North- ampton, they sav/ a remarkable difference between two towns which were closely connected by railway, Slbs. a quarter more wheat being sold at the former than at the latter. The prac- tice and the law were clearly not in harmony ; and he thought the law should be altered to meet the practice. Another rea- son why, as a practical man, he preferred weight to measure was, that it was the most convenient way of putting up corn. In measuring there were no less than eight operations re- quiring the nicety of skilled labour before the corn could be tied up, while iu weighing there were only two operations. It might be said that, after all, they must in weighing refer to measure (" Hear, hear," from the Chairman). Twenty stones of inferior, damp wheat, or wheat that was stale and split, were not, it might be objected, the same thing as 30 stones of better kinds of wheat. No doubt those who adhered to mea- suring must have in their minds what corn weighed, while those who advocated weighing as the mode of selling would refer to what corn measured. Regard must be had to both measure and weight ; but he supported the resolution, be- cause he believed weighing to be, on the wliole, the most con- venient mode of delivering corn, and because it was in prac- tice rapidly extending. Mr. Sm'^thies did not see why farmers should be compelled to sell by measure and at the same time state the weight, any more than tradesmen gave sncli assistance to buyers. It might be a great convenience to a grocer's customers to be told what was the specific gravity of loaf sugar (laughter). At present corn was almost the only solid article that was sold by measure, and he saw no reason why all solid substances should not be sold by weight. Mr. DucKiiAM said: He had omitted to remark that he thought potatoes, and all kinds of fruit should, as weU as corn, be sold by weight. In a county adjoining his own, frnit was sold by the pot, while in Herefordshire it was sold by the 10-gallon bushel. Many of the pots belonging to buyers were of very peculiar shape and size (laughter). The Chairman said: There not having been any great grievance of this kind in Norfolk, the Norfolk Chamber liad not taken up the subject. The Shropshire people had a worse system of weights and measures than was found in almost any other part of England, and consequently the subject was discussed two years ago, and a resolution adopted very much in accordance with that now proposed. In justice, however, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 515 to liis own Chaiuber he would read a resolution, wliicli was passed by it on the previous Saturday : " That this Cliainher considers one uniform system of weights and measures should be adopted througliout the kingdom, and the stone of 141bs. and the quarter of eight bushels should be the customary avowed and legal standard of all markets." The Chamber did not go into the question whether there should be a revision of the whole system of weights and measures, the system which pre- vailed in Norfolk being happily a very good one; but they thought that the sale of meat and of corn should be brought as far as possible into conformity with the law on the subject. If measures were going to be thrown over altogether, if the Coun- cil was going to enter thoroughly into the question involved in another resolution which was to come before the meeting, he had no doubt the Norfolk Chamber would assist them iu securing a better system. But he, for one, must say that he did not see how they could separate weight altogether from quality aud capacity. There could be no doubt whatever that much fewer mistakes must be made iu weighing than in measuring. Frequent disputes arose about the re- measuring of corn, while, he thought, disputes hardly ever arose about weight. Mr. Smytiues wished to know whether the imperial mea- sure was followed universally in Norfolk. The Chairman replied, that in one market in Norfolk, par- ties insisted on a certain weight for wheat, not for barley. Mr. A. Pell, M.P. : Do buyers insist that you shall both measure aud weigh? The Chairman : They generally say, " Is this natural weight ? 631bs. a-bushel is generally required." Mr. Pell : Do you sell by the 031b. ? The Chairman : We sell iu Norfolk by the imperial mea- sure, 8 bushels per quarter ; in Lyuu, which is almost entirely a market for export, corn is sold by weight, 631bs. Mr. Pell: Do you declare the weight which you sell by imperial measure? The Chairman : No. The resolution was then carried. Mr. T. WiLLSON moved, " That the cental of one hundred pounds should be the standard." He thought such a stand- ard of weight would be very convenient as regarded every kind of agricultural produce. Mr. John Watson, a corn merchant, seconded a proposal that the cental should be the standard of weight. It was adopted some time ago at Liverpool, and had worked exceed- ingly well there ; so that the Council was not now asked to " take a leap in the dark." He agreed with those who thought there should be a fixed weight for wheat, barley, and oats. Mr, Varden said the cental was no doubt applicable to corn, but he doubted whether it was to fruit, as those who dealt in it would have to enter iuto fresh calculations, and all the existing baskets would become useless. To show tlie im- portance of the fruit trade, he might observe that he had him- self that year sold 80 tons of currants and 100 tons of goose- berries. It would, he thought, be quite sufficient in the case of fruit to require sale by weight without imposing any par- ticular standard. The Chairman observed that the cental might of course be divided into decimals, and they might have lOlbs. instead of 131bs. Mr. DucKHAM thought that in Buch a case as that they should drop the idea of the existing state of things altogether and recommend the Legislature to adopt what^would afford the greatest facilities for making calculations. He could see no special difficulty with respect to fruit. During the last month he sent a thousand bushels of apples to London. They were called 481bs. a bushel, and the addition of another 21bs. would not cause much inconvenience. If the present baskets would not contain 21bs. more, it would be easy to increase the number of baskets and packages. What they wanted was to lay down a principle. The Shropshire Chamber had recom- mended the ton, but it was not every man who had a ton of wheat or of fruit to sell. Tiiere were many small growers who would sell by the cental, and the dealings could be much better regulated in that way than with the ton. Mr. A. Pell, M.P., observed that it was questionable whether fruit was, strictly speaking, " agricultural produce." If it were it might be contended that flowers, peppermint, lavender, and even rabbits were included in that description (laughter). There would, however, be great convenience in selling such things by the cental, or the tentli part of it, Mr. T. Willson maintained that of all things fruit was the most suited for sale by the cental. He thought they ought all to look forward to a decimal coinage, which he believed would before long be established ; and with a decimal coinage, and the cental as a standard of weight they would be in a much better position as regarded the mode of disposing of produce than they had ever been before. Mr. G. Smythie.s remarked on the great difficulty which there was in getting rid of old ideas, but did not consider that was a sufficient reason for adhering to wliat was established. Mr. Boaven Jones opposed the resolution. lie denied that the eeutal standard worked satisfactorily in Liverpool. If the object were to secure uniformity that system had failed, inas- much as in the returns made by the Liverpool corn merchants the cental was not represented at all, except iu the case of wheat. Wheat was sold by the lOOlbs., but ludiau corn was sold by the quarter, oilcake by the ton, and oats by the GOlbs. For the sale of fruit he preferred the ton, or a decimal part of it. The ton was bellcr known throughout the world than the cental, and the tenth part of a ton would be very conveni- ent for the sale of corn. He moved as an amendment, " That as the ton is a recognised and universal weight for all descrip- tions of produce and manufactures, this Chamber considers that the tenth part thereof will be the liest weight to adopt for the sale of grain." The Chairman having inquired whether any gentleman would second the amendment, iu order that what it affirmed might be discussed. Mr. Andrews seconded it for tliat purpose. Mr. Willson did not think the ton was so well known as Mr. Bowen Jones seemed to suppose. All through the con- tinent the ton was 'divided into 2,000 kilos., aud the kilo, was also divided. Everythiug there was regulated by decimals, and the system was attended with great conveni- ence. Sometime ago he himself obtained for his own use a little weighing-machine which he found abroad, and he had found it very useful for ordinary purposes. If he wanted to weigh lOOlbs. or 2001bs. of produce he put it into the scale, and his men reckoned the tenths with scarcely any trouble. He should be very glad indeed to see our ton divided iuto 2,000 parts instead of 2,240. Mr. DucKHAM would like to know how Mr. Bower Jones would reduce the 2,2 tO parts of the ton to decimals. In his opinion it would be like sewing a piece of old cloth upon a new garment, instead of layiug a new foundation for what agriculturists wanted. Mr. Sparke said that at Liverpool the merchants found it necessary to send out goods according to the weights which prevailed iu the several districts where the purchasers re- sided. That was known as " humouring the markets." Mr. A. Pell, M.P., wished to observe with regard to Indian coru that when he bought it — as he frequently did— at Gloucester, whither it was brought from Liverpool, he in- variably got the same weight — namely, 19 stone 21bs. per quarter. Mr. Sparke observed that the Liverpool dealers tried to humour the markets in the way he had mentioned. There were two weights for the Indian corn sent to Warwickshire. At Liverpool the weight was 17 stone; at Gloucester 19 stone. The Chairm.vn said for a moment he had thought there was uniformity at least with regard to one kind of grain, but it now turned out that he was totally wrong. That strengthened his conviction that it was necessary _ to try aud establish some legal standard. He quite agreed with Mr. Sraythies as to the great difficulty of uu-learuing anything. For example, when he was a volunteer he learnt very well how to stand at ease; but by-aud-bye there came a regulation from the Horse Guards requiring volunteers to stand at ease in a dilTereut manner, aud, like many of his comrades, he found great difficulty in un-learning what he had learnt. In like manner, if farmers had something totally new to learn by itself, they would have a far better chance of learning it quickly and thoroughly than if it were connected with something that was already in operation. He believed that the adoption of the cental would be attended with no practical difficulty. The ton was so vast that it was scarcely possible to appreciate it, and that what was wanted was a weight which could be easily handled. A hundred pounds was something which he hoped every one present could lift (laughter), whereas a ton was so N N 2 S16 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. grand iu its proportious that no one could liandle or raise it i Ou the motion of Mr. T. Willsox, it was ordered tliat and it would be equally dillicult to subdivide it. In his opinion ; copies of the resolutions just adopted should be sent to all the there was nothing to be said in favour of the ton in relation to , local chambers ; and, on the motion of JMr. Duckham, it was agricultural productions. : further resolved that copies should be forwarded to the Pre- The amendment was then put and negatived, only one hand sident of the Board of Trade, being held up in favour of it ; and the Qriginal vesolutiouwas ' Thanks were then voted to afterwards passed unanimously, \ separ.fited. to the chairman, and the meeting THE GAME EVIL AND THE REMEDY At a meeting of the Central Chamber of Agriculture in June last, Mr. Eandell moved " that agricultural produce ought to be protected bj' law against the ravages of ground game." Captain Craigie moved as an amend- ment " that this Chamber regards the over-preservation of ground game as an unmitigated evil, but considers that it would be undesirable to introduce into this question legis- lative interference between landlords and tenants." And the amendment was carried by 20 to 4. At a meeting of the Leicestershire Chamber of Agriculture a few days since, Air. Foster moved " tliat the Government should be urged to take legislative action ou the game laws, and that ground game should he struck out of the category." Lord Berners moved as an amendment " that the question is more properly the subject of agreement between landlord and tenant, than one for legislation." And the original motion was carried by 13 to 3. At the meeting of the Devon and Cornwall Chamber of Agriculture, Mr. Soell moved " it is desirable that by legislative enactment the tenant should have equal power with the landlord to kill liares and rabbits." Sir JNIassey Lopes opposed legislative enactment. And the original motion was carried by 47 to 10. At a meeting of the Hertfordshire Chamber of Agriculture, also held within the last ten days, Mr. McGeachy moved " that every legitimate means should be taken to procure from the legislature, not the reform, but the repeal of the Game Laws." And this was carried by a large majority. And what then ? The Central Chamber of Agriculture advertises itself as a representative body, representing of course the local Chambers of Agriculture. Whereas "the Central Chamber would appear in point of fact to be no- thing of the kind. The local Chambers resolve with to- lerable unanimity that legislative interference is necessary to keep down the game abuse; the next step of course being to forward these resolutions to the central body. Following on this a Bill would naturally be prepared at the " ofiice," wherever that may happen to be, and the business straightwaybroughtbefore Parliament. But thiscan hardly be. With its customary admirable arrangement, the Central Chamber has put the cart before the horse, and settled the question before taking the opinions of its tributaries throughout the country. The secretary, indeed, might frame a lithograph answer to such communications, civilly and sorrily stating the Council had decided that legislative interference was ««desirable, as see report of proceedings at the meeting in June. The immediate consequence of this will be that to do anything the local Chambers nxust set the Central Chamber at nought, and each one take inde- pendent action on its own account. There is the more reason for this that it would look to be idle to ask the head-centre to re-consider its determi- nation. According to the experience we already have, there can be little doubt but that had Lord Berners or Sir Maasey Lopes attended meetings in London, instead of in their own counties, that they would have carried their point. The management of the Central Chamber has ever shown the readiest disposition to trim to great people and to try to please everybodv. Hence the wondrous resolutions which it has arrived at, and tlie little that it has accomplished. Nor, confining ourselves to this matter, would there appear to be much promise for the future. Lord Berners said at Leicester, that, on taking up a Norwich paper, " he saw that the Chamber of Agriculture in that county, the largest game county in England, had not followed suit of the Chamber in Lon- don. They had left the game question out." Precisely so. Anil the chairman of the Norfolk Chamber is the chairman of the London Chamber ; an honourable gentle- man, who, however serviceable a member in other respects, has for long past evinced a desire to " leave the game question out" in the cold. His successor, we believe, has shown a still more decided disinclination to deal with the over-preservation of game, and hence it is uot very likely that the subject will be re-opened for the next three or four sessions by the representative Council iu Salisbury Square. In the interim no doubt much may be done, as much has been done already, by talking the matter over. That is to say, good men will come to see, the moie they think of it, how great is the abuse, as they will proceed to re- form it accordingly. But as Captain Macheath sings, " laws should be made for every degree," as manifestly more for the ill than the well-intentioned. And is there any sensible diminution of the evil even now in the coun- try generally ? We give in our Paper of this day very full reports of meetings which have taken place at all points of the compass — at Plymouth in the South and Castle Douglas in the North ; in Shropshire on one side, in Leicestershire on the other, and in Hertfordshire, as more amongst the Home Counties. And everywhere is there the same sad story of oppression and injustice, of tyranny and ruin. Lord Leicester declared, in that admirable speech at Docking, that " with rabbits it was impossible to farm ; and I have given directions to have them destroyed on all portions of my estate, whenever and wherever they may be found" ; whereas other noble lords think they are saying a great deal when they promise that tenants may have permission to kill rabbits on asking it of the agent ; a nice distinction being drawn between giving aud grant- ing, as one, of course, that will tend to make "marked men" of the applicants. Tiien, again, what a terrible but truthful picture jNIr. Snell draws of the degradation to which these accursed vermin bring the tenant-farmers of the West of England : " However plentiful the rab- bits were, the tenant-farmer dared not kill them. If at Christmas, when his sons come honre from school, he wanted a little amusement, what did he do? The first thing was to go to some under-kceper, then to the head- keeper, next to the steward, afterwards to the landlord, and at last there was a day granted for him to have a shooting party to kill rabbits, on condition that a gnu was uot fired, excejit the keeper was present. When the day's sport was over the keeper expected to go in and sit down with these farmers quite on terms of equality. That was putting a farmer in a position in which he ought not to be placed." Our own opinion of the false position the keeper occupies, and the influence he exercises has beeu THF FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 317 too orten expressed to need repetition ; while it is satis- factory to see that even Lord Berucrs "knows there arc a [jreat many black sheep, and as ill-conditioned fellows amona;st thcni as can possibly be, and he only said ' Get- rid of 'cm.' " For once can we heartily say Amen! to his lordship over this question of game. Resolved uiiaui- mously by everybody but the Council of the Central Chamber — 1st, that " game-keepers are too often black sheep aud ill-conditioned fellows" — 2ad, "that the country and the country geutlemen should get rid of 'em." It was said some time since at a meeting of the Farmers' Club, that mauy a man would talk loudly enough when he came up to London, while he became curiously quiet again by the time he got back home. And no doubt this has often becu the case. A tenant would be vehement enough in his advocacy of some general action who might still not care to face his own landlord over a question on which he felt so strongly. But the local Chambers of Agricidture have reversed this order of things. There is something eminently wholesome in the way with which they speak up about home ; in the lirmncss in which they encounter aud defeat Lord Bcrners and his amendments, or Sir iMasscy Lopes aud his opposition. It is only when they come up to town as delegates that they sink into the agreeable aud genteel ; when a kind of well-bred apathy ajjpears to creep over them ; and they begin to feel that it would be impolitic and undesirable to do this or to do that, or to attempt any interference betwcea landlord and tenant. Once more that wondrous organ, the Central Cham- ber, would threaten to have come to a dead-lock. It is con- tinually suggesting that the local Chambers should sub- scribe more liberally, in order to enable the Central to carry out their object. But, then, the object of the one, over this perhaps most pressing question of the day, is not the object of the other. The aim of the country is to seek some direct remedy by application to the legisla- ture, while the determination of the Central Society is to stand aside, and let the case work its own cure. HYPOTHEC AND THE GAME LAV\^S. THE SCOTTISH CHAMBER OF AGRICULTURE. At a meeting of the Scottish Chamber of Agriculture, on 38tli July, 1869, Messrs. George Hope, John C. Shepherd, Robert Glendiuning, John Clay, and \Villiam Goodlet — Mr. Shepherd, couveuer — were appointed a committee for the pur- pose of reviewing the proccediugs iu Parliament with reference to the law of Hypothec and tlie Game Laws, and, if necessary, to prepare an address thereon, which, being approved of by tlie directors and a general meeting of the Chamber, might be issued to members of both Houses of Parliament. The com- mittee have now issued the following Report : — Hypothec, — After the most careful consideratiou your committee have been able to give to the late debates in Par- liament, aud the evidence taken by the Select Committee of tiie House of Lords, with the committee's report thereon, they are still of opiuiou that nothing short of total abolition will prove satisfactory. Your committee entirely acquiesce in the concluding words of the " dissent" of Mr. Hope and Mr. Curror to the Royal Commissioners' report, that " the amend- ments proposed iu the report certainly tend to mitigate some of the more prominent objections to the law, but its greatest evils are left untouched ; and we are convinced that, due regard being bad to existing leases, the total abolition of the law is imperatively demanded both by justice and expediency." The amended Act of 1867 only partially gives eli'ect to the amendments recommended by the Royal Commissioners. It is stated in their report tliat there " is considerable force iu the objection that the indulgence which the present state of the law enables landlords to give, by forbearing to sequestrate untd the last moiety of the year's rent is due, is, to a large ex- tent, given at the risk of the other creditors of the tenant ;" and they thought " it not unreasonable that if the landlord is disposed to give this indulgence, he should also be made to share the risk." Yet even this very moderate recommenda- tion was disallowed, aud the law in this respect remains in the same unjust state as before. Again, the Commissioners recommended that it should not be competent to include among the sequestrated effects any imported " manures, lime, draiu-tiles, feeding-stuffs, or other materials" not the produce of the land, excepting ouly manures " brought on the farm in fulfilment of any obligation in the lease ;" but the Lords altered the bill so as to include all the otlier articles above enumerated, as well as manures if brouglit on the farm in virtue of an obligation in the lease ; so that in this way a cou- ventional hypothec may be secured over tliem which did not exist under the old law ; while the merchant supplying these articles, if unpaid, is left to rank for payment of them on tlie remainder of the bankrupt tenant's estate, after the landlord has been paid in full. (See Q. 19/1-9, and Lord Airlie's Draft Report, par. 25.) Some points which the Commis- sioners considered doubtful under the old law have been autho- ratativcly declared by the amended Act, as, for example, house- hold furniture is not now subject to hypotliec for agricultural rents ; and eifect is given to a recommendation of the Com- missioners that the power of attaching corn or agricultural produce, after it has been hond fde sold, removed, aud paid for, should cease — a power which the Commissioners describe as one " so very rarely exercised as scarcely to amount to a practical grievance ;" but even this is done under limitations aud conditions so hampering as to render tiie eoncessions of little avail. The only recommendation, indeed, of the Com- missioners to which eflect has been given in all its integrity is that sequestrations must now be registered. Such is the amendetl Act of 1S67, which the tenantry have been blamed for not accepting — an Act that does not so much as touch the greatest evils of the law — does not even go the length of giving effect to the small amendments of the Royal Commissiouers — an Act which creates a couveulional liypothec over articles brought on the farm which had no existence under the old law, and which hampers, by annoying limitations and condi- tions, the trifling amendments which it concedes, and yet an Act which Mr. Orr Ewing, M.P. for Dumbartonshire, in the late debate, while describing the old law as most " iniquitous and unjust," defended as entailing a " hardship on no one." It would have been satisfactory had that geutleman pointed out the " iniquity aud injustice" of the old law whicii are not to be found iu the new. Your committee need hardly say that legislation which gives no more relief than this amended Act does, is unworthy of any trial ; nor would your committee have bestowed the attention on it they have done, had it not beeu that the Lords' Committee, because of that Act, " consider it premature to propose any extensive change of the law," aud that it has been spoken of, both in and out of Parliament, in a manner calcidated to convey a very erroneous notion of its deserts, Mr. Orr Ewing, who in the debate came forth as the cham- pion of the law as it uow stands, indulged in a style of remark in speaking of this Chamber and other agricultural clubs, whieli least of all was to have been expected from a member of the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, and a gentleman so largely engaged in trade as be is. But slightly acquainted as he necessarily must be with the farmers of Scotland, lie had the presumption to inform Parliament that this Chamber, and other agricultural clubs throughout 'the country, were " not clubs representingthegreatbodyof tenant-farmers," but "mere political debating societies," the " members of whicli were wealthy capitalists, who act entirely in the interest of capital." lour committee will not characterize this representation as it deserves. Mr. Orr Ewing would probably demur to our dt;. 518 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. scribing cliambei's of commerce in this way ; and yet tliey are composed, for the most part, of the leading men among merchants as chambers of agriculture are among farmers; and if there be lew emancipated ploughmen and farm labourers in the one, it is well known that there are quite as few small traders who have risen from the posi- tion of labourers in the other _; yet Mr. Orr Ewing describes the former as entirely in tlie interest of capital, while, from the illustration he gives of the doings of his Chamber of Com- merce, he would liave it inferred that they, on the other hand, are not less devoted to the interest of labour ! Nay, this gen- tleman does not hesitate to assure Parliament that the agita- tion for the abolition of the law of hypothec is, in reality, a " contest between capital and labour, or at all events a contest between the men of great capital and the men of small capital." If Mr. Ewing means by this that tJie contest is between farmers of large capital and farmers of small capital, he offers no proof of his assertion ; but if he means, as your committee presume he does, that in this contest capital is opposed to labour, be- cause this and other chambers of agriculture are opposed to a law which enables landlords to benefit labour at the expense of capital nottlieir own, but of capital belonging to other people, then he must define the contest differently ; for, in the one case, it is not one between capital and labour, or between farmers of large capital and of small, but between two sets of capitalists — the landlords on the one liand, and the farmers of both large and small capital, and their creditors, on the other. It is urged by Mr. Orr Ewing and others tliat the abolition of the law would " prevent ploughmen and farm labourers, by frugality, self-denial, hard work, and skill, raising themselves into the position of tanant-farraers ;" but it is difficult to see how the abolition of what he calls an " iniquitous and unjust" law, which enables one set of capitalists to promote the ad- vancement of ploughmen and farm labourers at the risk of another set of capitalists, should, in a free country, pre- vent industrious and honest men from raising themselves by the exercise of virtues which that law can neither give nor take away. Doubtless landlords would not longer have the power to promote these men's advancement and their own interest at the same time, at the risk of other people, but there would be nothing to prevent them doing it at their own. Nor, in the opinion of your committee, would the repeal of the law of hypothec prevent frugal, self-denying, hard-working piough- men and farm servants of skill becoming farmers with even greater prospects of success than under the existing law, which, by encouraging an unhealthy competition among them, too often raises them to their ruin. It has become a fashion of late among those who are in favour of the law of hypothec to defend that law, not on ac- count of any benefit it is of to the landlord, but chiefly, if not solely, on "the ground that it is for the interest of the smaller class of tenantry. The Committee of the Lords reported against its repeal mainly on the ground that it " affords facili- ties by which industrious and intelligent men" often raise themselves from a very " humble condition to that of pros- perous tenants." Your committee readily admit that such men have not unfrequently raised themselves to be farmers, but they are of opinion that any facilities afforded them by the law are more than counterbalanced by its accompanying draw- backs. Your committee believe that these men have risen, not in virtue of the lav/, but independently of it, and that mainly tlirough their own personal industry and intelligence. It is in evidence before the Committee of Lords tliat, were it not for the law, " friends and neighbours would be ready to assist such men, but the landlord comes in and gets everything, and tliereforc they are afraid." Tlie Committee of the Lords state, however, that the object of tlie law is to enable landlords to befriend poor men, and looking at some parts of the ques- tioning of that committee, there will be found laboured and sig- nificant efforts to bring out this fact ; but go to the real gist of the evidence, and it is apparent that what is objected to is not that tlie landlords should have power to befriend poor tenants, but that they sliould have power to do so without risk to themselves, at the cost of other people, and that, too, under conditions which effectually take away from the tenant so befriended tlic power to iiurcliase on credit what is absolutely required for the land. Moreover, it is a well-knowi fact that in districts where small holdings jirevail, competition has so raised tlie rents that they have at lengtli reached a point whicli barely leaves a living margin to the small but indus- trious occupant. The county valuation rolls are highly in- structive on this point, and may be referred to ; and the fact is further corroborated by a very instructive return lately laid before Parliament, which Mr. Orr Ewing, in his special pleading, distorts, and which the Lords' Committee pass over in silence, although the return itself is given in an appendix to their report, showing the number of petitions for sequestration for rent since the amended Act of 1867 was passed. This re- turn throws a flood of light on the way small tenants are be- friended by the law of hypotliec. It appears from it that out of 800 petitions for sequestration taken out since 18G7, no less tliau 628 were for rents under £100, and only 196 for rents above £100 — the remaining 76 being for rents to become due. It would thus seem that the law which is vaunted of as the sheet-anchor of the small tenantry is, after all, but a decoy to their ruin. A very extraordinary argument has been attempted to be raised in favour of the law, inasmuch as it is said, to quote the words of Mr. Orr Ewing, " that it absolutely gives, according to the computation of Mr. Jamieson, an accountant, of Edin- burgh, by reason of the delay in the collection of the rents, a capital of 7-| millions to the farmers wherewith to carry on their business ;" yet, strange enough, this same Mr. Jamieson, in a subsequent part of his evidence, corroborated the fact that rent does not come into the hands of the tenant " until it is realised from the crop," and since the crop is not realised at entry, nor for many months after entry, it seems incomprehen- sible liow, in any sense, it can be said that farmers have a year's use of money, seeing it is paid by them as soon as real- ised. This astounding discovery of Mr. Jamieson would seem to be based on the assumption that the landlord is entitled to foreliand rents. But is he entitled to forehand rents ? Such a right is inconsistent with the rule commonly observed in every otlier trade or business in the kingdom. In none are the profits divided till they are realised. In all copartneries, for example, the piofits are ascertained at the close of the year, and divided among the partners according to their respective interests, nor is there any reason why it should be different in the farming of land, the profits of which are not realized till the crop of the year and the other products of the farm have been dis- posed of. The ordinary conventional terms of payment of rent are not usually later than the period when such profits come into the hands of the tenant ; nor could the return be earlier were the farm in the natural occupation of the land- lord ; and to say, therefore, as is done, that landlords give so much, or any amount of capital, to tenant farmers, " by reason of the delay in collecting rents," is simply to assert what is untrue. No doubt, were the law abolished, landlords might require payment of their rents at an earlier period, /i^ waij ofsecKriti/ ; but certainly not because the nature of the transaction between them and their tenants, commercially viewed, would entitle them to demand forehand rents. It is well known that a tenant, on entering a farm, has large outlays to make in stock- ing it, and in the labouring, manuring, and seeding of the ground ; and before the first crop can be realised, he must have been from twelve to eighteen months in possession, when the rent, which is but a portion of the profits, can only come into liis hands. If rent be demanded earlier than that, it is demanded before it is reaped ; and for the landlord to ask it earlier is not to withdraw " capital given by the landlord to the tenant-farmer to carry on his business," which he has in no sense got from him ; but capital belonging to the tenant, in order to provide for rent not yet realised, and which can only be equitably demanded by the landlord after it lias been realised by the tenant. It is a mis- take, therefore, to suppose that the landlord gives credit to the tenant by the present system of back-rents. Were land- lords to demand fore-rents, it would be tantamount to saying to the nation you shall not cultivate the earth, in order to grow food for the people, till you have paid down to us 7§ millions of money in the shape of fore-rents ! — a demand too monstrous to be made by any class of men, and one which, your committee believe, landlords would not seek to enforce although the law were abolished. Surely, in a transaction where ths landlord adventures a year's rent, and the tenant from two to five years' rent (see Mr. Murray's evidence, Q. 186) — often considerably more — in stocking and cultivating the farm, the risk the landlord runs is not sucli as to justify a demand for forehand rents. As is well said by Mr. Wilson, THF FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. 519 Ediiiglou M;iius, in his lotter to Lord Airlic, iu the appendix to the Lords' Report — " It is surely unbecoming to manifest such anxiety to liave the interests of the naturally strong party, whose risks are small, fenced and secured in every pos- sible way, while those of the weaker party, whose risks are so great, are deemed unworthy of notice." It is unnecessary further to follow the arguments of our opponents — some of them, indeed, are contradictory one of another ; for example, Mr. Orr Ewing, to whose speech your committee have had occasion once and again to refer, contends that the tendency of the law is to keep down rents, while the Lords's Committee, iu their report, on the contrary, admit its tendency to be to increase rents. There is one argument, liowever, which Lord Elcho makes use of in the course of his speech tliat merits a passing notice, lie said the law of hy- pothec " is not confined to laud and houses, it extends to money transactions, it extends to mortgages, and it extends to marine matters." This view of the law, however, although supported by some of those Edinburgh lawyers who have the raauagemeut of large landed estates, who gave evidence before the Commission and the Lords' Committee, is not sanctioned by the Lord Advocate, who maintained a contrary opinion, both in his speech in the debate and in his evidence before the Lords' Committee ; and your committee apprehend that the more the analogy that has been attempted to be drawn between rights of law in commerce and the landlord's hpyothec over the tenant's crop and stock, the more clearly will it be seen that no proper analogy exists between the two sets of rights ; but tliat they are founded oa totally different principles, and arc in their operations entirely different. In his evidence, the Lord Advocate pointed out the distinction between them. He said " the law of hypothec is the offspring of land tenures, and of the principles upon which they are founded ;" that " it is not part of the law of merchant, is uot founded on tlie prin- ciple of the law of merchant, and, consequently, it has no cor- rect analogy to other principles iu the law." And another lawyer, Mr. M'Neel Caird, gave evidence of a like import. ■ The evidence of these gentlemen is conclusive on the point, and yet the Lords' Committee, in their report, state " that they have failed to obtain any satisfactory explanation of v.'liat are the recognised principles of legislation which are contravened by the law of hypothec," and that it does not appear to them " that the law ought to be condemned upon the vague allega- tion qf its being contrary to the principles of commercial legis- lation, and unjust." It is difficult to see, however, how prin- ciples could be more clearly defined than in the evidence of these legal gentlemen ; and the vagueness of which their lord- ships complain must arise from some other cause than from any defect in the evidence laid before them. Tiie report of the Lords' Committee, like that of the Royal Commission, is the report only of a majority. The chairman (Lord Airlie), in his draft report, proposes to assimilate the law of hj'pothec to the law of distress iu England. Earl Grey also submitted a report, of which the Lords' Committee largely availed themselves, but they rejected par. 8, which contained its chief recommendation, namely, that " when the lease of a farmer becomes void by his insolvency, his creditors should have the right of calling upon the landlord either to pay them the fair value of the unexpired term of lease, or to sell that lease to a new tenant, adding the price obtained for it to the divisible assets of the bankrupt." A series of resolutions were also moved by Lord Minto for total repeal, but they too, as was to have been expected, were rejected. The chairman of the Lords' Committee seemed to consider the evidence laid before the Eoyal Commission defective, in that so few of the small class of tenants were examined by the Commission (see Q- 851-851). Yet, strange to say, not a single small tenaut was examined before his own committee. Meu, no doubt, were examined who had risen from small be- ginnings, and are now large farmers ; but small tenants, who have not yet risen, and are still struggling on at the Ijottom of the ladder, were not afforded an opportunity of expressing their opinions before their lordships. Perhaps they considered the evidence of these risen men sufficient ; but your committee think it would have only beeu but fair to the small class of tenants, if they themselves were not considered eligible wit- nesses, that at least an equal number of tenants who had not risen, but who on the contrary had faUen, should also have beeu examined by the Commissioners. The one-sided evidence adduced is, in the opinion of your committee, by no means sufficient to correct the defect which the chairman sought to make out in the evidence taken by the Royal Commission. In the chairman's draft report your committee regret to find a statement which is not borne out by the evidence laid before his committee. In paragraph 8 it is stated, " it seems to be^ also admitted by the opponents of the law, that the inevitable result of its abolition would be, that landlords would be obliged to protect themselves by exacting forehand rents." The evidence (Q. 723) to which he refers in proof of this has no reference wliatever to the rcsuUs of fore-renting, and his lordship may safely be challenged to produce evidence by any opponent of the law examined before his committee, in which an admission, such as is alleged by hira is made ; although it would uot be dilficult to find in the evidence of its opponents proof that such results were not anticipated by them. The Lords' Committee report that they do not consider the practical grievance of giving the landlord a preference for his rent over the manure merchant a very serious one, but they admit it is a grievance. They admit, also, that the evidence " does undoubtedly show that the law increases the number of competitors for land, by enabling many iudustrious and enter- prising men" — and they might have added, in perfect accord- ance with the evidence, speculative and haphazard offerers, and men from all trades and professions — " to obtain farms which they would not otherwise have sufficient capital to take ;" but they doubt, ^even were the competition for farms an unhealthy one, whether "it would afford just ground of complaint to those more wealthy farmers who think they would obtain farms at lower rents if they were relieved from the competition of persons not having sufficient capital to take land under the conditions which would be required if the law of hypothec were repealed ;" and they say it is not expedient, for the sake of a few possible eases of hardship, that the law- should be abolished. In other words, these noble lords admit the injustice of the law, but refuse redress because that injus- tice, in their opinion, is small, and extends only to the " more wealthy farmers 1" Your committee, on the other hand, believe that it has beeu incontestibly estabhshed that the injustice of the law is great, that it affects all tenants, small even more than large, who can command sufficient capital for their respective undertakings ; and they hesitate not to affirm that it is to misrepresent the evidence given by the " more wealthy fanners" to say, as is done in the report of the Lords' Committee, that " they think they would obtain farms at lower rents" were the law abo- lished ; while their evidence, without a single exception, is to the effect that not only themselves, but that all such farmers, large and small together, would be benefited by the abolition of a law which creates unhealthy competition for land, and is injurious alike to the interest of all classes of occupants, whe- ther small or great. Your committee have now gone over the chief arguments urged in favour of the law by its supporters, and have endea- voured to review them in a fair and candid manner ; and while remaining decidedly of opinion that the law is bad, and ought to )je abolished, they freely concede that in any Act abolish- ing the law, it may be necessary to introduce a provision iu favour of the landlord, for the more speedy removal of a te- nant failing to pay his rent, such as has been suggested by the Lord Advocate ; but in that case a right similar to that pro- posed by Lord Grey, above quoted, should be established in favour of the tenant ; aud your committee would not object to any reasonable provision for effecting these ends. Your committee are pleased to notice that Mr. Carnegie has intimated his intention of bringing iu his bill for total repeal again next session ; and it is understood that a bill is to be brought in by the Government. The Lord Advocate has indi- cated an opinion that tlielaw of Scotland might be assimilated to the law of distress in England ; but your committee is satisfied this proposal will not meet the wishes ot the farmers of Scotland. In the report of the Lords' Committee it is stated that the main difference between the law of distress in England and the law of hypothec is that, in the case of the latter, the landlord has the power to prevent the tenant dis- posing of his crop before the rent becomes due, while in the case of the English law of distress there is no such power. That committee seem to attach little importance to this difference ; but your committee believe that it involves matters of undeniable importance. They also consider the law of distress very objectionable, in that it gives the landlord a m THE FARMEE'S MAGAZINE. brevi -,11111111 power of action, without tlie inlei-veution of legal process and the authority of a judge. Aud your committee would recommend that a deputation from this Chamber be appointed to wait on the Lord Advocate, aud lay the views of the Chamber fully before bim, and that a special remit should be made to the Counties' Committees, to urge the necessity of their communicating with the members of I'arliameut of their respective counties on the subject, and urging them to give their assistance to Mr. Carnegie in his persevering endeavours to accomplish the abolition of a law which so injuriously alfects the best interests of the farmer as this demonstratively does. They would also recommend that the thanks of the Chamber should be conveyed to Mr. Carnegie for the able manner in which he has conducted the case for abolition in Parliament ; and that this committee be continued to watch over the measure or any other legislation that may be attempted on the subject in next Parliament, and to use all due diligence to agitate the matter till a satisfactory settlement is obtained. The Game Laws. — The three proposed enactments on the game-laws introduced into parliament last session by Lord Elcho, Mr. M'Lagan, and Mr. Loch respectively, are well known to the members of this Chamber. Lord Elcho's bill has re- ceived almost no support among the tenantry of Scotland ; aud it seems strange that a person of his ability should persevere in an attempt to persuade the farmers that he is trying to legis- late for their behoof, in the face of the general conviction tiiat he is in reality doing his very utmost to preserve those class pri- vileges of which the nation complains. They will, therefore, not dilate upon it, but shall direct attention to the other two bills of Mr. M'Lagan and Mr. Loch, each of which has received considerable public support. And your committee need hardly say, at the outset, that though one of these bills originated in this Chamber, there is no one on this committee, aud they be- lieve there is no individual member of this society, who would attach any preferential importance to this circumstance, or who would uot gladly abandon it or any other bill, on a better one, in his opinion, being presented to him. To begin, then, with the bill of Mr. Loeh. It may be noted, iu the first place, that this bill makes no important alteration in the game-laws as now existing. The list of animals enu- merated as game is not interfered with. Nor are the punish- ments for olfences against them in any respect mitigated or changed. It, indeed, transfers the jurisdiction over offenders from the justices to the sherilf, as Mr. M'Lagan had done be- fore. Its great distinction is, that it professes to give farmers power to kill hares and rabbits, all bargains with proprietors to the contrary notwithstanding. It does not declare that all such bargains between landlord aud tenant shall henceforth be il- legal, but simply that the tenant may disregard them though made. Notvvitiistanding this bold announcement, your com- mittee are obliged to confess that they do not see any certain relief or benefit to the farmer, even though this bill did become law. They see nothing to prevent landlords inserting a clause into every lease, to the effect that, if any tenant takes advan- tage of this privilege of immunity conferred by Mr. Loch's bill, and of disregarding his engagements in regard to hares aud rabbits his lease shall terminate thereupon. Some have thought that this bill might be essentially improved by the insertion of a clause to the elTcct that henceforth all such contracts between the parlies to re- serve the game on arable lauds to the proprietor shall be illegal. But even with this addition, the committee do not think that the position of the farmer would be much if at all improved, for there is no reason to suppose that proprietors would uot continue, as they have done heretofore, to endeavour to preserve for themselves those exclusive privileges. Tenants would be made to understand, just as they are at present, that the proprietor desires to reserve the whole game ; and if they declined agreeing to this demand, they would merely be refused the farms, which would be bestowed on more complying parties. Or take the case of one who submitted to the condi- tions, and made every promise demanded till he had his lease signed, and then turned round and took advantage of the ille- gality of his contract, what could be said of the improved posi- tion here ? It does not seem one to be much envied. In every instance of his violated contract, that tenant must carry about with him the conviction that he is a man void of truth, that be is er.deavoiiring to make profit in his business by the ^alc of his honour. A state verging so near to habitual per- jury like this, the committee hope few tenants in Scotland would contemplate as either endurable or possible. In the case of ordinary offenders against tiie Game Laws, Mr. Loch's bill makes no change in, or mitigation of, the penalties inflicted. Cumulative punishment for the same re- mains as before, whereby, when the ofl'ender has suffered punishment for an otfencc, he may be immediately incarcerated anew for the same offence, and made to undergo an additional punishment under other and different Acts. While, therefore, acknowledging with gratitude Mr. Loch's vigorous etfort to deliver the Scottish tenantry from the oppression of the Game Laws, which have been called a " most irritating and inveterate ulcer on our body politic," the committee are compelled to ac- knowledge that they can see no certain relief to be derived from his bill in its present form. Mr. M'Lagau's bill is a very different one. It does not in- terfere at all with any contracts between landlords aud tenants. It leaves every one at liberty to make what bargains and con- ditions he pleases. It does not seek, what has often been pointed out as a hopeless effort by the Scotsman newspaper, to improve the condition of the tenantry by legislation. On the contrary, it proceeds on the supposition that all along there has been too much legislation ; and it proposes to abrogate rather than add to our enactments. It interferes with no landlord's leases, but it says to the Legislature : You have made certain tinnecessary and very injurious enactments in regard to the matter of game, and you are prayed to repeal them. It proposes to shorten the list of ani- mals classed as game. It transfers jurisdiction over offenders from parties interested to the paid magistrate of the district : and it abolishes altogether cumulative penalties. It does not indeed propose very great changes. Many viould prefer that it went more deeply into repeal of all Game-laws affecting arable land, urging that they are essentially inconsistent with mercantile arrangements in the hiring of land : that they go directly to establish two inconsistent and mutually destructive rights to the same subject, viz., that of the tenant to rear crops for sale, and that of the landlord to rear game to de- stroy those crops ; that they are in this respect essentially immoral ; that they foster aud imply indefinite infringement on the weaker party ; that, with conflicting rights, they create disunion, and eveu antagonism, between the contracting par- ties, and give rise to general oppression by one class on an- other. But though Mr. M'Lagau's bill does not profess to do much, the committee consider that it will accomplish what it pro- poses to do. By the removal of hares and rabbits from the game list, great relief will be given to the tenantry generally. The greater half of the evil will certainly be removed. The objection which has been industriously made to this bill, that it will cause offensive trespass, does uot appear to your com- mittee of serious importance, for the following reasons — namely, that this offence seems to be originated aud continued by those very game-laws which are sought to be modified, if not repealed ; that trespass chiefly abounds in the district of great preserves (that round about large cities), where, indeed, no game exists, but where the idle and reckless are chiefly congregated — even in those localities the crops are uot de- stroyed, nor cultivation prevented by wanton trespass, land letting at higher rents iu those situations than in any other ; that the ofl"ence at present, as well as in the past, has chiefly prevailed in the game-preserved districts ; that, moreover, the game-laws, notwithstanding their extreme severity, have proved wholly insufficient to repress this offence ; that ofl'ences which not many years ago numbered about 5,000 annually are now about 8,000 ; that these laws, by creating and fostering great accumulations of wild animals, have beeu the chief means of creating and continuing the trade of the poacher ; that to suppose Mr. M'Lagan's bill will at all increase the offence of trespass, proceeds on the assumption that tenants will ueglect to keep down the vermin, which they complain of as so destructive, even when they have the power to do so, and that they will keep tempting accumu- lations of these animals, as is done at present. In other de- partments of the penal law where great mitigation of penalties have been from time to time proposed and effected, the dreaded increase of offences from the milder forms of punishments has never been found to occur ; and so your committee believe will it be found in this case. So far as other sorts of game are concerned, the laws remain as they The detective THE FABMER'S MAGAZINE. sai foi'ce will remain as at jircsf nt, and more cflicipnt, from liavins; less to do. And though the ground game is declared open to all, it will he hoth the inteicst and the eoustani business of tlie farmer to make sure that templing preserves of it shall cease henctforlh. No douht, trespassersiupursuitof hares and rabbits could not then !)(■ so rutlilessly punished as they are now ; but the motive to olfend will not be so great as it is now. Tiie tenantry will no longer have any temptation to wink at or en- courage the poacher. .So far us (he ground game at least is concerned, it will be their desire to make the poacher's trade ail unprolltahle one. And instead of viewing it as a fault of the hill that it ensures the keeping down of this vermin, that if once in force it will hcuceforlh render great preserves of these animals impossible, the committee deem this peculiarity of the measure to he, in fact, its most valuable distinction. So far, then, as the present bills are concerned, they have no he- sitation in recommending a firm adiierence to that brought in by the member for Linlitligowshire. And if, in couclusiou, your committee may be allowed to take a passing notice of some of the arguments taken up by the press — so inlluential always — where the tenantry were, only the other day, tauuted with being like mere children, incapa- ble of making their own bargains and managing their own af- fairs, and reminded over and over again that no new enact- ments can help them unless tliey help themselves, the com- mittee would beg to say in reply, that farmers want no new laws — that they desire nothing so much as to be allowed to make their own bargains undisturbed by any interferences of law. Both in the case of game and of hypothec the remedy is the same. They desire simply to be let alone, like other mer- cantile people. They want all curbing interferences of the legislature to he removed, and the parties interested left to themselves to manage their own affairs in freedom. All are familiar with the story told by Adaua Smith, of certain merchants in Prance whom the Government of the day asked to point out what they would like the Legislature to do for them. The reply of the merchants is memorable and well-known. Their answer was, that the greatest favour the Government could confer upon them was just to let them alone. In like manner, the greatest favour which the Legis- lature here can do to the agriculture of this realm is to remove nearly the whole of the statutes that bear specially upon it. The effect of these statutes is entirely injurious. Tarmers are content to live under comm.ou law, without any special agricultural enactments whatever. In speculating ahout the probable results of the tenant- farmers' application to next session of I'arliamcnt to be thus relieved from a superabundance of legislation, it is evident that much will depend on the unanimity and firmness of tone exhibited in such meetings as those of this Chamber. The rcproacli is thrown in their teeth that farmers cannot agree on what they want, and this is taken full advantage of by some very pretending friends. In large societies like this, there are always some individuals of peculiar idiosyncrasy, ready, for the sake of notoriety (to attribute no meaner motive), to track out some divisive course. The committee's belief is, with reference to this particular question of game, that the grievance of it is felt over the nation with a sharper and more humiliating bitterness than that from hypothec, al- though the latter may in time work the greater mischief of the two. And they are well assured that, if even the very limited measure of Mr. M'Lagan should pass the Legislature, the re- lief and the liberty felt over the trade generally will be greater than was ever experienced from any Act of Parliament hitherto affecting farmers of land. But indeed they have never known of any satisfaction fromsuch a source. Nearly every interference hitherto afl'ecting thera has been to dirainisii both their liberty and freedom of trade. Their sole request is to have some of that crippling legislation removed. And if the tenantry do give frank and honest statement of their feelings in this case — as their true policy assuredly is to do — it is to be hoped tliat the verdict will be an unanimous one, in favour of the views to which, in this report, your committee have attempted to give expression. John C. Siiepiieed, Convener. October 27, 1869. — Approved of by directors, and ap- pointed to he laid before the ensuing general meeting of the Chamber, with a recommendation that the address be published in the ngricultural journals, and issued to members of both Houses of Parliament — Messrs. Scot Skiiving and Drysdale dissenting, in so far as the second branch of the address (that applicable to tlie Game-laws) is concerned. Joiuv Clay, President. At a general meeting of the members of the Scottish Chamber of Agriculture in November, this Report formed the subject of a very lengthy discussion. Mr. Clay moved the adoption of that portion of the Directors' Report re- ferring to hypothec ; and Mr. Hope, of P( ntoubarns, se- conded (his. Mr. Riddcll moved, in araeudment, that the 0th paragrapii, relating to fore-renting, be struck out, and Mr. Russell seconded this. The Report, however, was adopted in its entirety, only four members voting for the amendment. Mr. Clay moved, and Mr. AVebstcr seconded, the j)roposal that " tiie Directors' Report on the Game Laws be adopted." Mr. Scot Skirving moved as an amendment, which was se- conded by Mr. Drysdale, that " this Report be not adopted." Mr. Hope sincerely desired to sec the Chamber continue to give its hearty support to Mr. M'L agan's Bill ; but Mr. Glamis could see nothing satisfactory in any of the Bills be- fore the meeting, and ultimately the amendment was carried by 38 to 27. Mr. Alexander then moved, " That this Chamber considers that hares and rabbits ought to be placed by law equally under control of the owners and occupiers of arable land, and that no contracts entered into subsequent to the passiug of the Act shall be of legal force to deprive the tenant of this right. That the Chamber approves of the pro- visions of Mr. M'Lagan's Bill, transferring the jurisdiction in game cases from the justices to the sherilf, and abolishing cumulative penalties for the same olfeuce ;" and this was se- conded by Mr. D. Dun. Mr. T. M. NicoLL moved : " Tliat this Chamber calls upon Government to introduce, as promised last session, a measure dealing with the Scotch Game Laws, and that a committee be appointed to wait upon the Lord Advocate, urging him to redeem the pledges of his predecessor." Mr. Black seconded this. Mr. Skikving said that " arable land" meant all land ex- cept mountains where the blue hares were. His reason for introducing the word was that it got rid of the opposition of all those who took grouse shootings in the Highlands, &c. Mr. Clay (the Chairman) said there was a great deal of land not classed as arable which suffered as severely as any other. Mr. RouGiiEAD said they should show they did not mean to interfere with grouse shootings, which were a source of wealth to the country. Mr. Alexakder agreed to alter the clause in his resolu- tion regarding " arable land," so that it should read " owners and occupiers of land other than mountainous." A vote was taken on Mr. Alexander's resolution, when it appeared that the " Ayes" and " Noes" were equal, 23 voting on each side. The Chairman said he would rather, in the circumstances, be excused from giving a casting vote, and he suggested that, after it had been shown how equally the Chamber was divided, they should agree to adopt Mr. Nicoll's motion. This was agreed to, on the understanding that all parties should be represented in the deputation to the Lord Advocate ; and the following geutlemeii were named the Committee, viz. : — The Chairman (Convener), Messrs. Nieoll, Hope, Goodlet, Dun, Shepherd, Scot Skirving, Drysdale, Swan. Mr. John Wilson, of Edington Mains, was elected President of the Chamber for the ensuing year. TIIE SPARROWS.— A hundred and eighteen sparrows have been offered upon the altars of science. The contents of the stomachs of the victims have been examined, tabulated, and recorded. Three culprits alone, out of this hecatomb, were proved, by the unsparing search, guilty of having lived for the past four-and-twenty hours upon grain. In fact, there were three thieves out of the 118 ; all the other victims had worked, more or less, for their living. Beetles, and grubs, and larvte of all obnoxious kinds, had been their diet. In 75 of the birds, infants of all ages, from the callow fledgling to the little Pecksy and Elapsy that just twitter along the ground, hardly any but insect spofjiic were detected. AVhat would the starved and industrious pioneers who have reared their won- derful temple and city by the great Salt Lake have given lor the aid of an army of English sparrows against that greater and more formidable host of grasshoppers which thrice all but annihilated the settlement ? — Bulhkr. 622 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. GEOUND GAME AND GAME LAWS. At Hertford, Mr. McGeachy saiil the state of public opiu- ion on tlie question of the Game Laws very much resembled that of 20 years ago ; and Sir R. Peel then admitted the necessity for a Committee of the House of Coraraous to in- quire into the laws for the preservation of game in the United Kingdom ; and he (Mr. McGeachy) thought when all the facts that could he made known, were made public in addition to those then stated before the Committee, tlie game laws would not remain on the statute book. He would quote a great authority in matters of law, as to the origin of the evil. It was introduced with our feudal system and forest laws, both forest and game laws were injurious to the community. In 1845, Mr. Bright moved for a Committee on the Game Laws, which was granted by Sir Robert Peel. Lord Campbell that year presented a petition to the House of Lords from Scotland on the subject, and said that great damage was done to land- lords by game on tlie estate. He agreed that the laws caused contests between landlord and tenant ; and on the ground that they were injurious to the community at large, he entirely agreed with the petitioners. He said, there were so many convictions for poaching — so many murders were committed arising from cases of game traspass and night poaching, that the Government ought to give their serious attention to try to amend them. In ISll, there were 3,000 convictions ; in 1845, 5,000 ; and in 1863, 10,000. From 1S33 to 1843 tliere were 42 homicides in frays between poachers and gamekeepers, and 25 convictions for murder. Lord Dacre in 1831, had stated that one of the greatest buyers in Leadenhall market had received in six months 170,000 head of game, hares, pheasants, and rabbits. Poached game was more valuable than shot game. Lord Dacre thought it was impossible to check poaching. When Sir Robert Peel called his followers together in ] 845 he stated the grounds on which he thought it essential that a committee should be granted. The evidence taken before the Committee filled two blue books, and if the country wanted information as to the operation of the Game, Laws, that was the place to get it. One of the witnesses was Mr. Phihp Pusey, M.P. for Berks, who, for many nears, edited the " Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society." He said, he was a'nare of the complaints made by agriculturists of the quantity of game kept, and of the injury done to occupiers. He instanced the case of one farmer who had CO or 70 acres wheat fed off and completely spoilt by game from neighbour- ing coverts ; and another case where a farmer, his own ten- ant had £40 paid him for damage, and he doubted if that covered his loss ; but the game came from a covert which did not belong to Mr. Pusey. The modern system of game-pre- serving was inconsistent with the modern system of good farm- ing. A gentleman had a keeper who had 3 or 4 acres of land next his house ; he gave it up after holding it nine or ten years, although he had no rent to pay — the injury done to his land by the game was such that he could not keep it on. He (Mr. McGeachy) asked if land in 1845 was less valuable than in 1868 ? Game was kept professedly for sport. A farmer in Hertfordshire had described the battue system. Pheasants and hares, and those vermin rabbits also are driven up and shot in such numbers, that it is mere butchery and not excel- lent sport. The battue system is not English. What was called good sport in former times required a steady nerve and a good eye, to follow and mark the game — the battue system required neither one or the other. He was aware this was tender ground to go upon ; but the question was one which affected the interests of the entire body of the people of Eng- land. Shortly after Sir Robert Peel granted the Game Law Committee, Prince Albert began to preserve game on a great scale on his model farm. He protested against the extension of the battue system as of late, to partridge shooting. The plan was to have a collection of keepers and beaters at one end of a field or covert and then drive the game to the other. Then, breach-loaded guns were handed to the sportsmen, and were fired off in rapid succession at the game that was crowded up together. This practice was devoid of ever clement that constituted sport— it was pure butchery. A gentleman of Cheshire had a cat that had been in his family 17 years ; it was a great pet of his child's ; and, after being lost for 48 hours, it was found in a trap, set by a keeper in a hedge abut- ting on the public road of the county, and four or five fields from a covert, or where there was any game preserved ; and, for such atrocity, there is no remedy. He hoped the recent legislation with regard to Ijeershops would be one great help towards the beginning of a better system. Those places w-ere often closely identified with poaching. He had been told by a brewer of a house he supplied in a wild district which was the resort of poachers — and the man frequently drew 72 gallons (3 barrels) of ale, every Sunday — though he was doing a good trade he was so disgusted with the kind of business and the Sabbath-breaking, that he gave up the house. Sir Harry Verney had spoken strongly against the Game Laws, and the injury done to farmers by hares. Another evil was the temp- tation thrown into the way of the labourers. A fanner had said, that love of poaching bad been the ruin of more men than all tlie beershops put together. The Duke of Grafton had expressed his opinion of the evil done to lads by having game thrust in their way ; and IMr. Bright proved that some landed proprietors and game preservers employ poachers to act as gamekeepers on ,the principle of " Set a thief to catch a thief;" and a gentleman who knew what he was saying, ob- served with respect to evidence in game cases, that he found more attention paid to gamekeepers than to the representations of respectable tenants. In 1863 there was a reaction in favour of the Game Laws, and Lord Berners brought in a bill which gave power to the police to stop men suspected of having nets or game in their possession. Sir John Pakington had said, the question was one between landlord and tenant. Mr. Pusey had said, that no man should have a right to preserve game to the injury of another; and Mr. Cairns had spoken very strongly against the operation of the Act passed in 1863. There was a remarkable case recently tried at Leeds, before Mr. Brett. It was an action brought by a tenant of the Duke of Portland against the " Mansfield Game Association." This consisted of but six persons, one of whom, the secretary, was an attorney. They complained that the tenant interfered with their right of shooting, and he had notice to quit the farm he held under the Duke of Portland. He then brought an action for libel against the Secretary, and recovered but £500 damages for loss of his farr.i and his position ! This was the effect of the Game Laws. He hoped no one would presume to offer him a testimoual, a teapot or anything of that sort. Mr. Ransome said an impression seemed to exist that this was entirely a landlord's and tenant's question. He m.ust con- tradict that. They had black sheep among the landlords as well as amongst other classes ; but they also had good sheep — men that would scorn the idea of eating up a tenant with game. And no man would have greater pleasure than a tenant farmer in seeing such a landlord coming over his swedes at that time of year, or having a rattling day's sport in the winter over his wheat with the fox-hounds. On the other hand, there were landlords — men that never knew their tenants except twice a year ; that was on the two rent days. They would not allow their tenants to have the shooting, not even to look at it ; but they would let it to Mr. Grocer, Mr. Linen- draper, Mr. Undertaker, or Blr. Lawyer from London ; and they came down and didn't care about anything except the game they had. One reason why this was not a landlord's and tenant's question was that there were four outsides, north, east, south, and west, to every estate. What was to become of the tenant farmer outside the estate ? It might be a ques- tion between landlord and tenant as to the game on the estate ; but the tenant could not make a bargain with Mr. Grocer or Mr. Linendraper the other side of the hedge as to what game he should keep. It was true a farmer might kill rabbits ; Imt he could not kill them down without he had the liberty of going in the woods. The right of killing rabbits on the farm did a tanner more harm than good. Wliy should not a man be compelled to fence his game in ? and, if he would insist on THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. S23 keeping game, lie ought to he actionable for the damage done hy it, or compelled to keep it to himself. It was a very great hardship that the tenant farmers were to be compelled to be eaten up with game by men who hired it at 2s. or 3s. an acre, and did the tenant and his neighbours an infinite deal of harm. Mr. Passixcuiaji said he could not agree with that part of Mr. McGeachy's resolution which advocated the total repeal of those laws. He would rather reform the law because he be- lieved they were capable of much improvement, altliough they were productive of much evil as at present administered. If they wanted the sympathy of the public to run with the ad- ministration of a law the public must feel that the law was equal. He would speak of the law with reference to game, in which there was no property, which might be his to-day and theirs to-morrow ; yet a man who stole a pheasant was punished more severely than a man who stole a barn door fowl. In order to make the law eifeetive tliere should be a strong conviction that there was no inequality in the law or in its administration, He had been told of the case of a labourer taken to a bench for stealing hens' eggs, and a magis- trate thought it a pity he should be brouglit up for such a trifling offence. The next case was a charge of stealing pheasants' eggs, and the same magistrate lectured the man on the enormity of the offence. The effect of that was to make people think that stealing a farmer's eggs or a farmer's fowl was not so great an offence as stealing a wild bird or its eggs. Pheasants' eggs bore a very high price, and were a very great temptation to a man working by a hedge-side, and seeing a nest of pheasants' eggs, because he could get a shilling each for them. Who purchased them ? l)id not the game-pre- server purchase them by his keeper. They were certainly sold to game-keepers. They might not appear as pheasauts' eggs in the accounts ; they might appear as barley-meal or biscuits ; for these where days when the cooking of accounts was fa- shionable. The over-preservation of rabbits was what the farmer had to complain of. They were sometimes given to the keepers as perquisites ; and it was well known they would prcsene them then, in spite of anything a farmer might say or do. There was another great evil — that of the letting of the shooting by the landlord to people from a distance, whose only object was the quantity of game they could get, and who had not the slightest sympathy with the tenant. Their object was sport ; and they would go to any length to obtain it. Land- lords should offer the shooting over their farms to their te- nants at fair rates ; but the farmers were not entirely free from blame in the matter, for when they had the shooting they often sub-let it. The remedy for that would be for the landlords to introduce in their agreements a clause similar to that as to sub-letting land, prohibiting the sub-letting of the shooting. In such a case the farmer would have great plea- sure iu sho\ving his landlord a good day's sport when he paid him a visit. On the introduction of the rural police gene- rally, a statement was made that it was feared they would l)e used mainly with reference to the protection of game ; and an assurance was given that such should not be the case. He appealed to any gentleman who knew the country and the employment of the police to say whether half the time of the police was not employed iu the execution of warrants, and attending to give evidence iu cases against tlie game laws, in- stead of attending to the protection of property, their legiti- mate business. He was once driving into a neighbouring county, and overtook one of our police force, and found he was going into the neighbouring county to execute warrants on poachers. What was to become of the neighbourhood where his duty was, in the meantime P Any one acquainted with Boards of Guardians must know how very many applications were made by wives of men sent to gaol for offences against the game laws ; and during the time many of those men were in gaol the ratepayer had to pay many shillings a week out-relief for their wives and families. Then there was the ill-feeling the rabbits caused between landlord and tenant, probably mainly through the keepers. The landlords might say they would pay for the damage ; but when they were called upon to make the allowance they did not like it; it was always a sore place with them. He did not wish to see the game laws repealed; he would rather seethemreformed. Hewould notlike to see the game extirpated; for he liked a day's shooting as much as any one. He agreed with Mr. McGeachy's resolu- tiou except as to the total repeal of the game laws ; he would rather reform them. Mr. BR.VNDEA.M said an old friend of his was of opinion with respect to repeal of the game-laws, that there was a great deal to be said on both sides ; and he was not in favour of the repeal of the game-laws. lie spoke as a tenant-farmer, not as a landlord, and not as a sportsman, for his achieve- ments in the sporting line were confined to killing a partridge about thirty years ago ; and it was not a case of sour grapes, for lie had the right of shooting over his farm for thirty years, until lately, when he gave it up. But no one held in greater detestation than he did the over-preservation of game. It was one of tlic most cruel thiugs in the country ; ancl though Mr. McGeachy had drawu a dark picture, he did not think it too dark, but that with a little trouble it might be made a little darker. A fine old Dorset farmer had told him that he had known more farms vacated, and more disputes between land- lord and tenant from that one cause of gams than any other he could recollect. The tenant of a farm which he knew very well was an iutiraate friend of his and told him that the damage to him from game was not less than £100 a- year for a long period of years. He agreed with Mr. McGeachy on his remarks on keepers. He thought they were the most mis- chievous vermin on the face of the earth. He knew a young man who took a farm of a noble lord in the county. The farm was very much eaten by game, and he told the noble- man that he had counted on one wheat field so many hares ; and he had the corroberative evidence of his lordship's wood- man. His lordship said " I won't have that. We'll have a day and kill them down." They had a day and he did not think they killed a brace of hares. His lordship thought he had been imposed upon by the tenant, and said " You told me the place was smothered with hares." The tenant replied " Your lordship's woodman will corroberate what I have told you ; and if you will come without giving your keepers an hour's notice you will find the hares here." That young man was obliged to quit the farm, and to give up farming ; and his ruin was greatly accelerated by the loss he sustained through game. He asked them to look at the question as it affected the tenant-farmers, in a fair and impartial spirit. He had looked at the question for many years, and though he had a full desire to bring the game laws in guilty, he had not been able to do it satisfactorily. Suppose the game laws were re- pealed : unless accompanied by the total extirpation of game (which he did not suppose Mr. IMcGeachy or any one else would advocate), he did not think they would be in any better position. Their farms would be over-run by would-be-sports- men, breaking their hedges, and doing no end of mischief. He expected certain gaps made by the keepers, but in the other ease they would have gaps in all directions. They would have all sorts of cockney sportsmen over their farms. He was not drawing from his imagination. Every farmer knew that in a great acorn year, a great sloe year, or a great nut year how their hedges were broken. He had a large blackthorn hedge which was broken in all directions. On Boxing-day it was unsafe to walk about, and he was obliged to confine his sons to the garden and yard to keep them from harm from thirty or forty people half-drunk, going about shooting. And they wovild have that every day if game-laws were repealed. If the game-laws were repealed without doing away with the game the farmer would not be in a better position tlian he was now. He blamed the over-preservation of game, not the game-laws. Suppose they were repealed and a landlord have agame farm to let. He could'imagine an un- scrupulous game preserver (of which he was sorry to say there were many) saying to an applicant for a farm, " Now, Mr. B. we must have an understanding about these birds and beasts that were once game. The conditions will be, if you have the farm, that you don't touch a partridge, pheasant, hare, or rabbit. If you do we part company." What was to prevent that ? And the outside teuant farmer would not be in a better position. He thought a man might be compelled by Act of Parliament to fence in his game. Supposing the laws re- pealed, would a farmer have more liberty to kill game than he had now? They had a right to judge of what would be, by what had been. He believed that some years ago hares were struck out of the list of game ; and every man, with the con- sent of his landlord, upon paying a small registration fee, could kiH hares on his farm. How many more farmers were there who had liberty to kill hares than there were when the Act passed. Would tliey have more liberty, supposing the law were repealed, than now ? He thought not. As to the de- lUii FAKMBR'S MAGAZIHK. raoralization of tlie vorkiug classes : ^lie adinitlcd it did take place to a groat extent ; but he blamed the abominable system of over preservation of game, rather than the law. As to the poacher, his sympathies with him were small. He thought the poaclier was a great blackguard ; and so far from calling him the farmers' friend as he had heard him called, he thought nothing but peculiar circumstances had made him what he was. If he had belonged to a town instead of the country he would be a housebreaker, or a burglar instead of a poacher. He denounced the system ; that was not the first time he had lifted up liis voice against over-preservation. He did not see his way to the abolition of the Game Laws. He would rather trust to the influence of opinion, to the in- fluence of moral suasion. He thought they had the question to a great extent in their own hands ; and that tlie landlords had excuses, given by the farmers themselves why they did not put a stop to that horrible oppression of the farmer. They talked very much about a wrong system ; but what did they do in acts. He would be bound that if there were a game farm to be let in the neighbourhood to-morrow, there would be twenty applicants, and it would be let in three months. Some time ago Pinirh gave advice to those about to marry in one word, "Don't." And if any one he knew were thinking of taking a game farm he would say in one word, "Don't." They had themselves very much to blame. No doubt the root of the evil was the great competition for land. He thought tliere was a remedy for that in the alteration of certain laws. He would appeal to the landowners, and if the thing were brought home to them, and they would trust their keepers less and place more confidence in their tenants, a better state of things would prevail. He would appeal to the landlords as gentlemen ; he would ask them no longer to trust only to their keepers, but to mix more with their tenants, and place more confidence in them. He would appeal to them as Chris- tians to study the golden rule of doing unto others as they would others should do unto them ; and he could not think those appeals would be ineffective. If the landlords would not hear the warning, they might depend on it that the time vi-ould come, and he hoped and believed speedily, when a cry would arise from one end of the laud to the other, that hares and rabbits, those pests of the farm, should be extirpated without mercy. Mr. Abbey as a tenant farmer, suft'ering under the accursed game laws, said, there was no comparison between the injury done by such afflictions as the cattle plague, and tiiat done by game. The former was only for a period ; the other was con- tinual. He knew a farm of 150 acres where the damage this year was £100 from rabbits alone. He had suftered to a small extent, but more than he could aflbrd. His farm was bordered in one part by a wood, and his experience was that they must not take a farm on trust. A man who took a farm, trusting to the agent's word was a fool. He took his farm on the agent's word, and was told that the game would not be preserved in the wood, which belonged to another estate. The farm was in a l)ad state owing to the game ; and at first game was not preserved in the wood, but in three or four years, when he had got the farm in a better state they began to pre- serve and did him £50 or £60 of harm in a year. Last year he fenced the wood off ; but the fence was knocked down : he could not say who did it ; it was done in the night " (The keepers"). His neighbour had seen 200 pheasants feeding on his land, but the law said he should not touch them until Oct. 1st. There w'as no remedy for that without they swept away the law. If they did away with the law there would not be the temptation to preserve that there was now. Not far from his farm he had heard there were a hundred thousand rab- bits on an estate of from 3,000 to 3,000 acres ; and a tenant had told him that in one two-acre field there would be a rabbit to every two feet of ground. — Some of those present evidently thought this was over drawn, but Mr. BraivDRAM : I dont think it's wrong ; I know the estate Mr. Abbey alludes to. Mr. Abbey : The man has 150 acres, and he is satisfied the damage will be £100. The loss by game was a dead loss to (he country, and had the government a right to make laws for the amusement and recreation of the rich and educated, to the demoralization of the working classes ? A num fined £3 lor looking in a, rabbit hole, applied for time, but he was not allowed a day ; is was pay or go to gaol. A pohceman in a road saw a man half-a-raile off in a wood and found a snare tliere. The man was sent to gaol for two moutlis. If a dead body had been there they would not have hung the man on such evidence. That was how the rates were increased. In conse- (j^uence of thegame laws farmers would not improve their land as they might, and therefore many labourers who might be at work were out of employment. There was no remedy but sweeping away the game laws ; and then they might have a tres])ass law as severe as they pleased. The subjoined jesolutions, proposed by Mr. McGeacy, were carried by large majorities : 1. That the existing Game Laws are most injurious to agri- culture ; and the more so, because as farming becomes more scientific, game preserving becomes more artificial. 2. That the present state of things is demoralising alike to the land- lord, the farmer, and the labourer, is largely productive of crime, and adds greatly to the heavy rates under which all classes are now suffering. 3. That every legitimate means should be taken to procure from the legislature, not the reform, but the repeal of these Laws. At Leicester, Mr. roRSTEU said : He had to address them on a resolution which he hoped would not be offensive to any gen- tleman present ; he could assure them his desire was to avoid being offensive in any way, and he thought his resolution was such that the meeting would agree to. It was not, perhaps, so strong a resolution as, if he had consulted his own feelings, he should have drawn up ; for he considered the game laws were such an unmitigated evil, that, had he consulted his own feel- ings, he should have proposed a resolution to the effect that they ought to be expunged from the statute book. But know- ing that gentlemen might reasonably differ from him, he had avoided anything of that sort. He would, with their permis- sion, read over the resolution, and then make a few remarks upon it, and he hoped they would hear him with patience. He should avoid anything offensive, for he thought they ought to meet that discussion in a fair, open, and candid spirit. The object was one that affected landlords most intimately, as well as tenants, and also, but not so intimately, the public at large. The publicwere becoming aware of the importance ofthat subject ; and if they did not take the question up in a fair and manly spirit, and meet it (as he thought they ought to do), the public would take it up, and then an agitation would be raised, and they knew what would be the result — whenever a grievance was proved, and the public took it up, it was bound eventually to give way. He thought it was to the interest of all parties that the subject skould be fairly considered. If the landlord were not so blind his [own interest, he would not unnecessa- rily overload his tenants with game ; but that was too much the case, he was sorry to say, in the present day ; he, for one, could speak feelingly ; would that they could all enter into it as hg did — not that he wished them to suffer injury, but he wished them to feel the importance of the question, and to take same vievvs as he did. It might, perhaps, be unreasonable for him to expect them to do so, but he thought they would believe that it was necessary steps should be taken to remedy that evil. It might be said that where there was an excess of ground game the land was let at a lower rent on that account. That, to a certain extent, was true ; but where there was an e.xcess of ground game he defied any landlord, unless he re- mitted the whole of the rent, to remit suflicieut to meet the damage which was done in many cases. He was confident that 5s. an acre would be a great consideration to be made to any tenant-fanner for the damage done by game ; but he had passed over land during the present summer to which not only 5s. an acre damage was done ; but taking the average of the farm, he ventured to say that 10s. or even 15s. an acre damage had been done. In many cases, on land that adjoined covers, he be- lieved there was more damage done, by the over-^jreservatiou of game, than the whole rent came to (Loud cries of " Hear, hear"). They knew that the tenant-farmer's pocket suffered in that way severely ; but that was the least part of his loss — where a right-minded tenant wished to do what was right between his landlord and himself and to his country — when he wished to deal with flic land so that it should be a credit to himself and produce him a fair return for his capi- tal— the feelings he underwent, as he went over his ground and saw his crops destroyed, day after day and night afte night, having no remedy in his own hands, were far greate than the loss he sustained in his pocket. The over-prescrva tion of ground game tended to increase crime in the rnral dis. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 525 tricts ; for many an liouest, well-disposed j'oiitli, had been templed to take liis first step downwards ill the course of crime by poaching,'. If only a moderate quantity of game were pre- served, there would not be that indueeincnt for men to poach there was at present. Although it might be said that they entered into it for the very love of what to them was sport, they could not live by sport, if they did not get suflicieut in the uight to support them during the day. With respect to the quantity of food destroyed (althoagh it might be said that ground game to some extent supplied the people with food), they knew that the little food they made bore no comparison with that they ate and destroyed. Some people would tell them that it took live hares to consume as much as one sheep : but his own opinion was that three or at most four would consume and destroy more than one sheep. There were very few tenant-farmers that would be disposed to deny to their landlord that fair and legitimate sport which they, as Englishmen, liked to see their landlords enjoy. He, for one, should rejoice to see his landlord, and would do everything in his power to preserve a moderate quantity of even ground game, and would preserve winged game to an unlimited extent ; lor, while they were asleep and in bed, these went to roost ; but the other vermin never ceased in their depredations, for which they had no remedy. A boy at six- pence a day would keep winged game off wheat or beans dur- ing the whole day ; but they could not keep hares and rabbits from committing their depredations while they were in bed and asleep. The over-preservation of ground game, instead of tending to foster a bright, manly, English character, tended rather to diminish it. If they wanted sport and health, and recreation, what could equal partridge shooting? A baiti'c he held to be an unmitigated evil, and no good either to the landlord or the tenant. A young gentleman got up at ten or eleven o'clock, and sauntered to the cover side, and the game was driven up by hundreds, and slaughtered ; and that was called " sport !" Let hini take his dog and gun, and range the hills^he would then get both health and recreation. His own opinion was that the man who could not find something higher and nobler in which to pass his time than solely sport- ing, was no good either to himself or his neighbours. It was too much the custom to indulge in sport to almost an unlimited extent. It might be said that if game were not preserved, landlords would not reside amongst their tenantry. He did not know the tenant wlio would not wish to preserve sufticient game to induce his landlord to reside on his estate ; but if that were his sole inducement, the landlord was no good either to his tenants or the neighbourhood in which he resided. If, however, he indulged in sport simply as a recreation, then he became a blessing to the neighbourhood, and his tenants re- joiced to see him. He hoped the day was not far distant when the question would be taken up and thoroughly considered, and the question of the preservation of game left in the hands of the tenants themselves. Let them do away with game- keepers, who, as a class, were a great nuisance to the neigh- bourhoods in which they were employed, and particularly to the tenants. He did not know a greater amount of mischief made between landlords and tenants than was made by the keepers (loud cries of " Hear, hear"). He was astonished that gentlemen should employ the class of men they did as gamekeepers. He had known instances where notorious poachers had been engaged as gamekeepers. In too many instances the word of such men was taken in preference to lliat of honest and upright tenant-farmers. He had known it in his own experience. Let them make the tenants the game- keepers, and they would be proud to supply everything they needed in reason for sport, for themselves and their friends ; but don't let them sell their game, and don't let them keep SLifRcient on their estates to damage theic tenants. With re- spect to legislation on the subject, he was sorry to be com- pelled to say that what legislation had taken place had been of a retrograde description. He thought it was a great mis- take— with all respect to the noble lord present — to have in- troduced and carried a measure to make policeman game- keepers. By that means an injustice was intlicted on a class of men who had no interest in preserving game — sliopkeepers, and tradesmen, and tenant-farmers, were compelled to pay rates for the support of the policemen, one part of whose duty was to act as a gamekeeper, or game-preserver. If they pre- served game, by all means let them preserve it at their own expense — if they were to have prosecutions for violations of the Game Laws, by all means let them be at their own ex- pense. But they might avoid all that by making their tenants gamekeepers. The present system had gone on too long ; and his hope was, that the time was fast approaching when they would see an alteration. It might be said that they might fairly lea\e the game (juestiou to be settled between landlord and tenant ; but such was the competition for farms, owing to various circumstances, that the tenant had not the fair chance of making a bargain that he ought to have. There was a tendency iu the present day to diminish the number and in- crease the size of holdings ; in his opinion, very greatly to injury of a respectable class of men who could bring up a family respectably, say on 150 acres ; whereas by throwing the holding together, they excluded that honest, upright, and respectable body of men, and left them no alternative but to become agricultural labourers, or to emigrate. He would re- sume his seat by moving his resolution. Lord Berxers : May I ask from what part of the country you come ? Mr. Foster : From AYarwickshire, my lord; the district of Blonks Kirby. Mr. Pell (the Chairman) said the usual course was, that before a resolution was discussed, it should meet with so much of the approval of the Chamber as to find a seconder. If there were not a seconder, he feared he could hardly put the resolution to the meeting. Mr. K. Pai?jteii said, although the mover of the resolution was a stranger to him, he so fully concurred in the opinions he had expressed, that he thought the resolution should not fall to the ground for want of a seconder. He therefore had pleasure in seconding the motion (loud applause). Some time having elapsed without anyone ottering any re- marks, Lord Ber^'ers said, if nobody would rise to say a few words upon that question, he would simply propose an amend- ment. In taking up the Norwich paper that morning, he saw that the Chamber of Agriculture in that, the largest game county in England, had not followed suit of the Cham- ber in London — they had left the game question out, and gone on to discuss the last subject on the paper. The gentle- man who had addressed them he had listened to with great attention, to see if he had told them anything new. A great many of his remarks had been stereotyped now for thirty years. [" Hear, hear," from Mr. Foster.] They had heard the same complaint for many years (Hear, hear). The county of Nor- folk had put the quession on one side, believing that it was a question that should be left entirely as a matter of agreement between landlord and tenant, and that it was not a fit subject for legislation. Mr. i'oster's proposition had reference to the OiV/'-preservation of ground game. Nobody was so much against the over-preservation as he was. One of his own agreements in Norfolk arose from this circumstance. There were several tenants on his estate who actually made their rent by the game (that was on light land in West Norfolk) ; one tenant who paid little more than £100 a year, to his certain knowledge made ±'90 a year by his rabbits. What was the consequence ? There were no partridges on the ground, and very few hares ; his farm was iu a desperately bad state — the fences and plantations were destroyed by the rabbits which he kept ; and he (Lord Berners) was forced to make an agree- ment that he should kill rabbits as well as the tenant. That agreement went on for many years, and on several occasions he found it absolutely necessary to send his own warreners ou to his tenant's land, because he would not keep the rabbits down. If he could not kill a score a day he left off killing. He had had to send his warreners to kill them at the begin- ning of the season, because the tenant let them do an immense amount of damage, and would not have them killed till their skins were worth Id. or 2d. each. What he was telling them was a fact. He (Lord Berners) was opposed to the over-pre- servation of game ; but he never was called upon to pay a single penny for damage. Game was one of the most certain rents they could have. If he did not want his shooting, in- stantly a man would give hira £100 for the partridge shoot- ing in September. [Mr. Foster : Partridge shooting alone, my lord ?] A baronet gave him £100 for his partridge shoot- ing in September, at the time he took the hounds in the county; and where he (Lord Berners) lived, it was constantly let for £100, £-200, £300, £400, and £500 a year, simply for game. In all his experience iu the game county of 626 THE FAEMEE'S MAGAZINE. Norfolk, he never knew of an instance of a valuer who was valuing a farm not making game a consideration. He would consider the farm worth ^GOO, perhaps, with the present amount of game upon it, and would say, "If you increase it much, I shall cut off fifty pounds, and if you increase it to an enormous extent I cannot tell what it is worth." J3ut with his tenants he had never had a single complaint, nor was ever called upon to pay anything ; hecause he invariably made it a point to kill off the ground game early, and after that the tenants had all the coursing they liked for the rest of the season. He had known a flock of sheep to be turned on to a piece of swedes, and remarked at the time that the tenant would come at Christmas, and say, " See how the swedes have been eaten by Ike game" (Cries of " Oh, oh," and a voice, " It's false.") He was telUng them a fact. He would them another case : A man came to him and .said the game was doinpc a great deal of mischief. lie said " Will you show it me ?" and Ihey went into a field next the stack-yard, and found the swedes very much bitten. He (Lord IBeruers) turned round and said, " Just look here, you tell me the hares have eaten these ; there is scarcely a turnip top but what rats have been at ; you have not killed tlie rats." There were tracks all across a G or 7 acre field, and the rats had done it. He said " If you will take me to the cover side where there are 400 or 500 hares, and show me 5s, worth of damage done, I will pay it you." He took him round the farm, and said, " Now show me 5s. worth of damage," and he (the tenant) said he conld not (" Oh"). He asked the man why he had not taken up his swedes, and he replied that they were caught by the frost or he should have done. He could not point out any damage. He (Lord Berners) simply said what he began with, that the question should be one of agreement between landlord and tenant. On an estate of a deceased baronet who was passionately fond of sporting there was a farm nearly adjoining his house, the laud of whicli was miserably bad, and the tenants had hardly cultivated it, and at one time did not cultivate it at all — it was all given up to game. That was what the landlord chose to do with it. The landlord could do just as he liked with his own, and he gave up that to game and took no rent, but let his own sheep run across the land. He wished on all occasions that people should look on that question fairly, and not regard what one or two individu- als might say. There was a great cry some years ago, in Mr. Hume's time, against game, and many other insti- tutions; and a few men got hold of that particular notion, and it was stereotyped to the present day. The mover of the resolution said there was a great deal more poaching were game was most preserved. He begged to con- tradict that most entirely. Where game was thoroughly pre- served, poachers would not come ; but where game was half- preserved, and where there was only a little game — he could speaktoitin his own neighbourhood — there the poachers would come, because there was little chance of their being taken It was also mentioned that the keepers were generally a very bad set of men and poachers themselves, and the greatest nuisance to the tenant farmer (Loud cries of Hear, hear). He would mention vvhat took place in his own neighbourhood. The parish of Methwold consisted of about 2,000 acres, and was a wild sort of place — the farmer could not leave his ploughs or anything else in the field, but the chances were that they would be broken by mischievous fellows. A deceased baronet wished for the shooting over this land, and the farmers of the parish offered him the partridge shooting if he would have the game looked after, and pay £100 a year to the poor rates. That agreement was continued for many years, and produced a most amicable and good feeling among the farmers, who told him (Lord Eeniers) that that was the greatest blessing they had had ; for when the land was preserved, tlien things were safe — they did not find their gates left open and their stock let out, and they could leave their implements in the fields with safety. So the keepers were not all black sheep (A voice : " There are very few exceptions"). He knew there were a great many black sheep and as ill-conditioned fellows among them as could possibly be ; and he only said " Get rid of them." Mr. W. WnicaiT so fully concurred with Lord Berners' remarks that he would second the amendment. At tlie same time, he could fully endorse wliat Mr. Foster said with regard to the evil concomitants of the over-preservation of game. Still, he must say, he thought it was a matter that should be left, according to the amendment, to the landlord and tenant. The noble lord made a remark about a tenant in Norfolk, and asked why he did not get up his turnips. Early turnips should be got up of course, but there were other kinds that would in favourable \^■eathe^ continue to grow till January. Lord Berners begged to say they were Swedes. Mr. Wright : Even Swedes would grow till January in genial situations. Mr. R. Painter wished to know if he should be out of order if he asked Lord Berners a question ? The Chairman : Any question should have reference to what Lord Berners has said. Mr. Painter : He wanted to know his lordship's opinion in reference to cases where tenants were obliged to leave off sowing wheat on account of the hares. He knew where that had taken place, and could mention the plaCe and the name of the landlord if he required it. The Chairman said that they were getting what they wished to avoid at those meetings — conversational. Gentle- men were at perfect liberty to speak either to the motion or amendment, which would be better than putting questions, unless they wished to obtain information upon any obscure part of a speech. IMr. Painter repeated that he knew a lordship where the tenant had been obliged to leave off sowing wheat on account of the hares, which, he remarked, was a great detriment to the farmer. Going from Stamford market to where he lived he had counted as many as 00 hares in a close, and there was not a bit of seed to be seen. Mr. Hill Ingle said his landlord did not preserve, but the game was preserved on the adjoining properly, and he was put to the expense of killing game which came on his land. He thougtit legislation was required to compel those who preserved game to keep it within the lioundaries of their own laud. Sir II. St. John ILaleord said he hardly liked a discussion like that passing oft" without saying a word, as h% was very fond of sporting himself. He must, in the first place, say Mr. Foster had put the case in the most temperate manner and the most able way in which it could possibly be done. He fully agreed with him in everything he had said regarding the over- preservation of ground game ; but he did not agree with the remedy he proposed. He agreed with Lord Berners' amend- ment, wliich left the matter to the landlord and tenant. He thought Mr. Foster was mistaken in saying that the preserva- tion of game encouraged poaching. He could speak from practical experience that it was far the other way as regarded debauching the mind — if he might use such a word — of honest labourers to killing game. When there was no preservation and no gamekeeper employed where he was (for about ten years) the place swarmed with poachers, and hardly a day passed that there were not five or six men poking about the hedges, and breaking the fences, and letting the cattle into (he corn. The tenant farmer would say whether that was a state of things he liked. The tenants at Wistow asked that a game- keeper might be employed in order that the people might be kept oft' the land, and since the game had been preserved, such a thing as a poacher being on the laud was of very rare occur- rence. With regard to the over-preservation of ground game, the very terms in which the motion was ■worded would carry condemnation of that state of things. He could only say that he for one meant to keep down the ground game on his laud. A great deal had been said about gentlemen taking to the sport of partridge shooting. His own experience of the last two or three years had shown him that partridge shooting was gone ; reaping machines and scythes had completely done for them. He could assure them that lie found it almost impos- sible to get more than five or six brace of birds now in a day, even during the first days of September (A voice, " You didn't walk well, then.") Mr. Inett said they had had at their place rather a contra- diction to his lordship's assertion and that of the last speaker. There had been a party poaching round their neighbourhood. Did they think poachers would leave the place where there was plenty of game and go where there was but little P They might judge for themselves. Five of those men had two nights' on various estates, and then met at a public-house to divide the spoil, and each of them wanted to have the best share ; whereupon it came out that the whole of the amount they had received for game was £35. Now, those poachers must have gone where there was game, or they could not have got £35 in so short a time. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 527 Mr. NuTTALL pointed out that where land was let at a lower rent on account of the game, neither the tenant nor the landlord paid his just and proper share to the poor rate, and he considered that was a point tliat ought not to l)e lost sight of. For his] own part, he should be sorry to see game done away with, and the time, in his opinion, was far distant when the Legislature would dictate to the landlord what he should do with the laud. Over-preservation was a great evil, but he thought tliat was a question between landlord and tenant. As far as local taxation was concerned, he thought game ought to be taxed when kept to an enormous extent. Mr. 1'ell, M.P., said they must take care in dealing with that question that they did not confiue themselves to the in- jury that might arise upon any one particular property ; for the landlord and his tenant might so arrange matters that there should be a large amount of ground game kept ; and though they might be satisfied with the arrangement they had made, that was no I'easou why their neighbours on each side of them should be satisfied. Therefore, he did not know that the question \i'ould be entirely met by the agreement between landlord and tenant, on any one property. The question might be settled by public opinion being so strong throughout the country that all landlords and all tenants, or the bulk of them, should adopt such views as would lead to the destruction of rabbits, and the subduing of hares to such numbers as should not do any great injury. He had no hesitation in saying what his opinion was about one of those animals — the rabbit. He received at present an indirect protection — he was included in certain laws which tended to give him, perhaps imperfectly, a preference in the race of life over other animals; and he did not think his qualities were such as entitled him to that pre- servation. He would like to call the attention, not of tenants only, Imt of proprietors too, to another point of that question, and that was, that he did not conceive that they could have any extensive or strict preservation of game excepting upon large properties ; and as there was a strong feeling against the accumulation of property, the great question to his mind was, whether it was desirable to leave that question as a handle for agitation — which was an objection to the amassing of property together. That was his view ; it might be a wrong one. Take the question on the Continent ; he found where property was very much subdivided, game disappeared, very much to the loss of the countiy and to its disadvantage ; because he held, and he was sure they all held, that a natural amount of game on laud was the proper thing to maintain and keep for tlie amusement of those who had time and means to pursue it, and it was one of those nice adjuncts to an estate none of them would wish to see removed. He did not think he was wrong in saying that that question of game, so far as Scotland was concerned, had much to do with the adverse votes that were given in the House of Commons in reference to the Estab- lished Church in Ireland. Those who read the accounts of tlie elections in Scotland would see how strong feeling ran there, and how much men were influenced in their election of members by a consideration of the game question. No less than three bills had been introduced during the year by Scotch members, some of them in favour of a very undesirable state of things which he could never consent to. Take the one introduced by Mr. M'Lagan — who was supposed to represent a considerable number of tenant-farmers in Scotland. His bill would strike hares and rabbits out of the game list, and made provision for damage by game coming from land on an adjoining estate. That was distinct in principle, and he did not think anything could be said against it. The bill prepared by Mr. Locke gave power to tenants, or those authorised by them, to kill hares and rabbits, notwithstanding any agreement whatever the tenant might have made with the landlord, and provided for compensation for damage by game coming from adjoining properties. To him (Sir. Pell) tliat was a monstrous proposition, that after an agreement between land- lord and tenant for a certain amount of game to be preserved, a bill should be brought in legalising the tenant in breaking his word. It only showed how the question was discussed iu Scotland, and how feeling ran upon it. That bill he could never consent to. The bill introduced by Lord Elcho would, in his opinion, place the Scotch tenant-farmer on about the same footing as the English tenant-farmer. It gave power to tenants to kill hares without a licence on farms where the game was not preserved, and provided for game-damage by compensation, With reference to the damage done by hares and rabbits, there could be no doubt that a great deal of damage was done by them that never could be witnessed or measured, because there were farmers who farnted with reference to the amount of game there was upon the estate. He (Mr. Pell) was sitting beside one of his landlords and his near relation, and he was bound to say that the land he occu- pied of him (Sir H. St. J. Halford) was as profitable to him as any he occupied ; therefore they must not tliink he was complaining in what he was about to say of the pecuniary working of the farm. He occupied under other landlords, and on some of the land he occupied he grew certain crops, which he certainly should not attempt to grow in this county, because he believed they would not have a chance of success from ground game surrounding him. He did not expect crops of cabbages and similar things, which were very valuable, and employed a great amount of labour. The question waa whether it was desirable that landlords and tenants should make arrangements for the preservation of game by which the- food of the country should be limited. He believed himself that public opinion was very much altering the state of things; now ; and he did not believe there was that excessive amount of game-preserving there used to be. He only hoped public opinion might be strong enough to check it and reduce it to form and shape. At the; same time, if it did not he could not help thinking that it would not be an unfair proposition from Chambers of Agriculture that they should resort to some moderate, and at the same time some precise legislation on the subject. (Applause). The decision rested with them. They had two propositions before them, which were very pre- cise and very clear on the subject. One in favour of legisla- tion and striking ground game out of the list ; the other which would leave the subject to arrangement between land- lord and tenant. Mr. WiLLSoN could neither vote for the resolution nor the amendment. They were indebted to Mr. Foster for tue man- ner in which he had brought the subject forward ; for know- ing the circumstances in which he lived, he had thought he would have been more severe than he was. The tenants in that neighbourhood, he must say, did suffer an amazing deal of injury. In reference to the remarks of Mr. Nuttall, he said the farms in his union were rated at the full value, notwith- standing the game upon them. (A voice : " That is a hard- ship to the tenants.") He proposed as an amendment. — " That this Chamber regards the over preservation of ground game as an unmitigated evil, and considers that it would be uuadvisableto iutroduce into this question legislative interfe- rence between landlord and tenant, feeling fully assured that public opinion would do more to abate the evil than any Act of Parliament." As regarded legislation upon ground game, under the existing law tenants were able to kill ground game ; and if a man made an agreement with his landlord to the con- trary, they would be in just the same position if they had an Act of Parliament. They could now do everything they asked for if they did not sign themselves away. Mr. Foster : The game laws, then, are unnecessary. (Mr. "Willson: Yes.) Then strike them out (laughter). Mr FosTEE, replied that he did not think where there was an excess of ground game, it was satisfactory to any party. The tenant always felt himself aggrieved. He had never known a landlord, when a tenant came to take a farm, say he should keep an unlimited quantity of game on that farm. Generally he said he should keep a moderate quantity ; but not to the tenant's injury. Whoever would with his eyes open go to take a farm if the landlord said he should ,keep an unlimited quantity of game upon it ? But he knew where, after farms had been taken, the game had been increased. He could mention cases almost innumerable where that was the case if he were so disposed. On Mr. Willson's own showing the game laws were unnecessary to preserve ground game, because that was left to agreement between landlord and tenant. Why then retain them ? Why were they not struck out of the category altogether (Hear, hear) ? Why should the semblance of law be preserved ? With respect to partridge shooting, to which Lord Berners alluded, he did not believe any tenant farmer ob- jected to partridges, or that there were any but would rejoice to preserve them to an unlimited extent. He could not quite understand what Lord Berners said with respect to land letting for so much for partridge shooting. He thought the ground game must be included, or it would never have let for the rent Lord Berners stated, 528 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Lord Bernehs: Tlie baronet who hired my partridge shooting had nothing to do with the rabbits; they were the tenants'. Mr. TosTER : But hares, my lord ? They were well aware that public opinion was being aroused on the subject, and what he (i\lr. Foster) wanted to do was to anticipate public opinion a little and take the wind out of their sails. Do not let them wait until an agitation was got up, and they were compelled to consider the (luestion. There was a loss to the country in food occasioned by the over-preservation of ground game to such an enormous extent, and the public were becom- ing so thoroughly aware of it, that if they did not miud what they were about, tlie game laws would be done away with al- together ; and perhaps be might say the sooner the better, because he did not believe they were of any use. Ground game was an unmitigated evil, and he could not see the necessity of retaining laws for its preservation (cheers). The subjoined resolution, proposed by Mr. Foster, was carried by a large mnjority : — " That, in the opinion of this Chamber, the over- preservation of ground game is fraught with much mischief ; seriously tends to diminish the profits of the occupier of the soil, tends to increase crime in the rural districts, aud dimi- nish the food available for the supply of the population of this country ; aud that the time has come when the Goverument should be urged to take legislalative action ou the game-laws, and that in any legislation thereon, ground game should be struck out of the category." At riymouth, Mr. W. Snell thought the question they had met to discuss was narrov^ ed down to between the owner and occupier of the soil as far as any real grievance was concerned. The occupier too frequently had great cause to complain. He knew by and bye he should be asked why it was so, and be told that when they took their estates they could object to that reservation clause of game and rabbits if they liked, and if they didn't it was their own fault. If, however, lie objected to the reserved clause when he went to take a farm, the land- lord himself, or his agent would very soon bow him out of the office. Therefore, generally speaking, the tenant-farmers of England had no choice. If they farmed at all they were obliged to do so with that reserve clause hanging over their heads. Their complaint was that the clause so inserted by the owners was in too many instances abused. He would explain the position in which farmers were placed. As the popula- tion increased there were greater openings for professional men and tradesmen of every kiud, but it was not so with agricul- turists, because the farms, instead of becoming more numerous, were being reduced in number; therefore they w-ere obliged to take the estates on the terms which the landlords chose to dictate. Besides, they could not be blind to the fact that the land was in the hands of comparatively few persons in this kingdom — ha dul not say whether that was right or wrong — therefore, when the few liad to deal with the very many, they were to all intents aud purposes in the landlords' hands. As to a fair reservation of game, he did not believe there was a farmer present who would have the least objection to it. They were quite anxious that such a head of game should be kept as would enable their landlords to enjoy rural life. He would be the last to wish to drive them out of the country, as they knew very well their usefulness. All the farmers wanted was sim- ply to settle the matter fairly aud reasonably, that at the same time the landlords liad their sport aud amusement no injustice should be inflicted ou the tenants. It frequently happened when a farmer was about to take an estate he went over it, and he found, although there might be a certain quantity of game, no actual damage done to the crops. Then, perhaps, he entered into a lease for 14 or 21 years, but there was always this entering a man's head, that in two or three years the land- owner might die, or he might alter his views, or sell his pro- perty, and then in came a new mau who put his keepers on in tlie plantations and waste, and iu an artificial way he turned out his hampers of rabbits and bred up such a head of game as might eat up the farmer's crops alto=cether. The farmer then was entirely at the mercy of the landowner, without the slightest legal remedy to gain redress. The agricultural iu- terest was of the greatest importance in this kingdom, and auytliing that acted like a dead weight upon it — that iiillieted an injustice upon the farmer — must be an injury to the com- munity at large. After quoting instances in whicli the power under the reservation clause liad been abused, he observed that in the West of England, as a rule, such reservation clause was inserted in tlie lease, and the result was that however plenti- ful the rabbits were, the tenant-farmer dared not kill them. If at Christmas, when his sons came home from school, he wanted a little amusement, what did he do ? The first thing was to go to some under-keeper, then to the head-keeper, next to the steward, afterwards the landlord, and at last there was a day granted for him to have a shooting party to kill rabbits, on condition that a gun was not filed, except the keeper was present. When the day's sport was over, the keeper ex- pected to go in and sit down with these farmers quite on terms of equality. That was putting a farmer in a position iu which he ought not to be placed. These vermin had been brought up on his produce, and yet he dared not kill one of them, except in that degrading manner. It was a thing to which no intelligent body of men, such as the farmers were, could continue to submit quietly. He wanted the legislature to in- terfere in the matter, so that the occupiers might have equal rights with the landlord, as hv as the ground game was cou- cerned. He was quite willing that the landowners should have the winged game. He believed such a law would tend to a more moderate preservation of rabbits, and if the land- lord only said to them, " I hope you won't be shooting until I have had my time with the partridges or with the pheasants," he was sure they would all accede to it. With regard to Devon and Cornwall, he did not know that they were much molested by hares. Still, if they called on the legislature to interfere, they must not look to themselves alone, but to the agricultural community generally. They could not dissever rabbits from the hares, and if a law could be framed in sucli a way that the ground game should go with the land, he thought the sting would be taken out of the game laws, and the ill-feeling between landlord and tenant would be removed. Then it was said, " You must not interfere with the rights of property ;" but the day had gone by for that argument. Her Majesty's present advisers had promised to introduce a land bill for Ireland, where they were going to interfere between landlord and teiiaut, and there was no gentleman, wlio studied politics, who did not admit that some measure of the kind must be carried. Therefore that was a precedent. If they were going to interferfi in Ireland, why should they not do so with regard to that evil of game in this country ? Formerly they took their estates subject to the tithe law, but it became such an intolerable grievance to the agricultural interest, that they did away with the law, and commuted the tithes. He hoped they would never be driven to agitate the question of the game-laws ; but he would tell the landowners that they never meant to submit quietly to the present state of things. If they were driven to it, they would resort to combination and to agitation, not iu any secret society, but in an open, manly way, and they would educate the people on the ques- tion, and then with confidence they v\'ould leave it in the hands of the British Parliament. But they did not want to be driven to anything of the sort ; all they wished was for the landlords to take the matter in their own hands, and make that concession without its being extorted from them. The farmers must be looked upon as a different class to what they were formerly. In days gone by the landowners were educated country gentlemen, and the agriculturists unfettered serfs ; but now there was not that disparity in general intelligence be- tween the two classes, and they could not expect that the far- mers were again going back to that state of things. Mr. W. IIaddall pointed out that the tenant farmer was entitled to a little consideration, inasmuch as he was expected by the landowners generally to possess an amount of capital equal to the value of one-sixth of the land he occupied. The result of the existing Game Laws was not only an amount of bloodshed, but, as a necessary accompaniment, there was an enormous tax on the county rate in the prosecutions whicli followed. Another important feature to ratepayers was the amount of pauperism resulting from the Game Laws. If a gamekeeper, who had a wile and nine or ten children, were killed, it would be an exceptional case to fiud the owner of the soil provide for the family. As a rule they were generally thrown on the public rates. There was another phase in which to look at the matter. Where a gentleman had a large quantity of land, perliaps he let the shooting over certain manors at £100 a year. The person who took it expected to get value for his money, and no doubt he bartered the game, and a profit w«s made out of the rental. If they investigated I'HE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 529 tlie iii.ittev, tliry would sec lliut thai profit \v:is paid at a public loss, for there were so many bags of barley a week, and so many tons of roots lost to the public, in consequence of the cousuiuption of the game wliieli was thus bought and sold. In taking possession of sucli an estate a tenant, if be was aware tiiatit was worth so much for shooting, knew full well that be must give that £100 a year less rental in consideration of the destruction of game, and the consequence was that the rates appertaining to that £100 a year were thrown back ou other amounts that were paid in the respective localities. lie thought they would all agree that the time had come when some better understanding should be entered into ou the game question. Mr. SowTOX deprecated the passing of a resolution argu- ing that the matter could be more satisfactorily adjusted by an arrangement bet\^■cen the landlord and tenant than by legisla- tive enactment. If he were a landowner, and wautod to re- serve game for his own pleasure, he sliould consider be had a perfect right to do so. The interests of the two were identi- cal. Nothing gave the tenant greater pleasure than to pro- vide a good day's sporting for his landlord; but while every- thing was done lo preserve the game, care should be takan that the crops should not be destroyed, nor the land injured. To meet the requirements of the increasing population, every effort should be made to increase the produce of the soil, lie was of opinion that land was capable of producing more than at present, and when they invested their capital their first duty was to see that there was a fair chance of getting a remunera- tive return. Sir Massey Lopes, M.P., said the game question was a vexed and dilKcult one ; but he was quite satisfied that if they temperately and calmly considered it, they were more likely to come to a happy understanding than if they heard, as some- times he v.as sorry to say they did, an acrimonious discussion on the subject. Messrs. Suell and lladdall had brought for- ward the matter moderalcly and temperately with great judg- ment and discretion. It appeared to him that game must be divided into two parts, winged and four-footed. He admitted that an undue preservation of any kind of game was an un- mitigated evil. The battue system which had grown up in this country of late years was un-Englishman-like and un- sportsmanlike, and he would not be sorry when be saw the day for it to be swept away. lie thought that day was rapidly approaching, and that temperate discussions of that kind were likely to quicken it. The question was, whether a moderate preservation of game was an evil. He did uot think it was. Landlords had great duties and great responsibilities, and many of them did not have much recreation. He confessed it was one of the little recreations he had coming from London, perhaps after a hard season, seeing his friends and having the enjoyment of moderate sport. He would say this of his tenantry, that they had always been anxious to show it — that was winged game. With regard to rabbits, he agreed tiiat they were a pest and an injury both to landlord and tenants. But how were they to eradicate them ? Mr. Snell said there should be no reservation of ground game. It was impossible almost to have a hard-and-fast line with regard to that matter. He was the landlord of a great number of small estates, many of them averaging perhaps from £30 to £100 a year. Every one ot those tenants, with his sous, were men who, by the sweat of their brow and manuallabour, had to rear their crops; and if they vierc always running about the farm with a gun in their hand, he did not think it would be desirable for them or their landlord. He admitted that if he had another sort of tenantry, such as were common up the country, men renting i£l,000 or £2,000 a year, he could deal with them very differ- ently ; but the difhculty was to have a hard-and-fast line to meet all those cases. He would admit also that there was a good deal in what Mr. Suell had said about its being hard tliat the tenants should have to keep the rabbits on the estate. But how were they to destroy them ? He had himself given power to hi.i tenantry to net and ferret throughout the year. Hut a few of his men said they could not do if, as the rabbits came from the covers, and they had had leave to trap at a certain period of the year when they could destroy twenty for every one animal — viz., before the breeding season. He thought tliey might meet it in some way of that kind ; but if it was their wish as tenantry to take away from their land- lords the power of preserving a moderate degree of game, they wi^'ild do therabelves harm, [Mr. Snell; We don't ask that.] The tendency of (lie present day was for young men, landlords as well as labourers, to rush into towns, and the dif- ficulty they would find by-and-byc would be to keep their landlords in the country. It was, therefore, the interest of the farmer to give them every possible inducement to remain there, and any little things of that kind would have a benefi- cial effect. But if they were to pass a law doing away with all game, he would not have the same interest in going into the country and seeing his friends as he had at present. In fact, he would have no means of amusing them. If he had no duties and responsibilities in the country, he thought very likely be would prefer the town to the country ; but lie could not but feel that his place was more among them than else- where. They might depend upon it that unless they gave the landlords some inducement they would rather go and spend their money in dissipation and frivolities in the metropolis than live among them. The only part of the resolntion to which he objected was the words " legislative enactment." He agreed with Mr. Sowton that it was far better to leave these matters to the good feeling of the landlords. Mr. Snell had objected to the word " reserve." But they did not only re- serve game in their leases, but timber and minerals. If they did uot do so tliey would ask their tenantry to give them a higher rent than at presant. He thought that was a fair in- ference. And supposing they were to say, " Well, we won't take the game, but let (he tenants have it," he thought there was some reason in saying that if the tenants expected it they must pay a little more rent. They would not like that, and he would not like to ask them for it ; so they saw the thing cut both ways. Mr. BuLLEii denied that the game question was one be- tween landlord and tenant only ; it was one between landlord and landlord as well. Babbits were an infernal nuisance, but he did not approve of the plan of going to Parliament to see the evil remedied, though he thought that if the tenant had the power of claiming compensation in the county court for injury sustained more satisfaction might exist, and disputes might be more easily adjusted. Jlr. B. Snell suggested that landlords should be asked to insert in the lease a clause to the effect that they would re- munerate tenants for damage done by game. Mr. E. NiciiOLLS contended that the resolution did not go as far as it ought. It merely went so far as to say that game should be the joint property of the landlord and the occupier, but he considered the grievance to be so great that there was absolute necessity for alteration in the law to effect its re- moval. It was an undoubted fact that the power retained by the reservation c'.ause in a lease was capable of being greatly abused, and he thought that in a free country like England one man should not possess such an extent of power over an- other. He believed tliat in some cases the tenant would prefer having sheep or oxen to maintain than rabbits. He would move, as an amendment, " That it be declared to be unlawful for any landlord to preserve game under any lease, but it shall' be lawful for any landlord to reserve to himself the right of shooting over a tenant's property." This amendment was not seconded. Mr. W. VosrER, said there was not one tenant out of a hundred who would not like to see the landlord have a good day's shooting, but it was absurd taste to be able to say, " We murdered 100 head in one day." He moved, " That the game-laws be swept away from the statute-book altogether, and that a strong law of trespass should come in its stead." Tills was seconded by Mr. C. Oliver, but after some discus- sion it was ruled that it was simply an alternative resolution, and could not be put until the meeting had decided on the original motion. j\Ir. B. Snell then proposed an amendment adopting the first part of the original proposition, but that after the word " community" there siiould follow—" It is the opinion of this chamber that a clause should be inserted in all agricultural leases to secure to the tenants compensation for injury done by game." — This found no seconder. Mr. N. Stephens took exception to the noble chairman's ruling as to the irrelevancy of Mr. Vosper's amendment. He maintained that if the game laws were abolished game would be increased, for nothing gave a tenant greater pleasure thau to see his landlord enjoying a good day's sport, and nothing was more conducive to a feeling of reciprocity between the two. The Earl of Morley, the Chairmau, said : There seemed to 0 0 530 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. be two points on wliich the members were pretty well agreed, that in the present day over-preservation was carried to an un- due extent, and next, he admitted that no language was too strong to stigmatise rabbits as great pests to the farmers. He quite endorsed aU that had been said that it injured the agriculturist pecuniarOy and morally, inasmuch as it discour- aged him from making increased efforts, seeing that they would be frustrated by these pests of society. Then came the ques- tion how to deal with them, lie could not agree with that part of Mr. Snell's resolution that rendered legislative enact- ment necessary. Such a course would be disagreeable to land- lords, and he thought that it would rather tend to check those feelings of cordiality b'ltween the two classes — (cries of " ISV) — which it was absolutely necessary should exist. He thought most strongly that there ought to be in every lease some clause by which either the tenant should be secured against rabbits, or else compensation should be granted to him. This was but fair to all parties. When a lease had been begun in a thought- less way, without having any of these provisions, and when lialf the term was out, another owner came in the place of the first and turned out a large liead of game : he thought that was a grievance, and there ought to be some remedy by com- pensation for it. The subjoined resolution, proposed by Mr. Snell, was carried by a large majority : — " That the preservation of game and rabbits in leases and agreements for farms is frequently abused, and inflicts great losses and oppression on the tenant, and tlierefore, for the good of agriculture and the benefit of the commuuity, it is desirable that by legislative enactment the tenant should liave equal power with the landowner to kill hares and rabbits." At Leintwardine, Mr. T. Nott said there was one question above all others which it was considered must be deal with ere long, or agriculture would certainly be paralysed by it and succumb to it, viz., the question of the preservation of rabbits, which they all knew to be so detrimental to the interests of farmers, and against which it was impossible forthera to farm. At the present time they were well aware that there were tliousands and tens of thousands of acres of highly remunera- tive land thrown out of cultivation by reason of the preserva- tion of rabbits, and this, it was considered, must be a real grievance to the community at large. Knowing full well that feeling on this subject runs very high, the committee thought it advisable that the present assembly should be reminded, be- fore entering into further discussion on the question, that it would be well for tlieni to be as guarded as possible in their language and expressions. But where the slioe pinches the flesh becomes remarkably sensitive, and he was sure that many persons present had felt the shoe pinch in this respect very severely. However, it was his belief that by deliberating coolly and dispassiontely upon the matter good may result, and the benefit of all parties be thereby promoted. He himself was of opinion, and he believed it was also tlie opinion of many present, that the landlords had really no conception of the mischief and damage wliicli the rabbits were causing. But the mistake lay here — and he was sorry to make tlie re- mark, but he had very good grounds for introducing it — the landlords had taken into their counsels a class of men, and carried out the opinion of those men, who he was satisfied de- rived more benefit from tiie rabbits than anyone else. He therefore thought it was a very great misfortune that a class of men with so little interest at stake, and witli so little re- sponsibility devolving upon them, should be permitted to occupy the position they do between the landlord and tenant, and thus destroy that confidence which they knew to be so necessary for the interests of both parties. Now, he (Mr. Nott) was of opinion that in assessing damages, as was occa- sionally done in this respect, nothing more than a mere per- centage of the real loss was taken into consideration. Tor in- stance : Tno parties were selected to assess the damages ; they generally go into a field of grain, and from what they can hear and from what comes under their observation they assess the damage at £5 or £6 an acre, more or less, as the circum- stances may be ; but they little think of the inconvenience to the farmer and the great sacrifice he has to make in substitut- ing other provisioi.s for his flock during the nest winter. In too many instances the farmer is obliged, in consequence, to sell his flock at a considerable disadvantage. They were all aware, as practical agriculturists, that wlieu a crop of grain failed it entailed a two-fold expense upon the farmer in the cultivation of that field the following year, lor, as a natural result, it would become full of filth. It would thus be seen ^^■hat were the dilficulties which the farmers had to contend with. But he wished more especially to caU their attention to the damage done by rabbits to the pasturages, which, he was satisfied, escaped the notice of too many. It was his opinion that greater damage was done here than anywhere else. For instance, let them go out on a summer evening, just as the day is closing, into a piece of clover or grass, and clap their hands, and they would see rabbits by scores, by fifties, and by hundreds, popping up their heads, and flocking into the hedge-rows, destroying and damaging the crops. But turn their stock into that pasture ; let their horses be turned into it, and they would put their noses to the grass, and snift' the wind sooner than eat it. Again, horned cattle would look at it, shake their heads, and lie down as though tlio- rouglily disheartened, whilst they sink away and fade upon it. However, he believed there was nothing which would breed disease and death among their flocks of sheep like tlie taint and the stench which was continually arising from the herb- age on which they were depastured. Hundreds and thousands of animals succumb to its efi'eets; their constitution gives way, and tliey then find them deiality, cajjablc of growing remuuerativc crops when fairly treated, and, for the most part, eminently suitable for being worked on a system of convertible liusbandry. The dairy is a branch of industry much attended to, and suits the small and middling farmer well, the receipts being immediate, and labour connected with it of such a light nature that it can readily be performed by the fomily. With regard to the feeling that exists between the landlord and his tenantry, we have no hesitation in saying that, judging by what the tenants themselves say, they are on the whole amicable. Judging by what one reads, it might, without the slightest stretch of imagination, be supposed that there was scarcely a contented or happy tenant in the •whole couuty. Ask a farmer how he stands with his own landlord ; is he a screw, or a stickler for his " pound of llesh," and the answer will invariably be : " Oh no! thank God, my landlord is a perfect gentleman, who desires nothing on earth so much as to see his tenants happy. About two years ago we heard a tenant-farmer lay strong injunctions on one of the present members for the county to bring in a Bill securing compensation for im- provements, and for a considerable amelioration of the tenants condition generally. The gentleman, very young, and very inexperienced in the world's ways at the time, had yet the tact to turn round at the conclusion of the address, and say in reply, " What kind of a landlord have yon got yourself; is he harsh or unjust, that you speak so strongly ?" The farmer at once i-epudiated the idea, giving exactly the answer we have recorded, and adding that what he said was entirely in the interest of the farming community in general. This is by no means a solitary instance of the reticience displayed by the holders of the soil, when speaking of the gentleman they hold under, and the disposition evinced to praise rather than to blame, when the matter is brought home, and facts required. Where blame is attached, it is pretty sure to be fixed on the agent, and the landlord exonerated. Concessions gracefully given on the part of the landlord are ever gratefully received by the tenant, the latter taking good care that the former shall have the full benefit of the kiud act, by talking of it in- cessantly, and thus doing what he cau in his humble way to raise his landlord in the estimation of the public. The character of the tenantry of Cork County is emi- nently peaceful ; when they do diff'er with their landlord it is not their habit to resort to violence, but to submit quietly to whatever trouble and distress misfortune may have brought upon them. This trait is well known to all who are connected with country matters, and the total absence of agrarian outrage in the shape of attacks on the person goes to prove it. That there may be an un- pleasant feeling on the part of an out-going tenant no one will attempt to deny ; but this feeling is shared alike by every man who has spent a number of years on a farm and goes out of it against his own wish, or on account of misfortune, whether his nationality be English, Scotch, or Irish. It seems to be an inherent law of Nature that the mind of man should become attached to locality, and that in an eminent degree, when that locality is a farm, where he was master, where possibly his father and grandfather before him spent their days, making it doubly a heart-break to him, when he thinks that the little patrimony which they struggled to make a home for their descendants should be lost by him. This is pro- bably one of the most trying circumstances in which a man could find himself placed, and his nature should be more than human if in his heart he did not bear a grudge at the party who occasioned his being thrown on the world, although it was legally done, and the details carried out in the gentlest manner possible. Even when the occupation is so small, that it is truthfully described in the familiar designation, "A spot of land," the feel- ings of sorrow on leaving it are as acute as if it was an extensive farm. Death to many minds is preferable ; and probably if the subsequent history of many an evicted far- mer who had attained middle life was traced, it would be found that he never held up his head afterwards. The practice of selling the tenants' interest in farms is exceedingly common in the county, and large sums are given for possessions, when the farm is a good one, with a good house and otfices, and near a town. The com- petition is frequently so keen that the amount given is out of all keeping with the apparent advantages to be gained. Last month we saw over £300 given for pos- session of a farm, the lease of which had only five years to run, the extent only 95 acres, and the land in but middling condition. This sum, taking the interest of the money paid, at only 3 per cent., exactly doubled the rent for the remainder of the lease, and yet the purchaser paid the money cheerfully, depending upon the honour of the landlord for a renewal on the expiry ot the term, not even asking for a written promise.* Now, here is a fact in connection with the farming interest, which proves that in the South tenant-right is understood and acted upon, and that without legal compulsion there are landlords quite ready to give the outgoing tenant the full benefit of the improvement he may have made, or whatever interest the increased value of land may have created. This farm was advertised for some time, and eventually given to the highest bidder, the only reservation made by the landlord being that he should be satisfied that the pur- chaser should be a man of respectable character, and possessed of sufiicient means to work the land in a credit- able manner. The present agitation, unprecedented in extent and depth of feeling, will not have been in vain, although the whole of the improvements aimed at are not carried out in their integrity, if it yet has the effect of bringing landlord and tenant more together than has previously been the custom, permitting each party to know the other, and showing that on both sides there was much misconception of character, and that honourable conduct and disinterested motives were not by any means so rare on either side as many public speakers have assumed. To give the occupier of the land an opportunity of lay- ing out capital with a reasonable prospect of enjoying the full benefit of his outlay and labour, leases should un- doubtedly be more general than they are, and the term considerably lengthened. We neither advocate fixity of tenure nor yet very long leases, the clause securing full and ample compensation for improvements being almost sure to become legalised at the next sitting of Parliament. This law once in force, the importance of lengthened leases becomes considerably lessened, as on its expiration the tenant becomes entitled to every shilling he has spent on permanent improvements. Eixity of tenure scarcely looks reasonable, and it is difficult to see how any Government, however favourable and anxious to conciliate, could pass a law conferring a property without purchase and against the wishes of the owner in fee. While many men with security of tenure would go on spiritedly, there are many others who would relapse into carelessness upon losing the incentive to exer- tion which is given by an under current of insecurity and uncertainty, the whole law of man's existence being based on this very principle. In Scotland the system of shorter leases 19 or 21 years has worked wonders in * The names are forwarded not for publication, Init as evidence of good faith. 536 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. promoting tlie advancemcut of agriuiiltarc, besides raisins; the valuation astonishingly ; and why may not the same system work equally well here, especially when protected by liberal covenants and righteous comi)eiisatiou'? What- ever may be the result, it is certain that some settlement I must be come to on this momentous question, and it would be well it' the farmers did not damage their own cause by asking what is unreasonable, and so prevent their friends in the Legislature from being able to serve them as well as they otherwise might. ECHOES PROM THE AUTUiMN MEETINGS. DEVONSHIRE. At Woodbury, Sir Lawiie:\'ce Palk, M.P., said agricultural questions were much neglected in Parliameut during tlie past session. Sir M. Lopes delivered an able speecli on local taxa- tion, but no practical result followed it. Sir Lawrence re- gretted that tbe agriculturists generally had not more strongly backed up Sir Massey's ell'ort. Tliey paid a larger amount of rates and taxes than they ouglit to do fairly, and the rates were increasing. He read an extract from the 2Ist annual report of the Poor Law ]3oard, sliowing tiiat in 1805-0 the poor-rate was £6,1.29,515, or Cs. O^-d. per head ; in '6G-7 it was £0,959,811, or Gs. O^d. per head; in '67-8 it was £7,198,001, or 6s. lljd. per head. The number of paupers last year was 993,641, and the previous year it was 931,510. These were alarming statistics. When, many years ago, laws were passed to protect corn, then, in return, certain burdens were placed on the agricultural body ; but now, wlien every vestige of pro- tection was removed, was it fair to impose exclusively upon land the burdens of rates that were constantly increasing ? He admitted that free- trade had benefited the farmer. They had all been alarmed at it, but they had not foreseen the effect which the influx of gold had produced in this country, nor liad they then an idea of the vast extension of railway communi- cation tliat had since taken place. Tree-trade, so far from being injurious to the agriculturist, had increased the value of the produce of tlie land. During all the years stated in the return lie had just read agriculture had been flourishing. Therefore, poverty of the agriculturists had not caused tlie in- crease of poor and poor-rates. On the other hand, the avowed object of free-trade was to increase liritish manufactures and extend commerce. This was the result for some years, but the American war brought tlie cotton famine in its train. Since that, other countries that liad been our cus- tomers, had become cotton manufacturers, and in other staple trades the British manufacturer was now undersold by the fo- reigner, and there was a depression of the manufacturiug in- terest. The abolition of the corn-laws drew away labourers to manufactures, who were now thrown out of work, and hence arose the increase of the poor-rate. The agricultural popula- tion were tlien taxed to support the mauufacturing population who were out of work. Tliey would remember that one di- vergence of opinion between Mr. Wade and himself was on the poor-rate. Mr. Wade said that all property ought to be rated except the funds. He maintained that all property should be rated to the poor including the funds ; but now he would go further, and he woidd say that all ought to be rated except the laud. The Poor-law was injurious to laud and was a bad and expensive law. The present system was different from tlie old one. Until 183itlie test was distress — willingness to work, but want of work ; now the test vi'as destitution. The result was the honest labourer would not go into the Union, because his little household goods must first be sold, aud he must go in destitute, if at all. But to the rogue and vagabond the LInion was a comfort — the refuse of the streets, the vagrancy of the roads all congregated in tlie Union, and it was for this that the agriculturists were rated. If a radical reform were made in the Poor-law, the tenant-farmer would be able to give better wages to the labourer, the laliourcr would not want parish assistance, aud the increase of poor-rate would be checked. As to the harrowing picture ol the state of the agricultural labourer iu the West, drawn by Canon Girdle- stone at tlie British Association Meeting in Exeter, facts were stronger than theory, and taking into oonsideration all the over-time and privileges of the labourer, he ventured to assert that here the wage of a labourer in health was at the rate of los. per week throughout the year. Canon Girdlestone's statement would not bear the test of facts, and he spoke on a subject on which he was either designedly or unfortunately ig- uorant. Looking to the future, the laud question was likely to come before Parliament, for it was impossible to have one principle of legislation for Ireland and another for England. In Ireland, at present, the tenant erected the farm buildings and made tlie improvements ; the landlord only received the rent. That was an indefensible system, for the Irisli farmer was as much entitled to the money lie laid out on liis farm as the English or Scotch tenant was. But further admission than tliat he could not make, because he could not admit, under any circumstauccs, the right of the tenant to confiscate the pro- perty and to pat the landlord in tbe position of an annuitant merely on his own land. If this were done, the right of pro- perty would fade away, and the annuity itself be lost. He thought, however, tlie advantage tbe English tenants enjoyed, the security for capital put into the laud, should beloug also to the Irish tenants. Mr. Kekewich, M.P., said he, like his lion, colleague. Sir Lawrence Palk, had had bis attention drawn to the statement made in one of the sections at the British Association meet ing concerning the condition of the agricultural labourer;;. One gentleman had stated that their dwellings were of the most wretched description, their clothes only fit for scarecrows, and their food only tit for their pigs. Now he (Mr. Keke- wich) did not think it right to raise disconteut amongst any class. Their province was to help the agricultural labourers to raise their condition, not to make them discontented. But the fact was that the labourers Merc more contented than the gentleman to whom he had referred thought. Would indeed tliat tlieir condition were better ; that they had better wages, food, and cottages ! lie, however, could not govern these mat- ters. AVages always must be regulated by the law of supply aud demand. As to the cottages, it was true that some were in a very bad condition ; but within his recollection they had been very much improved. There were also special local cir- cumstances which kept back improvement. A large number of the Devonshire cottages were licld upon leases for lives, the consequence of which was that the last owner was generally so poor that it was impossible to get any dilapidations at- tended to. Tlien it fell upon the landlord, at great expense, to build new cottages, which was necessarily a slow proeeed- iug. He had, however, done what he could ; Sir Lawrence Palk had done a great deal more, and he did not desiiair of seeing the condition of the labourer in that respect very much improved. With regard to the question of wages, he might add tliat in Devonshire there were a great many jobbing men, who earned a somewhat precarious livelihood, but who would not work for less than ISs. to 20s. a week ; and saying this, he did not wish it to be understood that he desired to see the number of jobbing labourers increase, as lie thought the la- bourer who was regularly employed under one master, at lis. or 12s. a week, in afar better position. As to the real stan- dard of wages, he quite agreed with Sir Lawrence Palk. Va- rious plans bad been proposed to benefit the condition of tbe labourer, but very few that were of any service. One was migration ; to move the men to places where higher pay was given. But from bis knowledge of the pbices were more wages were paid, lie did not think that was sound advice. He would not send men away, but he would give them the oppor- tunity to make the most of their labour, whenever they could, all over the country. It had been said that tbe law of settle- ment was abolished, but this was a mistake. If a man lived twelvemonths in a jiarisb, be could not be removed, but the moment he might labour elsewhere he was liable to be sent back to it. He'tliougbt that to be a very great hardship upon TEE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 537 the poor man. It put a stoj) iu a grc.it lucaturc to luigratioii, ami lie coufessecl he shoiikl like to sec the law of settlement entirely repealed. Some remarks had hceu m.ade by (he gen- tleman to whom he had before alluded, upon the quality of the land in Devonshire, as being of remarkable cxeellence, and of the farming as being susceptible of considerable im- provement. Well, there was good farming and bad farming-, good laud and bad land. The red sandstone soil was gralc- lul, and would grow turnips well, but would not raise heavy burdens of wheat. A great quantity of Ihc county was very stilf clay, and iu the north-west there were acres after acres fit only for sujnmering bullocks. Mr. Daw referred to the British A.ssociatiou debate ou the agricultural labourer as " the iguorant discussion of the wild beasts that came from the East." Practice was the true learning. The comparatively " unlearnt" labourer of the country would be found more natty and generally handy than the city-taught man of the same class. With respect to ploughing, he hoped yet to see the day when the steam plough would be introduced here. It did its work better than any other, and increased production 20 per cent. He had persuaded Mr. Walters, of Pinhoe, to think of getting one down for himself and neighbours. I?ut, coming back to the " wise men," he heard a deal of arrant nonsense talked by tliem on the labour question ; and he had the satisfiiction to know that he turned the tables on three Professors on the subject, amidst the roar of the audience. Those Professors were men of talents of a high order ; but they had been mis- led by a resident in this neighbourhood, and gave utterance to sentiments at variance with facts. It was said that for sixty years the condition of the labourer had been growing worse. He affirmed, from his own knowlediie, that the condition of the labourer liad been improving during that period. It was a pernicious misrepresentation to say the contrary. They would recollect " Orator" Hunt — a person who went about tlie country exciting sedition, making enemies, but never a friend ; and he died before he had time to obtain a recompense. But the man who had made the mischief about the agricultural labourer had been handsomely paid for it. He was a clergy- man of the Church of England, who ought to be preaching j)cace ; and he was proposing that the labourers should form trade-unions to discuss their condition, which meant that they were to have a parliament, talk themselves into a passion, and burn down the homesteads. Well, that clergyman had a de- vilish good fat living and a canonry, worth £1,500 a year ; and lie only wanted to be made a bishop, thinking that Glad- stone had now so many to give away. The comparatively low wages of Devonshire were the result of the smaller ca- pacity of work in the labourer here, as compared with his fel- low in the North of England, where he had better food, was therefore more muscular, and could turn out more work in a day. But thiuk of Mr. Bradlaugh, Mr. Beales, and Canon Girdlestone meeting to form a trade-union for the agricultural labourer! Could anything be more absurd ? And nothing could be worse in principle than for a Christian minister to try to set one man against another in this country. He ad- vised the farmers to allow their labourers a pint and a-half of milk a day for their families. It would cost the farmer -Id. a week, and would be worth five times as much to the labourer. At Thelbridgo, Mr. T. D. AcLA^'D, M.P., said : He never knew a Parliament that had sat through the session with such untiring labour and so little waste of talking as this last Par- liament. There were two subjects which were paiticularly interesting — The Cattle Plague Act and the Endowed Schools Act. He would speak to the important aid rendered by Mr. Forster, member for Bradford, in legislating on these questions. The questions of Irish land tenure and elementary education in England would come forward in tlie next session of Parliament. Upon the former he should not now express one opinion. He did not think he had had more opportunity of studying the subject than any tenant-farmer present who had access to the public papers. Their noble chairman (Lord I'orts- moutli) however was an Irish landlord, and had some golden opinions by the good sense displayed in his own management of Irish property. A short and pithy letter on the subject, ad- dressed by his lordsiiip to the public prints, had made a very profound impression on his fellow-countrymen. There were land questions in England to be dealt with, on which he was seeking information, and he earnestly invited all who were engaged in the ownerthip or the occupation of laud to assist him in discharging his public duties by conimnuicatiug to him facts concerning these questions. He had long studied the practical wants of both tiie landlord and the occupier. Ho had fairly spent a quarter of a century in studying these ques- tions; not being in the position exactly of cither landowner or tenant-farmer, ho had looked dispassionately at the interests of botii, andlie could only say that the more he looked into these matters the more he felt they required care and caution in their consideration. This opinion he formed when he left Parlia- ment in 1817, and expressed it within two years afterwards in a publication— that the only way of improving the condition of the agricultural labourer as an economical question was to get more capital expended in the cmploymet of labour, by compe- tent men of good judgment, capable of directing that labour, and that the only way to attain that end was to promote those arrangements which were most conducive to confidence ex- isting between the owner and the occupier of the soil. Ke- gardiug education, England was now iu earnest ou that sub- ject. Let him say one thing. The South of England and the West don't govern England ; but the North had 'a great deal to say ou the government of England. Emphatically the North was in earnest on this subject. There were two plans before the country. One was that of the National Education League, which was in favour of compulsory education and of rating. The National Education Union was predominantly in favour of ex- panding the present voluntary system — supplying its deficien- cies by means partly of rating and partly by contributions from a central fund. He wished to invite the earnest co-operation of employers of labour in the whole of the AVcst of England in facing this question, wliicli could not be trifled with very much longer. Both of those plans had been taken up by men thoroughly in earnest. Respecting the wages question a good deal had lately been said at Exeter. He hoped they were all the better for the stirring up and the shaking up which the philosophers gave tliem ; some of them, he tliought, showed that they themselves had something to learn. But he (Mr. Acland) gained a hint or two which led him to consider whe- ther he did all he ought to with reference to the persons in his service. These matters were working themselves out by the ordinary laws of economy. He thought the better the gentry, the middle classes, and the labourers were educated, the better all would understand each other. But there was one thing wanted more than even education or poli- tical economy — we wanted to be a more thoroughly moral people than we are. Along with the extension of commerce and the prosperity of agriculture there was a great deal of luxury and self-indulgence, a wide difference between the state of the most wealthy and the poorest. These things had forced themselves upon the attention of the whole people. Actual, downright, hopeless pauperism was rather on the in- crease than otherwise. That was one of the most fearful dangers in this country. Lord PoRTSMOTJTn said • Having known the North Devon country from his boyhood, he could bear testimony to the great change for the better that had taken placo within the last twenty years. In drainage, in the pulling down of hedges, and other matters, the improvements had been vast, showing that the Witheridge and other like associations of the district had done their work. The existence of such bodies throughout the country tended to the promotion of education. Let the farmers aud labourers consider what was said at these meetings separating, of course, the \Ahcat from the chaff, then they would certainly derive some good. His lion, friend Mr. Acland had touched upon many subjects. With regard to education, he (Lord Portsmouth) would just remark that iu his opinion, there was no portion of the community more in- terested in its promotion than the farmers of North Devon. It must be recollected that very much depended upon the educa- tion given in the schools of the immediate neighbourhood to the children of the farmers. He, for one, felt that hitherto the State had, in a great measure, left the matter of education to chance. They all knew too well the evils arising from property being put in Chancery. When education was neglected in a parish, children were brought up as criminals, and they were maintained in gaol at the expense of the better educated parishes surrounding it. Mr. Acland had referred to the National Education League. He (Earl Portsmouth) belonged to that League. He would not go into the question of education 538 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. beyond observiug that tlie League wished to promote education, to rescue this couutry from the misfortune of education being only partial. The present system did not reach the bye-lanes of our great cities and villages. Until some system was devised which would reach the whole couutry, we could not say that the people of the country were educated. It w-as very striking to those who thought deeply ou the subject that Prussia had made great strides lately. 'Why was that ? Thanks to the promotion of education iu Prussia — tliere it was universal, while here it was partial. It should be recollected that " knowledge is power ;" speaking as the father of a family, he considered that one of the first duties of a parent was to see that his children were properly educated. Education was in itself a fortune to a child. There was one thing he would say to the agriculturists of Devon — let them know that those who told them that the spread of education would be injurious were the enemies of themselves and their children. He would now turn to speak of the importance of starting a farm with a sufficient amount of capital. An office clerk in good employ- ment was better off than a man starting on a farm with in- sufficient capital. PvCverting to the question of education, he felt that with a good education a young man could battle with the world. The advantages of education were manifold, and they would forgive him iu saying he believed the doctrine that there could be no satisfactory education without religion. Without religion education was injurious — nay, a disgrace to any nation. Unless education was based on the main princi- ples of Christianity, of what practical value was it ? But he would not dilate on this subject ; be would pass on to say that many persons were now making complaints that those who now emigrated did not get on so well as emigrants used to do. The labour market in the colonies had to a great extent been glutted. The depression of the labour market in the United States was such that farmers' sons with a small capital of £200 or £300 might do well there, while they would be starving as ismall farmers in England. The system of competition by tenants prevailing in this country had been the means of raising rents, and it might be said, raising them unduly in many cases. The consequence w'as that in many cases where rents were raised men only barely lived and only hoped for good seasons to keep them from bankruptcy — (" Bravo.") He called attention to the subject because there was a field for enterprize in the United States. Property in America, in consequence of the depression since the war, had diminished in value 50 and even 75 per cent., and there men with small capital might do well. At Kingsbridge, Sir M.vssey Lopes, M.P., said : The pro- gramme of the National League was secular education, free, com- pulsory, with local rates. The first principle was that theyshould have education without religion. With that hedid not agree. He would not insist upon sectarian vieW'S, but he held that all education should be based upon the Bible, and all otherpr o- posals he would oppose. As to free education, he held tha t it would not be so well appreciated as that which was paid for. Of compulsory attendance he asked, was it to be com- pulsory on the parent or the child ? If they were to use the police, it would make them more unpopular than at present. He need not tell tliem that he opposed the rating system. Why should they, the owners of lands and liouses — only one nineteenth of the population of that county — pay tJie whole of the cost of education? He would not, liowever, object to pay an educational rate, if all others paid according to their means. Then with regard to local taxation generally, every description of pro- perty should be assessed. Exceptions were invidious and bad. Every man, according to his means, should pay to- wards expenditure rendered necessary for national purposes and objects, and not more for the benefit of one class than for the advantage of the whole community. The ostensible poor- rate was £11,000,000, of which only £7,500,000 were for poor- rates proper. That was raised from one-seventh of the annual income of the county only — a third of that which paid income- tax escaping. It amounted to this— that man who owned real property paid 2s. 2|^d, in the pound beyond men who did not. Supposing Mr. Gladstone were to propose that the manufac- turing interests were to do the like, there would be revolution. But the agriculturists were too much like their own sheep — they seemed to like to be shorn and fleeced. He did not object so much to the portion expended as poor-rate, but to that which was county-rate. Tliere was one item, however, £64<0,000, for the maintenance of lunatics, which, he con- tended, should not be included in the poor-rate. Pauperism was increasing at an appalliug rale — in the last two years it had risen half - a -million a-year. Out of the county-rate the police and militia were paid, which were really charges that the whole population, and not the agricultural interest only, ought to bear. He would say the same with regard to the maintenance of justice. These were items which should be transferred to tlie consolidated fund. The present law affected the landlords. There were many encumbered estates. Why should a man who was the nominal proprietor of an estate worth £30,000 a year with a charge of £12,000 a year pay all the rates and taxes, whilst the man who had the interest paid nothing ? And why should a man who improved his estate pay in proportion for bis improvements, whereas if he had left his money n the funds be would not have paid a halfpenny ? The same was the case if a tenant withdrew his capital from other things for improvement. The labourers, too, suffered from the diversion of capital fi-om the laud, which inevitably reduced wages. The community at large suffered likewise by the diminution of the produce, and discouragement of industry and the paralysing of commerce. No greater boon could be conferred upon the agricultural interest than a re-adjustment of local taxation. It rested with them to back up the efforts of their members. At Newton Sir John Coleridge, M.P., said: No true farmers' friend would think of wasting their time and his own by addressing to them language of mere flattery. The more they respected and wished well to a class of men, the more they would wish to deal with them honestly and truly, and like a man. Anyone knew that it would be excessively unwise to look at any farmers' question from a purely farmers' point of view, for this reason, that practically everyone was aware uow-a-days that questions were not settled in that spirit, and they might safely leave the farmers, as they might any other body of professional men, to take care of their own di- rect and ;iramediate interest. There are one or two matters upon which I should like to detain you for a few minutes. First I would venture to ask — Do you think that the farmers as a class have yet sufficiently grasped the idea of the absolute necessity of considerable improvement in their own education ? Of course you will understand that I speak of them as a class. Of course I am perfectly aware that many of them are men of excellent education, that some of them are men of such high and thorough culti- vation that it would be presumptuous to make any observations upon them at all. But if anything is certain this is certain — that a great and thorough system of national education is the one great necessity of the time. If anything is certain this is certain — that the want of this education is becoming generally acknowledged. And if anything is certain this is certain — that, sooner or later that want is generally acknowledged whether it will be supplied. I don't pretend to aspire to the gift of prophecy. As a mere subordinate of the Government, I have no more knowledge of the intentions of the Government than any other man in this room. But I only say what any man would say possessed of common-sense and using common observation^ that looking at and contemplating the signs of the times, it is tolerably certain that if a national system of education takes place — and I believe that sooner or later it will take place — it will be a system which will not apply itself to farmers as a class, and they will have to find their own education for them- selves. Depend upon it he is the truest farmers' friend who bids them look well to this matter, in order that they may not permit themselves as a class to be outstripped in knowledge and education by the class beneath them. LINCOLNSHIRE. At Lincoln, The Hon. A. L. Melville, the Chairman, said, draining was a subject on which he always professed to know nothing, and for this reason : the land he farmed never required it. Years ago, when he was on the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society, he was asked to prepare a sub- ject for an essay. He said to bis compeers sitting at the CouncU, " We really know so much on the system of drain- age, that I should like to know something on the other side ; let us give a prize for the best essay on " How to keep the TEE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 539 most moisture ou tlic ];iml ? I cau't grow crops without plenty of moisture." The Couucil said it was all very fair, and they offered a prize, although it was a very shabby one. Wlien he looked at the essay the raaiu thiug he saw was this — when the moisture is ou dry land, try to keep it there^ lie (the Chairman) thought that those who were similarly circum- stanced to himself, wlio suffered from drought, should never plough late in the season. They should liuish their work early, and after they had got through i'ebruary they should keep the plough out of the soil, and what was afterwards required should be done by grubbing. He had acted upon that rule with advantage. Another thiug he had found out by degrees, and had come to learn the advantage of, aud that was salt. He thought nothing did so much good ou dry land as salt, as it tended more than anything else to keep the moisture together. He (the Chairman) had a very intelligent gardener, and he told him to do the same ; he had adopted the advice, and was sur- prised at the result. His gardener had this year salted the celery, aud he never had so good a crop. On his (the Chair- man's) farm every crop was salted, whether wheat, or barley, or grass. On his little farm he used two or three truck-loads of salt every year. Some people had said it would destroy the crops, but he asked them to look at his. His son recently obtained a nice living at Welbourn, and he told his father that he should have a bit of the land. There the soil was of quite a different class. There was a piece of grass land, and last year he salted it, much to the surprise of an experienced far- mer who was passing at the time, and who exclaimed, " What are you doing P" His son told him that the land was being salted by his (the Chairman's) orders. Well, a dry summer came, and his grass remained green, while that of the fanner •was brown and burnt up. The consequence was that this year that gentleman had also taken to salting. He advised all who liad light land to use salt. They owed much to their labourers, who were superior to those of any country he had seen. Their boys, too, did a wonderful amount of work, and did it well. It always gave him pleasure to show a friend what Lincolnshire boys could do in a turnip field. Although in this county they paid higher wages to their men, they did not pay more in proportion to the amount of work done. He would mention a striking instance of this. A farmer from Branston went to Buckinghamshire, and he (the Chairman) told him he would find the 13s. 6d. a week which he had paid to his labourers here changed to 8s. or 9s. He requested him, however, to try an experiment — to pay his men the same as he would in Lincolnshire, and see if they did not work better. He did so, and said the plan answered admirably — that he got twice as much work done for 13s. 6d. as his neighbours did for Ds. Six months afterwards, however, he wrote that it was all over. The labourers worked well for six months, and find- ing tliat they regularly received 13s. 6d. a week, they worked the same as the others. The consequence was that as they stopped work, the farmer stopped pay. SUFFOLK. At Newmarket the Duke of Rutland said, he was in the root-yard before dinner, and admired the magnificent roots that were there exhibited — mangolds, swedes, and common turnips ; but when he went into their fields he did not see such good roots, and he asked one or two of his friend how they could explain it ? They said they did not quite know, except that it was tJie lightness of the soil, and these roots were grown on stronger and heavier land, and the light soil was more accustomed to be influenced by the temperature, and so on. That might be, but he remembered in former days seeing fields of magnificent roots, which struck him as being, on an average, larger than those of the present day. It has also been said that the crops now-a-days grew well up to a certain time, and then apparently the root died away ; some- thing seemed to blight them, and they would dry up. Was there not some difference in the manure they now used ? Did they not now make use of a large amount of artificial manure ? Did not this artificial manure in some measure account for the failure in their turnip crops ? He would ask some gentleman to try half-an-acre with farm-yard manure as against the artificial manure now generally in use. Turning to another question, he must characterise the present age as one of adulteration. Our cream, our butter, our wine, it did not matter what — our politics, and even our religion, and last, though not least, our seeds— were all adulterated. He was happy to think, however, that amongst the great waste of liarliaraentary life, his noble friends — Lords Manners, Roys- ton, and llervey — went through last session, there was one Bill passed by a relative of his which he thought was a sound and wise one for the prevention of adulteration of seeds. It was impossible not to regret deeply the bad state of trade at the present moment in tlie manufacturing districts — it was a fact that could not be denied. He was not now going to say what might be the cause or the remedy ; but our friends there as- sure us that they are on tlie very verge of ruin — that they can no longer employ their people, that the poor's rates are in- creasing enormously and every day, that the foreigner can com- pete with them in every industry in which they engage ; and what did they ask P Simply for inquiry. They say, let the Imperial Legislature inquire into our distress, and see what re- medy can be proposed. And for that hard epithets were used towards them, that the Duke would not repeat ; but he thought that if those epithets were just, or could be justly used towards any class of people, they certainly could not be used towards those who were suffering as they thought from Imperial Legislation. That question must be inquired into by Parliament. But whatever decision might be come to as to the facts of the case, and the remedy, he thought it quite clear that now that we had given the foreigner the advantage we had done — in giving him access to our coal-fields, and a knowledge of our machinery, and further, our industrial eshi« bitions, advantages which we had for years and years held to ourselves — that, let the Legislature come to what decision it might, it can only be by increased means of education that we can compete with foreign competition and be able once more to raise the trade of this country to that glorious position which for centuries she had held before. And this brought him back to their agricultural fields, and to the question of education. He believed that the agricultural peasant was as well if not better educated than a similar class in larger towns. He beheved their education had increased greatly of late years ; and he agreed with the remarks of his noble friends and Major Fryer that education should be extended by all means, but certainly that it would be infinitely better to ex- tend it on the principles which now regulate it ,and above all, n the words of his noble relative, that that educatien should be based upon rehgion. At Lavenham, Mr. T. P. Hitchcock said : We had hear^ a good deal lately of the condition of the agricultural labourer and we had read a good deal about it in the newspapers, Now the primary object of the Lavenham Farmers' Club was to improve the condition of the agricultural labourer. If they offered piizes for labourers and got them to compete for them they improved their labour and made them more skilful, and by that means enabled them to earn more money and thus im- prove their social condition. At the late Social Science Con- gress Canon Girdlestoue, the great would-be-improver of ag- ricultural labourers, said no deductions should be made from wages for beer or eider or for wet weather, that if they were made they enabled the labourer to eat more at one time than another, as if they were to claim for the agricultural labourer alone of all classes perfect immunity from "all the ills the flesh is heir to." They might as well say the labourers should never be ill, should never grow old, and should never be like every other man. How was that to be ? It was perfect rub- bish. The farmers did not pretend to be philanthropists, but they lived among their labourers, their interests were to a great extent identified with those of their labourers, and he was sure they were as much the friend of the labourers as those theorists and visionaries who went trudging about the country talking about what they knew nothing about. There was a time when it was said that England did not want to grow any wheat, and people who said they could not be wrong told the farmers if they had not employment for the labourers to send them to the cotton mills, and they could employ them all ; that if they could not grow wheat it was no consequence, that free-trade would supply all that England wanted, and so long as it involved only the ruin of the farmer it was all right. But free-trade only answered the purpose of these people when it suited themselves, and now they began to talk of what they ought to have talked of before — reciprocity. But it. was no use talking of it now that they had thrown away the weapon they formerly held. At one time they had the command of .540 l^HE FARMBE'S MAaAZINti. (lie^orld with tlieii- mauufiahues, but iiow llicy were no louger in tliat position, and in every town ou the contiueut op- ponents were springing np. They liad said, " We will take all the corn we want from America and they will take onr ma- chinery and manufactures." But what was the case ? Our manufactures were excluded from the Western world by a pro- hibitory tariff, and the Americans might put such au export duty ou their raw cottou as to shut us up entirely. These tilings showed these people that they were not altogether right in all that they had said and done. Mr. E. GcEENE, M.P., said : The agriculturists were charged with being protectionists and against free-trade, but the very men who now talked about the labourer talked as if everything was to be done under protcctiou. However, we have free-trade, and he said let us have it fully and have a full and fair competition. They should do all they could to raise those about them, and this they could do by a variety of means which he contended were for their own interest. He did not think they would find that cottages would be built very largely ou philanthropic grounds, but he contended that no invest- ment to the landed proprietor would pay so well. It might be jjerfectly true in a direct form he got but a small percentage for his outlay on cottages, but in au indirect form he did, for a farm with good cottages for the labourers was worth more than one with none, the occupier of which had to draw his labourers from a distance of three or four miles. Then there was the subject of education. He was in favour of education, and to show them his feeling about it (for he hoped he should never say in public what he did not carry out in private) he would tell them that every boy on his farm was educated during winter, but he was not in favour of compulsory educa- tion. He was, however, in favour of a kind of compulsory education. Up to a certain age — whether ten or eleven he must leave to the judgment of others — a boy should not be al- owcd to go to regular work unless he were educated to a cer- tain extent. If his parents chose that he should be a dunce he might be a dunce, but he should not earn anything until he was 10 or 11, and they would find the parent would have an interest in sending him to school, and he believed that system would be found to answer. They all knew that the very best men they had had about them had been men who could not read and write ; but at the same time in a Christian country it was not right that the people should be ignorant ; and, therefore, the sooner they considered the question the better, and let tliem have a measure — not to jnit boys in a country place ou half-time, to work one day and rest another, but some system such as that lie had spoken of. He should be glad to kuow with what success they had met in growing beet for sugar. Last session they were not fortunate enough to pass a bill for a separate market for foreign cattle, but he was satisfied that it would be found by Government that unless there were a separate water- side market for live cattle we should never be clear of disease ; and he honestly believed the disease brought into this country by foreign cattle had done us more harm and had had more effect in raising the price of meat than would have been caused had we never had a foreign animal brought into the couutry at all. Mr. Meciii said : Let them make up their minds never to use a man where they can use a horse, and never to use ahorse where they could use a steam engine. This brought him to the question " Have we capital enough for the purpose ?" It could not be denied that they were going now from the ex- penditure of a small capital to the necessity for a large one in agriculture — a much larger one — and if they had not got it themselves they must get it from some one who had got it. They did that practically in the matter of steam engines, for if they could not afford to have one on tlie faun, or if tiie farm was not large enough to cmjiloy one fully, they went to some one who had capital and had embarked it in au engine which he was willing upou payment of lair interest to let to them. But he was not a believer in agriculture being short of capital. Go into what place he would, he could find a number of quiet comfortable ineu with very large capital invested in everything but agriculture. He could point to a place near him where a very respectable gentleman told him he could not afford to put up covered yards and steam engines, but he (j\lr. Mechi) knew that gentleman had £-W,000 out in loans and mortgages. He wonld not admit tliat there v.ab a \vant of capital ; what was wanting was the belief in (lie power they had to invest the capital. They were not in a different position to the manufacturers, for the history of all manu- factures was that those engaged in them were at iirst opposed to all the most profitable and interesting inventions that were brought to bear upon those manufactures. Let them re- member how, in the early days of railways, great cities looked upon the railway engine as a horrible thing and would not have the lines brought near them, and what had been the consequence ? Why, they had had to make lines at great ex- pense to bring them into communication with the great sys- tems, simply because they would not believe in the advantage of railways in the first instance. Let both landlord and tenant open their miuds to this fact, for recollect that agricultural improvement must be done by landlord and tenant for their mutual benefit. One improvement must strike every landlord, as it struck him that day, when he saw a nasty awkward corner of the field they were cultivating interfering with those two engines of I'owler's. A great nuisance existed there, causing loss to the farmer and deterioration in the value of the land, so that the tenant could notatford to pay to thclandlord the full valueof thefarm. A greatiuanyyears agohc(Mr. Mcchi( made waruponthepoUardsofSufl'olk, and he believed it had been admitted, although he was a good deal abused at one time, that a good many of these nonsensical pollards had succumbed to their attacks. But they had not half done the work yet, and their enlightened landowners — they were enlightened, but, like the tenants, their prejudices could not be overcome at once — must be convinced on another point. They still retained a love for the rural and forest-like appearance of the country arising from the many hedgerows and small fields, but when they thoroughly understood that these horrible little fields and liedges were the cause of such a loss both to themselves, and to the tenants who invested £800 or £1,000 in engines for steam cultivation, they would no longer wish them to exist. Everyone would see that if a tenant made a greater profit he could afford to pay a better rent to his landlord, and, practi- callly, that was what would follow improvements. Were they aware what is the produce of this kingdom per acre ? He had had to look out what the produce came to, taking the United Kingdom, and he believed from the best authorities our present produce does not exceed £3 13s. per acre. He would tell them how it was. Half the United Kingdom is iu pasture, and a great deal of it is poor, miserable, wretched pasture, which is robbed for the sake of the uplands and other good land. Be- fore our country can take her proper position, before she pro- duces the 365,000,000 eggs a year that Col. Parker told them we import from abroad, these worthless grass lands, which on the average do not produce more than 403. a year, must be made by cultivation to produce, as some of theirs produced as he had heard that day, '20 tons of good beet, worth £20 an acre. Was it right for them to allow the present state of things, when this land could be made to produce more ? Let landlords and tenants lay their heads together and give up old prejudices, and the belief that they were short of capital when they were not, because they were lending millions to foreigners — something like £300,000,000 sterling — and cease to cry out " Where is the money to come from ?" — that was a little piece of hypocrisy ; and when they were convinced, as they were being convinced, that it answered their purpose to take £30 an acre for a good crop of beetroot, let them not spend it all when they had got it, but put a little back iu the shape of cake, and a little in corn. This led him to the ques- tion whether it was profitable for them to support this excel- lent sugar manufactory, the only one existing in the United Kingdom. To arrive at a proper conclusion, he would ask them what would the bullocks pay them for this twenty tons of beetroot, and how much the manure they make was worth ? The question was not yet solved, whether it would paythcra better to sell the beet to the sugar-maker, or to feed bullocks on it. He had heard it said tliat it takes a ton of beet to make 14'lbs. of meat and, perhaps, five or six shillings' worth of manure; aad if that circulation were correct, and (hey could grow twenty tons of beet au acre, it would pay tlieiu very handsomely to sell it to the sugar-maker. He had been laughed at a great mauy times, but he farmed for profit, and he obtained it by draining his land, throwing down fences, having all the laud growing- spraething, feeding a large quan- tity of cake and corn which did not grow on liis laud. He THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Ill tlms UKiJft a pvollt for both laiullorJ aiul tenant. Did tliey believe in liis prol'its P [A voice: No.~i Jlo tbongbt not (langhtri). Tiiat was a very bonesit ansvv(^r, and bo expected some sucli reply from some quarter ; but be was tiiere to speak the trutb ; and be could only tell them tbis, that on bis farm, which was almost all arable (lie bad only Iburtecn acres of grass), be found he bad £16 an acre capital as tenant, and he found that was nut enough ; and he could not bold his corn as lie would like, but bad to sell a good deal of it to buy bul- locks, lie wanted £20 au acre capital as tenant. If they asked him bow it was invested, be would tell Ibcm. There was £6 an acre in live-stock when be took stock, which was at Christmas; bis tillages, which were deep, and included all manure, came to £3 10s. per acre; horses, £1 per acre : im- plements, between £,i and £3; and the unsold stock, corn, &c., be Imd came to £3 or £i an acre, which brought up his capital to £10 an acre ; bat he could make a greater profit if be bad £x!U or £2'i an acre to laud all arable, excepting four- teen acres. That was a question of pounds, shillings, and pence. Was it better to put £20 on one acre than on two acres, with two rents, tithes, and taxes, two seeds, and so on ? [Mr. II. Eiddell : And two crops.] They would grow maxi- mum crojjs as large on one acre as, with ordinary farming, they would on two, and that was the way he made his profits ; and when be told them bis profit on 170 acres was something like £G12 a-year, they would think it was not so very bad, con- sidering that be was an apron-string farmer, lie could not do it with £10 an acre capital, nor with £13, but be could with £16, and be could do more with £20. lie knew many tbougbt £10 an acre was ample ; and if they bad plenty of poor grass, it was, bat not if they bad all arable land. The great want, especially if they grew roots to sell off tbeir farm, was more manure ; and there was no way, bis experience bad taught liim, of producing tliat manure so cheaply, and of sucb good quality, as by feeding animals under cover on wliat did not grow on the farm — cake, especially, and corn — that was better than all the artificial manure, except in some peculiar soils wbcre superpbospbate was needed. Then, as to tiie treat- ment of manure, wbeu they bad got guano it would not do to put it down in tbe fiinnyard and lot the rains of licaven wash it away — if a man were to do that they would think he was in- sane or a grout fool, but that was just wbattbey did when they allowed that still better guano tliey made at home to be so washed and turned over and made into muck heaps by the side of tbe road and rained upon. They were in so doing making a fatal economical mistake. They who had seen bis crops would know whether the estimate be v/as going to give tliem were correct, lie got bis bailiff to measure his root crops be- fore be came, and he found on each square rod 78 roots ave- raging 71bs. eacb, representing 39^ tons of long red mangels per acre, and tbe globe mangels with the same number of roots to tbe rod came to 37-|- tons an acre. How were such crops liroduced on poor land wbicli let before he bad it at 18s. or 20s. an acre ? It was by drainage, deep cultivation, and above all by tbe consumption of 20 tons of cake and corn fed under shelter, taken like hotch-potch pudding, directly from under the animals and put on to tbe land and ploughed in like guano. The finish of the rotation on part of his farm was two wheat crops — white wheat followed by Kivett's. lie was asked Vi-hat he had after wheat, and he replied that he rested it with 40 tons of mangolds. That was his resting crop, and he could not make it except with the quantity of stock be kept, and if be could get it oft' in time he went in for another wheat crop. Let them have their land clean, and get their landlord to drain it for them and put up good buildings, paying him a fair interest, and they coidd increase tbe food for the people grown in tbe kingdom from £3 to £10 or £12 an acre, and tlins retain in tbe kingdom a large proportion of tbe £70,000,000 a year we pay for foreign produce, including tea and articles of that kind. But then came the question, did they put all this food which they consumed on to tbe land again and thus increase their crops ? No, we are only coming gradually to that, and the gentlemen in Ipswich, Norwich, and other large places, are just coming to believe that if thirty mil- lions of sheep are good for tbe land, so if thirty millions of people were added to the thirty millions of sheep in mauurial power we should be in a different position with regard to the production of meat and other food to that we now occupied. Tiiat was a question for tbe towns, and it was a question for the agriculturists too. He knew a party who had the grant of all the sewage of uortli London for fifty years, but what was lb(5 use of carrying gas or coals to people who won't have it ? lie believed the corjiuration of Norwich bad taken 1,300 acres of buul, and were going to pump tlieir sewage on to it, and they bad ■tlrcady been bid £6 an acre for the land on which the sewage would be used. A very eminent man connected with Liverpool bad informed him that jieople were willing to give 25s. ii day for tbe use of a two-inch pipe of sewage, and at that rate they would get a very good return for tbe large invest- ment in machinery. That enormous stream of food that goes into London should come out again. It can come out again into the country provided they were all prepared to say — land- lords particularly, for it was to tbeir especial interest — that wbeu it is brought they would pay a fair price for it ; such a price as would leave a satisfactory profit, because none of these tilings woidd be done without a profit. Let them believe him it was fur tbeir interest that landlords as well as tenants should work together to make agriculturists as free as they coal J. lie could not agree with Mr. Hitchcock when be said if JManchester vv'as in ruins the land would still prosper. Mr. Hitchcock. No. no. Mr. Meciii : Don't believe it. Your beef, mutton, and com would not fetch the Cprices they do now if you could sweep away fiom England that which employs the largest number of her children — her manufactures. It was her manufactures that made her great and wealthy, and it is through them that she will retain her greatness. I hope we shall see town and country united for their mutual good, and with no jealousy between them — and that buyer and seller may see that they are necessary for each other's profit and the good of the country. Mr. IIiicitcocK said ilr. Meclii misrepresented him when he said that he (Mr. Hitchcock) stated that the country would prosper if these great towns were in ruins. He said no such thing. "What he said was that their fields would be cultivated then, and in proof of his assertion he pointed to the campaijiiii of Home, which was cultivated though Rome had fallen. He did not mean that they would be equally prosperous, and, said Mr. Hitchcock, wbeu I said " you," I did not mean you, but your posterity long years to come. Mr. Mechi : I forgive you now. Mr. W. BiDDELL, the Vice Chairman, said they had been asked for their opinions with regard to the sugar-beet. He had not experienced those great crops that the sanguine araong them expected last year, but be had come so near them that he was inclined to grow a greater breadth next year if JMr. Duncan would offer the same inducements that be had done this year. He believed when they selected their seed they would improve both in the bulk and quality of their crops, for be could not but think the seed they bad was very bad. i'or his own part Mr. Mechi's statements required a great deal of digestion before they became assimilated into his (Mr. Bid- dell's) agricultural system ; but at the same time they bad to thank Mr. Mechi for a great many things. He did not agree with all Mr. Mechi's experiments, and he should not be wrong if he said that be agreed with very few of them, but as Mr. Mechi had become public property, and possessed such a won- derfully good temper, he did not feel any diffidence in making some comments upon them. He must think Mr. Mechi, wbeu called to a better world, would leave his mark upon the day in wliich he lived. Did they know what had been the efl'ect of bis crusade against thick sowing? He would tell them. Tiiere were about 3.^- million acres of wheat grown a year in the country, and he did not exaggerate when he said Mr. Mechi had decreased tbe quantity of seed by half a-peck per acre, and spread over tbe whole breadth grown that half-peck per acre became a great saving of food, and a gain to the country of be- tween £100,000 and £200,000. A man who bad done that deserved well of bis country, to say nothing of his war against pollards and his advocacy of deep draining. Not that he (Mr. Biddell) was altogether one of those who believed in five or six feet draining, but they were going wrong when Mr. Mechi set them right. Mr. Mechi was one of the sanguine people who were the leaders of tbe world. It was they who look steps iu advance of the common run of people — sometimes they Inoke tlieir necks over the obstacles, 'but without them we should not have advanced as we have. As to the heavy outlay of wliicb Mr. Mechi spoke, he could understand that by making a double outlay of £20 an acre he could largely in- 542 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. crease his produce, but the difficulty remained that they could not get two crops iu one year. He had never seea the year wlieu a double crop was obtained to pay for this double outlay of capital. Mr. Mechi said the Tiptree Hall land was not poor land. The other day some of the land adjoining his, of the same quality as bis was, unimproved, undrained and with fences like las had when he bought it, was sold for £25 an acre. He had no doubt tliere were portions of his farm on which four quarters aa acre had been grown — perhaps 35 acres. In 18-i2, his land was undrained and full of fences, aud lie was told that the yield of wheat that year was oue-and-a-half quarters an acre. Last year he had 75 acres of wheat which averaged six quarters an acre, and that was some improve- ment. Having built a very large barn, he was told by all his friends that he should never fill it, and consequently he was rather spariag iu his first purchase of rick frames, but bought four ; the next year he bought four more, and then added another four, and this year he had his barn aud rick frames full aud stacks besides. He believed the time was coming when no bullocks vi'ould be allowed to range on the land or pastures, but all would be kept under cover, and he advocated folding sheep on the laud with iron liurdles, changing them twice a day, and taking the proper mixed food to them, aod they would make more meat at a cheaper rate and manure the land better than by being allowed to range on the old system. Another thing he wished to mention was that whilst everyone around him had the foot and mouth disease, none of his bul- locks under cover had taken it, aud in the same way lie escaped the cattle plague. NORrOLK. At Eynsford, Mr. R. Leamon said, if the interest which they got for the outlay they made was not so much a source of profit to the large proprietors as they could wish — and there was uo class in existence holding the extent of property they did, which received so little remuneration for their outlay — the tenant farmers received as small an amount in proportion to their investments and exertions as the landlords did for theirs. He should like to see some calculation made of what an acre of land would produce under the four-course system, so that not only the landlords but tlie public might be made aware of the present position of t!ie agricultural class. There was a little mention made of this at Docking by Lord Leices- ter, which might, perhaps, carry away the public. It was, he would admit, honestly reported and honestly stated, but im- perfectly understood. The statement he alluded to was that an acre of laud might, under certain cultivation, produce a net profit of £17. The object of his lordship in making that re- mark was for the purpose of showing that the Irish tenantry occupying an acre or two of land under spade cultivation pro- duced some £3-i a year. He gave that statement to show that Ids labourers earning 15s. a week, were better off than the Irish peasantry occupying the one or two acres of land. If they could ouly produce £17 nett profit on an acre of land they would be in a far better position than they were now. With all the advantages of steam cultivation aud spade labour, the land cannot be cultivated with profit only under the four- course system. There was another great point whicli ought to be considered — that was, whether the large amount they paid for artificial manure, in order to grow an extra coomb of w-hatever it may be, was a source of profit ; and wh(;ther it did not lead them aud the public at large into an error which should be avoided. He would openly state that they often spent an extra amount in the extra cultivation of the land, while if they would ouly weigh the extra one coomb four bushels against their extra expenditure they would find tliey lost as much as they gained. If they took the trouble to weigh tlie eight coombs naturally grown, and the nine coombs grown artificially, the eight coombs would give as much weight as the nine. In the nine coombs they lost in starch, aud also iu weight ; and he would tell them that wheat raised artifi- cially would not bear so much water as the wheat grown naturally. Let them consider that they were bringing an extra coomb of barley or wheat on the market, aud making the corn averages fictitious, which they ought by al) means to avoid. ESSEX. At Great Braxted, Mr. F. Fowler said : The question was, Does poultry-keeplug pay? Perhaps just now, when pigs are selling at very high prices, it may be more profitable to give the dross corn to them ; but, generally speaking, lie was sure poultry did pay. Mr. Fowler, of Aylesbury, who is cele- brated for his poultry, says that his poultry-yard has yielded him a return of £500 per annum for many years past, and the profits vary from £G0 to £80. He is very successful in prize- taking, he cannot expect every one to be so, but he leels sure a profit of £10 per 100 acres on all farms ought to be made Irom poulh-y alone. Iu Norfolk there are market people who make a good liveliiiood by their traffic iu poultry. Their custom is to purchase the poultry aud eggs from tlie farmers in their neighbourhood, and take them to Norwich market. Every Saturday the large space opposite the Tuwn-liaU is filled with them ; tliese are the persons who purchase young turkeys of the farmers every autumn, and fatten them for the liondon market at Christmas. If poultry-keeping does not pay, it ought to do so, when the Loudon public are content to pay 7s. and 8s. for a pair of spring chickens about the size of part- ridges, and 2d. for eggs called Euglish new laid. The best food for fowls is barley aud wheat, barleymeal and oatmeal ; and for ducks the best food is tallowgreaves, soaked or boiled in hot water, and then barleymeal and bran mixed with them in the liquor altogether. Grains mixed with barley-meal are very good ; all whole corn given to ducks should be thrown into water. Oats thrown into a pail of water whole are the best for geese. SOMERSETSHIRE. At Martoch, Major Paget, M.P., said, you know that during the last session the last remnant so-called of " pro- tection" w;is taken away, and the duty of Is. per qr. on corn, which produced a revenue of something like £500,000 a-year, was abolished. I should just like to give you one or two figures — I -will not keep you long — figures that will give you some idea of our enormous imports. One very singular fact is the immense importation of eggs. I don't know who are the people who buy the eggs, or who are the hens that lay them (laughter) ; but tlie infinity of eggs brought into England is something remarkable. You would scarcely believe it, but the fact is taken from the returns of the Board of Trade, upwards of 1,000,000 eggs are imported into England for every day in the year. I don't know if you would " realize" 1,000,000 of eggs. AVe can all have a very fair idea of hundreds, and perhaps some of us have the luck to understand what a thousand is (a laugh) ; but when you go lieyoud that, and come to your hundreds of thousands and millions, an ordinary mind fails to realize what the amount is. Well, in the first seven months of this year 293,000,000 eggs were imported into England— 293,000,000 in 222 days. As to the imports of stock, they also are largely increasing. At this minute they are upwards of 100,000 a-month. There have been already, in the half-year of 18G9, something like, in round numbers, 500,000 sheep and 200,000 beasts. What I wish particularly to draw your attention to is this, that all those enormous im- ports of wheat — 65,000,000 quarters in the first six months of this year — those enormous imports of wheat, and stock, and cheese, and various other things, are all made entirely free of duty. And such is the feeling, such is the temper, I am con- vinced, of the people of England generally, that it is utterly and entirely futile for anybody to expect that a fraction of duty will ever be made on any of these articles again. That is a thing which makes the question of reciprocity intensely difficult. Because reciprocal feeling must go upon this idea, " We will admit the goods of other people free, if they vt'ill take ours free." The difficulty consists iu this, that all j'our meat, wheat, cheese, aud your eggs and provisions, they are duty free ; and they will always be duty free. HERTFORDSHIRE. At Tring, Mr. Tke.vuwell said : With reference to the question of pauperism — he knew he was touching upon dan- gerous ground, as he was speaking in the presence of many persons who were themselves members of boards of guardians — he thought, uuder the present system of unlimited liability to which they were exposed, the line should be drawn some- where, and the ratepayers should be looked to as well as the paupers. Persons who were able to work should not be ad- mitted to the workhouse. Although he was willing to admit that the allowance to inm.ates of workhouses was generally THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 543 scanty enough, lie thought one of the things wliich guardians should insist upon was a less amount of medical relief ; and he thought it would be a good thing if they could instil into their labourers' minds the idea of paying about -Is. a year to a village medical club, so as to be out of the temptation of running to the parish doctor when they had any ailment in their family. When a man seeks medical relief, it is often the stepping-stone to becoming pauperised ; and when a man once becomes a pauper, he is not ashamed to always remain so. These agricultural meetings he regarded as good oppor- tunities for landlords and tenants to meet together and ex- change opinions ; and he thought they did a great amount of good. He had never been called back by his landlord for what he had said ; and although he had said sometimes in the heat of the moment what he should not perhaps say in his cooler moments, he always thought it was best on these occa- sions to speak one's mind. If their legislators would think more, he would not say for the agriculturists only, but for the whole people of England — if they would think about the price of meat for the people at large — they would not legislate so as to encourage the introduction of disease among their cattle, but would try to direct their legislation so as to keep disease from their shores. The introduction of the cattle disease meant dear meat, dear milk, dear butter, and many other things which were felt by the entire people. He had been to London as a humble representative of his district, to state their opinions on the subject, and they had been listened to very attentively and very courteously by Mr. Forster ; but he said they had other inllueuces to listen to. He was glad to find, however, that the Government was beginning to find out that their opinions were the right ones ; and they had been compelled to order the slaughter of cattle at the ports of de- barkation. He felt that they would soon go further, and before twelve months had elapsed that they should have all that they had been asking for. He did not want protection ; all he asked for was protection from disease. BUCKINGHAMSHIRE. At Amersham, Mr. Cheese, the Chairman, said: There was an opinion very prevalent in some quarters that the agri- cultural labourers were a class very hardly put upon ; but this was a very wrong impression, and the way in which Canon Girdlestone had spoken on the matter was very bad, and was calculated to make the labourers dissatisfied with their lot, and lead them to a great deal of unhappiness, without im- proving their position in the shghtest degree. The fitrmers of Somersetshire had at last riseu up against the accusations which had been made on the subject, and they now said he must eat his words or prove them. They were prepared to prove that the labourers in that part of the country received wages at the rate of £40 a year, besides beer and cider, and that there was no truth in what he had said and charged the agriculturists with. As regards the labourers, a very great deal depended on themselves and their homes as to the posi- tion to which they would rise. If you associate him with filth in his early life, he would have no desire to improve his posi- tion in after years ; and, on the other hand, those who had taken pains with their homes, &c., were sure to get on com- ortably. " Cleanliness was next to godliness." One great requirement with respect to the labourers was some good, clean, healthy cottages, and this was, in most cases, well looked to now by the farmers and landlords. As the old adage went, " If you put a man in a pigstye, you could make a pig of him." He was sorry to see that so many old men, who had endeavoured to do well all their lives, were not able to get comfortable homes in which to end their days. He knew an instance in their town of a good old man who had ended his work as a labourer, and who told him that he looked forward to that place down the street — the workhouse — as the last place for him on this earth. Now, he thought something ought to be done to enable them in their old age to rest and die quietly in their own homes. As regarded the question of education, it was all very well to say they must have a certain amount of learning ; but he did not agree with that. He thought they should have a general education, but they could not thrust it on them. They might give the boys an education so that they could enjoy life, and if a man could read and write, and had a comfortable cottage, he would not go to the clean, sanded floor and bright light of the public-house of a Jiight after labour. As Mr, Mann had said, it was not to be done in a hurry. If they could provide better cottages than the hiljourers had at i)resent, they would be doing them a very great good, and he also thought that they would be doing great good to the farmers as well ; for if a man went home at nine o'clock at night, he was not in a position the next morn- ing to do his master justice. NOTTINGHAMSHIRE. At CoUingham, Mr. Hildyard, M.P., said he was very glad to do, as he had done at other meetings, the greatest justice to Mr. Forster.who had the conduct of the Bill, and to bear witness to the right hon. gentleman's wish to meet the views of the agricultural interest. He gave way on every point he could without upsetting the principle of the Bill, and they were all very much obliged to him. They were content to hope that the Bill was nearly as good as themselves could have made it, aud though they liked their own child best, he believed Mr. Forster's Bill would do good, and he hoped it would work well. They had already seen that one contagious disease had broken out in various parts of the country. That was an old disease, however, which did not kill much, though it enfeebled the beast, and was certainly contagious. The Go- vernment had pressed an order in Council, making stringent regulations, and leaving the local authorities to carry them out. He (Mr. Hildyard) thought that was quite right, and they had to thank Mr. Forster for so acting. Then there was the Habitual Criminals Act, giving greater security to life and property, which he considered a good Act. He also ap- proved of the Beerhouse Bill. They would be aware that until this year anybody could get a beerhouse license if he got six householders paying a certain quantity of rates to back him. The same mau might have been refused a license for mis- conduct in keeping a public-house, and yet could go to the excise authorities and get his beer-house license in spite of the magistrates, and in the face of the great majority of the ratepayers in the parish. The measure was brought forward by Sir Selwyn Ibbetson, a Conservative member, who was so backed up by the members from the big towns as well as by the agricultural interest, that it was allowed by the Govern- ment to become law for two years, and in tlie meantime the Government were to bring forward the whole subject of licens- ing. These were the three bills which most interested the agricultural community. YORKSHIRE. At Beverley, Mr. W. H. II. Bro.vdley, M.P., said he would take that opportunity of testifying, and he believed it was the feeling of almost every agriculturist in the House, to the great pains and attention which Mr. Forster, the gentleman whose name was at the back of the Cattle Diseases Bill, and who had the conduct of it through the House, bestowed upon the measure which he introduced. He did not think Mr. Forster was an agriculturist when he took the Bill in hand, but during its process he certainly became one. He was most courteous to everybody who had any observations to make to him, and he listened to suggestions and adopted them too. He (the speaker) really believed after all that the great differ- ence between the Bill which Mr. Read, as the mouthpiece of the agriculturists, would have carried, and the other, was merely this, that the former believed that the cattle plague was normal in foreign countries, whereas the other said it was a chance occurrence or calamity. That was really the differ- ence between the two Bills. Lord De Grey said : The Cattle Diseases Act has been made specially elastic, to make it applicable to diflferent sub- jects and districts ; and a large descretion has been left to the action of the Privy Council, because, if we had placed restric- tions upon them, you must have gone to Parliament for any alterations in the regulations ; but by laying dowu general principles, and leaving details to the care of the Council, all that you have to do is to get two members of the Privy Coun- cil ton-ether, in order to settle and determine what should be done in any emergency that may arise. Within the first week of its passing we had a great and serious outbreak of the foot- and-mouth disease, and by its means we have been enabled to deal with such cases as have arisen. We don't take any great credit as a Government for this bill, because we ascertained the views of the agriculturists before we took action iu the U4> THE PABMER'S MAGAZINE. matter. I believe lliatai'lerascertuiiiiiigtiic vicvvs of tlie ngri- culturists we differccl from them oi\ one poiut, arising from the (litliculty in providing for the wants of London and our large towns ; and on the point to which I allude we felt that it could not be provided for by legislation. However, we did endeavour to ascertain what were the views and opinions of agriculturists upon these questions, aud we did that which has enabled us to deal with a great outbreak of this particular disease. SURREY. At Worplesdon, Mr. Cuuitt, M.P., said, the agricultural interest might not be so fully represented now, nor might new agricultural subjects claim attention, but they had had sharp de- bates and divisions on the Contagious Diseases Bill, and though everything necessary had not been done, yet within the last few weeks they liad gladly availed tiiemselvcs of such provi- sions as had been made. He hoped they might congratulate themselves that the measures taken liad checked the disease, aud prevented very serious results. His wish was that the agricultural interest miglit not appear in the House of Parlia- ment, for whenever a particular interest was knocking at the door of the House of Parliament, it was a sign tliat it was in an impoverished condition. As a proof of this, he need but refer to the case of tlie cotton operatives. The best thing which he could liope was that the agricultural interest might be kept as clear as possible from Parliamentary interference, and tiiat it miglit continue as prosperous as now. He had often spokeu of the dilliculties of farmers in that neighbour- hood. They were farmiug under suburban conditions, but yet M'itli urban markets. It was not for him to point out to tlicm the advantages of those markets. He believed there was in their power quite sulticicnt to reconcile them to the difliculties in wliicli they were placed. Though they might see fields dis- appearing one by one, aud mauufacturing and commercial in- terests spreading, he did not believe that the farmer would be in future a whit less prosperous than now. Sir William Bovill, the Lord Chief Justice of Common Pleas, said: When he had the great pleasure of living at Wor- plesdon, although not well accustomed to the processes of agri- culture, he did his best to set an example in the cultivation of the soil, but he signally failed in competition with the farmers of Worplesdon. His experiments were miserable failures. He failed, with all his endeavours, to compete with Messrs. Burt aud Coussmaker. So it was with liis team, he tliouglit he would ornament his horses, and he was told that the bells and ribbons frightened other people's horses. He always found liimself beaten by the sound good sense aud practice of the farmers, and if Mr. Hooker had pounced upon his laud, the only good part he would have found would have been that ma- naged by his friend Mr. Burt. WORCESTERSHIRE. At Teubury, Mr. T. H. D.vvis said, a farm ought to be to a certain extent self-supporting — that was, the produce of the farm ought to make the manure. He was certain if he showed them his hooks there would be a large expenditure for artificial manures ; bnt this could not be done with advantage where a farm was eight or ten miles from a railway station. He saw on nearly all the farms a greater breadth of swedes ; and, although on some farms they had been a failure, there was nothing to indicate that the land had not been carefully attended to. With such seasons as they bad luid last year and this, it was almost impossible to secure good crops. He was also pleased to see a great improvement as regarded the neatness of the hedges, and the root crops were certainly very much improved. Eorty years ago he was laughed at for saying a time would come when they would be able to get as \aluable root crops as were grown on the light soils, but this bad come to pass. AVith regard to the grass lands, a great improvement was taking place and would take ])lace. To sell everything oft' the farm with artificial manure must be attended with heavy expense, and was not the style of farming which would suit persons not having abundant capital. Lord NoiiTinvicK remarked on the benefit likely to accrue from the prizes to labourers, and pointed out that there was great room for improvement in the matter of skilled labour. As to leases, it must depend on tlie custom of the locality, aud till.'? custom, whatever it might be, he was willing to follow, but lie did not see the good in leases which some people did. AYRSHIRE. At Kilmarnock Cheese Show, Mr. Hewitt (cheese factor, London), after acknowledging the terms in which the services of the judges had been recognized, said he was exceedingly gra- titied with their exhibition. It had been the first time he had been at their show. Althoughb be had been about fifty years in business, and though he had beeu all over the country in various directions, and on the continent, this was the first time he he bad been so far north. He liad to express his great sa- tisfaction in the first place with the arrangements for the exhi- bition of the samples, and the selection of premiums, and with the arrangement for the disposal of the cheese at the fair. He had been to Chester, to Derby, to Reading, to Salisbury, and in fact, in all directions, but he had never seen better arrange • ments, and the secretaries and gentlemen connected willi them deserved great praise. Witli regard to the classes which he and his colleague had been called upon to judge, they had taken the greatest possible care and pains to arrive at such decisions as were perfectly just and agreeable to the merits of the case. It was one of the amusing features of the exhibition to see when the cheese was cut about 200 people crowding forward to criticise the opinions of the judges. He hoped that every person concerned and interested was satisfied with their selections. He saw from the programme that the judges were expected to offer a few remarks on the articles in the departments on which they were judges. He knew they did not want long or learned speeches at a dinner-table, but be must say in regard first to the quality of the cheese that it was exceedingly good. Its condition, freslmcss, firmness, and solidity, and the manner in which the fibre stood up showed that it bad been well handled, manufactured, aud put together. With regard to the flavour he must also speak in high terras. They had seen aud tasted about iOO cheeses, and tiiey had found no bad-flavoured cheese. A little bitter aud over-heated cheese there might be, but none of what dealers called bad cheese. He had seen cheese ex- liibitcd in Cheshire, in Derbyshire, and American clieese, the flovour of which was such that they could not put it near their mouth. There was a rank flavour about it, and a strong smell as of garlic. He had seen nothing of that sort among the sam- ples which the judges had to examine here. Everything was very good, and only wanted as much more improvement as they felt themselves able to accomplish. They liad done a great deal in a very few years, but that only showed them how much more they could do. If they wanted to see what might be done, he would ask them to give attention to what had, aud was, being done by the Americans. The first cheese they had from America uot long ago seemed to combine all the worst flavours they could imagine ; it seemed like a combination of tallow, soap, and turpentine. Now the Americans were aiming at beat- ing them in every department, and had succeeded in beating some of their English counties. It was in the power of the Ayrshire cheese makers to make as much improvement as the Americans bad done, and when they did they would reap the same reward — find a good market for their produce, aud good prices. There was oue point in which the Ayrshire cheese he had seen were deficient, and that was colour. Cheese should be of two colours. It should be either pale or coloured. If it was pale it should not be white, but of a rich cream colour ; if it were intended to be coloured, it ought not to be a deep red or of a foxy colour, but a bright straw colour. To-day the judges had seen a good deal of cheese, which was neither pale nor coloured. He would say that coloured cheese met the best market, thongh there was always a limited demand for pale cheese. With that exception be saw nothing further that they could do. Their show of cheese to-day, representing somewhere about 300 tons, could not be beat in any part of the South for quality, condition, ripeness, and everything necessary for the market. Their cheese, and their cheese- show, would stand comparison with any market or lair in the United Kingdom. Mr. Osborne (Glasgow) said that as far as his experience went, the show compared favourably with the cheese he had seen there during the last five years. His colleague was of opinion with him, that the first cheeses were no better than they had been for the last few years, but they were unaai- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 545 mously of opinion that there were fewer inferior cheeses exhi- bited ; and, as a whole, they were decidedly superior to what they had seen shown a few years ago. Then with regard to the cheese fair and the Diinlops — a department with which Mr. Hewitt had nothing to do — he might say tiie stock was unsurpassable. He was glad to observe the improvement that liad been made, because when he saw so much work made about tlie cheese fair, and so many distinguished people gathering from all quarters to witness tlie show, he thought that cheese must be an important article, and to trade in it must be a highly respectable occupation. Mr. B.MUD (the chairman) said: If they all did tlieir duty — the landlord to the tenant and the tenant to the landlord — they would be able to bring still better cheese to the market. He had been introduced that day to the gentleman who intro- duced the manufacture of Cheddar cheese into tliis county, and he asked him why so many prizes went to Galloway, llis re- ply was that the farmers there had better houses. That, he (the Chairman) believed, was the real cause of their success, lie did not believe it arose so much from the grass being better. Tlie gentleman he spoke to said, " No cheese could be good unless they were well kept. They reqiiired a great deal of room." The cheese shown, however, was excellent, and he had never seen better ; but he believed if there was better ac- commodation for the farmers of this county there would be far more of this good cheese produced ; and he hoped to see the day when every farmer would have good rooms to keep llis cheese in. FROM « THE GALLEllY." Though Colonel Ruggles-Brise ('' Phajbus, what a name !" as Byron said of Amos Cottle) has made several, wliat may be called when speaking of an ex-dragoon, plunges or caracols about the gangway on the Opposition side, somehow they were not recognized by the House as feats of witching membership. Indeed, the gallant member may be described as seeming to be in a state of excited anxiety to say something, but in the cruel dilliculty of having either nothing to say, or if he had con- ceived anytliing, in his struggle to bring it out overleaping his powers and uttering something which was by no means what lie meant to state. Not tliat he is without a certain pleasant manner, Ahonhomie, and a sort of honest blutfuess ; but it is palpable that lie has not yet escaped from the heavy-dragoon piiase. Sucli being the exponents of the feelings and aspira- tions of that portion of the electors of Essex who come to comfort each other in these days of Tory depression, it is not to be wondered at that the utterances were not merely a jere- niiade, but a palinode ; and it really almost seemed as if that from this " sacred Caaba" of Conservatism there came forth an announcement that perhaps it would be just as well not to parade the old political faith just now, but even to tend to- wards the acceptance of the new. — The lllustrutcd London News. THE ROSS AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. The annual show was held at Ross. The cattle classes had twenty-seven entries, and the whole of the animals were exhibited, besides a few that were sent as extra stock. In tiie classes for bulls — in which there was but little compe- tition— some useful animals were exhibited. The prize for the best bull more 1,han two years old foil to Mr. M'Dougall, of Benhall, who defeated Mr. Drinkwater, of Treribble, and Mr. J. Bennett, of Ingestone. Mr. AVilliam Brown, of Lewstoue, took the prize for the bull under two years old, the only other competitor being Mr. John Wigmore, of Bickcrton. The class for pairs of breeding cows and their calves had also two en- tries, Mr. T. S. Bradstock being successful against Mr. Jas. Bennett. The classes for heifers produced a little more compe- tition, and brought out some very good animals; the competi- tors in each class being JNIr. M'Dougall (first in both classes), Mr. Bradstock, ]Mr. T. P. Brown, and Mr. J. Wiginore. There was also lack of competiton in the classes for Shorthorns, the largest enti) being two : INlr. Beever showing the best bull, while Mr. Theyer, of Walford Court, took the prize for in-calf heifers under thr? e years old without competitor. The reiuaia- ing classes were open ones. The sweepstakes for pair of year- ling steers fell to Mr. Richard Loveridge, of the Callow, with Ilerefords, Mr. James Bennett, also showing Ilerefords, being the only other competitor. In the class for breeding cattle iu proportion to the acreage of laud in the occupation of the ex- hibitor, the Rev. W. II. Beever, of Pencraig Court, was placed first with eight Shorthorn cows and heifers of various ages ; Mr. M'Dougall being second with five Ilerefords, and Mr. T. P. Brown highly commended for six Herefords. This was a very good class, and we may note that Mr. Beever's cows — in which the Royal Butterfly blood largely prevails — included Mine Own, the winner of many prizes ; as also Lady Cul- shaw, a red heifer, which distinguished herself last year at the Royal Show at Leicester. The sheep department was of course the strong feature of the show, as it always has been. The longwools came out with great force, and were generally marked by such great merit that, in addition to the prizes, several corameudatious were given by the judges. The ewe and wether lambs of Mr. .John llartland were pronounced to be unusually grand, remarkable alike for scale and symmetry, with extraordinarily good fleeces. The ram classes were not so well represented as we have seen at some previous shows. In the short wools, Mr. Armitage's Shropshires were at the head of the list in every class ; but the prize for ten breeding ewes was not awarded, there being only one entry. The show of pigs was a small one, several of the animals which had been entered not having been sent. Sir Herbert Croft sent the little Berkshire boar which won at Ludlow, but the same success did not attend him here. The Black Suffolk prize sow, belonging to the Rev. W. II. Beever, is the same animal that took a prize in her class at the Royal at Manchester, and is of a very useful stamp, but she was closely run by Mr. Charles Kearsey's Berkshire sow. There was very fair competition for grain, the quality of which, both wheat and barley, was very good ; and there was also good competition in the several classes for roots, for which silver cups and money prizes were offered by several manure manufacturers and agents. The implement show was not very large. At the dinner, Mr. Wken Hoskyns, M.P., said: He un- derstood that a strong desire existed in AVorstershire and Glou- cestershire to join with Herefordshire, and to hold in each of the three county towns alternately a great agricultural show (Cries of " no, no," " no amalgamation"). For his own part, he felt uo doubt that a movement of that kind would be most beneficial and valuable, while it need not affect the existence of small societies, like the Ross one for instance, which might still have their local shows and local organisation, subsidiary to the general organisation. He should like to see done for Herefordshire what Mr. Holland was doing on the part of Gloucestershire, and Mr. Dodeswell on the part of Worcester- shire, which was in fact almost the original scheme upon which the Royal Agricultural Society was established — an ab- sence of all political feeling, and a determination that there should be a great agricultural society, which should sink all minor differences in the promotion of one great and common object. STEAM-PLOUGHING AND FOX-HUNTING.— At a dinner given at Chelmsford, to Mr. Scratton, who is giving up his hounds, he said : " There was one point upon which he looked as a matter of congratulation, and that was deep cultivation by steam. He believed such cultivation was for the benefit of the land and for the benefit of the occupier of the land ; he was quite sure that it was for the benefit of fox-hunting. Deeply cultivated land, although it would bear hounds, would not bear horses. Mr. Offin (the new Master) had done a great deal with steam cultivation on his occupa- tion, and he believed that in future the members of the hunt would see the field dividing right and left of the line of the fox. The hounds would run with nobody behind them, they would be free to exercise their instinct, and the field would have more enjoyment of the thing from being where they ought to be. The fault of a great many gentlemen was that they would ride directly after hounds, and some rode along with tliem wiien they ouglit not to go near them. He looketl then, upon deep cuhivatioii as favourable to fox-hnnti'og. V P 546 THE FABMER'S MAGAZINE. CUEIOUS SCENE AT A BOARD OF GUAEDIANS. TO THE EBITOU Or THE MARK LANB EXPRESS. SiE, — The Central Chamber, not content to be the centre of communication with all the local chambers, has endea- vom-ed to enlist the support of aU the Boards of Guardians in England and Wales as well ! and a circular was sent to all the Boards, inviting their co-operations on their rating question. At the Sherborne Board, however, this eii'- cular had not " turned up," whereupon Mr. Andi-ews, a member of that Board inquired, a few weeks ago, if such a circular had not been received by the clerk ; who did'nt know, but would look for it, when the important docu- ment was found in the n-aste-paper haslcet. At this IMr. Andrews very was wroth, and gave notice that he would, the week after, propose that it be taken into considera- tion. The report of the Sherborne Journal, of the 21st iust., enclosed, wiU teU you what took place there, and the other report of the 28th winds up the mat- ter. Really this Chamber of Agriculture would be some- thing if it could. The attempt to obtain the support of Boards of Guardians, however, was a most irregular pro- ceeding, and was treated by the Sherborne guardians as it deserved. Yours very truly, A Tarmek and Guardian. Odoler %Uh, 1869. On Thursday Mr. Genge Andrews summoned his supporters to attend him at the Board-room of the workhouse, and carry a resolution in favour of a circular letter which Sir Massey Lopes and others have addressed to various Boards of Guar- dians. As usual, on such occasions, out Guardians, whose faces are seen scarcely twice a year in the board-room, came in, and there were six-and-tweuty Guardians present, including ioMX ex-officios, viz., the Cliainnan, John Goodden, Esq., B. Littlehales, Esq., E. Benthall, Esq., and the Rev. J. Blenner- hassett. There was a very short relief list ; that for the northern district, which includes the parish of Sherborne, being absolutely blank. "\'VTien the legitimate business of the Board was over the Chairman rose and observed that lie did not tliink the resolution of wliich Mr. Andrews liad given notice was one that should be brought before that Board. He had now been their chairman 27 years (cheers), and during the whole period of their business had been conducted with the utmost possible good temper (Hear, hear). He was afi'aid of the introduction of the thin wedge of politics (Hear, liear). He was not by any means desirous of opposing tlie principle of the proposed readjustment of taxation, for if any change were made — (lie was afraid it would not be) — he would be a very considerable gainer ; but he did not consider tlie Guardians' meeting was a proper place for the introduction of political subjects. He had written to the Poor-law Board, and their answer (which he in part read) was to tlie effect tliat the pro- posed committee of Guardians to act with another body could not legally be formed. Of course in their individual capaci- ties Guardians could do as they liked, but tliey could not carry the authority of Guardians with them to Sir Massey or his committee. The Chairman concluded by saying, under such circumstances he could not sanction the putting of Mr. An- drews' resolution. Mr. Andrews professed great respect for the Chairman, but remarked that he was not the board, and declared that it would be most uncivil and discourteous to Sir Jlassey Lopes to treat his letter with contempt. He asked a very small and simple matter, which the majority of the parishes of this uuion had already in vestry sanctioned, with the exception of Goat- hill and one or two others. [Mr. Ruegg : Sherborne ?] No, he had not Sherborne. [Mr. Ruegg : Neither Goatliill nor Sherborne (a laugh).] Mr. Andrews observed Sherborne wasn't the union. He contended that no tribunal could be more fitting to express an opinion on the question of local taxation than Boards of Guardians, and was proceeding to read his motion, when The Chairman s;ud ; No, I cannot aUow the wgtioa to be put. Mr. Andrews : But tlie Board can say whether they Uke it put. Take the decision of the majority (No, no). The Chairman : If you persist in pressing the resolution I shall leave the chair. Mr. Andrews : We can appoint another chairman. The Chairman : No, you cannot. The resolution does not some within tlie scope of our duties, and cannot legally be put. Mr. Littlehales and Mr. W. Ffooks rose to appeal to Mr. Andi-ews, and Mr. Ruegg asked him to stop short of reading his resolution ; but Mr. Andrews refused, and read the follow- ing resolution : " That the letter of Sir Massey Lopes, addressed to this Board, be taken into consideration, and that tliree Guardians he now nominated as ' the local taxation committee' for the Sherborne Union, according to his suggestion." The Chairman at once left the chair, the clerk shut up his books, the ex-officios and most of the town guardians rose, and the field was left to Mr. Genge Andrews and his party. Mr. Sealey was prevailed on take the chair, and the resolution was put and carried, some of those who voted for it admitting a doubt as to wliether the Board meeting was the proper place for considering tlie question. Mr. Ruegg asked what good they had done ? The Guardians' meeting was over, and tlieir resolution was not worth the paper it was wi-itten on. It only lielped to drive away persons who, like himself, were favour- able to tlie fair discussion of the subject at proper times. Mr. Bring fell foul of Mr. Ruegg for bringing up politics three or four months ago. The charge was denied.— (S/ierJorae Journal^ Oct. 31. The attempt to convert our board of guardians into a local parliament, was renewed by Mr. Genge Andrews, on Thursday, but with a failure so complete that we think we have seen the last of these moves in this town. On the minutes of the last meeting being read, which, of course, made no mention of the motion which was passed after the last board meeting was over, Mr. Andrews proposed, in continuation of the minutes to add the appointment of the three guardians who had been named as the local taxation committee of the Sherbourue Union. He was at once called to order, but persisting, the chairman, with unwonted empliasis, remarked : " I will not allow it. I am chairman here. By-and-bye I shall have some- thing to say myself." He then himself called in the relieving ofiicer, and the proper business of the board was proceeded with. When it was over tlie chairman rose, and in a long speech reviewed what liad been done at and after the last board meeting. He declared the resolution of Mr. Andrews im- proper and iUegal, and referring to the observation of Wx. Andrews, " You are not the board," remarked that for 37 or 38 years he liad experienced at their hands great kindness and respect — more indeed than he deserved (No, no.) He should really be much obliged to them if they would relieve him of the duties of the chair. They had gone on togetlier with the greatest harmony, and he feared the introduction of politcs. As to the proposed alteration in tlie incidence of the poor-rate, he thought it a very fit subject for consideration and discus- sion in the proper place ; but he contended that that place was not the board-room. Their duty there was that of guardians of the poor ; they did not levy the rates. In a strain of good- humoured banter, he recalled the old fable of the mountain in labour, applying it to the Somerset Chamber of Agriculture, who had appointed a doctor and a nurse — he woidd not name them (laughter). Much as he himself should benefit if their intentions were carried out, he rather recommended the promoters of tliis new system of taxation to benefit tliemselves in other ways, instancing what had been done at Bradford, where the produce had been doubled, and the rents too. He presaged little encouragement to this movement, if tried on at Dorchester, Weymouth, and Blandford. At the latter place, Mr. Andrews would meet a kind-hearted nobleman, whose acquaintance with this subject of rating had led to liis ap- pointment as chairman of most of the rate committees of the House of Lords, He wa? sure bis Jordsbip would tell hira THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. 547 Ihis was a subject for parliament, and not for a board of guar- dians, Mr. Andrews congratulated himself on having drawn fi-om their chairman the longest speech he was ever known to make. He declared that nothing he had said or could say would diminish the resjiect he felt for him. But he contended his motion was regular, and that the poor-law recognized the ap- pointment of committees. He remarked on the eagerness of the ex-offic'iQS to stop a discussion in which they were so much interested. Mr. LiTTLEii.vLES Iiopcd Mr. Andrews would have the good sense to desist from pursuing irregular proceedings. For him- self he did not wish to stifle tlie discussion on this rating questiou, and if Mr. Andrews would call a meeting at the Town-hall, he should be happy to attend. It was irregular to introduce the subject at a meeiug of guardians, whose duty was to distribute, not to make, poor-rates. Mr. Bentiiall, replying to an observation, that Sir Massey Lopes was not known here, said he had gone down into Devon to vote for him, and would gladly do so again if it cost him double as much. He, however, concurred that this was not the proper place for the discussion of the subject. ]\Ir. RuEGG observed that Mr. Andrews acknowledged the failure of his former proceedings by the resolution which he now sought to put upon the minutes. His error was a too literal reading of tlie Act. Committees might be formed and subjects discussed, but they must be subjects connected with the primary duty of the board— the adjuinistration of the poor-rate. The offcusive observations "You are not the board," and " Sherborne is not the union," were only variations of the old form of abuse " You're not evcryI)ody !" and he thought Mr. Andrews would not attempt to justify their use. He hoped he would take to heart the good advice he had received, and would not endeavour to add to the reputation ho was making, that of being the first person to set that board together by the ears. Mr. Littlehales suggested a resolution of confidence in their chairman, but Mr. Andrews objected to its reception witliout notice. Mr. Ensor remarked that such a resolution, if proposed after notice, would no doubt receive the support of every mem- ber of the board. Mr. Andrews' resolution, not beiug seconded, of course fell, and the board adjourned. If such subjects are often introduced to tlie notice of our guardians as occupied their attention last week, the president will have to be known for the future as " the chairman of the bored." — Shcrhornc Joiirmil, Oct. 28. [Nevertheless, from what transpired at the last meeting of the Central Chamber of Agriculture, the "comprehensive" scheme of the secretary for touting the counti-y for more mouey would appear to embrace some further application to the Boards of Guardians of the kingdom ; while a member of a Chamber writes that he also has sent a circular to " all the Boards of Guardians asking them to tell him how to cure the cattle disease !] REVIEWS. A HANDY BOOK ON PROPERTY LAW. By Lord St. Leonards. 8th Edition. Blackwoods : Edinburgh and London. It would be almost impossible to recommend this work too strongly, giving as it docs all the sense of the law upon every day matters without any of its jargon or technical obscurity. It may not be often safe for a man to act as his own lawyer, but a careful jierusal of this admirable series of letters may fore-arm him and awaken him to the danger he occasionally courts from sheer ignorance or the force of habit. Nor is the Handy Book by any means dry reading, as Lord St. Leonards continually points his essay with anecdotes and illustrations, which serve to show how gi-eat the trouble that may arise from some trifling neglect. Prominent amongst the subjects so clearly treated are the sale and purchase of land, in a dozen or so of really exhaustive papers ; the law of leases and mortgages ; the necessity of looking carefully into the wording of insurance policies ; some excellent instructions on making and signing wills ; the law of father and sou, of husband and wife, the powers of trustees, the validity of securities, and the precautions to be observed in making investments. In fact Lord St. Leonards' Handy Book is a very complete and very trustworthy family lawyer, whose advice may be taken with all advantage previous to in- curring any further expense. EYTON'S HERD BOOK OF HEREFORD CATTLE. By T, DucKHAM. Vol. 7. This work appears to be very carefully compiled, as Mr. Duckham is " proud to say" that he has an " increasing number of supporters," while he has carried out his promise of publishing as an appendix " a list of prizes won by the animals entered." He supplements this, moreover, with a lecture on the Breeding and Management of Cattle, and takes the opportunity of gracefully announcing that in order to " still further promote the interests of my kind friends and the extension of the breed, I liave resolved to place my humble abilities at the disposal of the breeders, by undertaking the duties of an auctioneer." This is bringing the business to a focus, and is all in its way suf- ficiently encouraging. Still useful as Vol. 7 must be to the White-face " fancy," this is not altogether without flaw. For instance, just at the close of the volume there is a great flaring full second title-page as an introduction to a few pages of matter, which Mr. Duckliam himself speaks of as a kind of appendix to the appendix. Nothing could look much worse than this, but the point to the pedigrees is clearly to be found in the illustrations. Speaking of The Shorthorn Herd Book, a corres- pondent of a contemporary said somewhat caustically only last week of the portraits, that " inasmuch as they are not all alike, and differ otherwise than in colour, they are perhaps rather better than usual." But in The Here- ford Herd Book, on the contrary, they are all alike, the instructions having been clearly to follow iu the footsteps of Cumberland the dramatist, who, as Goldsmith said of him, " drew men as they ought to be, not as they are." An ideal Hereford, in fact, is a beast without bump, lump, or any excrescence whatever. In the outset you dr-aw a long straight line above — we cjuestion whether this could be done without the aid of a ruler — then you match this with one equally straight and true below, and head and tail these with two others in as nice perpendicular. The original outline consequently stands thus: — By straightway clapping on a head and the tag of a tail, supported by four tiny clothes-props in the way of legs, you arrive at perfect symmetry, and then, as they say in the cookery books, " colour according to taste." We care not whether it be an old over-done bull or a gaudy patchy -rumped cow, they all come out as cleverly on stone. We are quite willing to allow that the Editors of ? P 2 548 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. other Herd Books have given their countenance to this fabulous creature, but as your Hereford has pretty gene- rally now a days a white face and a red body, there is something of a sameuess about this sort of thing, the more especially as the heads have little or no distinctive cha- racter. The head of Battenhall, for example, in the fi'outis- piece here, has little of the masculine look or robust air of a bull, as it is, the rather, a delicate tapering egg-sucking " nob," and we should hope, not much like the original. We missed him at Hereford, or we should have made the comparison. These meant-to-be flattering representations are really very absurd, as they can serve no good purpose ; for if a foreigner or a Colonist made his purchases in this way he would stare as much on the arrival of his bargain as did Henry the Eighth, who married one of his wives on the strength of a pretty portrait, and cut oft' her head on finding her not up to sample. THE JOURNAL OF THE BATH AND WEST OF ENGLAND SOCIETY AND SOUTHERN COUN- TIES ASSOCIATION. Third Series. Vol. I. Part I. Rid g way, PiccadUly. With the means and matter at its disposal nothing would seem to have been more impolitic than the decision of the Council to make a two-])arts-per-annum publica- tion of the West of England Journal ; but nothing cer- tainly prepared us for the terrible failure in which this alteration has already resulted. Any such mistake is only the more to be regretted from the editor, Mr, Goodwin, having pi-eviously shown how capable te is with fair- play of conducting a work of this design. There was a time, and not so very far back, when the West of Eng- land would bear favourable cora2)arison with the Royal Journal ; but as one has advanced the other has retro- graded, and the organ of the smaller Society offers a fearful example of an ambition which has o'erleaped itself It has become a mere matter of padding, a thing of shreds and patches, a compilation from old newspapei's and other periodicals. There is scarcely an original contribution of any weight in the whole Part. We make an extract of Mr. Stpiarey's letter on the Hampshire Down ; Dr. Peard writes on Oyster Culture, and if we give Professor Brown the benefit of the doubt, and put his paper on the Mouth-and-Foot Complaint in this cate- gory, we have exhausted the novelties of the number. The remainder is a succession of stale and mostly feeble reports on the Southampton Show, Captain Davy's Essay on Devons from the R. A. S. Journal, and a lecture on Laminitis, delivered by a veterinary surgeon at Bristol. " The Note Book" of course professes to be nothing more than cuUings and cuttings — Professor Voelcker's Fanners' Club paper on Adulteration ; How to breed Cart Horses, from the Croydon Club ; Mr. Sidney Davey's Address on Breeding and Feeding Sheep, as delivered in Devonshire some months since, and so forth. Professor Brown's opening on the exhibition of live stock at Southampton is a fine illustration of ob- scure verbosity, pointed by such maxims as these : " In England people do uot ride for the jdeasure of riding" ! — " Crossing the Channel Island breed with the English Shorthorn is a favourite expedient for improving the grazing qualities of the former without seriously impairing the (jnaliti/ or quantity of the milk" ! and so on. The. writer on the machinery and implements at this same meeting is good enough to say of his handi- work that it " possesses much the character of a cata- logue" ; an opinion in which we quite agree with him. It might have been compiled from the catalogue by a man who had never been at the show, the more especially bs not a single word is said gf the field'trials of imple- ments, which were to have been the great feature of ths business when the prize system was abolished. Mr. Tegetraeier writes briefly but usefully, and all to the point on the poultry ; and Mr. Worsnop preten- tiously on the Arts, but his contribution is " not worth the candle" in such a place. The gem, however, of Part I. is Captain Davy's transplanted prize essay on Devon Cattle. This is said to have been " re- vised and enlarged by the author" ; but it seems to us to be still distinguished by its marvellous originality of style. It must be said to his credit that to Captain Davy all persons are clearly alike. He commences with the editorial " we" ; then he drops into " the writer" ; anon, he says, "my opinions have been confirmed"; and, at last, he refers to "Captain Davy, of Rose Ash," as surely somebody else ; until the editor of the Journal, who so far has left his contributor alone with cruel kind- iiess, breaks out in a note with startling intelligence that the Captain here spoken of is " the author of this essay !" But if ever any one needed editing, it is the editor of the Devon Herd Book. As Sam Weller said of liis father's epistle, " Wot a h'incomprehensible letter ! Who's to know what it means with all this he-ing and I-ing!" The management would seem to have quite lost heart when it i)asses a second-hand paper like this in such a state. THE BASINGSTOKE ROOT SHOW. — Swedes : 1st prize, Mr. J. Barton, Basingstoke ; 2nd, Mr. J. Butler, Sherficld ; 3rd, Mr. II. Downs, Basingstoke. Green Rouu d Turnips : 1st prize, Mr. Read, Nutley ; 2nd, Mr. Cobdeu ; 3rd, Mr. Fitt, Littleton. Devonshire Grey Stone Turnips : 1st prize, Mr. Harris, Long Sutton ; 2nd', Mr. G. BudJ, Cliddesdou ; ord, Mr. G. Butler. Wliite Globe Turnips : 1st prize, Mr. Downs ; 2ud, Mr. Read ; 3rd, Mr. Harris. Red Round Turnips : 1st prize, Mr. Bootli ; 2ud, Mr. C. Clift ; 3rd, Mr. E. Cobden. Mangold Wurzel, Long Red or Yellow : 1st prize, Mr. Boxall ; 2ud, Mr. Randall. Yellow or Orange Globe: lstprize,Mr.Boxall; 2ud,Mr.RandalI. ExTii.\^ PmzE.^: £3, for the best crop of roots grown on a farm, Mr. W. L. W. Chute ; 2nd, £2, Mr. Boxall. A Five Giuuea Cup, for tlie best 10 acres of Swedes grown on a farm of more than 200 acres, Mr. Welchmau, Malshauger; 2ud, Mr. A. Oxford, North Waltham. A prize of £2 for the best 10 acres of inaugold-wurtzel, Mr. J. Butler, Sheriield. A prize of £3 for the best three acres of mangold grown on an upland or hill farm, Mr. Cobdeu ; se- cond, Mr. C. Clift ; third, Mr. Read, Nutley. Best four acres of turnips grown after a green crop, Mr. G. Budd ; second, Mr. Cobden. Best 10 acres of swedes, Mr. J. Wigg, Basing ; second, Mr. Bootli, Sidmonton. Best piece of mangolds, not less than tliree acres, Mr. W. Cliiite ; second, Mr. Randall. Best piece of swedes, uot less than four acres, Mr. G. Budd ; second, Mr. W. Chute. Best collection of roots, Mr, Harris. Long Sutton. NORFOLK CHAMBER OF AGRICULTURE.— At a meeting held in Norwich, Mr. C. S. Read, M.P.,in the chair, on the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. J. Brown, it was resolved, " That this Chamber considers that one uniform system of weights and measures should be adopted tliroughout the kingdom, and that the stone of 141bs., and the quarter of 8 bushels should be the customary as well as the legal standard of all markets;" and on the motion of J\lr. Winearl, seconded by Mr. Day, " That in the opinion of tliis Chamber the present system of taking corn averages is unjust to the growers." DEATH OF MR. WILLIAM CHEFFINS.— It is witli much regret we have to record the decease of this gentleman, which took place at Hammersmith on Saturday last, November 20th, after a long and trying iUuess. Mr. Clieffins, who was 61 years of age, was well kiiokvn as an architect and surveyor ; he was also one of tlie original members of tlie Fanners' Club, before tlie members of whicli society he had read papers on subjects with which his profession had mads him more specially con versanti THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. HO SHORTHORN SALES. MR. ROWLAND WOOD'S. At Clai'ton, by Mr. Stuaii'Oki). I'our years ago Christmas holiday folks at the Crystal Palace were permitted, at sixpence a-head, to view Mr. Wood's gold- medal ox, who was considered a prodigy of size and growth and level feeding, and who, after being exhibited several weeks, was killed, weighing at four years one month old 240 stone of Slljs. He won the Birmingham gold medal, hut the cattle- plague restrictions prohibited him competing at the Smith- field Club ; ever since then Mr. Wood's well-known burly ligure has been as conspicuous at the Christmas fat shows as Ids prize steers and oxen ; and prizes have been carried off at Siuithfield and Birmingham Clubs, the Rutland, York, and Leeds fat shows every season. In ]8(j6 he purchased Jonas AVebb's, or rather tlie late Mr. R. Sharpc's, prize-bull Lord Chancellor (20160) at the Courtland's sale for 70 gs. — a sad falling off from his 400 gs. price at Babraham in 1863. From then till now he has done good service among the Clapton rows and heifers, which had been originally picked up from sales held iu his own county of Northampton ; Mr. Mau- niug's (Rothersthorpe), Mr. Abbey's (Wellingboro' Grange), and Mr. Sartoris' (Rushden Hall) supplying the best lots. Before Lord Chancellor arrived, Lord Exeter's Henry 5th, Mr. Sartoris' Britannicus, Mr. Pawlett's Fitz Sir James, and Mr. York's Viscount Oxford held sway ; and the fifty-eight animals, ten of which were bulls, were mostly by one or the other of tliese sires. A bright day, the prize bullocks and railway facilities drew together a very large local company, who did good justice to a very sumptuous and beautiful lunch, served in the old barn, under tiie pre- sidency of Mr. Sartoris. " The Queen " and " The Host " were speeches enough ; and punctually at one, Mr. Strafford mounted his tarpaulin-covered rostrum, and addressed the huge assembly — five and six deep, besides waggons-full — with the conditions of sale and a notice of the stock. The first lot, Oak Leaf, an old cow of twelve years, and dam of " Mr. Wood's grand ox, in 1867," brought out a host of bids up to 25 gs. ; they grew less frequent till 31 gs. was reached, at which price she went to Mr. Nixon, the purchaser of several subsequent animals. Peaceful, a fine cow and good breeder, went up to 36 gs. ; and the two following, both descended from Jobson's old Juliet family, once highly recommended by the Master of Kirklevington, made respectively 37 gs. and 38 gs. A handsome-looking, but doubtful, cow of the Sylph tribe, made but the speculative price of 27 gs. ; and Joan 5th, one of the numerous Juliet family, made the highest price of the day, 49gs., being bought by Mr. Adwick, of Newark : this animal was a very fine specimen, having fine form, splendid head, neck, shoulders, and a rich deep red colour ; she was also heavy iu calf and dam of this year's prize steer at the Northampton Show. The prices then fell off again until Flame, entered — a large good cow, somewhat short of hair, but an ex- cellent breeder. Mr. Caswell, of long-wool fame, bought her for 16gs., and another rich roan cow, daughter of Lot 1, at ■iogs. Most of the purchasers were from South Lincolnshire and the county. Julia 2nd, by Britannicus, a son of Mr. Booth's British Prince, went for 41gs. to Mr. Tomlinson; previous to this, however, several disputes arose, the last bidder failing to claim, and return had to be made to the pre- ceding one. The cows as a whole were a lot of large animals, a little coarse perhaps ; the heifers were better, but seemed to go in many cases comparatively cheap. Fuchsia, two years old, out of Flame, by Lord Chancellor, a good animal, made only 43 gs. (Mr. Latham), and Julia 8tTi but 33 gs. (Mr. Bird). Prize-leaf, out of Lot 1, was a handsome plain-rumped heifer of twelve months, and came isto the ring bedecked with bright ribbons, and in charge of Mr. Roland Wood, jun. A good deal of chaff arose about the prizes, but it turned out she had not been shown ; after frequent cries of time, she was put in at 20, and went along quickly to 30 gs. Mr. Adwick got in at 31 gs., and took her atoSgs. The succeeding lot, another daughter of Flame, found as many admirers as the preceding one, but only reached 30gs. (Mr. J. Bird). All further interest in the heifers ceased after this, the prices ranging from 13^ to 17 gs. Lord Chancellor was then brought in, paraded, and admired. He seems to have lost with years but little of his good form since he won the Royal in IJ^tiS, and lits quality is still very fine ; he was said to be still fruitful, and JMr. Wood made one bid at 100 gs., this was not covered, as Lord Chancellor sfill keeps his woolsack at Clapton. His sous, taken collectively, were not a good lot ; the majority were red, flat-sided, and narrow-backed, still there was good local competition for them, and they went from ll^o 42 gs. One, Lord Oliver, grand- son of Oak Leaf, was ^ery promising, and went at 42 gs. to Mr. Faulkner, Rothersthorpe. So the rather tedious proceed- ings terminated soon after four with a total of £1,762 19s., and an average of £30 8s. for 58 head. Several very tine- looking steers in training were shown, of which probably the public will judge for themselves by-aud-bye. THE REV. THOS. STANIFORTH'S SHORTHORNS. At Kendal by Mr. Kirkby. The Rev. Thos. Staniforth offered a draught from his Storrs herd, Windermere, at Kendal fortnightly fair last Monday. Among these were a number of exceedingly good animals, which it seemed a pity to sell, still the public were duly appre- ciative, and the best lot, Minstrel 3rd, bred by the Duke of Devonshire, made 72 gs., after keen competition between Mr. A. Metcalfe, J. Pawcett, and W. W. Slye, who eventually got her. The next lot, Georgie, six-years-old, rather an old- fashioned colour, but a very good broad-loined cow, with three Booth crosses upon a grandaughter of the celebrated cow Foggathorpe, went to Mr. Torr for 41 gs., who got her daughter by Grenadier at the same sura. Another heifer ot the same family, a very handsome animal, but not breeding, went for 34 gs. Semired, descended from Anthony Maynard's stock, made 46 gs. (Mr. R. Knight). Grenadier (21876), of the same blood as Georgie, was greatly admired ; indeed, he was a bull, although five years old, that would have borne consider- able honour had he been shown, his head, shoulders, and fore- quarters being magnificent. Still old bulls have few customers, and he went at butchers' price for 41 gs, to Mr. Metcalfe A very pretty calf out of a daughter of Minstrel 3rd made 36 gs. from Mr.W.H.AVakefield. Captain Gaudy, Mr. Smethurst. and Mr. Blanckard were among the contributors to the average of £32 12s. for 21 head. A lot of very fine Highland bullocks were afterwards sold at prices under market value. SALE OF MR. WOODWARD'S SHORTHORNS, BY MR. STRAFFORD. — This attracted a very small company, although the herd had been in existence for the last forty years. The lateness of the season, coupled with very bitter weather and the prevalence of foot-and-mouth disease, no doubt went much against the prices, which in truth were, except in a few cases, only about common market value. Beeswax, by Lord of the Harem, realised the highest price, 56 gs., and was bought by Mr. Jas. Webb, who also gave 44 gs. and 41 gs. for t« o heifers of similar blood. Messrs. Winwall gave 40 gs. for Lord Dartmouth's Dawdle, of the old Frill line, and the general ave- rage was about £26 for the fifty head ; no yearling heifers nor calves were offered, this being only the first portion of the herd ; the remainder will be sold next spring upon the same principle as Mr. Rich's sale, which was so eminently successful. SALE OF HEREFORD CATTLE.— At Mr. Ensor's Re- pository, at Dorchester, on Saturday, Nov. 13, the herd of the late Mr. Levi Groves, of West Knighton, were brought to the hammer. The sale commenced witli the dairy cows. Lot 4 realised 22/. 15s. ; lot 6, 26/. ; lot 8, 25/. ; lot 13, 24/,: lot 18, 32/. ; lot 19, 25/. ; lot 22, 21/. 15s. ; and lot 24, 24/. 10s. Two of the barreners made 12/. 5s. each ; one, 20/. 5s. : and an- other, 16/. Tliciu-calfheifers,two-and-a-half years old,realised: Lot 34, 20/. 5s.; lot 35,25/.; lot 39, 19/. 15s.; lot 41,21/. 10s. ; lot 42, 27/. ; lot 43, 20/. 10s. ; the others averaged from 17/. to 19/. each. The one-and-a-half year old heifers sold from 13/. to 15/. each. MR. ABBOT'S lierd of Shorthorns were sold by Mr. Geo. Nichols, at Long Ashton, Bristol, on the 2nd Nov. Being brought quickly into the market they were low in condition, but attracted a large local company. Two cows were of pure Knightley blood, and made the highest prices, viz.. Wine 43 gs. (Rev. J. Storer), and Wliite Wine 52 gs. (Mr. J. K. Fowler) : the other prices ranged from 14 to 29 gs. A large flock of cross- bred sheep were afterwards sold at fair prices. THE HIGHER HOOPERN SALE.— It has been the cus- tom of Mr. William Smith, of Higher Hoopern, Exeter, foe 650 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, several years, to invite a number of friends interested in the local breeds of stock to a private view of Ids Devon fat cattle and Exraoor sheep, previous to sending them off tor exhibition at the Birmingham, Islington, and Plymouth Christmas Shows. This year he has introduced an altogether new feature into the meeting. He has inaugurated a sale of Devons and Exmoors, the best of which are calculated for keeping for twelve months by the purchasers, and exhibiting for prizes at the great shows in the succeeding year, while tlie remainder are for the immediate use of the butcher. The sale began with the fat Esmoov wethers. The first lot was a pen of three little fat sheep, which were knocked down for 91s. each. These were sold on the condition that Mr. Smith will exhibit them at the Plymouth Christmas Show, in return for which he will continue to fatten them at his own cost till after they have been to Plymouth. The next lot of three fetched 84s. each, the next 81s., and the fourth lot 81s. Twelve lots, live to the lot, of a darker coloured wool than those we have men- tioned, were knocked down at prices ranging from 58s. to 4'3s. each. The remainder were lots of ten in a pen, Dorsets, and Dorsets and Exmoors. They sold at prices ranging from 51s. to 43s. The next section of the sale consisted of North Devon bulls and bull-calves. The first, 2| years old, bred by Mr. G. Shapland, of Southmolton, made £38. Tlie dam of tliis bull took the first prize at tlie Bath and West of England Show, and the second prize at the Royal. The next bull was the Duke of Beaufort, 20 months old, bred by Mr. James Quartly, of Molland, which went for £26. Young Trio, 22 months old, bred by Mr. J . A. Smith, of Bradford Peverell, Dorset, was purchased for £32. Young Exeter, 19 months old, bred by Mr. Smith, fetched £20 10s. Two bull-calves by Young Exeter were sold next, one for 10 guineas, and the other for 12^ guineas. Then came the fat oxen and steers, all of the North Devon breed, to the number of twenty-five, in so many lots. The first lot Mr. Smith reserves the privilege of ex- hibiting at the Plymouth Show ; but it will be eligible for the purchaser to show it for a prize at Islington and Birmingham next year. At 2G months old, Mr. Kandall purchased this ox for £35. The next was a cow, which fetched £34 ; and other oxen and steers sold at prices ranging from £36 10s. to about £24. Three heifers were sold, one for £38, one for £37 10s., and the last for £23 10s. The total amount realized by tlie sale was about £1,300. It was announced among the con- ditions of sale that Mr. Smith would pay the auctioneer's com- mission. After the last lot was knocked down Mr. Smith led into the ring, for inspection, the five fat oxen, steers, and heifers, which he is about to send to Islington and Bir- mingham. CALENDAR OF AGRICULTURE. In fresh weather plougli the stubbles of clay- lands for wheat fallows, wliich should be finished during this month. With the greater part of the fallow lands for the green crops plough deeply — not under a furrow of seven inches, though a shal- low ploughing is practised in the winter furrow, and a deep ploughing done in the spring- crop furrow. But a deep ploughing is easier done in the winter, when tlae land is well soaked with moisture, and a deep furrow exposes the largest surface to the action of changes of weather, which is so very necessary for the pulverization of the soil. A furrow of depth rather than of width is required in every ploughing of land. Plough stubbles and leys for Lent crops with a furrow of an average depth and width of seven and nine inches, and, whatever plough is used, the furrow must be placed and pressed into a bed which maintains the thoroughly verticle position of the narrow edge of the cut of land made by the point of the coulter and of the share. On this cut depends the quantity of fine alluvial earth which covers the seed in a well-covered bed. The comb of upright cut must be deep and narrow, to afford the proper action of the harrow in producing a deep and level tilth of comminuted earth. In open weather repair old fences and plant new hedges ; continue the cutting of drains as long as the weather allows ; mend roads and cast up earth for composts with lime and similar earthy substances, which must be carefully collected in any shape or form. Thrash grain regularly, by flail or by machinery, to afford fresh straw for provender and in chaffs and also for litter, which must be spread evenly and thinly over the yards and in the covered houses. Sell and deliver all grains as thrashed as the storing is troublesome, and not very often remunerative. A granary on any farm may not be large, and best in money in the pocket of the farmer. Carry lime to be mixed with earths ; stones for draining, roads, bridges, and culverts, and also timber, fields, and faggots. Flood meadows, and leys occasionally. Early lambs will be dropped during this month in some places, when an open-air exposure will be required, with a warm shelter at pleasure, and an ample supply of juicy food, as turnips, beet, and cabbages, as on these articles the supply of milk mainly depends, for the maintenance of the lamb, and to push the progeny into an early value. Plant trees of all kinds, fruits, and timbers, in single standards, clumps, in rows, in the corners of fields, and all waste places of ground. Singly, nothing surpasses the sycamore for early growth and stately beauty ; for clumps, the beech affords a large shade of leaf from heats and rains ; the ash and the oak for general purposes; while the willow, the poplar, and the alder supply for damp ground, and the hazel for dry situations of thin poor soils. Plant fruit trees— as apple, pear, cherry, and plum — for common purposes; and gooseberry and currant bushes in two sorts, of an early berry, and in later growth of more bulk. Two sorts of fruits may suffice all common wants. In open weather cut underwoods and fill up crevices by planting and layering. Young trees planted among older stems never thrive much, as the surrounding growth is more rapid, and shuts out the due share of light and heat which is essen- tial to every kind of organic life. Layering sel- dom procures timber stems, but only the inferior articles of hoops, faggots, and fuel for lime-kilns, and hence the practice is not much used. In making new plantations of timber trees, or for underwood, a careful attention must supply all vacancies for the first two or three years with thriving plants, in order to obtain close plantation of stems of the same age and stature as nearly as possible. The future value of underwood more THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 551 especially very much depends on a regular simi- larity of growth. In cuttinw underivoods the saw will supplant the axe and the hatt;het in making the cuts cleaner and more neatly drawn and more quickly per- formed. The cuts will be nearer the ground and obtusely slanted to a jiyramidal top from three to four sides of a base. The work of cutting will be more speedily and conveniently performed. It is recommended that all underwoods be ma- naged by the landowners, whose permanent pro- prietorship will better insure the improved manage- ment than the temporary interest of the tenant, whose wood forms a part of the holding in lease. The tenants can purchase the articles that are wanted at the periodical sales on the estate. Timber trees and copse wood must be grown in separate grounds, as the trees cover an empty space beneath the extent of shade, and obtain a lateral unconfined extension of branches, instead of shooting upwards, and seldom produce a timber of height. It is therefore bad policy to leave standards for timber on any underwood plantation, more especially when growing on an old stub and not from a single root. In this month the proper arrangements will be observed in every department of the farm. The live stock demand a most vigilant and unremitting attention, in being amply and regularly supplied with food, and in having a dry and comfortable bed in the yards and sheds. Keep the steamer in constant work and give cooked food to the work- horses in an evening meal, and to cows in the same quantity, and to fattening hogs and poultry in an ample allowance. Give it fresh and luke- warm in potatoes mashed and mixed with meals. Give to the cattle the turnijis from the alorc-pits, but in fresh weather bring the roots daily fi'om the fields. The drains and culverts must be all in good order to convey the urinary liquid to the tank from the yards wiienever excess is produced. In stormy latitudes the cattle in the yards may eat under cover in the sheds. The farmery being wholly roofed over, like the terminus of a railway, will place all and everything under cover, but the shade will be cold and wholly exclude the bene- ticial effects of the returning suns of the spring months that are so very encouraging to every kind of organic life. Raise turnips from the fields in favourable weather, and store the bulbs at the homesteads as has been directed. Give the tops to store sheep and cattle. The sheep will be regularly folded over the lands that produced the turnips consumed, in separate folds or in conjunction, with the food in troughs. The crops of grain, the animals, and all moveable articles, being the property of the farmer, should be insured at his cost; and the buildings, with all fixed articles, at the expense of the proprietor. The farmers have for some time enjoyed an office with the special designation, and, with such an advantage, the neglect of insurance becomes a most serious default. The quarterly and half- yearly terms of this month will serve as a fitting exchange a mutual security of performance by the time to landlord and tenant. CALENDAR OP GARDENING. Kitchen Garden. In this torpid season of the year, when vegeta- ble life is almost wholly dormant, the directions for the garden must be few, and differ but little from the performances of last month. Frost may set in early, and, therefore, every means of defence for plants in frames, under glasses, and in warm borders, such as matting, littery straw, and fern, ought to be at hand. In this way, late-sown ra- dishes are preserved under straw, which, however, is to be raked off in sunny weather. The open weather of this month is generally wet, and then to trample in and work ground saturated with water, is only to do much harm. Protect beds of artichokes with three inches of half-decayed leaves strewed over the surface, or if the land be stiff and clayey, with as much coal and wood ashes. Asparagus is easily forced on beds of leaves raked from woods and parks, avoid- ing those of laurels and evergreens generally. The plants should be prepared in proper beds for the express purpose, and selected from the best two or three years old stocks. Brick pits the best erections ; but good frames set upon leaves, with warm linings, will do as well. Seakale; Rot and excite a second set of plants. Brick pits and darkened frames with good linings would be a great convenience, and prevent much litter. Celery : Earth up this plant finally and very high in the ridge. Trench waste ground deeply, and place the soil in a rough condition to be ex- posed to the changes of weather and atmospheric vicissitudes. Trench deeply, and manure heavily the lands intended for new plantations roots of crops, as potatoes, beet, and onions. For carrots use the shortest and best rotted dung of the liquid, as a freshness in the dung induces that plant to run into fibres, and produce largely in lateral shoots. Onions also will do best with short dung. Opinions differ on the subject of manuring the ground in the autumn or in the spring. But a general experience will prefer the season of au- tumn, as affording a time to amalgamate the soil and the dung, and to produce the change of colour, which conduces so highly to promote fertility. When exposed by the spring digging of the ground, the dung that has been covered during the winter, will exert a very powerful influence on the newly- sown crops. AH tap roots require deep digging, as the spindle pierces and divides the ground for the permeation of air and moisture, and the fleshy tap, bulb, or tuber, heaves the ground, and all emit an odour of feecal exudation, which contributes ^62 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. a part of the benefit which the grouud derives from the cultivation of root crops. Onions require a stronir manure, reduced in bulk, and fine in the ingredients, such as night soil, largely mixed with fine earths and dropping of animals. For this purpose every privy is a box, water-tight and standing on wheels, on a level bottom, to be drawn back occasionally to receive a mixture of earths, and when the season arrives, will produce a manure of high quality, and divested of much of the unpleasant odour from a large di- lution with other matters. This preparation is not costly nor troublesome, and is within an easy reach. Continue the gathering of manure by every pos- sible means as has been directed in the liquid j)it with earths, greasy substances, urinary liquids, and soapy and dirty waters from the dwelling houses. This manure will suit the heavy purposes of root crops, as has been mentioned, to be applied in au- tumn ; the compost heap affords a manure of finer ingredients for the more delicate use of plants that are weaker in the nature, and smaller in the growth. When the lands are deeply dug iu autumn, the benefit will be large, from placing on the breast of the spits of earth the hot cinders of lime at half the depth of the digging, in the distance of a foot apart. The moisture of the ground will cause the dissolution of the cinders, which emit much caloric to penetrate every particle of soil, and thus raise the temperature of the ground by imparting warmth from incinerated bodies of much power and capacity. This warming of the ground may form the chief benefit fromlim,e after all that has been spoken and written on the subject, being the '' scientia media,'' that is below certainty, anil yet above conjecture. Fertility depends on the capa- city of soils for the equable reception and retention of moisture and caloric. Fruit Department. Plant fruit and forest trees as directed last month, in single standards, in rows, or in orchards. Look over fruit stores, and remove decaying pears and apples. A cool air and a dry covering are the best preservers. Pears are warmer kept than apples. Flower Gauden. Cover the ground with half-decayed leaves, or lay cakes of moss among any delicate shrubs, keeping them in order by small stones. If snow falls and lodges on trees, shake it from evergreens, as the foliage may be much injured by alternate freezings and thawings. Remove litter of all kinds, and also from lawns and gravels. Protect by mats or screens, the glasses of pits or small greenhouses that may be used. Every operation in the open air is contingent — labour will be futile on lands iron-bound by frost, or drenched by heavy and continued rains. In these cases the works to be done must be fitted to the circumstances and directed by the same power. AGRICULTURAL REPORTS. GENERAL AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR NOVEMBER. Tlie grain trade, owing to the extraordinarily heavy receipts of tbreigii produce, has been very much depressed throughout the month. The supplies of English wheat sent forward have been more liberal ; but the large arrivals of foreign wheat have greatly added lo the stocks on hand, and the granaries are now full. In addition to this, the immediate future pros- pect is such as to greatly depress the trade ; for the quantity of wheat at sea for llie United Kingdom is very large, and there is no doubt that tlie demands of consumption will be fully met for some time to come. Although our harvest at home was deficient — and we have already stated our opinion as to the extent of the deficiency — there is no doubt that the world's harvest was greatly in excess of the powers of the world's consumption, and as England is now the only import- ing country of any consequence, the surplus produce of most other countries is now making its way to this centre. Under these circumstances, it was but natural that the trade should have assumed a very depressed aspect, and that the tendency of prices should be continually downwards. Millers have acted with great caution, and have confined Iheir operations to their positive wants, which has of course limited the extent of business done, though possibly it has increased the number of transactions. Best white wheat of this year's growth is not now worth nrore than 47s. per qr., though the few parcels of old wheat on hand would command a far liighcr price- The weather throughout the month has been genial, and the land has been well brought into order. Sowing lias been, carried out under favourable conditions, and the prospects of the ensuing year are, so far, good. The mildness of the season has enabled graziers to keep their stock out in the flelds somewhat late, as the pastures have afforded a good bite of grass. The demand for feeding stulTs has accordingly been dull, and prices have been depressed. Beans and peas have sold slowly at declining values ; while the oat trade has been very drooping. The receipts have been liberal, and, with a somewhat limited inquiry, a heavy fall has taken place in the quotations. Maize is coming more and more into request as feed, and a large business has been done in this article during the past month. The flour trade, in sympathy with wheat, has been very inanimate, and town marks have been reduced in price to 43s., which is now the nominal quotation. The market has been heavily supplied with potatoes, which having been found unfit for keeping, have been forced to sale in large quantities. Prices have consequently been on the decline, and the fact of potatoes, which enter largely into con- sumption in this couuti-y, being so cheap, has doubtless had no little influence upon the wheat trade. The hop trade has been decidedly active. The shortness of the crop is now admitted on all hands, and |_the comparative smallness of the imports, particularly from America, has greatly disappointed expectation. The quotations have ac- cordingly been on the advance, and best Kents may now be quoted at £13 12s. percwt. There have been good supplies of both hay and straw on sale in the metropolitan markets, but the trade has not benn active, and less money has been accepted. THE FAEMEE'S MAGAZINtJ. REVIEW OF THE CATTLE TRADE DURING THE PAST MONTH. Tlie position of the cattle trade has been without material cliaiige from last month. Although the occasional occurrence of a severe frost has indicated tlie near approach of winter, tlie season generally lias been mild. Vegetation has been fairly luxuriant for the time of year, and cattle have been enabled to obtain a fair feed on most lands ; but at the same time the demand for feeding stuffs has improved. Notwith- standing that the season has been favourable for the production of fat stock, the general quality of the beasts exhibited at market has beeu but middling. This, however, is doubtless to some extent due to tlie fact that stock is now being prepared for Cliristiuas consumption, and that all promising animals are in consequence retained in tlie stalls for fattening purposes. About an average number have been received. As regards the trade, quietness has been the feature. Prime stock from its scarcity has readily commanded extreme quotations, but inferior qualities have been difficult to move. In consequence of the improved sale for prime meat in the leading provincial markets, the arrivals from Scotland and the nortliern parts of the kingdom have been unusually limited for the time of year. At the commencement of the mouth, the best Scots and crosses were selling at 5s. Gd to 5s. Sd. per 8 lbs. Subsequently the market became weaker, and the top price fell to 5s. 6d. ; tlie relapse, however, proved quite temporary, as afc the close of the moutli the best Scots were making fully 5s. 8d., occa- sional transactions taking place at 5s. lOd. per Slbs. The renewal of the experiment for obtaining supplies of beasts from South America has taken place. Tiie Ariadne has already left this country for Buenos Ayres, well fitted up for tlie accommodation of live stock during a long voyage, and is expected to return about the middle of February witli her first cargo. In the sheep market nothing of interest lias transpired. The show of English breeds has been barely an average, and the receipts from abroad have been limited, owing to the coutiuual stoppage of infected animals at the waterside. There has been an absence of briskness in the trade, but the tone of the market has beeu healthy, and au advance of fully 4J. per 8 lbs. has beeu established in prices. The best Downs and half-breds at the close of the month were selling at 5s. 8d. to 5s. lOd., against 5s. 4d. to 5s. Od. at the opening. Calves have come to hand slowly. Prime stock has beeu scarce and fully as dear. Other qualities have sold quietly. With pigs the market has been scantily supplied. The trade has been quiet, but prices have ruled firm. The imports of foreign stock into London have been : Head. Beasts 9,964. Sheep 33,091 Calves 1,713 Pigs 2,208 Total 45,97G CoMPAKisox OF Imports. Nov. Beasts. Siieep. Calves. Pigs. 1868 9,391 18,163 598 353 1867 10,761 33,203 G18 2,064 1866 13,378 38,389 1,290 1,187 1865 16,254 52,517 2,526 7,770 18G4 17,137 34,792 2,970 3,947 1863 11,030 30,347 1,770 2,203 18G2 C,839 28,577 1,659 633 1861 5,295 27,833 946 1,241 1860 6,961 23,723 1,604 828 1859 5,927 21,907 997 159 1858 4,787 18,258 1,174 156 1857 4,409 17,830 2,687 13G 1856 6,102 16,380 1,152 309 1855 7,367 17,094 1,127 454 The total supplies exhibited in the Metropolitan Cattle Market have been as follows : Head. Beasts 21,390 Sheep 77,990 Calves 1,604 Pigs 615 Totrtl ,.. 101,59') Comparison of Supplies. Nov. Beasts. Sheep. Calves. Pigs. 1868 19,249 98,390 1,048 1,404 1867 34,080 109,960 1,016 2,350 1866 24,660 95,800 1,190 3,090 1865 36,820 167,230 2,858 3,811 1864 32,600 114,300 3,587 2,900 1863 27,704 99,130 2,156 3,170 1863 30,139 110,020 2,313 3,173 1861 26,590 109,370 1,370 3,430 1860 25,400 103,600 2,113 2,920 1859 2G,493 120,840 1,299 2,800 1858 24,856 114,643 1,437 2,970 1857 25,383 103,120 3,003 3,037 1856 25,444. 105,750 2,096 3,415 1855 27,411 97,460 1,585 3,535 Tlie district arrival of beasts thus compare with the three previous years : Nov., Nov., Nov., Nov. From— 1866. 1867. 1868. 1869. Lincolnshire, Leices- tershire, & North- amptonshire 7,200 8,760 9,500 9,550 Other parts of England 2,450 2,640 1,950 2,048 Scotland 154 43 635 158 Ireland 880 1,350 708 2,312 Beasts have sold at from 3s. 4d. to 5s. lOd., sheep 3s. 6d. to 5s. lOd., calves 4s. to 6s. 3d., and pigs 4s. 4d. to Gs. per Slbs. to sink the olfal. Comparison or Prices, Nov., 186G. Nov., 1867. Nov., 1868. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Beef from ... 3 6 to 5 4 3 2 to 5 2 3 0 to 5 4 Mutton 3 8 6 4 3 2 5 0 3 10 5 4 Veal 4 3 5 10 4 4 58 36 5C Pork 3 10 5 2 3 4 4 2 3 4 4 6 The dead-meat markets have beeu more liberally supplied with both town and country-killed meat, and the receipts from abroad have come more freely to hand. On the whole, the trade has been quiet, and tlie quotations have ruled as follows : Beef from 3s. 4d. to 5s., mutton 3s. 6d. to 4s. lOd., veal 4s. 8d. to 5g., and pork 4s. 4d. to 5s. 8d. per 81bs. by the carcase. SOUTH LINCOLNSHIRE. We are experiencing one of the finest wheat-seeding seasons ever known ; all is going on admirably. At the early com- mencement of the season some dilliculty arose from the dry- ness of the soil ; but the late slight frosts and rains have beeu all that we required ; the land working most satisfactorily. The potato lands were never in a better state for seeding, and the readiness with which it is got in is very gratifying and economical. The land is not ploughed ; it is either grubbed or scarified, followed by one or two harrowings, and then the drill. The average seeding iu the district would be about eight pecks per acre. The potato crop is now made safe iu graves ; the eaithing-up has been delayed as usual to permit any heat or fermenting steam to escape ; the final covering most popular now is to earth up tlie sides at from a foot to sixteen inches thick, the top about six inches, over which a thatch covering of straw is laid, which is fastened on by spits of earth on each side near the top. Mongolds, for the most part, have proved a good crop, and upou the v/hole they have been well secured ; the frost did a little damage, but the sub- sequent fine days soon set them right, so that but very little time was lost iu taking up ; the covering dowu is the same as for the potato. The pastures still look green, and the bite is good and plentiful. Cattle are yet out, aud are in many in- stances supplied with roots on the grass ; growers of blighted potatoes are thus getting them profitably consumed. The difficulty lies in procuring the cattle : they are scarce and dear, as this is in some measure owing to the prevalence of the foot- and-mouth disease ; the Contagious Diseases (Auimals) Bill being in force in the district, sellers dare not biiug them freely into the market. Considerable importations of cattle from Ireland are arriving in the west of the kingdom ; we are hoping to see some droves iu this district, where many would meet a ready sale, for the prejudice against grazing Irish beasts has nearly subsided, owing to the improved specimens constantly seen. Siieep are in tolerable plenty, and are doing well, both upon thsir winter fcod and srabs.^Ntiv. 19. K54 THE FARMER'S MAaAZINE. REVIEW OF THE CORN TRADE DURING THE PAST MONTH. November has followed the course of October in its strange vicissitudes, insomuch that hardly a day could be depended on; but the severest clianges have been in Northern Europe, both as respects frost and rain, till some fears have been entertained for the newly-planted wheat, while much has yet to be sown. The plants up here show nothing of the promise of last year ; but we can make very little of this with such variable sea- sons, though, should the winter be rough, it is more likely to try them. Our hopes that foreign im- ports would be diminished by their unprofitable result have not been realised. On they have poured at a reckless rate, to their own injury as well as that of the British farmer ; indeed, for the time of year they have been unprecedented, for the first quarter has brought in about three million quarters of wheat, so, if the three following were to be equally heavy, we should receive twelve millions in the cereal year instead of ten, which by compu tation is all we really want. There has been great derangement in the money market in the United States, whence our most useful wheat comes ; and this is one of the causes that have produced over- supplies. Anxiety on the part of Baltic shippers to get as much off' before winter as possible is another, and this applies to Odessa, the Sea of Azoff", &c. ; so we have had such a vast accumulation in granary from these sources, with more on passage thence and from California, that millers and the trade generally have become almost panic-struck, and speculators have held aloof, as expecting a still more favourable time to buy; and though our sum- mary for the month notes a decline of 4s. to 5s., we hardly seem to have reached the bottom. Should a still further fa-1 occur, we may be pretty sure of an altered state of things; and directly it is believed the lowest point is reached, speculators will have a fair field to clear off much of the present surplus. The greatest time of depression was on the fourth Monday, when people seemed to lose faith in them- selves, and the ordinary course of things and prices became quite uncertain. Such depression, however, cannot possibly last ; and just in propor- tion as prices fall from ordinary rates, it is reason- able to look for a revival. The damage done to AVestern India by an enormous cloud of locusts may yet divert a considerable quantity of corn from Egypt through the new canal ; and this alone would lessen our expectations, and allowthepresent glut time to be absorbed. But we think the first check to imports will be in America, as Brother Jonathan is not fond of throwing his money away to unthankful Britishers. The following wefe the prices recently quoted at the different places named : White wheat in Paris 51s., red 48s. 6d., wheat in Belgium 47s. to 50s., at Hambro' 438. to 47s., at Cologne 42s., at Berlin 47s. Gd., at Stral- sund 44s,, at Danzig 44s. to 57s. (cost and freight to London inclwded), at Vienna 438., fine at Pesth (in Hungary) 41s., at Stettin 45s., low sorts in Egypt 3Gs. to 37s., soft at Algiers 42s., fine hard Taganroc 43s., spring No. 1 at New York 39s. 6d., No. 2, 3Gs. 3d., winter red 38s., all per 480 lbs. The first Monday in Mark Lane commenced on moderate arrivals of English wheat, with good supplies of foreign. During the morning the Essex and Kentish stands made but a small exhi- bition of fresh samples ; but there was no anima- tion in sales, though the previous Monday's rates were realized. The foreign trade was still heavier, but holders did not show anxiety to press sales : had they done so, they must have accepted easier rates. Cargoes afloat were in but limited demand. The country trade during the week participated in the heaviness of London, and some wrote prices Gd. to Is. down, at Bourne, Bristol, Birmingham, Barnsley, and Stockton. The few reports showing any cheerfulness were from Oakham, Thirsk, Leeds, and Melton Mowbray. In Scotland a general quietude prevailed, both Edinburgh and Glasgow making no change. Dublin was dull, but rates underwent no alteration. On the second Monday there was less English ; but the foreign arrivals increased. Again the Kentish and Essex stands made but a poor show of fresh samples. After a few suitable to millers' wants were picked out, the remainder only sold slowly, at a decline of Is. per qr. The larger por- tion of the foreign consisting of American and Russian qualities, such were all Is. down; and the same reduction had eventually to be submitted to on the higher sorts. Floating cargoes were again dull, and prices in favour of buyers Gd. to Is. per qr. The usual effects of dull reports from London were shown in the state of the country markets, and with very few exceptions they noted a similar decline, say Is. on all qualities of wheat, without much activity in trade. Liverpool was 2d. to 3d. per cental lower on Tuesday, and again 2d. down on Friday. Both Edinburgh and Glasgow were also in sympathy with the general reports, and noted a reduction of Is. per qr. There was such a duluess at Dublin that prices could scarcely be quoted, the tendency being decidedly downward. On the third Monday there was a small return of English wheat ; but again the foreign arrivals were large, though not equal to the week previous. A short supply was again on the Essex and Kentish stands. Fine samples were taken early, at unaltered rates ; but there were not many of them : the rest, being in poor condition, though oflTered at a reduction of Is. to 2s. per qr. were not all cleared. The business passing in foi'eign was chiefly in American qualities, at a slight decline from former rates ; but all other sorts, say Russian and Baltic, were down Is. perqr. Floating cargoes again gave way Is. per qr. The country reports, this v/eek, were quite equal to London in dulness and depression, Bartouj Lynn, Leeds, and Rugby THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 555 did not certainly quote a decline, but that was the tendency. The following places were down Is., viz. : Spalding, Boston, Uppingham, Sleaford, Market Harbro', Gainsborough, Manchester, Hull, Thirsk, Bristol, Gloucester, Bury St. Edmunds, and Newbury; and many were lower Is. to 2s., as Birmingham, Market Harbro', Newark, Louth, Market Rasen, Stockton, Wolverhampton, Barns- ley, Rotherham, Sheffield, Wakefield, &c. Edin- burgh was down 2s., and Glasgow fully Is. per qr. In Ireland the same state of things obtained, wheat everywhere being dull and cheaper. On the fourth Monday the English supplies were moderate, but the foreign continued liberal. There was but an average show of fresh samples on the Essex and Kentish stands. The market opened, howevei-, extremely depressed. The weather being mild and rainy, suggesting the continuance of large imports, millers for some time avoided asking the prices, but were eventually tempted by factors making offers of their best runs at a decline of 2s. per qr. ; this only brought a few buyers to the stands, the bulk being uncleared. The same state of stagnation ruled in the foreign trade, though holders were quite wiUing to accept 2s. less money for all qualities. The imports into London for four weeks were 22,048 qrs. English, ] 44,094 qrs. foreign wheat, against 26,532 qrs. EngMsh, 89,l6l qrs. foreign in 1868. The imports into the kingdom for four weeks ending 13th Nov. were 4,586,279 qrs. wheat, 626,143 qrs. flour. The general average com- menced at 46s. Id,, and closed at 46s. lid. Those of London began at 46s. lid,, and left off at 48s, 3d. The flour trade, always more or less in sympathy with wheat, has been dull and declining. Town millers, having long kept up their top price to 47s., reduced it on the third Monday to 43s., where it has since stood. Country sorts during the four weeks have also declined about 3s., leaving Norfolks at 30s. : foreign sacks have also given way 2s., and barrels from Is. to Is. 6d. No sales of large quantities have been practicable of late, from the unsatisfactory state of the wheat trade; but imports from France can only be made at a loss. The arrivals into London for four weeks were 94,008 sacks English, 11,161 sacks 25,416 barrels foreign, against 85,149 sacks English, 7,267 sacks 3,823 barrels foreign, for the same period in 1868. With only moderate arrivals of Barley, this trade has also declined, the best malting about 2s., leav- ing the top price about 42s., secondary sorts 3s. to 4s., and (|uite uncertain as to values, while grinding for the four weeks has given way about Is. per qr., good new being procurable at 25s. per qr. The price of Saale barley at Hambro' quite places it out of the London market, and even French cannot be imported with any certainty of remuuertition. The imports for four weeks into London have been 14,366 qrs. British, 26,633 qrs. foreign, against 17,522 qrs. British, 41,930 qrs. foreign, in 1868. Notwithstanding the good report of the Barley crop, very little has found its way to London, Scotch farmers doing best with it at home ; and though the price is moderate ^n compared with last year, so many of the poorer claaseg are badly off, that the consumption of beer has diminished. The malt trade, very much guided by the price of barley, shows a decline of from Is. to 3s. The demand has been almoet exclusively for thebest. As to oats, the continued heavy foreign imports have had their usual effect, prices having almost steadily given way 6d. per qr. every Monday till this grain has become cheaper than for some time past, useful old Russian qualities being procur- able at 21s., and fair Swedes and other new qua- lities at 20s. to 21s. As the generally, compara- tively, low value of this grain 7nakes importers very averse to landing, especially now that the granaries are'so full, large arrivals must always send them down; but present rates are anything but encour- aging to importers, and should there be any falling off we may see a recovei'y of fully Is. per qr. The imports into London for four weeks have been English 3,546 qrs., Irish 860 qrs., foreign 206,167 qrs. ; against 2,150 qrs. English, 574 qrs. Scotch, 11,820 qrs. Irish, 159,555 qrs. foreign, for the same time last year. It is to be noted that no Scotch have appeared, and only one parcel from Ireland. Though the arrivals of maize have been liberal, the price of this grain has been pretty well main • tained ; but lately it has been rather in favour of buyers, say 6d. per qr. ; good is held at 30s. per qr. The imports were 48,596 qi'S., against 38,907 qrs. in 1S68. The supply of English beans has improved, and the foreign arrivals still more so. For the first three Monday's there was little or no change of prices quoted, but on the fourth there was a fall of 2s. on all sorts, both English and foreign. Values having ruled high for some time as compared with maize, this was to be expected on improved supphes. Alexandrian beans are not worth over 33 s. : the same not long back were fetching 41s. to 42s. The four weeks' imports into London were 3,909 qrs. Enghsh, 8,888 qrs. foreign ; against 2,573 qrs. English, 5,601 qrs. foreign, in 1868. Peas, also, with better arrivals from abroad have given way to the like extent, say 2s. per qr,, the best new English boilers being scarcely worth 42s, and foreign 40s,, while duns have fallen to 36s. to 37s., and maples 40s. to 41s. The imports into London for four weeks were 3,407 qrs, Eng- lish, 7,622 qrs. foreign, against 1,881 qrs. English, 4,412 qrs. foreign, in 186S. With only moderate supplies of linseed the trade has been very dull and retail, except for crushing, at unaltered rates ; but cakes have improved in value and demand. Arrivals 24,274 qrs., against 43,538 qrs. last year. In the cloverseed trade very little has been passing, buyers waiting to see what France will do in preference to buying here from a hmited stock. Trefoil keeps dear, but has been dull, as well as foreign canaryseed, it being plentiful, and winter tares have become neglected. Foreign spring find as yet only a retail sale. IMPERIAL AVERAGES. For the week ended Nov. 13, 1869. Wheat 57,089J qrs. 468. lid. Barley 73,721i „ 38s. 9d. Os.t9„iMntiti)«nit(!m;i!iiM 2,634^- „ 233, IW, ■M THE FABMER'S MAGAZINE. Irish, feed, white 16 Ditto, black 16 BEANS, Mazagan ...36 Harrow 40 CURRENT PRICES OF BRITISH GRAIN AND FLOUR IN MARK LANE. ShlUlnKB per Quarter. WHEAT, Essex and Kent, white... old 46 50 new 40 to 40 „ „ red old 45 46 uew 38 43 Norfolk, Liucolnsh., and Yorksh. old 46 48 new 38 BARLEY 28 to 32 Chevalier uew 35 Grinding 27 29 Distilling 32 MALT (nominal), Essex, Norfolk, and Suffolk 62 Kingston, .Ware, and town-made 62 Brown 48 RYE 31 OATS, English, feed 19 to 23 Potato 24 Scotch, feed 00 00 Potato 00 " - - 19 Yiue 20 19 Potato 20 38 Ticks 36 42 Pigeon 41 PEAS, white, boilers. 38 42 Maple 41 to43Grey,new 36 FLOUR, per sack of 2801bs., Town, Households 37 Couutry.on shore 30 to 32 ,, 33 Norfolk and Suffolk, on shore , 29 FOREIGN GRAIN. Shillings per Quarter. WHEAT, Dautzic, mixed 46 to 48 extra 50to52 Konigsberg 47 48 extra 40 48 Rostock 43 46 fine 47 Silesian, red 40 42 white.... 43 Pomera., Meckberg., and Uckermrk. ...red 42 Russian, hard, 40 to 41. ..St. Petersburg and Riga 41 Danish and Holstein, red 43 44 American 41 French, none Rhine and Belgium 00 Chilian, white 50... Oaliforniau 50 ... Australian 50 BARLEY, grinding 21 to 25. ...distilling and malting 30 OATS, Dutch, brewing and Rolands 21 to 25 feed 16 Danish and Swedish, feed 19 to 21.... Stralsund... 19 Canada 18 to 19, Riga 20 to 21, Arch. 20 to 22, P'sbg. 21 TARES, Spring, per qr small 40 42 large — BEANS, Friesland and Holstein 38 Konigsberg 36 to 40. ..Egyptian 36 PEAS, feeding and maple. ..37 39. ..flue boilers 38 INDIAN CORN, white 28 30.. .yellow 28 FLOUR, per sack, French. .33 35. ..Spanish, p. sack 00 American, per brl 21 22...extraandd'ble. 23 COMPARATIVE AVERAGES. WHEAT. Years. Qrs. s. d. 1865... 71,670| ... 46 11 1806... 69,649 ...56 7 1867... 65,920^ ... 70 1 1868... 64,842i ... 52 0 1869... 57,089i ... 48 11 BARLEY. Qrs. s. d. 63,816| ... 33 7 78,677i ... 45 3 77,3821 ... 42 7 70,6821 ... 46 9 73,721i ... 38 9 OATS. Qrs. s. d. 5,240i ... 22 9 5,302| ... 23 6 8,5364 - 26 1 3,527| ... 28 0 2,ti34| ... 23 11 BRITISH SEEDS, MusTABD.perbush., brown lis. to 13s., white lls.tolSa. OANABY.per qr 52s. 62s. (;LOTEBSEED,red 62s. 70s. CoBiANDiiB, per cwt 21s. 243. Tabes, winter, new, per bushel 8s. 10s. Thefoil 21s. 238. Rybgbass, per qr 26s. 303. Linseed, perqr., sowing 70s. to72a., crushing 60s. 633, LiNSEBD Cakes, per ton £11 63. to £11 lOs. Rafssees, per qr 64s. 743. Rape Cake, per ton £6 153. to £7 Os. FOREIGN SEEDS. Cobiandek, per cwt 21s.to223. Cabbawai ,, 48s. 50s. Clovebsbed, red 46s. to64s white... 703. 843. Hbmpseed, small 41s. to 45s. per qr.... Dutch 463. 483. Teefoil 20s. 223. Rtegbass, per qr 24s. 25a. LiNSKKD, per qr., Baltic 58s. to 623. ..Bombay 628. 638. Linseed Cakes, per ton £10 Os. to £11 10s. Rapeseed, Dutch 668. 70s. Rape Cake, per ten £6 10s. to £7 Os. HOP MARKET. Mid and East Kent Wealds Sussex , l!;ivLiriaus I'rench Americans learliugs £7 0 £9 15 £12 12 5 6 5 10 7 U 4 0 5 10 2 10 0 15 ... ... 7 10 (J C ... ... 7 0 9 0 ... .. 11 0 6 G ... ..8 0 G 10 ... ..7 0 3 15 ... .. 5 5 POTATO MARKETS. SOUTHWARK, WATERSIDE. Yorkshire Regents 70s. lo 100s. Kent and Essex do 60s. to 85s. Lincolnshire do COs. to 80s. East Lothian do 70s. to 100s. Perth, Foriar, and Pile do 70s. to 80s. French and lic'lgiuu whites COs. to 70s. BOROUGH AND SPITALFIELDS. English Shaws GOs. to SSs. per ton. „ Regents 70s. to 90s. „ „ Rocks COs. to 75s. ,, French 60s. to 70s. „ PRICES of BUTTER, CHEESE, HAMS, &c. BUTTER, per cwt. : s. s. Dorset 14 1 to 116 Friesland 124 Jersey 116 Pbesh, per doz. ... 10 BACON, per cwt : Wiltshire, green... 74 Irish, f.o.b 72 130 126 18 CHEESE, per cwt. : 8. s. Cheshire 60 to 84 Dble. Gloucester... 64 76 Cheddar 70 88 American 66 76 HAMS: York, old... 112 116 Cumberland 112 116 Irish, new 106 120 CORK BUTTER MARKET, (Friday last.)— Ordinary, fn-bt quality, export 120s., country 123s., second, export 120s. country 117s. ; third, export 112s., country 109s. ; fourth, ex- port ] 07s., country 10-is. ; filth, export 96s., country 93s. ; sixth, export 82s., country 79s. per cwt. Mild-cured: first quality, export 132s., country 129s. ; second, export 124s., country 121s. ; third, export 117s., country 114s. Currency: Ordinary Rutter 10s. per cwt. less ; sponged, 2s. ditto ; tliirds, fourths, fifths, and sixths of kegs 4s. less. POULTRY, &c., MARIGiTS.— Turkey Poults, 4s. to Cs. Cd. ; Geese, 4s. to 6s. 6d. ; Ducks, Is. Od. to 2s. 6d. ; tame Rabbits, Is. to Is. Gd. ; wild ditto, 9d. to Is. Id. ; Pigeons, Cd.tolOd. ; Pheasants, 3s. to 3s. Cd. ; Partridges, Is. to Is. Cd. ; Hares, 2s. Cd. to 3s. Cd. ; Grouse, 2s. ; Surrey Fowls, 4s. to Gs. ; barndoor ditto, Is. 9d. to 2s. 4d. each. English Eggs, 12s. Cd. ; French ditto, 9s. to 10s. per 120. ENGLLSIl WOOL MARKET. LONDON, ]MoJiD-\.Y, Nov. 22. — Firmness has continued to be the feature of the English wool market. Fine qualities liave met a ready sale at full quotations, and for medium de- scriptions there has been a lair inquiry, prices at the same time being well maintained. Cubbbnt Pbicbs of English Wool. Fleeces — Southdown hogs per lb. Half-bred ditto Kent fleeces , Southdown ewes and wethers ... ,, LeicestOT dit^to ,, SoBTS— Clothing, picklock ,, Prime...... ,, Choice , Super ,, Combing, wether mat > Picklock ,, Common , Hog matching ,, Picklock matching , Super ditto ,, LEEDS (ExGUSH jco Poueign) WOOL MARKETS, (Friday last.) — There is geuemlly u less demand for Euglis!^ wool this week tjiau there was in the earlier weeks of the month, but tliere is uo noticeable alteration in price. Theiip is some confidence in prices being maintained, but the in- creasing weight of sldn wool coming to hand has a tendency to check an advance. There is no dimiimtion in the consump- tion of foreign clothing wool, but the trade is witliout anima- tion, and the quantity- sold is below an average. If the Loudon sales were not supported by foreigners, prioes \vould not be maintained. 8. d. a d. 1 ;ol H 4 6 3 3^ 1 lA 2* 3A 4 4^ 2-^- 3 1 2 0 Oh 4^ 6 1 2 11 0 4A 5 1^ 24 0 11 0 END OF VOLUME LXVI. Pi-in^ea by Ro'gerson ami Tusford, 265, StrUnd, London, W,C, BEES BIFHOSPHATED & CO.'S PERUVIAN 6UAR0, (REGISTERED TRADE MARK, FLYING ALBATROSS). TRADE. MAR Is now ready for cleliveiy, in quantity and in fine condition. It is believed to be the best artificial manure yet produced. Its base is Peruvian Government Guano. It contains 21 per cent, of soluble phosphates, 6 to 7 per cent, of Ammonia with Salts of Potash. See reports of Dr. Voelcker, Dr. Anderson, Professor Way, Mr. Ogstou, Mr. Sibson. Delivered in 2 cwt. bags, each of which is secured by a leaden seal, bearing the Company's Trade Mark. The analysis is guaranteed so long as the seals remain unbroken. Agents tor the North of England. — Messrs. Keiglrley, Maxsted, & Co., Hull. Agent for Lancashire and neighbouring Counties. — W. S. Gladstone, Esq., 23, Old Hall Street, Liverpool. Agents for Scotland. — Messrs. Richard Connon & Co., Glasgow and Aberdeen ; Messrs. Allan Edwards & Co., Dundee. Agents for the South West of England. — Messrs. Wm. Smith & Co., Bristol. Agents for Ireland. — Messrs. R. F. Gladstone & Co., Dublin. Agent for Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Essex, Herts, and Middlesex. — Mr. John G. Barry, 8, Old Jewry, London. Price £11 per ton, delivered free to Rail or Wharf in London. REES & CO.'S BIFHOSPHATED PERUVIAN GUANO COMPANY (LIMITED), 32, KING WILLIAM STREET, LONDON, E.G. Peruvian Government Guano £13 10s. per ton. JOSEPH FISON, IPSWICH, Manufactcbee of SULPHURIC ACID AND CHEMICAL MANURES FOR CORN, EOOT, AND GRASS CROPS. SUPERPHOSPHATE.— THE TRADE :SUPPLIBD. WORKS— IPSWICH AND BEAMFORD. HEAD OFFICES :— EASTERN UNION MILLS, IPSWICH. SALT, AGRICULTURAL, for MANURE Makers and Farmers' use, shipped by the cargo at Liverpool and Runcorn, also delivered by the truck-load at any Railway Station.— W. WORTHINGTON, sen., North- wich Salt Works, Cheshire. (Established 1808.) FENTON & WOOD'S WOOL MANURE is the best and cheapest Nitrogenous Fertilizer. Equal to Guan» at one-third the price. Analysis of Fenton and Wood, Dewsbury, or the Local Agents. MILLERS troubled with BACKLASH in driving the Millstones, may hear of an effectual Remedy, or see the same at work, by applying to J. Lomax and Co., Hulme Com MUls, Manchester. M ANURE RAGS FOR SALE.— Apply K. and H. Hynes, Quay, Exeter. FOR SALE. — A Capital 5-horse portable STEAM ENGINE and finishing THRASHING MA- CHINE. Price £14/0 j cost £258.— Apply Mr. F, Hairis, Vagg, Yeovil. DIAMOND STONE - DRESSING MA- CHINE.—Before purchasing, see Huggins and HorsnaiU's. Fixes on the stone, and when set and started, will finish and cut the cracks in deep and well in IJ hour, without moving. Will keep the stones straight. Is entirely self-acting. All inquiries to H. Horsnaill, Bulford Mill, Braintree, Essex. THE PATENT LEVER MILLSTONE DRESSING MACHINE. The above is the simplest, cheapest, and most effective Machine yet introduced ; it re- quires no gearing, being simply screwed to the centre of the stone, and does not require to be moved till the stone is dressed. An ordinary labourer may dress a pair of stones in an hour and a-half. The Machine can be seen at work, and further particulars obtained, by applying to HERBERTS & CLIFT, ENGINEERS and IRONFOUNDERS, COCKBRMOUTH, CUMBERLAND. Agents wanted in every County. SACKS of all kinds, for Millers and Corn Dealers. Waterproof Sheets, Oil Sheets, &c. Griffin, Morris, and Griffin, Wolverhampton. FOR SALE.— One 16-horse Horizontal En- gine, complete, with Cornish boiler, both nearly new, having been used only 10 months; also an S-horse Portable Engine by Clayton & Co., in good working order. Boiler and firebox as gooa as new. C. Foster & Sons, Engineers, Witham, FOR All WHO COURT THE GAY AND FESTIVE SCENES. >. -i ROWLANDS' MACASSAR OIL IS A DELIGHTFULLY FRAGRANT AND TRANSPARENT PREPARATION FOR THE HAIR, AND AS AN INVIGORATOR AND BEAUTIFIER BEYOND ALL PRECEDENT. In dressing the Hair nothing can equal its effect, rendering it so admirably soft that it will lie in any direc- tion, imparting a transcendent lustre, and sustaining it in decorative charm during the Dance or the beatwi j atmosphere in crowded Assemblies. Price 3s. 6d., 7s,, 10s. 6d. equal to four small, and 21s. per Bottle. ROWLANDS' KALYDORJ FOK THX: SHlIHT AW1> COOTM^EXIOIV. IS UNEQUALLED FOR ITS RARE AND INESTIMABLE QUALITIES, THE RADIANT BLOOM IT IMPARTS TO THE CHEEK, THE SOFTNESS AND DELICACY WHICH IT INDUCES OF THE HANDS AND ARMS. / Its capability of soothing irritation, and removing cutaneous defects, discolorations, and all unsightly ,,j, appearances, render it '^ INDISPENSABLE TO EVERY TOILET. ^\ Price 4s. 6d. and 8s. 6d. per Bottle. ROWLANDS' ODONTO, OR PEARL DENTIFRICE, Compounded of the choicest and most recherche ingredients of the ORIENTAL HERBAL, and of inestimable value in PII£^£»VI]V€^ A]¥» BEAVTIFYIirC^ THE TEETH, STIIElVC^THCWIIirC^ THE 01J]IIS», and in giving a PLEASING FKAGRANCIi TO THE BREATB. It eradicates Tartar from the Teeth, removes spots of incipient decay, and polishes and preserves the enamel, to which it imparts a PEA»I<-liIKE IRTHITEIVE^S. Price 2s. 9d. per Box. Sold bv Chemists and Perfumers. Ask for ^^ Rowlands' '' Articles* lOGERSON 85 TUXFORD] [PRINTERS, 265, STRAND.